There's a computer in my home that I just cannot get rid of. It has a pesky virus that I know has corrupted my hard drive. I am just not ready to let it go. I like to think that this PC can be representative of the unevangelized within the context of this illustration. The computer and its contents can be saved by taking it to get anti-viral software. However, I have not done so yet, due to a variety of reasons, including unbelief that all of my contents will be truly saved and that its technology is outdated. At, any rate, the state that my computer is in is useless and is headed for total destruction. Now if I never introduce anti-viral software, there would be no difference in the destiny of my computer than me throwing it away forever at a later time, after implementing the software. The choice alone is mine.
This demonstration represents three of my beliefs about the destiny of those who are unevangelized and their subsequent experience in hell. First, I am an exclusivist and believe that the unevangelized are not saved. Secondly, their fate is no worse off than if they had heard and rejected the gospel. Finally, those who suffer hell are eventually destroyed through annihilation. Instead of using the two arguments that our text uses to defend the annihilationist view, which are that the cruelty of hell is inconsistent with both God's love and victory, I would like to briefly include two other perspectives. First, I'd like to factor in my belief of the state of the dead, and secondly, the context of hell to its intended inhabitants.
To begin with, the unevangelized destination is hell. Salvation is predicated on the fact that there are those who will be lost. Everyone deserves death according to their works, according to Romans 6:23. Everyone is lost- unless they accept Jesus. It is unfortunate that the gospel has not reach the whole world yet. I do not think that God is unjust because he does not save everyone. God is so just that in order for at least one person to be saved, He had to watch his perfect son die for sins of the entire world.
God says that he places his word even above himself, Psalm 138:2. God's word is inerrant. God is sovereign. God's plan of salvation supersedes that of lost man. To get salvation, you must receive it the way He prescribes. There is only one way to receive it. Even if you do not know how to receive it, there is no exception to the rule. The consequences never hearing the gospel are the same as the consequences of not being saved. Unfortunately, a sinner who has not heard the gospel is no worse off than he deserves.
With that being said, what is hell like for them? The bible says that the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. I think that because of sin we all have to experience death once. But those who are lost will experience death at least twice. The last time is forever, never to be resurrected again, after judgment when they are cast into the Lake of Fire. Their punishment is eternal in many ways including that their punishment in hell's fire will be so effective that it will feel like eternity to the lost one. Secondly, it will be forever recorded in the lamb's book of life. Finally, those who are saved have eternal life the remembrances of the consequences of sin and rebellion will live on. According to the revelations 1:18 Christ has the keys to hell and death. In Revelations 20:13 and 14, death and hell gives up their wicked to be judged before their second death. Then, both hell and death are cast into the lake of fire. Destruction by definition is permanent; hell itself is temporary.
This brings me to another point, hell, taken in context, was meant for Satan and his angels. They know what eternity means and the consequences of annihilation holds a greater punishment for them.
We cannot fathom eternity yet because we have not experienced it. We can conceptualize it as intelligent human beings and value it, however, Satan and angels have experienced eternity. So, we are nearsighted when it comes to eternity. We can trust that God's wrath will be quenched by hell's fire. We can trust that His enemies' destruction will suffice. Who knows how long it takes for an angelic being to be destroyed by fire. It may seem like forever to me, a human being. I would like to think that there are levels of punishment in hell as there are rewards in heaven. Furthermore, I believe that after God get rid of sin in this world, he won't need hell's fire after he creates a new heaven and a new earth.
Now, let's briefly revisit the example of my virus ridded computer. Right now, because I have not followed through with my decision to totally destroy my PC, it is sitting in an unconscious state upon my desk. The power is turned off but it can be resurrected, either to life or before eternal destruction. I can destroy it by fire. And if I do, it does not have to burn for long before it is annihilated. It will not stay powered on forever and ever. The files will be destroyed never to be resurrected, and the power will never return to the unit. The status of the PC in its powered off mode now is like the state of the dead who are lost. I make this point in contrast to the point made by the classical view in the textbook. The authors say that, "It seems odd for God to resurrect people from the dead only to annihilate them," (Boyd and Eddy, 2007, pg. 256). I believe the state of the dead is a deep sleep, therefore, death, like hell is temporal (I Thessalonians 4:14-18, John 11:11). Who holds the keys to death and the grave? Jesus does!
I must be honest in saying that the Classical view has its advantages and intriguing arguments, though they are not strong enough to sway my beliefs. The strongest argument from the opposing view is that Jesus' own words seem to paint a picture of eternal torment in hell. I don't believe that my view opposes what Christ said as I presented it. Obviously destruction in hell's fire will not be instantaneous, rather it there will be consciousness until destruction. But once, you are destroyed, you are gone for good. I am glad that the nature of hell is not a fundamental belief. I believe that if it was, God would have included it in the wording of John 3:16 or, along the Roman Road.
In conclusion, I believe that hells nature is clearly debatable but its existence is the end of the road for every unbeliever, unevangelized or not. One cannot say that hell's fire has to be eternal to be effective in evangelism because it is not always effective. Eternal life with Jesus is prize enough. Death is not the same as being destroyed in hell. And Hell was not meant for humans, but for the fallen angelic beings, Satan, the beast, the false prophet and the like. Hell's fire is more than adequate Carry out God's punishment of the wicked. The wicked will be totally annihilated and in the end so will Death and Hell according to Revelations 20:13, 14. Everyone is lost- unless they accept Jesus. How can you accept Jesus unless you hear of Him? The destruction of the unevangelized is unfortunate, however God's is sovereign and just, for they will endure no more than they deserve.
i. I am an exclusivist that believes that some who died prior to Christ’s incarnation will be saved. My views are not based on the postmortem view, or the God knows their hearts theory. However, I hold this view based on some facts about the sacrificial system, Biblical accounts and God’s sovereignty. Due to brevity I will not be arguing this point in this paper at this time.
Boyd, Gregory A. and Paul R. Eddy. Accross the Spectrum; Understanding the Issues in Evangelical Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007.
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