...Send Someone Hell?
How can a loving God send someone to hell?
To address the question of how a loving God can send someone to hell, we need to define a few terms and, most likely, correct a few assumptions. We must first define the term loving. Our culture tends to think of “love” as a completely non-confrontational, tolerant approval of whatever the loved one wants to do. But that is not a biblical definition. Love, according to the Bible, is goodwill and benevolence shown in self-sacrifice and an unconditional commitment to the loved one. Love is action promoting the well-being of another person.
Implied in the question “how can a loving God send someone to hell?” is the assumption that sending someone to hell is unloving on God’s part. But God’s very nature is love (1 John 4:16). He cannot do anything that is unloving because His every action and every thought is an expression of His nature. God alone loves in the highest sense of the word; He loves with perfect freedom and objectivity.
If we say that God is somehow wrong to punish unrepentant sinners in the manner He has chosen, then we have declared that we are more loving than God is—and wiser and fairer and more righteous. But it is impossible for us to be more loving than Love Himself. And our feeble notions of what is “wise” and “fair” will always fall short of God’s perfection.
Another assumption we must guard against in asking the question “how can a loving God send someone to hell?” concerns the word send. Yes, God is the one—the only one—who sends people to hell (Luke 12:5; Revelation 20:15). However, when someone is sent to hell, it is not a unilateral action on God’s part, and the person being sent is not a passive victim of circumstance. God has given human beings freedom to participate in their life choices and eternal destinations (John 3:16–18). God has entrusted personal responsibility to each of us. And, in His love, God sent His only begotten Son into the world to save sinners. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
“How can a loving God send someone to hell?” Romans 1:18–20 lays the foundation for the answer: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (emphasis added).
There are several key points in this passage. First, people actively “suppress the truth.” Everyone has been given enough truth to know about God and surrender to Him, but they willfully refuse to accept the truth. They love darkness rather than light (John 3:19). Dr. Thomas Nagel, an atheistic professor of philosophy and law, has said, “It isn’t just that I don’t believe in God and, naturally, hope that I’m right in my belief. It’s that I hope there is no God! I don’t want there to be a God; I don’t want the universe to be like that” (The Last Word, Oxford University Press, 1997, p. 130).
Second, Romans 1:19 states that God has “made [the truth about God] plain to them.” In other words, the Creator took the initiative to make His truth obvious to everyone. History has proved this since time began, as every culture and civilization has sought an understanding of a Creator to whom they owe allegiance. The innate understanding that God exists is due to our being created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).
Third, Romans 1:20 says that people “have no excuse for not knowing God” (NLT). There is no defense, no justification for continuing to reject God’s offer of salvation in Christ. In love, God gave each of us enough truth to turn toward Him rather than away from Him.
When considering the question “how can a loving God send someone to hell?” we must not try to separate God’s love from His justice and righteousness. God’s attributes exist together, and they cannot be plucked out and made to stand alone. God is love, and that shapes His justice; at the same time, His justice affects His expressions of love. Justice requires adequate payment for crimes committed; love requires the extension of grace to the criminal. The cross shows both justice and love. As Jesus died on the cross, He bore the punishment for sin that justice demanded, and He extended the grace of forgiveness to sinners. Thus, both the justice and love of God were at work. “Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed” (Psalm 85:10, NKJV).
The question “how can a loving God send someone to hell?” has a logical counterpart: “how can a just God send someone to heaven?” The answer to both questions is, again, the cross. For those who believe in Christ and accept His loving sacrifice on their behalf, God’s justice falls on Jesus. For those who turn away from Christ and reject His sacrifice, God’s justice falls on them.
Hell was originally created for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). When humans joined the devil’s rebellion against God, hell became their fate, too. But God, in His love, provided a way of escape. He proved His love at the cross of Christ. Those who are in Christ have been forgiven of their sin by the grace of God. But those who reject Christ are spurning God’s love and refusing His offer of salvation. If we decline the payment offered by another, we must pay the price ourselves, and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Sinners are sent to hell, in spite of God’s love, because they reject God’s loving provision of a Savior.
Jesus revealed the heart of the Father when He lamented those who spurned salvation: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing” (Matthew 23:37; see also Isaiah 5:1–7 and Hosea 7:13). Hell does not negate God’s love any more than heaven negates God’s justice. “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NLT).
(Source: gotquestions.org)
Revelation 19:9-10
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Meaning of Revelation 19:9–10
Revelation 19:9–10 records a heavenly declaration of blessing for those invited to the “marriage supper of the Lamb,” followed by John’s instinctive worship of the messenger, which is corrected to direct worship toward God.
Context in Revelation 19
In verses 1–8, John sees the Lamb (Jesus) as the bridegroom and the Church as His bride, adorned in fine linen (symbolizing the righteousness of the saints) . The “marriage supper of the Lamb” is a celebration of Christ’s victory and the union of Him with His people .
Verse 9 — The Blessing
The angel tells John to write: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” .
Meaning: This is one of six “blessings” in Revelation (cf. 1:3; 14:13; 20:6; 22:7; 22:14) affirming that those who respond to God’s call and partake in this eternal feast are blessed .
Scope: While all believers will share in the new creation, the imagery suggests a special honor for those who accept the invitation at that time . It parallels Jesus’ parable in Matthew 22, where the king’s banquet includes both Gentiles and the righteous of old, but excludes some who were “sons of the kingdom” .
Assurance: The angel confirms, “These are the true words of God” — an absolute, divine truth for all who read the book .
Verse 10 — John’s Worship and Correction
John, overwhelmed by the vision, falls at the angel’s feet to worship him .
Correction: The angel says, “Do not do that… I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God” .
Significance: This emphasizes that worship belongs to God alone. The angel and John are “fellow servants” in proclaiming the “testimony of Jesus” — the core message of Revelation .
Theological point: The “spirit of prophecy” is the testimony of Jesus (cf. 1:3; 22:6), and both angels and prophets share in the mission of declaring it .
Key Themes
Invitation and Blessing — God’s call to His people is central; those who accept are blessed .
Eschatological Joy — The marriage supper symbolizes the ultimate celebration of Christ’s victory and the Church’s union with Him .
Worship Directed to God — Even in visions, the focus remains on God, not the messenger .
Fellowship in Service — Angels and believers are united in serving God’s mission .
In summary: Revelation 19:9–10 affirms the eternal blessing for those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb, while reminding readers that all worship is for God alone, and that both angels and saints are fellow servants in proclaiming the testimony of Jesus.
Hello Friends. The answer to today's question about God, shouldn't be hard to understand if we read His Word.
But I suppose that there are people that would ask that question.
He loves us all. But, for those reject Him, why would he save them to live forever in heaven with Him.
This passage about it says all it needs to.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
God indeed is loving. Why else would He send Jesus to us to die for our sin? But as with all things, there are consequences for the things we do wrong. If we reject God, we forfeit heaven.
The good news that when we repent of our sin,
and ask Him for forgiveness,
we have heaven to gain.
Thanks for coming by. I pray for you a wonderful rest of your day.
God bless!
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