Synopsis

Having established the universality of God’s saving work in the previous chapter, this chapter turns to examine how human tradition has portrayed its opposite—the eternal damnation of the lost. From the early centuries of Christian theology through the great revivals of the 18th and 19th centuries, and even into modern preaching, the imagery of hell has remained strikingly consistent. This chapter surveys how theologians, pastors, and evangelists have described the torments of hell in their own words, tracing the historical continuity of a doctrine that often reflects human fear more than divine revelation. By examining the language used by its advocates, we see how these portrayals reveal not only the power of tradition, but also the persistent struggle to reconcile eternal punishment with the nature of a loving God. In contrast, Scripture and the message of *The Blessed Hope* point to a justice that restores rather than destroys, and a love that endures forever.

The concept of hell has been one of the most enduring and controversial doctrines in Christian history. From the earliest writings of church fathers through the sermons of revival preachers, its language has shaped how generations understood God’s justice. Those who promoted the doctrine believed they were defending the holiness of God. Yet, their words often reveal more about human fear and cultural imagination than divine truth.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, preachers such as Jonathan Edwards made the doctrine of eternal punishment a central theme of revivalist preaching. His famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” delivered in 1741, depicted the sinner as hanging over the pit of hell by a slender thread, sustained only by the mercy of a wrathful God. Edwards declared: “The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked.” These words, intended to awaken repentance, instead portrayed God as a relentless punisher—an image that has haunted generations.

In the 19th century, the rhetoric of hell grew even more vivid. Evangelists like Charles Spurgeon in England and D. L. Moody in America painted graphic pictures of torment. Spurgeon once said, “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our dead bodies; let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay.” While compassion motivated his plea, the underlying imagery reinforced the notion of a fiery realm where the lost suffer forever under divine wrath.

Dr. Thomas J. Sawyer’s 1879 book, *Endless Punishment: In the Very Words of Its Advocates,* compiled hundreds of such descriptions from leading theologians. Sawyer did not alter or mock their words—he simply presented them. His purpose was to show the world how the doctrine of eternal punishment was defended and described by its own champions. He quoted extensively from preachers who claimed that the sight of the damned would increase the joy of the redeemed. One such advocate wrote, “The view of the misery of the damned will double the ardor of the love and gratitude of the saints of heaven.” Sawyer found this notion incompatible with the love of God revealed in Christ. His work stands as a witness to how far human reasoning can drift from divine compassion.

The 20th century brought no great softening of this imagery. Theologians such as Dr. John MacArthur and Dr. R. C. Sproul continued to uphold eternal conscious torment as central to orthodoxy. Dr. MacArthur preached that hell is “the presence of God in His wrath, punishing the wicked forever,” while Dr. Sproul described it as “the unending, unmitigated fury of divine vengeance.” Though separated by centuries from Edwards and Spurgeon, their tone and message are nearly identical. The vocabulary of torment remains unchanged.

Throughout history, the defenders of eternal punishment have insisted their doctrine safeguards moral accountability. They have argued that without an everlasting hell, people would lose their fear of sin. Yet, Scripture teaches that “the goodness of God leads you to repentance.” (Romans 2:4) Fear may produce obedience, but it cannot produce love. The transformation God desires is not compelled by terror but inspired by grace.

The repeated emphasis on fire, worms, and unending suffering reveals an enduring theological tension. If God is love, as Scripture declares (1 John 4:8), then how can eternal torment be consistent with His nature? Can love delight in endless pain? Can justice require unending punishment for temporal sins? Theologians such as Edwards, Spurgeon, and Sproul answered “yes,” believing it necessary to defend God’s holiness. But the gospel of Christ answers “no,” revealing that holiness and love are one and the same.

The persistence of hell’s imagery through the centuries shows the power of tradition over revelation. The same fiery metaphors preached in colonial New England resound in pulpits today. Yet, Christ’s message remains unchanged: He came not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:17) His mission was reconciliation, not retribution. The doctrine of eternal torment stands in direct opposition to that purpose.

Hell, as described by its advocates, has become less a place of divine justice than a monument to human misunderstanding. It portrays a Creator whose love fails and whose mercy ends. But Scripture declares that His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 136:1) The prophets foresaw a day when “every knee shall bow” and “every tongue shall confess” that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2:10–11) This universal confession is not the cry of the condemned, but the worship of the redeemed.

The historical record, from Edwards to MacArthur, demonstrates that the doctrine of eternal punishment has remained unchanged in its horror and uncompromising tone. But the revelation of God in Christ transforms that vision entirely. The fires of divine judgment are purifying, not punitive. They burn away sin, not souls. In the end, love—not wrath—will define eternity. This is the truth hidden beneath centuries of fear, and this is *The Blessed Hope* that endures beyond every human tradition.

Conclusion

The long history of preaching eternal punishment reveals the endurance of human fear more than the revelation of divine truth. Though the imagery of hell has echoed across centuries, it stands in conflict with the gospel of reconciliation. God’s justice does not delight in torment; it delights in mercy. Through the witness of Scripture and the person of Christ, we see that every act of judgment is a step toward restoration. The voices that once thundered of wrath will one day be silenced by grace. In that day, love will have the final word, and God will be all in all. This is the fulfillment of *The Blessed Hope*.

Endnotes

1. Thomas J. Sawyer, *Endless Punishment: In the Very Words of Its Advocates.* Boston: Universalist Publishing House, 1879. Public Domain. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), which is in the public domain.

The full condensed version of “God’s Gift to Humanity” is available here.