In Defense of the Faith

Hell-Fire

And when the time for that destruction has come, God by His power converts the water in the streams into pitch and the dust of the earth into brimstone, and then fire begins to rain from heaven. The earth also is melted, thus forming a bottomless lake of fire which will compass the entire earth. And in this the devil, his angels, and all the wicked perish, and the earth is cleansed from sin’s defilement. Note how clearly the following scriptures set forth these truths: DOF 265.1

“They went up on the breadth of the earth, and cornpassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.” “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. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:9, 10, 13-15. DOF 265.2

“Behold, the day comes, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But, unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 4:1-3. DOF 265.3

This, then, is the end of the wicked, and of Satan. They are reduced to ashes. They are utterly annihilated. They are cut off. They are punished with “everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 1:9), but that punishment is everlasting death. It is everlasting in its effects. From the second death there is no resurrection. The punishment therefore is eternal. It is eternal death. Not that they will be eternally dying and yet never die, but they are to be eternally dead. They will never see life again. They are to be “as though they had not been.” Obadiah 16. DOF 266.1

This, then, is hell. Peter speaks of this terrible fire which shall melt and purify the earth as being the “perdition of ungodly men.” (2 Peter 3:7) It is a hell 25,000 miles in circumference. It is hot enough to melt the earth and utterly consume the wicked. God has decreed that those on this earth who follow Satan in his rebellious course against God and His law must also share the fate that awaits him in this caldron of fire. If men refuse salvation God has no alternative but to destroy them, for sin must be eradicated and the kingdom of God be made safe for His people. DOF 266.2

After the fire has done its work and the curse of sin has thus been entirely removed, the fire will go out. The earth will be left a total waste, but it will be clean. Then the great Creator will once more reveal His power by making an entirely new earth out of the ruins of the old one. Says the apostle: DOF 266.3

“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.” “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:10-13. DOF 267.1

“He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” Revelation 21:5, 1. DOF 267.2

Then “the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:11. DOF 267.3