Is There Really a Hell? (Part 4: Who Will Be Going To Hell?)
One of the most specific passages in the Bible that tells us who will be going to the place of eternal punishment (or, “hell”) is found in 2 Thessalonians 1. Paul said, “...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed” (vv. 7-10).
According to the inspired apostle, God will “take vengeance” on all who (1) do not know God and (2) do not obey the gospel of Christ. (This sums up all who will be eternally condemned). To God, this is very personal! Why? The answer is very simple: these ones have rejected Him.
Obeying the gospel of Christ is something you start doing and never stop doing. Christ laid down some requirements (commandments) that one must meet (do) in order to be saved. It begins with you becoming a child of God (being “born again,” Jn. 3:3-5; Rom. 6:4). Christ commanded belief in Him (Jn. 8:24); He commanded repentance (Lk. 13:3, 5); He commanded baptism in His name (Mk. 16:16; Matt. 28:18-20; cf. Acts 2:38; 22:16); etc. To do these things is to begin obeying His gospel, but it does not end there. Once you become a child of God, you must remain faithful to Him for the rest of your life (Rev. 2:10; cf. Heb. 10:36; Jas. 1:12). Paul says that anyone who fails to do this will be “punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.”
But what does it mean to “not know God”? Consider this: the evidence of God is easily seen in the created world around us (Rom. 1:19-20), for God has revealed Himself to mankind in this way (after all, design demands a designer). Thus, those who deny His existence “are without excuse” (v. 20). Based on the evidence of creation alone you will not be able to say to God on the Day of Judgment, “I’m sorry. I did not know you existed.” Additionally, Paul said, “…because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools...And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting...” (vv. 21-22, 28). From this divine explanation we see that “not knowing God” (in this sense) refers to those who refuse to believe in Him (which is to deny Him). Jesus said that He will deny anyone who denies Him (Matt. 10:33); and in the Judgment He will say to those eternally condemned (and notice the words He chooses), “I do not know you” (25:12; cf. 7:23).
Interestingly, there is another way that the term “know” is used in Scripture that is worthy of note. It is sometimes used in reference to an intimate relationship. This is how the term was used in Genesis 4:1 where it says, “Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain...” This describes the most physically intimate relationship that a husband and wife can have. Likewise, the term “know” is sometimes used to describe the most spiritually intimate relationship that a person can have with the Lord (see Philippians 3:10). This speaks of a relationship with God that is so deep, close, and personal that Paul refers to it as a “marriage” in Christ’s relationship with His church (Eph. 5:22- 33). To “not know God” in this sense would suggest that one does not have a spiritually intimate relationship with Him; and, friends, our salvation is absolutely dependent on that.
In the final analysis I know this: if one wants to go to heaven (thus avoiding hell) he must not only become a Christian, he must remain intimately faithful to Christ for the rest of his life. What about you, friends? Where will you spend eternity?
Aaron Veyon
