What is the nature of hell, and was it created by God?

Since the Bible speaks about hell, we must confront the reality of its existence. My aim is to help you understand hell and why God created it.

When you ask, “Did God create hell?” the simple and short answer is yes. I’m not sure if this brings you comfort or discomfort, as I know the idea of hell seems incompatible with a loving God to some people. Many have asked why a loving God would send good people to hell. Answering this question requires an extensive explanation that I can’t fully provide here (though J. Warner Wallace and Joel Beeke have resources listed below that help address this question).

However, since the Bible speaks about hell, we must confront the reality of its existence. My aim is to help you understand hell and why God created it.

One important point to clarify: I know the Bible uses different terms that we often associate with hell. These include:

• Sheol (or Hades)
• Gehenna
• The Lake of Fire

Read more : Is there an archangel named Raguel mentioned in the Bible?

Why Did God Create Hell?

“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.’” (Matthew 25:41)

To understand why God created hell, you need to understand the pride that led to rebellion. Before Satan became what we know him as today, he was Lucifer, the morning star. He, in his arrogance and pride, desired to dethrone God and sit on His throne. His foolish attempt was driven by his desire to be worshipped. Consider what Isaiah recorded:

“You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’” (Isaiah 14:13-14)

Because of this act, God cast Satan and a third of the angels out of heaven. Satan and his demons now operate in this earthly realm, as Satan is known as the god of this world.

He and his demons know their judgment is coming. God created hell as a place for Satan and his angels’ final judgment, and one day He will cast Satan and all his demons into that eternal fire.

“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10)

Did God Create Hell for Humans?

God did not create hell for humans. Unfortunately, there will be people who end up there. Ultimately, the reason is much like why Satan ended up there. It comes down to belief, rebellion, and lordship. In John chapter 3, Jesus said something that should be highlighted, especially regarding hell and judgment:

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:18-19)

In this verse, you see the same seeds that lived in Lucifer’s heart before he was cast out of heaven also live in humans. Many people choose to live for their desires and reject Jesus’ lordship.

Does God Send People to Hell?

God doesn’t send people to hell. People go there because of their choices. Some people are unaware of the choice they’re making. When someone chooses not to believe in Jesus and live according to their desires, hell is their choice. For some, like Lucifer, it comes down to not wanting to allow Jesus to sit on the throne of their life. They think, “Why should God sit here? I deserve to sit there.”

After all, many believe, as the poet William Ernest Henley wrote, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” Those who follow this path fail to realize that there are consequences for this choice.

Four Characteristics That Define the Reality of Hell

“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matthew 22:13)

Hell Is an Eternal Place

Since we are finite beings, we can’t fully grasp infinity. If you’ve ever tried to think about it, you reach a point where it no longer makes sense. In our current existence, everything has a beginning and an end. This is not true of infinity. Once it begins, it will not end. This is true for those who go to heaven and those who go to hell. My old pastor used to say, “Where will you be in ten thousand years?” For all of us, we will either be enjoying the presence of God or forever separated from it.

Hell Is a Place of Darkness

Perhaps the worst aspect of hell is that it is devoid of light and without God’s presence. No matter how bad this life gets, you have never lived a day without the presence of God. The sun rises every morning and sets every evening, and God’s mercies are new every day (Lamentations 3:22-23). However, in hell, there will be no presence of God. There will be no chance for new mercies, for hell is a dark place reserved for judgment.

Hell Is a Place of Regret

In Matthew, Jesus speaks of hell and mentions weeping. When I think about this, I believe regret will be a significant reason for such weeping. In that place of eternal separation from God, regret will grip the hearts of those who find themselves there. They will wail over the choices they made and understand the consequences of their actions. Unfortunately, it will be too late.

The weight of missed and rejected opportunities will burden their souls. For all eternity, they will think about the times they could have believed in Jesus but turned away. The haunting realization of what could have been, along with knowing they had the chance for salvation but chose otherwise, will amplify their sorrow.

I don’t know how you feel, but this serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of accepting God’s offer of grace and forgiveness in this life. When you receive His grace, you avoid the eternal regret that awaits those who reject His love and salvation.

Hell Is a Place of Torment.

Revelation informs us that the eternal experience of hell will be one of torment. Jesus refers to it as gnashing of teeth, often associated with someone in great pain. Just as God’s grace in heaven is an experience we can’t imagine, so are the horrors of hell beyond anything we can conceive. The difference is that instead of experiencing grace, you face judgment. The warning of hell serves as a sobering reminder of the potential outcome of living in rebellion against God, which will ultimately lead Satan there and is the reason God created hell in the first place.

In past years, people have preached fire and brimstone messages from hell to warn and, in some cases, scare people into following Jesus. This usually doesn’t work. As I wrote this article, I wanted to make you aware of the reality of hell and its characteristics. More importantly, I hope you understand what Jesus did for you and the suffering He endured. He took the punishment so you wouldn’t have to.

