Will Most Suffer in Hell Forever?

Dr. Alan Scholes is a theologian, author, and educator. He teaches several classes for Cru's Institute of Biblical Studies.

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Universalism is once again a hot topic for many Christians. Perhaps this fictionalized conversation can shed some light.

“Sis, do you think most people will end up suffering in Hell forever?”

Sophie paused, her coffee halfway to her mouth. “What would make you ask that?”

Paul picked at his muffin. “We had this guest speaker on campus and I’m really confused. Since my brilliant sister is working on her doctorate in religion, I thought I’d ask her.”

Sophie smiled. “What was confusing?”

“For one thing, he said many early church fathers believed everyone would eventually be saved.”

“Did he say which ‘fathers’?”

“Uhh. . .Clement was one, and Origen and. . .Gregory and Eusebius. That’s all I remember.”

“An interesting list. What was his point?”

“He said the stream of Christian belief is wide, and various, serious, orthodox believers have answered these questions in various ways.”

Sophie smiled, “Did he really use the word, ‘orthodox’?”

“Yes, he did. Why?”

“Because all of the people he mentioned had at least some of their beliefs contradicted and condemned by later church councils.”

“So why do we still revere them as ‘church fathers’?”

“During the first five hundred years, the church was struggling to understand its faith. Most controversy centered on the Trinity and the two natures of Christ, but some addressed the basis of salvation.”

“Which councils addressed salvation?”

“Several; but two were the Council of Orange and the Athanasian Creed. And this was a time when the Christian church was far more united than it is today. We’re talking 500 years before the split between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, and 1000 years before the Reformation.”

“The speaker said Martin Luther thought people might have a chance to believe after death. It was in a letter to Hans somebody.”

“Hans van Rechenberg.”

“Have you read it?”

“Yes. Luther’s main point was that we are only saved by faith. Luther does raise the questions whether God might impart faith to someone at the hour of their death or after. He gives two answers. First; ‘Who would doubt God’s ability to do that?’ But then he says, ‘No one can prove he does do this.

“So did Luther believe people could be saved after death?”

“No. When you read his Large Catechism it’s clear Luther rejected postmortem salvation.”

“But isn’t it possible the creeds and Luther got it wrong? Maybe they all misunderstood the Bible and the speaker is right.”

Sophie smiled. “Of course it’s possible. But what we should ask is, ‘How likely is it?’ Which is more reasonable: that God allowed the vast majority of the church to misunderstand this crucial teaching for 2000 years, and then in the 21st Century one teacher, or a small group of them, suddenly got it right? Or does it make more sense that the early councils and the vast majority of all Eastern Orthodox, Catholics, and Protestants have understood it correctly down through the centuries.”

Paul took a bite of his muffin. “The speaker also quoted the verse where Paul says ‘God wants all people to be saved.’ He then asked the audience, ‘How great is God? Great enough to accomplish what He sets out to do?’”

Sophie leaned back in her chair. “Paul, let me ask you a question. Do you think God always gets what he desires?”

“I. . .I’m not sure.”

“Do you think God wanted Adam and Eve to disobey Him? Did He secretly hope that Satan and a third of the angels would rebel against Him? Do you think God was pleased when His beloved only Son was betrayed and murdered?”

“No, I can’t imagine God wanted any of those things.”

“That’s why many Christians distinguish between the ‘perfect’ will of God and His ‘permissive’ will. God permits many things He does not desire.”

“You mean, like our free choice to sin.”

“Exactly.” Sophie nodded at her brother. “So did your speaker come to any conclusion, or did he just raise a bunch of questions?”

“He said that, in the end, God honors our ultimate choice. If we want nothing to do with God, that’s Hell, now and perhaps forever. But if we desire God, if we want Heaven, then God gladly grants it. But he left the door open that people might have a chance, maybe an eternity of chances, to respond to God after death. Does that make him a ‘universalist?’”

Sophie smiled. “I’d call him a ‘maybe universalist.’”

Paul finished eating his muffin. “But you still haven’t told me what you believe.”

“The decisive statement comes in Hebrews 9:27: ‘People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.’ At the moment of our death, whatever relationship we have with God is made permanent.”

“And what about my first question? Do you think most people will end up in Hell, and only a few will be saved?”

Sophie smiled at her brother. “I don’t know any place where the Bible clearly answers that question. But one hint might be in Revelation 7:9. It says that before God’s throne there will be a ‘multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language.’”