On Death and Hell

Hell has become a sacred topic that stirs emotions and even anger whenever its gates are challenged. It leaves one to wonder if hell has become an idol.

Today millions of Christians ascribe to it an eternal quality (a quality that only belongs to the Spirit of God). And as hell is elevated to such stature, so is death.

However, we read in scripture that a time will come when “there will be no more death” (Rev. 21:14).

Death, sin and hell are synonymous. Death is a consequence of separation from the life of God. Death in all its physical or spiritual forms encompasses sin. Paul tells us that through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin and death spread to all men, because all sinned (Rom. 5:12). Thus the wages of sin is death and death the condition of hell. That’s why Hades is called the realm of the dead.

But when death (the last enemy) is destroyed (1 Cor. 15:26), death will be no more having been abolished by Jesus Christ who has the keys (authority) of Hades and death (2 Tim. 1:10, Rev. 1:18).

Although many today sing the victory of death and hell, Paul affirms with a joyous declaration: “O death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is thy victory?”

John the revelator also bears witness to this truth as he sees in vision death and Hades destroyed being cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14). Then he hears those final words from heaven:

“No more death”

The question follows, if there is no more death and thus no more sin in the finality of God’s plan, how can there still be an eternal hell inhabited by dead men bound in sins and trespasses?