The punishment He accepted is a testament to the horrifying reality of hell. If you’re reading this, know that God didn’t create hell for you. He made a way through Jesus so you don’t have to go there. This shows how great His love is for you. I pray that today you embrace His love found in Christ, for His arms are open to welcome you into His kingdom.

Why Does God Send Good People to Hell?

Recently, I’ve been blogging about the existence and nature of hell, and unsurprisingly, I’ve received a lot of feedback from both Christians and non-Christians (many of whom were hostile). This subject polarizes believers and non-believers. Many Christians struggle to reconcile God’s mercy with a place of permanent justice, while others prefer to believe that God annihilates rebellious souls rather than condemning them to hell forever.

Non-believers often point to what seems to be the unfairness of God concerning those who either reject Jesus or have never heard of Him. After all, there are millions of good people in the world who aren’t Christians. Is it fair for God to punish people who are otherwise good? Does a good God send good people to hell?

The good news is that God doesn’t send good people to hell; we can be sure of this. But the bad news is that “good” people are far rarer than most skeptics (and many Christians) are willing to admit. The Christian worldview describes the true nature of humans and the incredible sovereignty of God, and when these truths are understood, no one expects to be deserving of heaven by their “goodness.”

Humans Are (Inherently) Not “Good”

We don’t need to teach our toddlers selfishness, impatience, rudeness, and self-centeredness; instead, we must teach them the exact opposite. We are not born with sacrificial “goodness.” We must be taught to love, think beyond our needs and desires, share, and appreciate others. The daily headlines are filled with examples of young men and women who weren’t taught to love or respect the law.

When young people aren’t properly taught and nurtured, they revert to their inner nature. And if we’re honest with ourselves, each of us must admit that we often struggle to control our anger, lust, or pride. We are inherently rebellious and sinful. Without the grace of God, we would truly be lost.

This is precisely the point Paul made when writing to the Romans. He emphatically declared, “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one” (Romans 3:10-12). Paul clarified that every human falls short of God’s standard and requires God’s forgiveness. The question we ought to ask is not, “Why does God send good people to hell?” but rather, “Why does God allow any of us into heaven?”

God is Perfectly Good

Only God is good, and it is by His standard that we must measure “goodness.” It’s easy to convince ourselves that we are “good” when we compare ourselves to murderers, rapists, or child molesters. But it’s difficult to maintain this illusion when we compare ourselves to the holiness of God.

The Christian worldview describes God as morally perfect, holy, and completely just. This God does not grade on a curve, and He cannot tolerate sin. So when skeptics ask if God sends “good” people to hell, they need to realize that there are no truly good people, and our standard of goodness is imperfect when compared to the goodness of God.

God Is Sovereign

If God is truly sovereign and all-knowing, it’s not unreasonable to expect Him to know our hearts, judge us justly, and use this knowledge to determine our eternal destiny. God is capable of applying His redemptive plan to anyone who desires to know Him, even those who have never heard the gospel. God will reveal Himself to anyone with a heart that desires to know Him. In fact, the Bible is full of people who found themselves at this exact point of decision.

Whether it’s Abraham, Rahab, Cornelius, or the Ethiopian eunuch, God seeks those who seek Him. He also does everything He can to make Himself available to those with this desire. If God is sovereign, He knows the hearts of all people and will apply the work of Christ to those who seek Him, even those who may not yet know His name.

Why Is There a Hell?

There must be a place for those who rebel against God, just as there must be a place for those who seek God and accept His forgiveness. God has not created this place for those who trust in Him. This place of separation and punishment was created for those who knowingly reject the truth and the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

As a police officer, I arrest and prosecute people who knowingly disobey the law and engage in repeated acts of crime and violence. We have a place for these people when they repeatedly reject the truth of the law and resist correction. We have jails and prisons to isolate them from the rest of society and punish them for their actions.

If we, as humans, recognize the need for justice and punishment, how much more should we expect this from a morally perfect God? God has allowed each of us to freely choose how we will respond to Him. Will we trust Him? Will we seek Him? Will we accept His offer of forgiveness? God is merciful, but He’s also just. In the end, God doesn’t send good people to hell; He grants all people the freedom to choose for themselves, and He allows those who rebel to have their way, even if it means eternal separation from Him.

In Conclusion

When we properly understand the Christian worldview, we see that God’s justice is perfect and that His mercy is incredible. We also recognize our own inadequacy and our need for a Savior. When we properly understand who God is, we also begin to realize that no one is “good” and that all of us need the forgiveness offered by Jesus. And when we properly understand our own shortcomings, we begin to appreciate the mercy of God, who does not send “good” people to hell but saves sinful people who seek Him.