The Abolition of Hell

Easter Sunday, 2012: There are mysteries about the death of Death in the death of Christ that no one has completely grasped. We Christians honor Christ, worship God, and sing praises of what was accomplished on the cross, but does anyone really understand the depth of what occurred in that event, or the fullness of what occurred three days later in the resurrection?

The following is a post placed up on (the usually political) Corner on National Review Online. It presents a glimpse of what I'm increasingly convinced is the deeper reality of Christ's death and resurrection.

***************

The Abolition of Hell (and a Few Words in Defense of Church)

By Michael Potemra - April 8, 2012

What does Easter mean, for mankind? In many Eastern Rite churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, the Easter services feature the reading aloud of a most eloquent answer, written by the great Greek Church Father St. John Chrysostom. (It is also read at the Easter Vigil night services at my own high-church Episcopal parish in NYC.) Here’s part of it, from one translation I found on the Internet:

Let no one lament persistent failings, for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death, for the death of our Saviour has set us free.

The Lord has destroyed death by enduring it. The Lord vanquished Hell when he descended into it. The Lord put Hell in turmoil even as it tasted of his flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said, “You, O Hell, were placed in turmoil when he encounter[ed] you below.”

Hell was in turmoil having been eclipsed. Hell was in turmoil having been mocked. Hell was in turmoil having been destroyed. Hell was in turmoil having been abolished. Hell was in turmoil having been made captive.

Hell grasped a corpse, and met God. Hell seized earth, and encountered Heaven. Hell took what it saw, and was overcome by what it could not see.

O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?

Christ is risen, and you are cast down! . . .

Christ is risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead.

When we look around us, it is easy to believe in the reality of Hell: A world dominated by cruelty, hatred, and sin seems all too reasonably to point toward a final destination that embodies these values and is purged of all goodness. But with the eyes of faith, we see that Hell is not the final truth about reality, and the Paschal Mysteries celebrated this weekend proclaim forcefully God’s answer to man’s sin. God has declared, to repeat the powerful words of Chrysostom, that Hell has been eclipsed. Mocked. Destroyed. Abolished. Made captive.

A promise to all people

Isa. 25:6-9 was the Old Testament reading this morning at our Easter service (emphasis added):

6 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for ALL PEOPLES
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
7 And he will swallow up on this mountain
the covering that is cast over ALL PEOPLES,
the veil that is spread over ALL NATIONS.
8 He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from ALL FACES,
and the reproach of his people he will take away from ALL THE EARTH,
for the Lord has spoken.
9 It will be said on that day,
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Recommended reading: Dropping Hell and Embracing Grace

(Product information): DROPPING HELL AND EMBRACING GRACE is a call for a reconsideration of the scope of God's recovery plan for His fallen creation. Does He intend to recover all, or will He settle for less than all? That is the question.

The author, Ivan A. Rogers, takes an affirmative position on the issues raised in this book. He makes a compelling and scripture-based case that, when finally embraced, will result in the greatest reformation of positive change yet experienced by the church Christ founded. Rogers brilliantly takes the reader on a spiritual journey that actually began even before the world was made. He convincingly demonstrates that God's ultimate objective is the salvation of all humanity from Adam forward to a glorious future of promise. In his book the doctrine of eternal conscious torture in a so-called "hell" becomes a casualty of God's all-encompassing grace.

Ivan A. Rogers book is essential reading for everyone who desires to understand God's plan of salvation of all humanity. Boldly tackling the key issues regarding universal reconciliation, this book provides clear, succinct explanations. Dropping Hell and Embracing Grace is solidly based upon Scripture and honors the Word of God above human opinion or religious tradition. Read it --and be challenged to think deeply about the world-changing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Compelling evidence

When one considers

• The sovereignty of God
• The power of God
• The character of God
• The desire of God
• The purpose of God
• The scope and depth of the grace of God
• The lordship and kingship of Christ
• The completeness of what Christ accomplished on the cross

...the idea that every person is reconciled to God (whether they're living in that reconciled state or not) must be seriously considered.