OK. What is the purpose of Hell? Now to recap the working theory is that Hades/Sheol is the place of waiting for the final judgment with the Lake of Fire as that place of final judgment where God brings aobut final justice. Now the question is that needs to be answered is twofold. What is the purpose of Hades and what is the purpose of the lake of fire?
Hades -- I think Luke 16:19-31 actually provides us the best explanation of the purpose of Hades/Sheol -- Abraham's words indicate that Lazarus is now receiving good things because in life he did not receive good things. The rich man the opposite is true.
I think deep within the heart of man has always existed the desire for justice and the raw fact is that many time justice does not take place. The 18 year old prostitute is beat to death by an unknown assailant but the police do not give any effort to finding the murder because she is a prostitute-- the killer is never found. Crimes without number like this go unsolved and justice is never done on this earth. Hades is the place where these wrongs are righted -- justice is served. In Hades the prostitute is avenged.
It is a place of the dead where those who received good things in life without care for others find themselves in want. It is also a place where those who receive evil all their lives final receive some good.
Infants who never leave the womb who die by the fault of life or the deliberate hand of men find themselves in a place to choose and grow.
All of these things may be possible in Hades/Sheol. It is simple a place where the shortcomings of this world are righted.
It also may be a place where the dead hear the gospel again -- 1 Peter 4:6 -- "For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God." Now this is an odd verse if everything is settled at physical death. It might also answer part of the criticism people have of God -- "What about the heathen who never hear the gospel?" What if they do hear it? Even more telling is the question about babies -- do they really get to choose their faith in God? Does God simply force them to love him? Or does he give them an opportunity to choose?
In Hades these questions may be answered.
The Lake of Fire -- Unlike Hades the Lake of Fire has an ultimate finality to it. It is the place prepared for the devil and his angels. It is ultimately the place where everything that has gone against the will of God is removed forever.
The question at this point is whether that is served by eternal torture or annihilation. To be sure it is a question that relates to God's purpose for hell but it is also a question of God and his justice as well as desires for the human race.
Next: Tough Questions Considered.
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