H - E - Double Hockey Sticks

 

“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”

2 Thessalonians 1:9-10

 

If you talk to people in society today, most seem to believe that they’ll spend eternity in heaven. And this is true not only of believers in Jesus. It’s true of most everyone.

 

Although most people seem to believe in the existence of hell, it’s generally believed that it’s for only the worst offenders. Few seem to believe that they will spend eternity in hell. And if it is acknowledged, it’s usually in done in lighthearted fashion.

 

Among those who do so, it’s sometimes suggested that hell is a party. The implication is that it’s appealing because it means spending eternity having a good time with your friends. It means having a good time with your friends in an atmosphere that is anything but God-pleasing.

 

However, as Paul talks about hell in the passage above, we see clearly that it’s not a good time. We see clearly that it’s not an appealing option. And we’re given a clear picture of who will be there.

 

Just prior to this passage, in verse 8, Paul speaks of those who do not know the Lord and those who do not obey the gospel of Jesus. In this way, Paul describes those who are lost. He describes those without faith in Jesus.

 

In this way, he refers to those who have yet to encounter the gospel, as well as to those who have refused the gospel. After all, we are born into this world in a lost state, and stand condemned from the beginning of life. And to refuse the gospel is to refuse both life and salvation.

 

It’s they, he says, who will suffer the torments of hell. And this punishment is described as that of eternal destruction. However, Paul is not suggesting that these people will be annihilated, or that they’ll cease to exist.

 

He goes on to say that they’ll suffer this destruction away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his might when he comes to be glorified. In other words, they’ll be forever separated from the Lord’s presence. And they’ll be forever separated from his blessings.

 

We see, in verse 8, that this is an act of vengeance on his part. It’s an act of retribution. It’s an act of judgment as these people, who have not received the benefits of Jesus’ atonement, pay the penalty of their sin.

 

It’s clear to us, then, that hell is no joke. It’s not an appealing option for ourselves or for others. And, for this reason, we ought do all that we can to make the gospel known.