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All right, next question is short. Is hell eternal? The Bible says it is. Amen, it 
does, yeah. And it's the same word in Greek 
used for eternal life as eternal death. That's right, yeah. But yeah, the question comes 
up. Oh yeah, the question comes up, and I get why it comes up, 
because there's a psychological difficulty in embracing it. You 
know, when the grander, the more general theological theme is, 
shall not the judge of all the earth do what is right? You know, 
if we have an axe to grind with a particular doctrine, I think 
that we need to discipline or chasten ourselves to understand 
that the God who has spoken and the God who does these things 
does so according to His infinite wisdom and according to His holy 
nature and according to His goodness. And so, while it may have a bit 
of a shock factor when we start to parse it out and what that 
means, And it does. It's a, you know, we all have 
loved ones. We have friends or families or 
we live amongst a people that are, you know, largely unconverted. The thought of them going to 
hell forever is tough. I'm not going to lie to you. 
I'm a human being too. but shall not the judge of all 
the earth do what is right." And there is gospel mercy, there 
is grace, there is a wonderful message concerning our Lord Jesus 
Christ, who lived, who died, and who was raised again. And 
all those who believe on Him shall have everlasting life. 
And I think that it should provide an impetus on the part of the 
church to be evangelistic, And it should provide an impetus 
on the part of the unbeliever to really think through the implications 
of unbelief. There's often a connected argument 
that comes up from people who are asking that question, where 
they say, how can God punish one who is finite eternally, 
who has committed these sins in time, How can He punish them 
eternally for something that they have done as finite creatures? Well, I think the answer is simple. 
The transgressions have been made against a God who is infinite. And so, there is an eternal punishment 
for a violation of those who have sinned against the One who 
is eternal, who has made them, who has brought them up from 
out of the dust, who gives breath in their lungs, who gives them 
goodness. Each and every day, and all the while they are, I 
know one man has pictured the unbeliever as one who is held 
in his father's arms, and the father who has given him everything, 
and he constantly reaches up to slap his father in the face. 
I think that's sort of a picture of the unbeliever with respect 
to the Creator, the one and only living and true God. How can 
an infinite God punish one who is finite eternally? Because 
those ones who are finite have sinned against a God who is eternal 
in the perfection of his justice. And the concept of punishment 
or retribution really isn't the issue. I mean, if, you know, 
something happened criminally against your family, you would 
be all too happy to see them punished or to see retribution 
made. I mean, we live our lives based 
on that reality. That guy should go to jail. That 
guy should be executed. So it's not the issue of punishment 
or retribution. I think that's consistently held 
by all men. It's that God does it, and that 
God does it eternally, and that becomes the offense. And so, 
I think, you know, connected to that is a minimization of 
who God is in terms of His holiness and righteousness and justice, 
and just how bad sin is. It is transgression against the 
divine majesty that warrants punishment and retribution. Yeah, 
and teachings like the universalism and purgatory and limbo that 
all rounds the corners off those. Oh yeah, it's a psychological 
attempt to smooth the rough edges. Yeah, it kind of surprised me 
when I started talking to Jehovah's Witnesses like five, six years 
ago. I didn't realize at first, but they don't believe in hell, 
right? It totally changes the discussion, 
right? You think you're agreeing on 
some basics, and then you actually don't agree on much at all. That's 
right.