Dante's Inferno Raises the Question
The literary work "Dante's Inferno" explores the concept of varying levels of punishment in Hell. Dante Alighieri's "The Divine Comedy", penned between 1308 and 1321, vividly depicts the idea of varying punishment levels in Hell. It is regarded as the preeminent epic poem of Italian literature, a masterfully crafted allegory rich in symbolism and emotional depth. The narrative unfolds in the first person, with Dante recounting his visionary exploration of the afterlife's three domains: Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory), and Paradiso (Heaven).
In this epic poem, Dante is led by the Roman poet Virgil through hell's nine concentric circles, each symbolizing increasing degrees of evil and ending at the earth's core where Satan is imprisoned. Sinners in each circle suffer eternal punishment tailored to the principal sin they committed. From the first circle, home to the unbaptized and virtuous pagans, to the innermost circle reserved for the gravest sinners—those who betrayed God—Dante's journey illustrates a hierarchy of damnation.
The poem's philosophy blends elements from the Bible, Roman Catholicism, Islamic influences, mythology, and medieval customs. When Dante references the Bible, his work is perceptive and accurate. However, when he incorporates other sources, the poem strays from truth and becomes unorthodox and heretical.
In defense and fairness to Dante, it is important to recognize that his work was meant to be literary, rather than theological. It mirrors a profound longing to grasp the enigmas of life and death, which has captivated readers for centuries and continues to be widely celebrated to this day. The Divine Comedy might captivate Christians as a piece of literature, yet it is the Bible that stands as the sole infallible authority on faith and life, being the only source of everlasting truth.
Catholic Heresy in Dante's Poem
When the poem is compared to the Bible, numerous differences emerge. Notably, a third of the work is dedicated to Purgatory, a heretical concept of the Roman Catholic Church that lacks a basis in the Bible. In Dante's poem, the Roman poet Virgil leads Dante through the seven levels of Purgatory, each representing one of the seven deadly sins. Sinners are purged of their sins on each level until they have rectified the intrinsic nature that led to their sinful behavior. Once completely purged of sin, they are at last able to ascend to heaven.
The concept of Purgatory is not supported by the Bible, and the notion that sinners receive another opportunity for salvation after death directly opposes biblical teachings. The scriptures emphasize the importance of seeking the Lord while the opportunity exists.
"Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6).
And that once we die, we are destined to judgment.
"And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him"(Hebrews 9:27-28).
Judgment is determined by our actions during our earthly existence, not by what we do after death. There is no opportunity for salvation after this life. However, as long as a person is alive, they have multiple chances to accept Christ and receive salvation.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" (Romans 10:9–10).
Moreover, the concept that a sinner can "rectify" their inherent nature, whether in life or after death, contradicts biblical teachings, which state that only Christ has the power to conquer the sinful nature and bestow upon believers an entirely new nature.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Regardless of the levels of punishment depicted in hell, and the heresy of Purgatory, it is evident that it represents a realm to avoid. Hopefully, this has whetted your appetite to delve deeply into the question, "Are there different levels of punishment in Hell?"
First, let's explore the concept of the two eternal destinations for humanity: Heaven and Hell.
Two Eternal Destinations for All Humanity
We Are Created Eternal Beings
God creates human beings to live forever. Where they spend eternity is determined by what they do with Jesus. There are only two choices and two destinations. Believe in Jesus, as He is revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and spend eternity in God's presence with a glorified resurrected body. This destination is called Heaven. Two, reject or don't believe in Jesus, as He reveals Himself, and spend eternity separated from God in a place called Hell. God's word makes it woefully clear that there is no excuse not to know and respond to God's revealed truth. There are two ways God reveals Himself. One is through general revelation where man is responsible through God's creation and from his own God-given conscious.
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures" (Romans 1:18-23).
The second way God reveals Himself is through His Son Jesus Christ. He uses the gospel to spread the good news of Salvation. Jesus provides forgiveness of sins and eternal life, satisfying God's wrath and justice. When you accept Jesus, He takes your sin upon Himself and gives you, His righteousness. Simply stated the gospel is
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve" (1 Corinthians 15:3-5).
Before Jesus came to earth all Gentiles were responsible for believing God through His creation, the law of consciousness. The Jews were responsible for believing in God through the law of Moses. No matter who you are and what era or age you live in God reveals Himself and you are responsible to believe. Believing by faith leads to Heaven, unbelief leads to Hell.
Why Do Most People Go to Hell?
Unfortunately, the Bible states that most people will wind up in Hell.
“Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13–14).
The question one must ask is “What road am I on?” The “many” on the broad road have one thing in common—they have all rejected Christ as the only way to heaven. Jesus said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
When Jesus said He is the only way, that is precisely what He meant. Everyone following another “way” besides Jesus Christ is on the broad road to destruction, and the suffering is hideous, dreadful, eternal, and unavoidable.
The rejection of the reality of Hell often arises from a human inability to reconcile the love of God with eternal punishment or from an outright rejection of God’s Word. Even some professing Christians have reached unbiblical conclusions. Some have attempted to redefine Hell, create an intermediate state not found in Scripture, or deny Hell altogether. In doing so, they ignore Jesus’ warning.
