The Reality of Hell, Part 2 of "Heaven and Hell"Sample

Hell means being away from God’s presence

“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might…” (2 Thessalonians 1:9)

The Lord God is the ultimate source of life and light. Therefore, it is a huge blessing to be in His presence. As it is expressed in Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV),

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”

This is also the essence of eternal life. On the new earth, God Himself will be with the people. He will dwell among them. That’s the best thing we humans can ever experience.

Contrary to this ultimate blessing, hell is the ultimate curse. For God tells the people who reject Him to “depart from Me”. They are separated from Him in a relational sense. He turns His face away from them. That’s the most terrible thing we humans can ever experience.

At the same time, people in hell can’t hide from the Lord’s justice, power and anger. As John Piper explains it, “He is present in all the ways men do not want Him to be present and none of the ways that believers enjoy His presence.”[1]

Do you want to spend eternity in God’s joyful presence? Do you also want to live with Him here and now?

[1]https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/is-god-everywhere-and-absent-from-hell