The Bible warns us that in the last days before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, there would be an increase in skepticism, unbelief, and ridicule against Him and the Gospel message (Matthew 24: 9-12; Mark 13:12-13; Luke 21:16-17; 3:1-9; 4: 3-4). We expect this from the world and its hatred of everything about God, but these traits have crept into the church and have expanded like cancer in a body. I want to focus on one particular issue that is being questioned by some “believers”. I have watched podcasts by Kirk Cameron. Dr. Ben Carson, and other online “teachers” and commentators tell their respective audiences that hell, as presented in the Bible, is not an eternal abode for the unrighteous dead. Instead, they will face “annihilation” by God, destroyed and cease to exist. The reality of punishment is not denied, but people doubt and/or challenge the concept that the wicked will be tormented for their sins forever without relief or mercy.
The question of “If there is a God, then He is too loving and kind to allow sinners to experience pain, misery, and torment for all time”. To some of these “believers”, this is something that they simply cannot reconcile with the characteristics of God as they understand them. What I want to do is confront and rebuke this false teaching using Scripture to show the seriousness of sin, the necessity of punishment, and what I see as arrogance and pride on their part, challenging the very work and plan of God in terms of eternity. This denial of the eternal nature of hell does not take into consideration the seriousness of sin and rebellion against God and His decrees. We refuse to look at sin from God’s pint of view and why He hates it.
The Bible does not shy away from our real nature. We can pretend that we are not as bad as _________ (name your favorite despot or criminal), but the fact is that any type of so-called “goodness” as we wish to define it is not better than taking a bloody menstrual cloth or the rags used by a leper to keep their rotting flesh from falling off of them (Isaiah 53:4-6, 64:6). The idea that we are somehow “evolving” into a “better” state of being goes against the truth of who we really are in the sight of a Holy God. The apostle Paul brings the charges against us in the letter to the Romans (1:18-32, 3:10-20, 5:6-11, 6:23). The Lord Jesus pointed out the consequences of sin and how it leads to hell (Matthew 25:41, 46: Mark 9:43-48; Luke 12:13-21, 16:19-31. I would strongly recommend that you look up these verses and see that hell, like heaven, will never end. Do not let other people do your thinking for you, especially when it comes to the issue of your soul and where you will be one minute after you pass away (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11-15).
(P.S. I do not want to leave you “hanging” when it comes to the issue of where you will spend eternity. Go to http://www.peacewithgod.net or http://www.gotquestions.org to read articles and other information about heaven, hell, and how to enter one and avoid the other. Thanks).