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When God created everything, where in the Bible does it say He created hell? Was that done when the angels fell?

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When God created everything, where in the Bible does it say He created hell?  Was that done when the angels fell? Empty When God created everything, where in the Bible does it say He created hell? Was that done when the angels fell?

Post by Admin Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:08 am

For reference sake, a great verse to use in the context of God’s creating “everything” is found at the very beginning of the gospel of John: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He (Jesus, “the Word”) was with God in the beginning. Through him (Jesus) all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made—John 1:1-3. This corresponds wonderfully with Paul’s description of Christ found in the first chapter of his letter to the Colossian church: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him—Paul, Colossians 1:15-16. The complete Author of creation is God, and His Son Jesus was Himself completely involved and part of that same creative process, plan and execution. If that is true, then it follows that God also created hell.
According to philosopher and author J.P. Moreland, “Hell was not part of the original creation. Hell is God’s fall-back position. Hell is something God was forced to make because people chose to rebel against him and turn against what was best for them and the purpose for which they were created.” Of course, before the advent of Adam and Eve, rebellion against God had occurred in heaven, causing Satan (Lucifer) and as many as a third of the original heavenly host to be evicted from the presence of God. Christ Himself makes mention of this when He said to His disciples (in the Mount Olivet discourse) that the eternal fire [was already] prepared for the devil and his angels—Jesus Christ, Matthew 25:41. This is doubtless what the apostle Peter had in mind when he wrote in his second letter, For . . . God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment—II Peter 2:4. The Greek word for “hell” that Peter uses in this instance is “tartaroo” (tar-tar-o^-o), the concept from Greek mythology that Jewish theology borrowed to refer to the deepest level of the underworld where only the worst sinners were kept; obviously they considered the devil and his angels deserving of that fate. The book of Jude paints the same picture: And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day—Jude 6. But again, as we have talked about before, any underworld abode of the unbelieving, unrepentant dead is simply a holding area where they await final judgment. It is that final judgment of all sinners (including the devil and his angels) that will bring about the arrival of “hell.” Hell must be remembered as being the place of final destination for all sinners, and not realized for them until the end of time; the book of Revelation titles hell like this: And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and everyone was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire—Revelation 20:10-15. So, in a sense, you could say that hell was created because mankind insisted on it.
And why does hell have to exist? Three reasons:
(1) God’s holiness demands it: Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong—Habakkuk 1:13a. King David realized the same thing: You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell—David, Psalm 5:4. God simply cannot and will not tolerate evil, and He will always respond with perfect justice against all wrongdoing.
(2) Satan’s rebellion compels it. Satan is the originator of sin: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor—God speaking, Ezekiel 28:12b-17a. The prophet Isaiah traced the same path in his writings: How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit—Isaiah 14:12-15.
(3) In addition to Satan’s sin, mankind’s sin requires it. A just sentence for the wicked against an eternal God is an eternal punishment. Satan’s punishment will be eternal, as will his angels, and all those whose names are not found in the Lamb’s book of life. As Christ Himself said, [T]hey will go away to eternal punishment—Jesus Christ, Matthew 25:46a.

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