Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.
The Bible says there is a hell and people go there. But is it a temporary place, or does Hell last forever?
Key Points:
- Annihilationism is an alternative teaching to the eternality of hell. It teaches that God annihilates us out of existence if we fail to come to Christ in this life.
- The Bible teaches eternal torment. This should compel us to do everything we can to lead others to Jesus. It should encourage us not to take vengeance on those who have hurt us.
- Jesus spoke of eternal fire. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says that those who disobey God and fail to believe in Christ will depart into eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. Revelation 14:11 is similar.
- We don’t understand how awful Hell is because we don’t understand how good God is. Matthew 5:45 says, “He gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” This means God is always showing his goodness to us. Christ even died for us while we were still sinners and his enemies (Romans 5:8, 10). We don’t truly understand what a life without God looks like, and that is what Hell is.
- God is eternal. So a rejection of God in this life is a rejection of his eternal glory and goodness and it is a rejection with eternal consequences. As finite, limited beings, we are simply incapable at this stage of fully grasping these truths.
- God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Ezekiel 18, Ezekiel 33,1 Timothy 2:1-4 and 2 Peter 3:9 all teach this.
- Those who reject mercy won’t receive it. This is a reminder to pray for our friends, family members, neighbors, and co-workers who aren’t pursuing God and haven’t given themselves to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.
Quote This:
Revelation 14:11The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.
Talk About It
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Describe what you think Hell is like. What evidence do you have to back up your description?
- Do you believe a person can know how good God is? Do you believe a person can know how awful life is without God? Explain.
- “Even the most base, vile, rebellious person on earth is experiencing some level of God’s grace.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain.
- Read 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 Why is the idea of an eternal hell such a difficult topic?
- “2 Thessalonians 1:9 is the most awful verse in the whole Bible.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain.
- If God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and if Christ died so that all who might believe in him would be saved (John 3:16), why do people still go to Hell?
- What should belief in a real, eternal Hell inspire us to do?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
