The Misunderstood Hell

The most frequently and important words that Jesus uses to describe Hell are judgment and punishment, but do they really mean what we think they mean?

When we think of God's judgment, we think of awful images of fire reigning down from the sky on cities like Sodom and Gomorrah, the Fountains of the Deep breaking forth to flood the entire world, and the Lake of Fire in Revelation with the smoke of the people and demon's eternal torment.

All of those strike fear into the hearts of imperfect humans. Who wants to be tortured forever. And how is that fair and just?

Some say the ripple of the impact of our sins stretches throughout the earth and harms people throughout history and that's why it's fair and just that we suffer forever in Hell. That doesn't make sense, though.

Even if your sins hurt billions of people, you wouldn't need to suffer for billions of years and beyond. If what you did to others is inflicted back on you and the ripple effect is inflicted back on you as well, that wouldn't take billions of years. It wouldn't take very long to accomplish that, especially in the spirit realm where time is far different than in the physical realm.

JUDGMENT

While we know what judgment means to our culture, we can't understand judgment in the Bible unless we understand what the word meant to the Ancient Hebrews.

In their culture, the word we translate as "judgment" actually means to find an issue hindering a person or society and remove it so they can grow and flourish. In other words, it's like pruning. It's a very good thing, even though it often hurts to a degree.

Is there evidence of that in the Bible? Definitely. Tons, actually.

The following is just a small portion of the evidence in scripture, but keep in mind, the word judgment doesn't mean what we think it means and the consequences of that judgment in Heaven aren't what you'd expect. They're far more loving, and you'll see that in the near-death experiences I'll share in a later chapter. Here are some verses on judgment:

“I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto Thee, O Lord, will I sing.” (Ps 101:1 KJV)

Why would David be singing of judgment if it's a bad thing?

"The Father … judges according to each one’s work, [yet] we are redeemed." (1Pt 1:17-19)

“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2Cor 5:10 NIV)

“He who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.” (Col 3:25, emphasis mine)

No partiality? But aren't we born again Christians saved from judgment? I hope not because judgment is what prunes us. It's exceptionally helpful once you realize what it is and what it produces. That verse is in the New Testament, by the way.

“The judgments of the Lord are … more to be desired … than gold, … sweeter also than honey.” (Ps 19:9-10)

David wrote that in Psalms. He understood how wondeful judgment is and he welcomed it.

“Christ forgave you...but he who does wrong will be repaid…and there is no partiality.” (Col 3:13, 25)

Again, another New Testament verse. Starting to see a trend here? We will never escape our unloving actions we commit here on Earth. When churches teach that we escape the consequences of our sins when we're born again, they're completely incorrect and unknowingly encouraging sinful behavior. Hey, if there are no consequences for sin, why stop sinning, right?