Quick question.
Based on your understanding of the Bible will there be anyone ruling in hell or will it be a place of torment for all who
go there?
I ask because I have listened to many near death experiences or visions of hell online and in many accounts the individuals
share about being tortured by demons in hell, as if the demons are in hell ruling and getting pleasure out of torturing humans.
However I thought that the demons in hell are sent there for suffering not to be exercising power and getting pleasure from
whatever acts they may be able to do.
Or perhaps it is like prison here on earth. You have some prisoners who abuse other prisoners but all the prisoners are suffering.
What are your thoughts? Thanks.
God rules over everything. Fact.
We need to filter thoughts, books and films through scripture or state ''in my opinion''.
I don't see statements like ''demons torturing people in hell'' survive a scriptural filter. God is just Psalm 25:18 and punishment is according to deeds Rom 2:6.
There is probably some truth to chaos in Hades as the white throne judgement has not yet taken place. After this sentences are passed and everyone not written in the Lambs book of life are thrown into the eternal lake of fire.
My scriptural thoughts of Hades and eternal Hell are as follows:
I believe some demons are currently imprisoned in Hades. They are the worst of the worst. So, these guys are not hurting anyone. If they were not imprisoned they would likely make life in Hades unbearable. There are levels of evil among angels just as there are among humans.
Only God is perfectly good Mark 10:18. Humans will integrate with an already functioning society of angels. Both in Hades and Heaven.
Hades and eternal hell will be places of constant torment. As, I believe there is no blur on your reality. Humans and angels there will fully grasp that for eternity they are separated from God, angels and saints. They will not take part in niceties of heaven. They will be eternally surrounded by those who could not sincerely repent of their sins Psalm 51:17. Not all around them will be unbearable. But, not a single person or fallen angel in hell can be 100% trusted. Your neighbor will be a thief. Your shopkeeper an adulterer. Your president a murderer. There is a world of difference between being in the company of truly repentant sinners over unrepentant. This reality together with the isolation from God, creates a constant suffering of sort.
In scripture we find that fire is compared to not having the peace of God. Darkness is compared to being in the presence of evil John 3:19. Weeping and gnashing of teeth takes place because of regret and separation from God Luke 13:28.
I believe those in hell will be able to see heaven and those in heaven, hell. There is scripture that suggests this.
Torture, is highly unlikely. I say this with certainty from God's perspective. God is incapable of a punishment of torture. Torture is evil and God is light with no darkness in Him at all 1 John 1:5. But I put a disclaimer on torture as I do not know how God would control the very wicked in hell from afar off whilst allowing for true free will to prevail. We know that He self restricts Himself to allow for true free will. This is why I believe He will use many of us to be on a ''hell duty'' of sort. This is a personal belief. It has some logic to it as scripture makes it clear that the wicked cannot be with God, but it says nothing to prohibit us from going wherever we want to. In fact we reign over everything with Jesus. An eternal hell will be a part of this surely.
I just cannot swallow the pill that those who '''barely''' don't make it into heaven 1 Pet 4:18 being utterly forgotten. Or those who didn't make it by a mile, also being forgotten. It does not seem very Christian. It is God's nature to love His enemy. This is why He keeps them alive and honors their free will decision to live away from Him. If it is not imposing on them, I believe we will have opportunity to visit and perhaps take them some niceties. We just need to consider something like the Geneva convention I believe to get a better understanding of what hell will be like.
The best way to better grasp what to expect in hell is to first properly grasp the Creator of hell.
He is love 1 John 4:8
He is righteous in all His ways Psalm 145:17
He is light with no darkness in Him at all 1 John 1:5
He is impartial Acts 10:34
He is fair and just Psalm 25:8
and then read the full context of all the scripture that speaks on hell.
The worst thing you can do is read a book written by someone who wants to get rich off of its sales or hear a sermon by a pastor who wants to increase membership.