The Mystery of Judgment and Hell Fire – Is there Biblical Hope beyond Hell?

“The irony of Hell is this: Hell is often why people either believe in God or reject Him; So, are we really seeking God?” – Anonymous

WARNING: A lengthy write-up;

“The Greatest misunderstanding regarding God is in view of His Judgment & Hell” – Anonymous

“You will only feel the need for no Hell when you are the oppressor; all those who are oppressed know that God repays mightily in Hell” – Unknown

“and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10(

“Then the LORD told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.” (Exodus 3:7)

“Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?

For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.

If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.” (Ecclesiastes 5:6 – 8)

(i) Firstly, what is meant by “Hell”?

The literal English word Hell is not found in the Original Greek/Hebrew/Aramaic Bible.

However, this word can be used as a ‘general term’ regarding ‘any afterlife punishment’ be it ‘Gehenna, unseen punishment regions of Hades/Sheol, Tartarus, spirits locked in prison or even the Lake of Fire’.

We will do so in this brief write-up regarding it.

(ii) The Power of God: ‘Our God is a Consuming Fire’

“This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;

for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:27 – 29)

So, the Purpose of our God being a ‘Consuming Fire’ is to ‘destroy’ those things which can be ‘shaken’.

(iii) Hell cannot be understood through Men’s myths or opinions trying to mimic the ‘Wrath of God’

“for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20)

Thus ‘human desire’ to ‘punish evil’ in the ‘way they want’ is an unwarranted opinion because the ‘Wrath of God’ is Righteous & Purposeful.

Thus, to ‘understand Hell correctly’, we must go to the “Verses only”.

(iv) Why is God Angry?

(a) God’s Anger is directed toward ‘sin’ (any type)

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” (Romans 1:18)

(b) God’s Revenge is not for Himself but ‘toward the evil men have done to others’:

“Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)

(c) God’s Revenge is not for Himself but ‘on behalf of the relatively innocent men’s blood shed by the wicked’:

“and also for the innocent blood which he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; and the LORD would not forgive.” (2 Kings 24:4)

“from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the house of God; yes, I tell you, it shall be charged against this generation.’.” (Luke 11:51)

(d) God repays those who ‘bullied’ (“afflicted”) others in this life from ‘persecution to unfair treatment’ too:

“For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,” (2 Thessalonians 1:6)

(e) God Hates those who practice these things and will punish them ‘according to what they have done’ (some instructive examples):

“There are six things which the LORD hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,

A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,

A false witness who utters lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:16 – 19)

“Thus they provoked Him to anger with their deeds,
And the plague broke out among them.” (Psalm 106:29)

“They also provoked Him to wrath at the waters of Meribah,
So that it went hard with Moses on their account;

Because they were rebellious against His Spirit,
He spoke rashly with his lips.” (Psalm 106:32 – 33)

(f) God’s Punishment is Perfectly Logical but in the end He doesn’t neglect His Great Mercy either as the ‘first context of Israel also shows’ in these verses (in principle):

“But they mingled with the nations
And learned their practices,

And served their idols,
Which became a snare to them.

They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons,

And shed innocent blood,
The blood of their sons and their daughters,
Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
And the land was polluted with the blood.

Thus they became unclean in their practices,
And played the harlot in their deeds.

Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against His people
And He abhorred His inheritance.

Then He gave them into the hand of the nations,
And those who hated them ruled over them.

Their enemies also oppressed them,
And they were subdued under their power.

Many times He would deliver them;
They, however, were rebellious in their counsel,
And so sank down in their iniquity.

Nevertheless He looked upon their distress
When He heard their cry;

And He remembered His covenant for their sake,
And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness.” (Psalm 106:35 – 45)

(g) God Avenges the Innocent blood shed upon the Earth

“Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.” (Jeremiah 2:34)

“They band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death.” (Psalm 94:21)

“Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Their feet are swift to shed blood:

Destruction and misery are in their ways:

And the way of peace have they not known:

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” (Romans 3:13 – 18)

“Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood.

And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things;

for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.”

And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.” (Revelation 16:4 – 7)

(v) God Avenges the Rich oppressors

An example of ‘modern day oppresion’ is by ‘the rich’ toward ‘not’ paying ‘their workers’ fairly & ‘heaping up these treasures for themselves’ which will cause ‘their flesh’ to be ‘eaten by fire’:

“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.

Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.

Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!

Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.” (James 5:1 – 6)

What is the ‘fair wage rate then’?
The amount of wages you would pay if you or your own son worked as that laborer because it is written that “do unto others what you want others to do to you” (Matthew 7:12, “in everything”, including the ‘pay or wages’ aspect too).

“For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.” (Psalm 72:12)

“Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24, Context: This was literally pointing to a ‘good-law-keeping rich man, deep)

(vi) What is the Main Purpose of Judgment?

To “learn righteousnes”:

“At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For when the earth experiences Your judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” (Isaiah 26:9)

(vii) When will He Judge the World?

The “Day of the Lord”:

“Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1 – 3)

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10)

“Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! Why would you have the day of the LORD? It is darkness, and not light,” (Amos 5:18)

“For a cup is in the hand of the LORD, and the wine foams; It is well mixed, and He pours out of this; Surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs.” (Psalm 75:8)

“he also will drink of the wine of the anger of God, having been mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath; and he will be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy angels and before the Lamb.” (Revelation 14:10)

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.

And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11 – 15)

(viii) The Unquenchable Fire

What is “burned” by the “Fire of God”?

“The strong man will become tinder,
His work also a spark.
Thus they shall both burn together
And there will be none to quench them.” (Isaiah 1:31)

““So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age.

“The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness,

and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:40 – 42)

(ix) Does the phrase “Unquenchable Fire” mean Eternal Fire? How about the “eternal fire” described in Jude?

The answer: No!

Let’s begin with an interesting question:

“what this verse means in terms of salvation of all mankind? “And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh”….Isaiah 66:24”

An answer:

It’s the same as the “fire not quenched” as Christ used to describe Gehenna in the NT verses (Mark 9:44; Mark 9:48).

The key is to note that both the phrases “their worm does not die” and “fire not quenched” does “not” indicate “time” but rather that while it’s performed (carried out) nothing can stop that Judgment!

We know for sure that it’s no indicator of time from the writings in the book of Jeremiah itself (let Scripture interpret Scripture – as to whether a phrase indicates any reference to say, “time” or not especially in previous usage; see Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 7:20; Jeremiah 17:27).

Indeed, in Jeremiah (see the verses mentioned above), some “earthly” Judgment was also described with the phrase “the fire shall not be quenched”. But we know now (more than 2000 years later), — after that prophecy– was fulfilled, that no “fire” is literally or continuously burning till today! (indicating “time” is not what is referred to by those phrases but rather that it’s fulfillment cannot be altered during when it occurs).

Note also by Christ speaking both phrases literally “together” implies that their meaning refers to the same punishment with regards to its same aspect without referring to duration or “time”.

Lastly, the punishment at Gehenna (hell) is described with the word “age-during” only (1 age – limited – indicated in “time”- Matthew 25:46).

A good verse in Jude 7 or (Jude 1:7) also mentions this usage of an equivalent derivation of the root word “aion” (age) in describing the “age-during fire” (not eternal fire as many translations wrongly render) that came upon as “punishment” on Sodom & Gomorrah .

Lastly, do take note that the translations “eternal fire” in Jude are proven “wrong” since no fire is burning continuously till “today”, how much more “forever and ever” (even in verses which literally describe the duration of such divine fire in “time”!).

Now let’s deal with further verses:

Psalm 9:5 “You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked;
You have blotted out their name forever (same word in Hebrew) and ever.”

“But the LORD abides forever;
He has established His throne for judgment,” (Psalm 9:7)

Question: How can the Lord Abide forever? and also the wicked’s names be blotted out with the same forever. It literally seems like forever?
How about this second verse:
Psalm 81:15:
“Those who hate the LORD would pretend obedience to Him,
And their time of punishment would be forever.”
An answer:
If you take the Bible “literally”, you’ll find its non-contradicting accuracy to its “last jot”.

For the first verse in Psalm 9:5, even the popular literal YLT translation makes a mistake by translating it incorrectly as “to the age & for ever”. The mistake is in the translation of the second part which is supposed to be “permanently” (or always) and not “for ever”.

Thus your first verse in Psalm 9:5, is supposed to literally ( be translated) as “to the age, permanently (always)” but not in the sense of “forever” but the the appointed time until which it’s to hold (most likely to the ‘age’ into which it is to ‘hold’).

