Biblically Dispelling the Myth of Eternal Torture

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Biblically Dispelling the Myth of Eternal Torture

by Dirk Waren

Book web site www.hellhadesafterlife.com/hell
Visit author's web site at www.hellhadesafterlife.com.

Chapter Eight

Morality & Justice and Other Issues Related to Damnation

Although the most important reason for rejecting the notion of eternal conscious torture is simply because the bible does not teach it, there are of course other strong arguments in opposition to it. Not the least being that it is utterly repulsive to the instinctive moral and judicial senses of any human being that possesses an inkling of compassion.

Eternal Conscious Torture: Immoral and Unjust

As mentioned in Chapter One, the idea of God subjecting his human enemies to never-ending conscious agony would make Him morally worse than Hitler. After all, Hitler may have diabolically tortured, burned and gassed to death millions of people, but He at least ultimately allowed them to perish. By contrast, the doctrine of perpetual agony suggests that, even though God has the power to mercifully execute people cast into hell, He will instead choose to sadistically keep them alive, with no merciful pause or end to their torment. This is outrageously immoral.

As far as justice goes, tell me, what sin or lifestyle of sin could possibly deserve never-ending conscious torment? Is it not plain that finite sins committed in time and space cannot possibly deserve infinite punishing? Such a perverse sentence goes completely against God’s Old Testament equalitarian standard of justice—an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (see Exodus 21:24 and Leviticus 24:20). In the past some have argued that an unredeemed person’s sins are worthy of infinite punishing (i.e. eternal torture) because they are committed against an infinite majesty. This argument may have been remotely plausible in more class-conscious times, like the medieval era, but it simply will not work today. Think about it, do we base the severity of punishment on the honor of the victim—as if murdering a governor is worse than murdering a janitor? Of course not. No judge today would determine the degree of punishment based on the honor of the victim (Pinnock 151-152).

The scriptures declare that God is perfectly just (Deuteronomy 32:4) and will punish every sinful person that rebels against him according to his/her degree of guilt, but his morality and justice forbids him from exacting a more extreme punishment than the one He Himself declared—that is, death. Job’s friends, Eliphaz and Elihu, rightly argued, “Can a mortal be more just than God? Can a man be more pure than His Maker?” “Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong” (Job 4:17, 34:10). It is impossible for a mortal human being to be more just or moral than God, yet which of us, unless utterly debased, would consider torturing even a dog in fire for ten seconds, let alone for all eternity?

John McKee, a supporter of eternal torture, honestly admits that everlasting suffering is an unpleasant idea, but argues that “we simply do not reject something because our flesh does not like it. On the contrary, what we humanly do not like is what is usually true” (3). McKee is arguing here that the very reason we should not reject eternal torture is because we instinctively have a strong aversion to it. According to this insane line of reasoning sexual molestation of children would be good because we instinctively consider it repulsive and perverted. Also, McKee is suggesting that it is our flesh that does not like the notion of eternal torture when in reality it is our God-given sense of morality and justice that has an aversion to it. We all naturally possess this sense of morality and justice because we’ve been created in the likeness of God Himself. Our God-given instincts and logical reasoning tell us that never-ending conscious torment for temporal disobedience does not make sense; thus every attempt to justify eternal torture falls hopelessly short (Griesmeyer 13:3).

The bottom line is that this sadistic doctrine of perpetual conscious suffering is absolutely inconsistent with the just, loving, moral character of our Almighty Creator as revealed in the bible. It would be inhumane not to question such a glaringly immoral and unjust belief. To the unbeliever, a loving God that endlessly tortures people is appalling and ludicrous; Christianity is made out to be a mockery because of this. It is such an obvious contradiction and falsehood that it turns many people off to Christianity altogether (ibid.). Supporters of eternal torture insist that this belief encourages people to convert to Christianity, but the reverse is actually true.

The whole matter is resolved by the view of everlasting destruction, which holds that the second death is both punitive and consumptive. Condemned people who sinfully reject God’s love in Christ are cast into Gehenna primarily for the purpose of eradication. They chose sin, and Gehenna, the lake of fire, is where they will reap the unfortunate wages of their choice—death. Yes, there will be a period of suffering as divine justice properly dictates for each individual—perhaps a split second, perhaps longer—but any such suffering will mercifully end in the ultimate just punishment, namely everlasting total extermination with no hope of resurrection.

Eternal Conscious Torture: the Ultimate Evil

The idea of never-ending conscious agony is so completely revolting to our instinctive moral and judicial senses that we could fittingly call it the ultimate evil. If we’re honest about the matter, this is exactly what it is. After all, is it possible to come up with a worse notion than perpetual fiery conscious misery—with no merciful respite or end to the suffering? The mere idea is so disturbing that it makes it a very hard subject to discuss calmly. How can anyone with an ounce of human compassion contemplate the idea dispassionately when the view of ceaseless torture is so profoundly disturbing?

