Myth #2 Hell is Where Sinners Party

I have actually heard this myth quite a bit. Someone will say, “Man, I’d rather party in hell with all my friends than hang out in heaven in white robes with a bunch of uptight religious people.”

Of course, I don’t believe that this reflects anyone’s real theology of the heaven and hell. It’s simply a retort that reveals more about how they view themselves and religious people than it does their view of the afterlife. It is often a way of dismissing the claims and promises of Jesus. But it comes up enough to warrant concern.
Hell is not a dark, comfortable pub where you can hang out with friends and talk about the meaning of life (or hell) throughout the ages. Nor is hell some kind of everlasting rave thumping with house music and lit with glow sticks. Hell is no party. Hell is not what you make it. Jesus describes hell as a place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” It is a dark, endless, joyless, place of judgement,
Scripture tells us that it is appointed to us all to die, and after that face judgment. As sinners who have broken God’s law we can expect the Judge to find us guilty and sentence us to that place of “outer darkness.” Our hope is not that we can persuade the judge to see things our way, or just give us a pass. There is no probation or work release program that we can hope for after death. Our only hope before God is that he will look to our advocate, Jesus Christ, who alone provides the forgiveness of sins and the righteousness we lack. Though guilty, we are judged to be righteous in Jesus, and are rescued from the judgement of hell and ushered into the presence of God and his people.

Myth #1: Hell is a Place Where Satan Reigns

Many people think of hell as the place where the Devil reigns. It is viewed as his home, or castle, or fiery Bat Cave where he devises plans to destroy the church and rule the world. If it’s not a war room, then it’s some kind of dungeon where the Devil inflicts misery on those who have been sent there to suffer.

But hell is not the devil’s castle, and he occupies no position of authority there. Hell is the devil’s ruin. It is his future, everlasting prison and place of judgment (Rev 20:10).

I think one of the reasons people hold onto this idea of the devil ruling in hell is because, if he is in hell he isn’t anywhere near us. So, at least in their mind, it removes him from any place of influence or danger. He isn’t here; he’s there, so we don’t have to give him much thought at all. But the devil is here. He is a very real and present danger. Peter says that the Devil prowls our cities, suburbs and countryside looking for people to devour (1 Pet 5:8). He does not reign in hell, but he does seek to reign over you and ruin you.

In all of this our gospel hope and confidence is that the devil has been cast down and bound through the ministry Jesus, is destroyed by Christ’s work on the cross, and that the church has been set free from the bondage and deceit of the Devil and will eventually trample the deceiver underfoot. The devil has been beat, but is awaiting his final judgment. Hell is his end, not his stronghold.