Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 9/20/2004

Question
My wife and I differ on our belief on Heaven and hell.  She believes that hell is a place that sinners burn forever, but that those who go to Heaven are not aware of this, that God wipes that knowledge from them so that they will not be depressed in Heaven thinking about loved ones burning constantly in hell.  Is there anything Biblical to back up her belief?
Thank you for your help.

Answer
Hi Bill,

Thanks for this question.  The Bible strongly supports the fact of an eternal Hell.  I do believe that one day our tears will be wiped away and sorrow will be removed, but I do not believe that is an immediate product of Heaven.  Let me give you some scriptures.

On Hell and eternal punishment:

Luke 16:18-30
18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
19  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Revelation 21:8
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Matthew 25:46
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Scriptures on God wiping away tears.

Revelation 21:1-4

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

This happened after a time of 1000 years of Christ's kingdom.

Revelation 20:3
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Christians would have been reigning with Christ for a long time....then the Great White Throne jugement where unbelievers are sentenced to eternity in the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

It is after witnessing this Great White Throne judgement that believers are comforted and our tears are wiped away to know sorrow no more.  I hope this has been a help.

In Chist,
Pastor Don