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Internet TV Program The Myth of the Immortal Soul A Place Called Hell Better Than Heaven

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Misunderstood Scriptures

The idea that hell is an ever-flaming place of torment results partially from a misunderstanding of Revelation 14:9-10: "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark ... he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb."

Notice that verse 8 gives the time setting of this verse. It concerns the impending fall of a modern "Babylon" which will be destroyed at Christ's return.

Matthew 25:31 tells us that Christ, at His return, will be accompanied by all the holy angels. At that time He will destroy the idolatrous system called Babylon, and those who have become a part of the system will come under the wrath of God.

This scripture does not say that these people are being tormented in hell. It states that the smoke of their torment ascends forever (verse 11). As smoke rises it blends with the surrounding air, becoming further and further diluted. David wrote in Psalm 37:20 that "the wicked shall perish [not be tortured forever in hell] ... Into smoke they shall vanish away."

This verse says nothing about punishing people eternally in hell. The Bible's clear teaching about the punishment for the wicked is much different, as shown elsewhere in this booklet.

Those who insist that the Bible teaches eternal punishment by fire should ask whether such a belief is consistent with what the Bible teaches us about God. For example, how could God justly deal with those who have lived and died without having ever received an opportunity to be saved? This would include the millions who died as babies as well as the billions of unbelievers or idolaters who lived and died never knowing God or His Son. Regrettably, the vast majority of all those who have ever lived fall into this category.

Some theologians reason around this difficulty by assuming that those who never had the opportunity to know God or hear the name of Jesus Christ will be given a sort of free pass. They reason that, because their state of ignorance is because of circumstances beyond their control, God will allow them into heaven regardless of their lack of repentance. If true, this raises the troubling possibility that missionary efforts to such areas could be the cause of people who do not accept their teachings being lost!

Quandaries such as this have painted many theologians and other Christians into a corner. Accordingly, some have challenged the traditional concept of a hell of eternal torment through the centuries. "... In every generation people keep questioning the orthodox belief in everlasting conscious torment" (Four Views on Hell, edited by William Crockett, 1996, p. 140).

Nevertheless, as we have seen, church councils through the ages have upheld the doctrine. Firmly rooted in traditional Christian belief, it is an idea that will not go away. "A new U.S. News poll shows that more Americans believe in hell today than did in the 1950s or even 10 years ago" (U.S. News & World Report, Jan. 31, 2000, p. 46).

The prospect of hell will continue to haunt people. As U.S. News reported: "Hell's powerful images will no doubt continue to loom over humanity, as they have for more than 2,000 years, as a grim and ominous reminder of the reality of evil and its consequences" (ibid.).