Why? Check out this “exact” word in Leviticus 25:46 for which almost all translations do “not” render it as “for ever” simply because it would then teach “everlasting” slavery!
The LORD abides to the “age” does not mean after the age He does not abide anymore (by interpreting such we “add” our own thinking to it without taking what’s literally stated here).

So, what’s literally stated here? His presence (abiding) is highlighted (or emphasized) to the age (why an age? As long as the 1-age during Covenant is to “last”.

It’s similar and is done in Scripture say when God is said in OT Scriptures as God of Israel (almost all the time). Why? He is highlighted (or emphasized) as God for those obedient ones who kept His OT Covenant. That’s all is written. It in no way implies that He’s “not” the God of all etc (to derive such would literally mean adding to the Word because such words are “not written”).
You may also view the verse* in Psalm 9:5 with the literal phrase “to the age, permanently” to mean the punishment of the wicked is last to the “age” (agreeing with the age-during correction of Matthew 25:46 — in NT Scripture) but its carrying out and effects are “permanent” (relative to those wicked men’s punishment age) just like this same Hebrew word appears in Leviticus 25:46 to mean that a slave is “not” a slave “forever” but rather “to the age” (of him being a slave) .

The “effect” is further “stressed” upon (or emphasized) in Psalm 9:5 but not in Leviticus 24:46 which is evidenced by the slightly different phraseology used! This is probably due to the intent of highlighting it until the fulfilment of the prophecy in Revelation where “the remembrance of the former things” — which includes those wicked acts — is to be “remembered no more”– when He Who sits on the throne makes “All things New” — Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:4 — His Words are Faithful and True — Revelation 21:5).

For the second verse in consideration (Psalm 81:15), it’s even “easier” (due to a slightly different Hebrew phrase or word used here):

The YLT literal translation gets it “right” here:

“Those hating Jehovah feign obedience to Him, But their time is — to the age.” (Psalm 81:15)

Note: It’s both literally true and clear (agreeing to NT Scripture — e.g. Matthew 25:46) that the punishment of the wicked is to an “age” (1 singular age only) – limited — “age during chastisement/correction” – to be exact.Note that to view Judgment with no reference to Time, one is “not wise” as the verse below “literally” states too:
“Whoso is keeping a command knoweth no evil thing, and time and judgment the heart of the wise knoweth.” (Ecclesiastes 8:5)

*Note: The Hebrew word wā·‘ed (transliterated) literally means “permanently” and thus the phrase “le·‘ō·lām wā·‘ed” (example of occurrence: Psalm 9:5; Daniel 12:3) means to the “age, permanently”. Note that “wā·‘ed ” does not mean “eternity, ever” nor “age” by itself.

It just implies or stresses on the thing talked about (punishment; God’s Glory; Slavery; Brightness etc) as to being “permanent” with respect to (or “relative” to) the “age” (le·‘ō·lām — which is the word that is describing the limited age-during time duration for each of its occurrence in the phrase “le·‘ō·lām wā·‘ed”)

(x) How about comparing both views of Hell?

View 1 (hell is eternal)

According to the Bible, though, hell is just as real as heaven. The Bible clearly teaches that hell is a real place to which the wicked / unbelieving are sent after death. We have all sinned against God (Romans 3:23). The just punishment for that sin is death (Romans 6:23). Since all of our sin is ultimately against God (Psalm 51:4), and since God is an infinite and eternal Being, the punishment for sin, death, must also be infinite and eternal. Hell is this infinite and eternal death which we have earned because of our sin.

The punishment of the wicked dead in hell is described throughout Scripture as “eternal fire” (Matthew 25:41), “unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12), “shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2), a place where “the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44-49), a place of “torment” and “fire” (Luke 16:23-24), “everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:9), a place where “the smoke of torment rises forever and ever” (Revelation 14:10-11), and a “lake of burning sulfur” where the wicked are “tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

Hell is real. Hell is a place of torment and punishment that lasts forever and ever, with no end. Praise God that, through Jesus, we can escape this eternal fate (John 3:16, 18, 36).

John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me”.

View 2 (UR – Universal Reconciliation)

Now here’s the above rewritten for view 2 (hell is not eternal) — ignore the grammar mistakes.

According to the Bible, though, hell is just as real as heaven. The Bible clearly teaches that hell is a real place to which the wicked / unbelieving are sent after death. We have all sinned against God (Romans 3:23). The just punishment for that sin is death (not eternal hell- Romans 6:23). Since all of our sin is ultimately against God (Psalm 51:4), and since God is an infinite and eternal Being, the punishment for sin, death, (sin does not originate from Him – thus cannot be in itself eternal) must therefore be finite and to a limited time only. Hell is this finite (not God’s Will that any should remain there eternally) and death we earned because of our sin.

