Welcome to the
Pioneer and Bell Church of Christ

HOW LONG WILL HELL ENDURE?

In the most recent surveys we were able to find concerning how many people believe in a literal Heaven and Hell, there is a difference of about 25%. That is, about 25% more people believe in Heaven than in Hell. What does the Bible say concerning this subject? - How Long Is Hell? 

First of all, the same words in the Bible describe the duration of hell as being the same as heaven. An example of this is in Matthew 25:46 "And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life." Both in the English as well as the original Greek, the words describing "eternal punishment" is the same word as "eternal life." Jesus also spoke concerning the time of the punishment, as to how long it would last. Note, "And if thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life halt, rather than having thy two feet to be cast into hell where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:45-46 italics mine, ER). 

The main reason many do not believe hell will be forever, is emotionalism. They reason something like this: "God is such a loving person, there's no way he would allow people to suffer forever!" Jehovah God is a loving God. He loved us so much that he sent Jesus to die in our stead (John 3:16). However, we also recognize that God is just. The justice of God would certainly say that it is right to allow people to suffer for eternity if He also allows others to be blessed eternally! We find it easy to forget that the God of the New Testament is the same Jehovah God that Moses described when he forbade idolatry, "Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them, for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God . . ." (Exodus 20:5).
 
Mark 9:45-46 ought to read and memorized by all. There is some part of man that does not die. "And if thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life halt, rather than having thy two feet to be cast into hell where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:45-46, emphasis mine, ER). If that person was a wicked person, and rebelled against God's salvation through the gospel of Christ, then he can expect to spend eternity without God, in a burning Hell. 

However, God doesn't want anyone there. He sent Jesus to die so that we might be forgiven of our sins, and avoid Hell. Toward the end of the New Testament, the apostle Peter exhorts all to turn to God. Notice: 
     "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness . . ." (2 Peter 3:9-11).
 
Let's all obey the gospel (Acts 2:36-38) and look forward to an eternity with God and all those who are Christians. The alternative is too terrible to even contemplate. 

Ed Rodgers, 
Muskogee, OK 




"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."