Articles
Hell. Who Made it and What is it For?
Hell. It’s not a comfortable topic, but a necessary one that we should consider carefully. In a previous article, I noted that Hell is real, eternal, and awful. (Matthew 25:46, John 5:29). No big surprise there. But what many people don’t realize is that Hell is a created place that Jesus made. We know this because Colossians 1:16 states:
- “For by Him (JESUS) all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him.”
Also speaking about Jesus, John 1:3 asserts:
- “All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.” (ESV)
The Bible is clear that all things, in heaven or earth, whether you can see them or not, were created through Jesus and for Jesus. By necessary implication this includes Hell. It is a place created by Jesus and in a sense for Jesus (to be used for His purposes). More directly Matthew 25:41 reads:
- "Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels…”
Jesus tells us that Hell is a prepared place. It didn’t just happen by accident. He built it with a purpose in mind, to punish the Devil and his angels. There is a common misconception that Satan oversees Hell and that he and his demons live there and use their pitchforks to torment souls for eternity. This concept is fake news and has no basis in Scripture whatsoever. Truth is, Satan will be one of the tormented in the lake of fire, not the tormentor. Revelation 20:10 reads:
- “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
So, Satan does not rule Hell or lead his demons in tormenting those who are banished there. Rather, the place was created to punish Satan and the demons, not to give them a kingdom to rule. What a testimony to the power and authority of Christ!
To be clear, Hell is a place to punish ALL who are disobedient. There will be wrath for Satan, his angels, and every human being who is self-seeking and does not obey the Truth (Romans 2:5-11.) The good news is that people can avoid Hell. God, in His infinite mercy and love, has offered salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
What are we supposed to do with this information? I will address that in a future article.
-Scott
