What is Hell?

In our Sunday School class, we’ve been exploring the biblical teaching on the End Times.  Part of that exploration has dealt with Hell. 

Many today see Hell as an eternal separation from God.  We explored that idea based on 2 Thessalonians 1:9, but also studied why Hell as an eternal separation from God is not the best understanding of Scripture.  

Hell and 2 Thessalonians 1:9

Our New Testament translations say something to the effect that Hell “is the punishment of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might.” 

“Away from” and “from” are both translations of the Greek word apo.  Apo is ambiguous and can carry a couple of meanings.  To carry the ambiguity of the Greek into English, “from” would be a better translation. 

Yes, “from” could mean that hell is an eternity away from God’s presence.  However, “from” could just as well mean that hell is an eternity caused by God’s presence. 

Hell being caused by God’s eternal presence is the better of the understanding.  Why?

1. God is omnipresent, so no place exists where God is not, including in eternity.  This should be an obvious no-brainer for Christians. 
2. In 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Paul is referring back to the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 2:10, 19, 21.
   • Isaiah 2:10: “hide in the dust from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty.”
     1. “From before” is a translation of the Hebrew word min.  Min means “from,” but also “by” and “because of.” 
     2. So Isaiah is saying to hide–not away from–but because of the Lord’s presence.
   • Isaiah 2:19 and 21 describe the same scenario using the same Hebrew word min.  

Saying that Hell is an eternal separation from God based on the ambiguity of the Greek word apo is weak, especially considering God’s omnipresence, which Scripture teaches in many places.  If you factor in Isaiah’s use of the Hebrew word min, the case is closed.

So what is Hell?  Hell is being in God’s eternal presence without Christ’s righteousness to make you holy.  If someone does not have Christ’s righteousness and holiness, he would experience eternity–not as a child of Light–but as if being on fire. 

A person’s own righteousness is not sufficient.  Hell is what happens when someone is before God’s eternal glory and presence where God is simply being God without “hiding Himself” (as He does here, in Word and Sacrament, to make Himself accessible to us sinful creatures).