Why Should We Study Hell’s Existence Anyway?
If hell actually exists, then God must be a harsh judge. What kind of god would keep sinners alive forever in conscious suffering? If hell doesn’t exist, if Christians got the concept of divine judgment totally wrong, can we trust anything they say . . . ?
You’re not alone if you’ve ever found yourself thinking along these lines. The subject of hell has produced a lot of misunderstanding and a lot of fear. In fact, many people, including Christians, find the subject so troubling that they reject the idea of divine judgment altogether.
All this confusion can be boiled down to one simple question:
How can a God of love allow eternal suffering?
This is not merely a theological question. It is a question about the character of God—meaning its answer impacts every other point of Christian belief. This is why it’s extremely important to study hell. We cannot avoid this subject.
However, the purpose of studying hell should never be the creation of fear. We must study why hell exists and what it will look like in order to:
- Discover the truth about God’s character
- Understand the seriousness of sin
- And appreciate the incredible gift of salvation through Jesus Christ
What Does God’s Character Tell Us About Hell?
Let’s flip the popular question, “What does hell tell us about God’s character,” on its head.
The Bible declares:
“The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.” (Exodus 34:6)
This is one of the most important descriptions of God in Scripture. When God revealed Himself to Moses, He did not first describe His power. He described His character.
He described His:
- mercy
- grace
- patience
- goodness
- and truth
The apostle John summarized God’s character in one profound statement:
“God is love.” (1 John 4:8b)
Everything God does flows from love. His creation is an expression of love. His law is an expression of love. His judgment is an expression of love. Hell exists because God loves His children too much to allow suffering to continue forever. He longs to bring a final end to sin.
Divine Judgment Is Real Because Love Requires Justice
Some people struggle with the idea of divine judgment because they associate judgment only with punishment. But true justice is an essential part of love.
Imagine a world where God never judged evil. Imagine if murderers were never held accountable, abusers were never confronted, oppression continued forever, and suffering had no end. Would that be a loving universe? Of course not!
God promises to make all things right.
“For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.” (Psalm 96:13)
God’s judgment is neither cruel nor arbitrary. It is righteous.
As we study divine judgment, we shouldn’t ask whether God will judge. Scripture is clear on that point. The question we should ask is: What does the Bible teach about the nature and result of that judgment?
Divine Judgment Begins With God’s People
Peter shares an important insight:
“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God . . . ” (1 Peter 4:17)
The Bible presents divine judgment as a process in which God reveals truth, exposes evil, and vindicates His character. He is not looking for reasons to condemn people. Rather, He desires everyone to find freedom from condemnation.
Paul writes:
“[God our Savior] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
Divine judgment reveals that God has been fair. Every person has been given light. Every person has been offered grace. Every person has been invited into a relationship with Him.
Why Does Evil Exist in the First Place?
To understand why divine judgment and hell exist, we have to understand why evil exists.
The Bible teaches that sin did not begin on Earth. Before humanity fell, rebellion began in heaven. Seeking to be like God, Lucifer, a created being of great beauty and intelligence, chose pride and self-exaltation over obedience to God’s principles. He warred against God’s government of love.
Ezekiel describes Lucifer’s fall:
“You were the anointed cherub who covers. . . . You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.” (Ezekiel 28:14–15)
And Isaiah describes Lucifer’s ambition:
“For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. . . . I will be like the Most High.’ ” (Isaiah 14:13–14)
The great controversy, the cosmic battle between God and Satan, is ultimately a conflict over God’s character. Is God loving? Is His law good? Can His government be trusted? Is He worthy of sitting on the throne?
The final judgment answers these questions forever, and hell ensures that sin and rebellion will reach their eternal end.
“What do you conspire against the Lord? He will make an utter end of it. Affliction will not rise up a second time.” (Nahum 1:9)
The Bible’s Simple Definition of Sin Reveals the Nature of Hell
The foundation of understanding hell rests on this central biblical truth:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Carefully notice the contrast Paul is drawing here. He does not say, “The wages of sin is eternal life in punishment.” He says, “The wages of sin is death.”
The Bible consistently presents two outcomes for each human:
- Eternal life by way of accepting Christ.
- Death by way of rejecting Christ.
Jesus Himself said:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Each human can choose between life and “perishing,” a word that means to be destroyed or brought to ruin. God offers life as a gift because immortality is not something humans naturally possess. It is something God gives.
Is the Soul Naturally Immortal?
Many ancient cultures believed the soul was inherently immortal. Greek philosophy, especially the writings of Plato, taught that the soul existed separately from the body and could not truly die.
The Bible presents a very different picture, teaching that God alone possesses immortality:
“He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality . . . ” (1 Timothy 6:15b–16)
Although God alone has immortality, He offers human immortality as a gift to be received at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Paul explains:
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:53)
The Old Testament Foundation: The Soul Can Die
These New Testament statements about the mortality of the soul can be backed up by the Old Testament’s clear teachings. The prophet Ezekiel, for example, gives this direct statement:
“The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4).
Nephesh, the Hebrew word translated for “soul,” refers to a whole living person or being. It does not mean an immortal spirit or essence trapped inside the body.
Genesis says:
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7, KJV)
The Bible does not say Adam received an immortal soul. It says Adam became a living soul. When the body dies, the soul dies. Life can be restored again—but only by God.
Hell Exists to Bring an End to Sin
“The soul who sins shall die.” “The wages of sin is death.” “Whoever believes in Him shall not perish.”
These clear biblical teachings reveal something beautiful about hell, divine judgment, and God’s character:
God does not torture His enemies forever. God destroys sin forever. This distinction matters.
Many people have understandably struggled to reconcile the idea of a God who eternally preserves suffering with the character of love revealed in Jesus Christ. But the former is not what Scripture teaches! The Bible promises a God who will put death to death, bring an end to sin, and banish suffering from His universe for good.
“The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:26)
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
God doesn’t plan to preserve the eternal battle between good and evil. God’s goal is victory.
The Cross Reveals God’s Character
If you’re still struggling to wrap your mind around the existence of hell, remember that the clearest revelation of God’s character is not found in the punishment of sinners. It is found at Calvary, where Jesus took the horrible consequences of sin upon Himself.
Isaiah writes:
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
The cross shows that God does not delight in punishing humans. He paid the ultimate price to save humanity because He wants to spend eternal life with each one of us!
Peter states:
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
God’s desire is salvation. Hell is His “unusual act” (Isaiah 28:21)—the final removal of everything that hurts His creation.
The Good News About Hell
The biblical message about hell is not a message of fear but a message of hope.
To those who accept His gift of grace, God promises a universe where evil is gone, suffering is finished, death no longer exists, and righteousness fills creation. Sin will end—permanently. This is the result of divine judgment. This is why hell exists.
To be a part of this universe, you have to ask yourself:
Will you allow God to deal with the sin in your heart today?
It’s your choice. God never forces His way on us.
If you choose His grace, then run to what Jesus offers as the only answer to the problem of sin: Himself. Run to the God who is both perfectly loving and perfectly just, who both weeps over humanity’s suffering and promises to banish suffering through his power. Run to the Savior who died for your sins and will one day end sin completely.
The ultimate good news about hell is that God will not allow pain, injustice, rebellion, and death to continue forever.
Love will win. Sin will end. And God’s children will live forever. You can be a part of this!
Continue the Series:
The Good News About Hell, Pt. 2: The Second Death
Related Articles:
What Is Hell According to the Bible? Understanding the Basics
What the Bible Says About Hell: Eternal Conscious Torment or Annihilation?
Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe in Hell? Truth Versus Tradition
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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
