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Hell: A Literal Place?? Or a condition of the mind?
Have you ever heard any of these phrases?
"If you don't (do what I tell you to do)..."
"...you'll rot in hell."
"...you'll burn in hell."
"...you'll go straight to hell."
"...you'll be tormented in hell forever."
Threats like this were intended to put "the fear of God" in people so they would do what they were told to do and not ask questions. But some of us asked questions anyway. This pamphlet gives some of the answers to those questions.
What is your image of hell?
____down in the earth?
____place of torture?
____the devil's in charge?
____darkness?
____fear/hopelessness? |
____lots of fire?
____prison?
____naked bodies/shame?
____screaming/crying?
____other? ______________ |
What goes to a literal hell?
We don't hear anything about animals being in hell [animals don't sin]; just sinning angels and sinning people receive the consequence of hell (2Pt.2:4; Mat.23:33). Since people are just made up of three parts: spirit, soul, and body (1Th.5:23), what part(s), if any, could go to a literal hell after physical death (assuming that there is a literal hell to go to)? [Write us for the article titled: 'Whole Man: Spirit, Soul, and Body.']
Scripturally:
So, what's left to go to a literal hell, if there were a literal hell to go to? Nothing! So, why create a literal hell, if nothing goes there? Good question! Does the Bible teach that God made a literal hell or, rather, that hell is a condition of the mind?
| Seven Bible Proofs That There is NO Literal Hell! |
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1. The soul is not immortal at birth
God is the only one that has immortality (1Ti.6:16). Human souls have to do something to get immortality from God. Paul said, "this mortal [soul] must put on immortality" (1Co.15:53). Jesus said, "whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (Joh.3:16). 'Perish' means go out of existence, not live forever in hell. Paul said eternal life was given to those who "seek for glory and honour and immortality" (Rom.2:7). You don't seek for something you already have. So contrary to what most religions teach, the soul is NOT immortal at birth. Just as the body can die and go back to the dust, so also the soul can die and perish (2Pt.3:9). "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Eze.18:4,20), not live forever in a hell; and "in that very day his thoughts perish" (Psa.146:4). What good is a literal hell if you don't even know you're there? (Ecc.9:5,10) [Write us for the articles titled: 'The Soul is NOT Immortal, The soul must be made immortal' and 'The Dead Know Nothing.']
2. Fire represents God and his word, not hell
God calls himself a consuming fire (Heb.12:29), calls his word fire (Jer.5:14; 23:29), and calls his ministers a flame of fire (Heb.1:7). Chariots of fire represent God's angels (2Ki.6:16,17; Psa.68:17). There are a few new testament connections with fire and hell or fire and punishment and these can be consistently understood knowing that fire represents God's word (Mat.25:41; Mar.9:47; Luk.16:23,24). When we hear God's word (fire) and disobey it, we are in hell. When we repent and believe in God's word (fire), it can destroy (burn up) the hell (torment) we have had in our minds and save us (1Co.3:13-15). [Write us for the articles titled: 'The Parable of the Sheep and Goats','The Lake of Fire is Here and Growing,' and 'The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man.']
3. The actual scriptures themselves that speak of "hell"
If you look up the following scriptures that contain the word 'hell,' ask yourself if hell could be a literal place and do these things:
[For more scriptures on 'hell' write us for the articles titled: 'Hell' and 'Hell, Pit, Grave.']
4. The love of God
God is love! (1Jo.4:8). Our loving God is not cruel. Therefore, the false image of a literal hell needs to be cast out because it carries with it a false image of God. God wants us to have the same love he has (1Jo.4:7). "Love worketh no ill to his neighbor" (Rom.13:10). "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Mat.5:44,45). Love is kind (1Co.13:4). |
5. God is merciful (Deu.4:31)
God is eager to use his mercy on a soul that repents. King David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed. His punishment under the law was death on two counts. He repented and God had mercy. David said, "For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell" (Psa.86:13). David was in the lowest hell in his mind when he sinned by breaking two of the ten commandments. He got out of hell by repenting and receiving God's mercy.
God was also merciful to Jonah who wanted to get out of his hell (torment) by dying. Jonah had disobeyed God's instructions (fire) which put him in hell. He wanted to drown to get out of hell, not drown and go to a literal fiery hell to be tormented forever. But God had mercy on Jonah and gave him a chance to repent and be obedient by preparing a whale to swallow him. While in the fish, Jonah said, "I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice" (Jon.2:2).
