Matt De Haan - HELL (RBC Ministries)
*editted/some text removed

I wish I didnt have to believe in HELL.

While seeing the need for eternal justice, the thought of cruel and unusual punishment that lasts forever sounds morally wrong to me. Yes, the Bible describes God as a great King who creates a lake of everlasting fire for rebels who want no part of His Kingdom.

I thought alot about the story Jesus told of a callous rich man who died and found himself in Hades. Even before the final judgement, the man was suffering in flame and torment (LUKE 16:19-31). Whether Jesus was speaking in a parable or not, I've found some solace in the fact that the man in the fire was able to carry on a conversation. He was not suffering the way I imagined as a child.

(Hell in REVELATIONS) In a book that uses strong symbolic language to sound clear warnings of judgement, we read that all those who worship the beast ... will all be cast into the lake of fire where "they will be tormented day and night forever and ever"(20:10).

So how do we take these warnings to heart without losing our minds over lost loved ones? Our challenge is to believe as Abraham did, that "the Judge of all the earth [will] do right" (Genesis 18:25). Such a God understands infinitely better than we do how to exercise justice that is consistent with His own character.

Degrees of punishment
Jesus repeatedly indicated that judgement will be more tolerable for some than for others (MATTHEW 10:15; 11:22,24; LUKE 12: 46-48).

For what we cannot understand, those of us who bear heartache for lost loved ones need to trust the One who loves them far more than we do. He has told us as much as He wants to know. The rest we need to leave in His hands.

(Thanks to my cousin, Lindy, for sending me this leaflet. The original hardcopy can be found with this term's Daily Bread. Otherwise, ask me and I'll email it to you)