“…those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
(John 5:29)
Hell is an uncomfortable doctrine for most of us. But if we consider that Jesus spoke of hell—using severe warnings and in explicit detail—more than any other person in Scripture and more than He spoke of heaven, we must be willing to do the same. Not only that, it’s impossible to grasp the weight of the gospel in light of God’s holiness and our utter depravity without a clear understanding of hell and why it exists.
Hell was originally prepared for the devil and his angels, but it is also the final destination of eternal death for those who reject the gospel. Just as those in Christ will be changed from mortality to immortality for glory, so also those without Christ will be raised to face condemnation. The lost, both the already dead and those alive at Christ’s return, will be changed from corruptible flesh to a new body suited not for heaven, but for the enduring of torment. Their bodies will not be consumed but will suffer conscious punishment, torment, and darkness without end.
They will hear those dreadful words from the mouth of the Judge: “Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). In that single, irrevocable sentence, their condemnation will be sealed. And it will be just. For “the Judge of all the earth” shall do right (Genesis 18:25), and the verdict will be righteous: “they that have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:29).
Once the redeemed are gathered to Christ in glory (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17), those outside of Him will be eternally cut off. There will be no further mercy. They shall be “punished with everlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Their punishment will include both physical torment and the horror of eternal banishment from the love, beauty, and kindness of God.
Isaiah 66:24 depicts the final state of the wicked: “their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched.” There will be no end to the sorrow and no chance for comfort or redemption. Revelation 21:8 confirms that the second death awaits them, and they shall be cast into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. This is the full and final execution of divine holiness in response to unrepented sin.
William Perkins reminds us that even this fearful reality exists ultimately to bring glory to God. “From here also comes God’s glory, which He propounds to Himself as the last and chief end in all these things.”[1] God is glorified not only in mercy but in judgment, and the reality that He has spared us from wrath through Christ should stir continual praise and obedience in us.
“And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28).
Contemplations:
- By the Good Pleasure of Your Will. Lord, I know my salvation does not rest on my works, nor even my faith, but on Your unchangeable will. You alone justify, and no one can condemn. I rejoice that my name is written in Your book, secured by the immutable good pleasure of Your will, unshaken by anything in this world or in me.
- Your Holiness Returns My Humility. My soul bows in humility before You, Lord, for my hope stands firm not in myself but in the cross of Christ. Keep me from pride, and may reverent fear ever dwell in me when I consider Your holiness.
- Gratitude for So Great Salvation. Lord, help me give glory to You in all things. As 2 Thessalonians 2:13 declares, You have “from the beginning chosen [me] to salvation.” Let that truth shape my gratitude in every circumstance, and especially in trials, knowing that Christ is my refuge.
- Sharing in Your Sufferings. Father, teach me to bear affliction with patience. As Romans 8:29 and Philippians 3:10 remind me, to be conformed to Christ includes sharing in His sufferings. May I be made more like Him through every cross I carry.
- Evidence of My Faith. Let my faith be demonstrated through good works that honor You, Lord Jesus. As Ephesians 2:10 declares, I am Your workmanship, created for these very things. Strengthen me to walk in them daily.
Prayer (Adoration):
Righteous Father, I lift up my heart to adore You in all Your holiness. You are perfect in justice, pure in all Your ways, and there is no unrighteousness with You. I praise You, the eternal Judge, who will render to every soul according to Your perfect standard: those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. I magnify You because You do not pervert justice nor overlook sin. You are altogether true, and every judgment You pronounce is upright.
I exalt You for the terrifying clarity of Your Word. Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, did not shy away from warning us about the eternal reality of hell. I praise Him for His boldness and compassion in declaring the whole truth. The terrors of eternal punishment are dreadful, but they reflect Your glory—the glory of unyielding holiness, of vengeance rightly executed, of law perfectly upheld.
O Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth! I adore You for the mercy You have shown me, a sinner who deserves such wrath. You did not leave me in darkness, but called me out by the gospel. Though my sin once cried out for judgment, now Your Son’s blood speaks of pardon. And yet, You remain just. You did not set aside the penalty, but fully satisfied it in Christ. How majestic is Your justice, O God! You are glorified both in saving and in condemning, and Your will is never thwarted.
Let my soul continually praise You for this great salvation. Let me not grow dull to the reality of what I have been rescued from. Keep my thoughts anchored in Your holiness, and stir me with joy to adore You more. May I never treat sin lightly, knowing that its wages are eternal death. May I walk in a manner worthy of the gospel, giving glory to the One who bore my condemnation, for justice and mercy meet perfectly in You.
I worship You, Lord, as the God who cannot lie, who cannot be unjust, who cannot fail. And I thank You that in Christ, I have boldness to stand before You unashamed. Not because of my merit, but because of His righteousness, which shields me from wrath. You are worthy of all praise, honor, and reverent worship.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for John 5:29:
Dan. 12:2; Act 24:15; Matt. 25:46; Luke 14:14; John 5:28, 6:39.
[1] William Perkins, ed. Joel R. Beeke, Greg A. Salazar, and Derek W. H. Thomas, The Works of William Perkins (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2018), 260.
