Heaven and Hell

Eternal Life and Eternal Death

Heaven

The Gift of God

God made humans in His own image because He desired to fellowship with us. In creation before sin, God would seek out Adam and Eve. However, when sin came through the fall, humans instantly had a barrier placed between us and God.

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Genesis 3:8-9

Not only was Adam and Eve's fellowship with God severed, but they were banished from His presence and good creation. Yet, this banishment and loss of the garden was only ever destined to be temporary. God promised a new creation - a new heaven and a new earth. John Milton describes this event in great detail in his classic poems - Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained.

All those who have accepted Jesus free and valuable sacrifice for their sins are now waiting for the consummation of all things. We know that our permanent citizenship is in heaven and we are just temporarily passing through this world. Four hundred years ago in England, a man named John Bunyan was imprisoned for speaking truth that the government did not approve of. While incarcerated he wrote the classic book, Pilgrim's Progress. This book describes Christian's journey through this world as he progresses to heaven. We too would do well to have the same outlook on our temporary time on this earth.

Heaven is described in detail in Revelation 21:3-4

“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Further on in chapter 21, heaven is as streets of gold, with gates of pearl and walls of jewels. No sun or moon is needed as the Lamb is the eternal light thereof. Nations will bring their honour and glory into heaven. There will be no sin or impurity that will enter into its presence. Trees will bring forth new varieties of fruit each month. Isaiah describes how the lion with lie down with the lamb. The new creation will be regained with no death. And we will be reunited with believers from all generations who currently cheer us on as a great cloud of witnesses. - Hebrew 12:1

Hell

The Wages of Sin is Death

In the pop-culture of the world's understanding of Christianity, good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell. Defining good and bad is subjective, and in reality none of us are good - Romans 3:10. So this view could not be more different to the actual teachings of Jesus. Biblically, heaven is a gift, not a reward. Hell on the other hand is the default destination of all humans as a consequence of the Fall. The fact that God chooses to rescue any of us is evidence of His patience and mercy. The fact that God continues to offer salvation to everyone is evidence of the extent of his grace and love. Christians do not desire is that anyone goes to hell, hence their emphasis on evangelism and priority focus on saving souls for eternity.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28

Hell and sin are not popular topics. The fact that Christians believe in hell is probably the single biggest reason that Christianity is considered offensive. Because of this, many believers have censored or reduced their preaching about hell. Yet, Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven. Judgement is real and Jesus will return to execute that judgement on both the living and the dead. If we reduce the message of the reality of hell, we reduce the desirability, significance and power of the gospel. When we talk of salvation, it inherently means being saved from something. We belittle the love of God when we overlook what He has rescued us from. God's rescue is not from earthly death, but the second death, which is far more significant.

What is Hell?

There are some misconceptions out there as to what hell actually is. Hell is more than being separated from God. To the non-believer, a spacial separation from someone they do not believe in holds no fear or redemptive motivation. God never intended hell for humanity, rather He created it as a place where Satan and demons would be forever incarcerated so that they could no longer torment or persecute God's people. Hell is necessary, so that a perfect heavenly eternity may exist. So, hell is not a temporary reprimand, but it is an eternal state of fiery punishment. This is a sobering reality. Jesus said the following:

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life'.

Matthew 25:41, 46

Finally, hell is not actually the final punishment for sin. Hell is actually a holding cell until the final judgement. It is one half of Hades, the place of all the dead. At the end of the book of Revelation, hell and all its inhabitants since the beginning of time will be presented before God at the Great White Throne judgement. Those who have not accepted the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, will have the record of their own sin condemn them. On this day, hell and all its inhabitants will join the devil and the demons in the eternal Lake of Fire, which is the second death.

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 20:10-14

This is a heavy topic, and we are meant to feel the weight of it. Biblically, hell should be a motivating reason for us to repent of our sins and for us share God's rescue offer with everyone. Some may ask why has God not yet returned as He promised 2,000 years ago. This length of time is not a sign of God's indifference, but it does signify the depth of Gods love and desire to rescue everyone. God is not a monster. He does not want anyone to perish and so He gives time for repentance.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

Therefore, like Paul, believers should proclaim the message of salvation. Today, we live in the days of harvest - when what we do and say will have eternal consequences.