The punishment of the wicked dead in hell is described throughout Scripture as “age-during fire” (literally meaning in fire for one age- limited time–Matthew 25:46), “unquenchable fire” (not a time description – but that while it is carried out, the fire cannot be stopped by the creature till it fulfills its purpose to destroy evil in it–Matthew 3:12), “shame and age-during contempt” (again, to one age only, literally–Daniel 12:2), a place where “the fire is not quenched” (as before, not a time description but severity–Mark 9:44-49), a place of “torment” and “fire” (agreed–Luke 16:23-24), “everlasting destruction” (age-during destruction – I repeat, literally to one limited time age only–2 Thessalonians 1:9), a place where “the smoke of torment rises ages of Ages — really long time but limited & not forever–there’s not gonna be any smoke rising forever” (Revelation 14:10-11), and a “lake of burning sulfur” where the wicked are “tormented day and night to the ages of Ages — really long time but limited & not forever– I repeat” (Revelation 20:10).

Hell is real. Hell is a place of torment and punishment that lasts to the ages of Ages for Satan & his troops while men’s punishment is to one-singular age only, both with a sure end. Praise God that, through Jesus, we can escape this hell — that’s why He is Saviour of the world (John 3:16, 18, 36) & (John 4:42, 1 John 4:14).

John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you age-during life. But the Scriptures point to Me” (come to Christ Jesus our Blessed Lord to obtain the reward of life in the coming age). End (literally – no adding nor removing of the Word).

(xi) How is God Love in His Wrath too?

How will the Purpose of Judgment be achieved in Love, in the end through “His Wrath” too?

The One Purpose of His Wrath, please consider with “verses”:

“The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.

Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy: for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.” (Zephaniah 1:14-18 KJV)

A Classic.

All of God’s Anger also results in Perfect Good only as its “end” result.

When the Book of prophet Zephaniah is quoted in “full”, we see the “Good” even in God’s “Fierce or Full Anger” in that it “Results” in “all people” turning to “Jehovah” (God) and serving Him in “One” shoulder (i.e. in “one accord”).

Here are those verses:

(1) All His fierce wrath poured:

“Therefore, wait for Me — an affirmation of Jehovah (God), For the day of My rising for prey, For My judgment [is] to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them Mine indignation, All the heat of Mine anger, For by the fire of My jealousy consumed is all the earth.” (Zephaniah 3:8)

(2) The result of His Wrath especially upon “all of those” upon whom it was poured (in verse 8 above):

“For then do I turn unto peoples a pure lip, To call all of them by the Name of Jehovah, To serve Him [with] one shoulder.” (Zephaniah 3:9)

(xii) None Can Pay – Is Hell Eternal?

Here’s a set of verses from the KJV translation which seem to teach that:

“None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)” (KJV, Psalm 49:7 – 8)

Here’s a translation of that exact same set of verses from a ‘literal’ (more accurate) translation:

“A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.

And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased — to the age.” (YLT, Psalm 49:7 – 8)

As we see from the ‘correct’ more literal translation, these set of verses do not imply ‘eternal hell’ or an ‘impossibility beyond a fixed time period called the age’.

Few points:

(1) We cannot redeem our brother though we are Saved, only Christ can

(2) Notice that a time period is mentioned (conditional) to the ‘age only’ (not forever).

(3) Thus, that “costly redemption” can only be done by “Christ” and “after the age-during punishment in fire” as New Testament verses reveal in detail.

(4) That verse speaks only our inability, Not God’s (verse 7). It has to be Read with the next verse (verse 8) which explains this inability causes such to be unredeemed to remain such to the age. And that redemption is costly, and not of infinite cost or unpayable (“costly implies measurability & hence payability of ransom too but not by us). The Answer to such problems were hidden then (during Old Testament times), but now revealed in the New Testament verses, it’s Solution in Christ Jesus alone.