[Write us for the articles titled: 'What happens to the souls of people who have committed suicide?']
6. God hates unrighteous judgment (Pro.11:1; Job 34:12)
God is a righteous judge (Psa.96:12,13) and the punishment he renders will fit the crime (Gal.6:7,8). Even human courts refrain from punishments that involve continual torture, and God is more righteous than the judges of this world. How could a righteous judge condemn a person to an eternity of torment for sinning 20, 30 or even 80 years? A righteous judge wouldn't and doesn't. People are tormented when they have fear of hurt, rejection or death (Heb.2:15). As long as the devil has people afraid, they are in hell (torment). God wants to deliver people from hell (fear) and give them heaven (love) (2Ti.1:7; 1Jo.4:18).
7. God did NOT create hell
As you read through the creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2, look for any mention of hell being created. Everything God made was happy (light) and good (Gen.1:31). Hell is not a good, happy "place" (Psa.18:4-6); it's a condition of "darkness" we want to avoid or get out of. Jesus tells us our choices will either put us in the light or in darkness (Mat.6:22,23). Some angels sinned and left the "light" of God and, therefore, were in a condition of darkness (hell - 2Pt.2:4; Jud.6). God did not make hell, but he will destroy it (Rom.13:12; Rev.20:14)! [Write us for the article titled: 'Timeline for the Devil and his Angels.']
One of the most powerful images of hell to be invented was described in poetic verse by the Italian poet, Dante Alighieri (1265 - 1321 A.D.). In his poem 'The Divine Comedy,' Dante is guided by Virgil on a journey into the abyss of hell (the inferno) observing the masses of people in various states of torture. The drawings that depict the journey show living bodies (usually naked) being tortured by fire, snakes, ice, mutilation, and devil-like creatures. The poem and pictures create a very fearful, hopeless, painful image of hell. Is that your image of hell? |
Gates of Hell
When Peter got the witness that Jesus was the Christ, Jesus said "...upon this rock (witness) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Mat.16:18). It is true that if these were literal (physical) gates at the entrance to a hole in the ground, they couldn't fight against the church (body) of Christ (1Co.12:27,18,28). But Jesus was using the old testament symbol of gates as people. Psa.24:7 equates gates (doors) with people. Jesus himself said, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved" (Joh.10:9). He was a door (gate) to heaven. Corrupted ministers were gates that would lead people into confusion (hell). The scribes and Pharisees fit into this category (Mat.23:13,15,33). Their false teachings created hell in people's minds.
Jesus has the keys of hell and of death
Jesus had been in hell, died, and resurrected. Later, in a vision, he said to John, "I... have the keys of hell and of death" (Rev.1:18). If hell and death were literal (physical) places, then the keys would have been literal (physical) keys and Jesus would need to be there physically to let people into or out of hell and death. However, death is not a place needing literal keys, but a condition (either physical or spiritual) of a body or soul. Therefore, hell is not a place but a mental condition that requires God's keys of knowledge for people to escape (Mat.16:19; Luk.11:52). It is believing the truth that can free you (Joh.8:31,32).
Now, what is your image of hell?
___ down in the earth? Yes, the earth is symbolic of the mind (Jer.22:29).
___ place of torture? Yes, in our house (mind) (Mat.12:43-45; Rom.7:19,20).
___ the devil's in charge? Yes, he took us captive at his will (2Ti.2:26).
___ darkness? Yes, we have hated and been spiritually blind (1Jo.2:11).
___ fear/hopelessness? Yes, our minds were full of it (Heb.2:15; Eph.2:12).
___ lots of fire? Yes, if we know the truth but don't use it righteously (Jam.3:6).
___ prison? Yes, feeling bound up in our minds (Isa.61:1; Rom.8:15,21).
___ naked bodies/shame? Yes, spiritually (2Co.5:2,3; Rev.3:17,18).
___ screaming/crying? Yes, we did it (Exo.3:7,9; Heb.5:7; Jam.5:4; Rev.21:4).
___ a literal fiery hole in the ground for bad people to be punished? NO, NO!
Why do we serve God?
With the fear of being sent to a hell to be punished forever, people served God, NOT because they loved him, but to keep from being sent to hell. That false image of hell perverted people's motives for serving God: they learned to serve God out of fear (Isa.29:13). That was the opposite of the first great commandment: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Mat.22:37). Let's serve God out of love! |
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