"On one occasion Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, the agnostic lecturer of the last century, was announced to give an address on Hell. He declared he would prove conclusively that Hell was a wild dream of some scheming theologians who invented it to terrify credulous people. As he was launching into his subject, a half-drunken man arose in the audience and exclaimed, 'Make it strong, Bob. There's a lot of us poor fellows depending on you. If you are wrong, we are all lost. So be sure you prove it clear and plain.'" Too many people are going to be unpleasantly surprised when they find themselves in Hell for eternity. It isn't for a lack of warning. Jesus spoke of Hell as a place where the fire shall never be quenched (Mark 9:43; Matthew 25:41) and He warned everyone against the danger of being there (Matthew 5:22). It is real and it is reserved for the unrighteous (Matthew 25:46), the disobedient (2 Thessalonians 1:8), and the wicked (Psalm 9:17). But, an interesting question is at hand. Will Hell be worse for some than others? Let the Scriptures decide:
(1) Matthew 10:14,15 "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet: Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city."
(2) Luke 12:47,48 "And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."
(3) Hebrews 10:29 "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"
(4) 2 Peter 2:20 "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning."
Analyzing the verses above, it is easy to see that there are degrees of punishment in eternal Hell. First, the sinful homosexual lifestyle of those in Sodom and Gomorrah caused them to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire (Jude 7). However, Jesus said it would be more tolerable for them in Hell than those lost sheep of the house of Israel who rejected their opportunity to receive the words of the apostles. Second, Jesus made it clear that the servant who presumptuously disobeys (because of the Lord's delay in His return) will be beaten with many stripes as opposed to the few stripes for those who "knew not." Third, there will be "sorer" (literally, more evil or aggravated) punishment for those who cast aside the better message of the better covenant for anything else (Hebrews 8:6). Fourth, once a person escapes the condemnation of sin by accepting the Gospel of Christ, then turns back into the sin they previously washed away, "the latter end is worse than the beginning." In other words, there will be punishment in Hell for all the unbelievers for all time, but an even greater punishment reserved for the Christians who have gone astray, replacing the God of Heaven with the Devil of Hell (John 8:44).
~Derrick Coble
(1) Matthew 10:14,15 "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet: Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city."
(2) Luke 12:47,48 "And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."
(3) Hebrews 10:29 "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"
(4) 2 Peter 2:20 "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning."
Analyzing the verses above, it is easy to see that there are degrees of punishment in eternal Hell. First, the sinful homosexual lifestyle of those in Sodom and Gomorrah caused them to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire (Jude 7). However, Jesus said it would be more tolerable for them in Hell than those lost sheep of the house of Israel who rejected their opportunity to receive the words of the apostles. Second, Jesus made it clear that the servant who presumptuously disobeys (because of the Lord's delay in His return) will be beaten with many stripes as opposed to the few stripes for those who "knew not." Third, there will be "sorer" (literally, more evil or aggravated) punishment for those who cast aside the better message of the better covenant for anything else (Hebrews 8:6). Fourth, once a person escapes the condemnation of sin by accepting the Gospel of Christ, then turns back into the sin they previously washed away, "the latter end is worse than the beginning." In other words, there will be punishment in Hell for all the unbelievers for all time, but an even greater punishment reserved for the Christians who have gone astray, replacing the God of Heaven with the Devil of Hell (John 8:44).
~Derrick Coble