(5) In the rich man & lazarus story too, we find similar ‘impossibilities’ (for anyone except Christ) to ‘cross the chasm’ or ‘save from from Hell’ as Christ ‘did solve both impossibility’when He was in the spirit as the ‘first occurrence’ (not the only occurrence) of this is mentioned Mysteriously in 1 Peter 3:18 – 20. Thereafter, a general principle of it applying to the judgment of the living & the dead (1 Peter 4:5) especially with the intent of God to make ‘the dead hear the gospel’, ‘be judged after hearing it’ & followingly still at the end (in that order) ‘live to God in the spirit’ is concluded in 1 Peter 4:6.

What does it mean?
The soul of those who cannot be redeemed remain such to the ‘age’ (a long, but fixed unknown time period). This agrees with the “age-during punishment” (Matthew 25:46) with regards to the duration of the Punishment, exactly. Christ Saving the dead after the Gospel is Preached to them, following after which they are judged (in Hell) & they too will eventually ‘live to God in spirit’ too as 1 Peter 4:6 mentions this Mystery (agreeing with other verses that Christ solves this ‘ancient problem’ by His Righteous Act alone, 1 Timothy 4:10, John 12:32).

Indeed, He (Jesus) is the ‘Ransom’ (payment for the “costly redemption”) for “all” (not believers only) but it will ‘be a testimony, be testified’ (or come true, come to pass) in its appropriate “times” (plural, various ‘kairois’ or divine time appointed for their Salvation accordingly, beyond this life as well) as it is aptly put:

“Who (Jesus) did give Himself a ransom for all — the testimony in its own times –” (1 Timothy 2:6)

P/S:

What is the benefit of believing in the Gospel in this life itself? One will be ‘saved’ without ‘being judged (punished)’ for their sins being believers as it is written:

“‘Verily, verily, I say to you — he who is hearing My word, and is believing Him Who sent Me, hath life age-during, and to judgment he doth not come, but hath passed out of the death to the life.” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:24)

*1 Peter 4:6 clearly implies that “the dead” who hear the Gospel there (in Hell or Judgment Day) cannot escape their Judgment (will be punished first, a long time in the age) and only thereafter, finally, “live to God in spirit”.

Conclusion

What’s the Logic & Fairness in the Hell Concept with regards to Justice & Love?

Judgment and Hope beyond life on earth

Judgment is there for those not believing in Him as they ‘die in their sins’ (John 8:24):

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27)

—> Judgment is ‘not’ forever but to the “age” (original word used In Scripture) for ‘life vs punishment’ accordingly:

“And these shall go away to punishment age-during, but the righteous to life age-during.’” (Matthew 25:46)

—-> Judgment for punishment is only till ‘the last cent’ is paid (implying an ‘end in time’)

“Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.” (Matthew 5:26)

*Just because one is punished for their sins at Hell or even the Lake of Fire, it doesn’t make them able to enter thereafter simply because there is “no” holiness in them for which we need the “Faith of Christ” to have the “Righteousness of God” imputed upon us as discussed prior.

—-> In Hell or Lake of Fire too, punishment allowed matches the ‘level of cruelty’ according to ‘what one has done only’ as a ‘man reaps what he sows accordingly’ (“no” mocking against God regarding these ‘perfect’ principles is logical in any way when ‘understood correctly’) as “verses” reveal truth as follows too:

“Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him ; for what his hands have done shall be done unto him.” (Isaiah 3:11)

“My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:35)

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

—> Even to the ‘merciless judgment’ upon a ‘merciless one’, Scripture implies an “end” to such a Judgment because “Mercy still triumphs over judgment” too (stopping such a Judgment as well):

“For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13)

Agreeing to a ‘conclusion’ verse that even the one ‘breaking’ His Commandments will eventually be ‘in His Kingdom of the heaven’s too (by “His Mercy” to ‘all’ as seen earlier as well):

“Whoever therefore breaks one of these least commandments and teaches others to break them, will be called the least in the Kingdom of the Heavens; but whoever practises them and teaches them, he will be acknowledged as great in the Kingdom of the Heavens.” (Matthew 5:19)

Truly, God is Good all the time even His Judgments too repaying evil accordingly but also making a way for ‘all’ to be saved or reconciled to Him eventually by the ‘Faith of Christ’ Alone (for men & beyond as He Wills):

“We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.” (2 Samuel 14:14)

“which He lavished upon us in all wisdom and understanding,

having made known to us the mystery of His Will according to His pleasure, which He purposed in Him

for the dispensation of the fullness of the times, to bring together all things in Christ—the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth— [in Him]” (Ephesians 1:8 – 10)

“and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in the heavens.” (Colossians 1:20)