Because of its disturbing nature, many Christians naturally struggle with the doctrine of eternal torment. It even provokes some to doubt the infallibility of the God-breathed scriptures. Others have attempted to modify the belief a bit. They have revised it from the diabolic impression of tormenting physical and mental agony in literal flames for all eternity to a more metaphorical and ambiguous impression, that of never-ending mental anguish from loss and “eternal separation from God.”

As already pointed out in Chapter One, this modification is no “improvement” at all. Whether unending physical and mental pain in literal flames or equally grievous perpetual mental anguish because of loss and separation, the notion is exactly the same—never-ending conscious torture with no merciful pause or end. The idea is equally sadistic and evil. Those of us who have experience with severe depression know this all too well. The only improvement this reform may offer is that it no doubt helps the evangelistic efforts of those who adhere to this view—being that eternal “separation from God” is a rather vague and unthreatening notion.

How our Almighty Creator ultimately deals with those people who choose sin and reject his gift of reconciliation speaks volumes. It tells us a lot about His character: Is He just, fair and merciful in his judgment or unjust, merciless and sadistic? This is immensely important because how we perceive the God we worship will naturally reflect in us. If we have an improper understanding of God’s character (based on the unjust and merciless way He ultimately condemns his human enemies), it will in turn have a detrimental affect upon our own character. The reason this is so is because people are always naturally transformed into the likeness of that which they worship, idolize or idealize. This psychological principle has a biblical basis:

PSALM 115:2-8

Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” (3) Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him.(4) But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.5) They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see;(6) they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; (7) they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. (8) Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

The text is saying that those who worship literal idols will become just as spiritually deaf, dumb and blind as idols. Most people today will not worship literal idols; but they have other “idols,” and they are naturally transformed into their likeness. For instance, the person who idolizes money will become the embodiment of greed and materialism; the juvenile who idolizes a self-destructive pop star will naturally start to acquire self-destructive tendencies, etc., etc.

Most Christians today only nominally adhere to the teaching of everlasting torture. They adhere to it only because it remains in the doctrinal books, not necessarily because they have a strong conviction about it. They naturally tend to ignore the subject because they are secretly ashamed of it and this, once again, explains the mysterious silence on the issue in most Christian circles. Since such people don’t really perceive the God they worship as an eternal torturer this diabolic belief has no real detrimental effect on their character.

But what of those who staunchly support the belief of never-ending conscious punishing? I don’t think it’s possible to be a strong proponent of this immoral, unjust doctrine without it having a seriously negative impact on one’s character. Why? Because, once again, people are naturally transformed into the likeness of that which they worship. If they strongly believe their God will cruelly subject His human enemies to merciless unending torture, then they will themselves start to transform into this image of monstrous heartlessness.

I am reminded of this talk show which showed a group of religious “Christians” screaming at people in a department store parking lot. Waving their bibles, they were shouting lines like “You’re all going to hell!” (Of course what they really meant by this was “You’re all gonna be tortured forever and ever!)” Needless to say, they looked like hideous fiends, and to think that such people actually believe they’re obediently doing God’s will. What deception.

I can’t help but be a mite suspect of the character of those who unswervingly defend the eternal torture doctrine. I’m talking about those who are so rigidly staunch about the subject that they respond to the view of literal everlasting destruction with a deathly scowl—the type that would go as far as to shun, slander and excommunicate adherents of everlasting destruction (that is, if it were in their power to do so). Sure, we could chalk this up to their blind adherence to religious tradition, etc. (as noted in the previous chapter), but the overwhelming clear biblical evidence for literal destruction should at least compel these people to openly admit that the eternal torture doctrine might not be true. You would expect them to at least admit that everlasting destruction is a viable alternative to their eternal conscious torture.

What I’m getting at is that never-ending torment is such a fiendish notion that it can only originate from the dark recesses of the flesh, the carnal side of the human psyche. I say this because the flesh is the cesspool that gives birth to every perverted, ungodly, sadistic, hateful human thought. Have you seen some of the many ghastly portraits from medieval times which attempted to depict eternal torture in hell? This was apparently one of the favorite artistic subjects of the Dark Ages and the artists evidently put a lot of thought and imagination into their depictions (needless to say, these people had way too much time on their hands). I am reminded of one particularly repugnant piece that portrayed naked people being devoured by a colossal demonic beast and coming out its hind end. This is flesh—perversion of the lowest depth! I find it hard to comprehend that a godly Christian would dare to suggest that God is not only the creator of such a disgusting environment but that He’s the One who mercilessly condemns people to perpetually experience it without relief as well. (See Appendix B for a biblical examination of the flesh and human nature).

