"Four Views on Hell" is a book that explores and presents four different perspectives on the biblical concept of hell. The book features contributions from four evangelical theologians. None of them deny the existence of hell, but each argues, based on scriptural evidence, for a different vision of what hell is like: eternal, conscious torment (the traditional view), terminal punishment (annihilationism), ultimate reconciliation (a Christian sort of universalism), and purgatory.
The eternal conscious torment position is the traditional view largely held by Christianity for centuries. It sees hell is a place of God’s punishment for sin, where people experience conscious torment. In this view, hell lasts for eternity.
While the idea of hell is increasingly rejected in our day for emotional reasons, our views must be tested against scripture versus emotion. This first view is based on a high view of God and a high view of sin, arguing that a diminished view of sin, which results from a diminished view of the holiness and glory of God, leads to a diminished view of hell. In light of a high view of God, even the smallest sins are serious, because they are committed against a being of infinite value and importance. As a result, an eternal punishment cannot be simply dismissed. Likewise, if God’s goodness is so infinite compared to us, then it follows that our sin (against God) likewise needs to be punished infinitely.
Proponents of the traditional view cite ten Bible texts, from which they develop three characteristics that support this view of hell. These three characteristics are final separation of humans from God, an unending experience of hell, and a just retribution for sin. This view has important implications. In this perspective, only the prospect of eternal, conscious torment adequately reminds us of our need to fear God, along with the urgency of evangelism.
Critics of the eternal conscious torment view point out that our emotional objections cannot simply be dismissed, because they arise from the image of God we possess. They also question whether the glory or value of God requires an infinite punishment, dismissing this assumption as both unbiblical and emotional. They disagree that hell is necessary to display God’s glory. Critics believe that proponents read too much into each of the Bible texts cited, weakening the strength of arguments for each of the three characteristics mentioned above. Further, proponents have not adequately considered, or have minimized, verses in the Bible that support other views. Disagree that hell is necessary to display God’s glory.
Overall, the eternal, conscious torment view of hell relies on the exegesis of biblical texts to make the case for what most Christians have always believed.
The terminal punishment view is also known best as “annihilationism.” It teaches that, rather than suffering eternal torment, those who are punished in hell will eventually be destroyed. Punishments for different people will last for different amounts of time, depending on how sinful they were. Then, when their punishment is complete, they will simply cease to exist.
The heart of the argument for terminal punishment revolves around the biblical words translated as “eternal” and “destruction.” These words, it is said, don’t always mean what we assume they mean when we read them in English. The argument is that the word “eternal” is often figuratively used, and that “eternal” punishment may refer, not to the eternal action of punishing, but to the eternal results of the action. At the same time, the words “death,” “destruction,” “perish” or “extinction” are used literally. The natural meanings of these words suggest finality rather than ongoing conscious existence....