I personally believe that these people who staunchly support eternal torture—these folks who almost seem to relish the idea of human beings consciously roasting in agony for all eternity and who become ridiculously irate when a fellow Christian rejects such a ghastly view (even though based upon a thorough biblical analysis)—I believe that such people have given reign to their flesh in this one area. Their very character must be questioned; it has somehow become warped and perverted. I say this because they would zealously do everything in their power to oppose supporters of everlasting destruction. Some go as far as to teach that adherents of literal destruction aren’t even saved, that they aren’t fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord. Such people have such a sinister, repulsive, hostile air to them that I wouldn’t doubt that, if this was the Inquisition era of medieval infamy, they would not hesitate to put to death or torture adherents of everlasting destruction (!!).

These are strong words, I know, but in view of the facts it’s obvious that something went severely wrong with these people’s spiritual development somewhere along the line. I seriously can’t help but pity their spouses and children.

Child-Killing and Abortion—Justifiable Crimes to Escape the Ultimate Evil?!!

With this realization that eternal conscious torment is indeed the ultimate evil, this would make any measure to help others escape it justifiable—even committing a “lesser” evil to do so. For instance, we know God does not hold children accountable until they reach the age of accountability. Before the age of accountability children are spiritually alive; after the age of accountability they’re spiritually dead (Paul seems to have been implying this in Romans 7:9). Thus if children die before the age of accountability they are guaranteed salvation unto eternal life because God will not hold them accountable for their sins. If we interpret eternal damnation to mean never-ending conscious torture, then we’d actually be doing children a favor by killing them before they reach the age of accountability, because we’d be guaranteeing their rescue from unending conscious agony, the ultimate evil. This is, of course, in light of the fact that most theologians believe that the majority of people will be damned (based upon texts like Matthew 7:13-14), so the odds are against people born into this world escaping condemnation to hell. In light of all this, murdering a child—unquestionably an evil act—essentially becomes a merciful and virtuous act because it wound insure the child’s rescue from the ultimate evil, living forever in torturous misery. It therefore comes as no surprise that there have been actual cases where parents, heavily indoctrinated by the theology of eternal torture, have killed their children, believing it was for their good (!!). This is potent testimony to how destructive this warped theology can be if truly taken seriously.

We could say the same of abortion. In most Christian circles abortion is considered a great evil in society today, but the view of eternal torture would actually make abortion a virtuous act. After all, killing a child in the womb would guarantee his/her salvation from perpetual existence in utter agony.

In fact, unending conscious agony is such an outrageously evil concept that it would be better not to have children at all. Why give birth to children if the odds are they will end up living forever in perpetual torture? Better to not even take the risk.

One might suggest that the very same arguments could be used in opposition to the view of everlasting destruction. Not really. According to the view of literal everlasting destruction everyone is blessed with a certain number of years of life and given the choice to accept or reject God’s gracious gift of reconciliation and eternal life through Jesus Christ. If they stubbornly choose to reject God, then He has no choice but to justly-but-mercifully eradicate them from existence, for “the wages of sin is death.” Even if this is unfortunately the case, these people at least enjoyed a certain amount of years of life to live as they freely chose. It could thus never be argued that life was not worth living for them. Permanently eradicating people from existence is indeed severe—and people should contemplate the ultimate consequence of their sin very seriously—but it is by no means the ultimate evil. In fact, as already pointed out, it is both a just and merciful measure on God’s part.

Universalism—Will All Be Saved Eventually?

The religious traditional teaching that hell refers to never-ending fiery conscious torture has naturally given birth to the doctrine of universalism, also known as universal restoration or restorationism. Universalism teaches that all people will eventually be saved—even evil, ungodly people. Evidently, Universalists believe such people will go through some kind of purging process before acquiring eternal life. Universalists who claim to adhere to the teachings of scripture suggest that the purpose of the lake of fire is not to torment or consume, but to purge people of evil in preparation to receiving eternal life. They base their belief in universal salvation on a smattering of biblical texts, such as:

1 CORINTHIANS 15:22

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:19 a

that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.

1 TIMOTHY 4:10 b

… God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

Universalism is an appealing notion in some ways, but it goes against the clear teachings of scripture. We’ve seen throughout this study that the bible plainly indicates two possible destinies for humankind: life or death, salvation or destruction. The idea that people cast into the lake of fire will eventually be purged of their sins and receive eternal life would make utter nonsense of the scriptures. Let’s consider a few examples:

What the bible states:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” — Matthew 7:13-14