“If anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll” (Revelation 22:19).
What is Hell?
God created Hell, an eternal place, for “the devil and his rebellious angels.” Even though Hell was not created for God's created ones, humans, those who fall into the category of "accursed ones" will go to Hell.
"Then He (Jesus) will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).
On the other hand, Scripture points out that those who choose Christ will inherit the kingdom.
"He (Jesus) will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:33-34).
The original purpose of Hell and its fire was for the ultimate destruction of Satan, sin, and his angels. Only after this cleansing of fire can all the tears be wiped from the eyes of the saved.
Hell is mentioned 167 times in the Bible, sometimes called Gehenna, Hades, Sheol, the pit, the Abyss, and the Lake of Fire.
"Her house (sexual sin) is the way to Sheol, Descending to the chambers of death" (Pro 7:27).
"They (demons) were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss" (Luke 8:31).
"And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades!" (Luke 10:15).
Jesus spoke of Heaven and Hell as real places with real consequences. The consequences include being thrown into a furnace of fire, weeping and gnashing of teeth, unquenchable fire, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched,
"The Son of Man (Jesus) will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 13:41–42).
"You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence (judgment) of Hell (Gehenna)?" (Matthew 23:33).
"If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:43).
"But I will warn you whom to fear, fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into Hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:5).
The story Jesus told about the rich man and Lazarus was an actual event that demonstrated the reality of two destinations. The distinction is between Hades where unbelieving souls go before their final judgment where they will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Believing Jews would go to Abraham's bosom.
"Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you, there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, Father, that you send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ But he said, ‘No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead’” (Luke 16:19–31).
Separated From God Forever
Hell is the opposite of Heaven. If Heaven is being with Christ, Hell is being separated from God forever. The Bible describes Hell as a place of outer darkness, a lake of fire, a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth, a place of eternal separation from the blessings of God, a prison, a place of torment where the worm doesn’t turn or die, and where the heat is unrelenting. We know from the Scriptures that Hell is horrible, dark, lonely, unrelenting, and hopeless.
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of Hell is its eternality. People can endure the greatest agony if they know it will ultimately stop. In Hell, there is no such hope. The Bible clearly teaches that the punishment is eternal. The same word is used for both eternal life and eternal death. Punishment implies pain. Mere annihilation, which some have lobbied for, involves no pain. Jonathan Edwards, in preaching on Hell said,
“Wicked men will hereafter earnestly wish to be turned to nothing and forever cease to be that they may escape the wrath of God.”
Hell, then, is an eternity before the righteous, ever-burning wrath of God, a suffering torment from which there is no escape and no relief.
Punishment of the Wicked Unbelieving Dead
The punishment of the wicked and unbelieving dead in Hell is described throughout Scripture.
God's Judgment | Scripture |
“eternal fire” | "Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). |
“unquenchable fire” | "His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matt 3:12). |
“disgrace and everlasting contempt” | "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2), |
“fire is not quenched” and "where their worm does not die" | "If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:43-44). |
“torment” and “agony in the flame” | "In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame’ (Luke 16:23-24). |
“everlasting destruction” | "These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power" (2 Thess 1:9). |
“torment rises forever and ever” "tormented with fire and brimstone" | "He also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:10-11). |
“lake of burning sulfur” and “tormented day and night forever” | "And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10). |
"eternal destruction" and "away from the presence of the Lord" | "These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:9). |
“cast out into outer darkness” | "but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12). |
“weeping and gnashing of teeth” | " Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 22:13). |
"thrown into the lake of fire" | "Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Rev 20: 14-15). |
Hell is God's Perfect Judgment
The wicked are forever subject to the fury and the wrath of God. Those in hell will acknowledge the perfect justice of God.
"For the wrath of man shall praise You; With a remnant of wrath, you will gird Yourself" (Psalm 76:10).
Those who are in hell will know that their punishment is just and that they alone are to blame.
"For I proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! “The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He. They have acted corruptly toward Him, they are not His children, because of their defect; but are a perverse and crooked generation" (Deuteronomy 32:3-5).
Yes, Hell is real. Yes, Hell is a place of torment and punishment that lasts forever and ever, with no end. Praise God that, through Jesus, we can escape this eternal fate.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18).
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).
What Is Heaven?
The Bible uses the word "Heaven" in at least two different ways. Heaven can refer to the physical reality of any place beyond the earth, such as the sky, atmosphere, and even space, which are all referred to as the Heavens. Heaven can also mean the spiritual reality where the Creator dwells. It is the dwelling place of God and where God's people will dwell for eternity with Him. Heaven is the dwelling place of God and all who believe in His Son, Jesus.
"Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to His (God) holy dwelling place, to heaven" (2 Chronicles 30:27).
In the New Testament, Paul referred to Heaven as the things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
"Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1).
Hebrews refers to Heaven as a city whose builder and maker is God.
"For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10).
The idea that Jesus is preparing a place in Heaven for those who love Him is a source of hope and peace. It reflects the belief in a loving and eternal home beyond this life for those who believe in Him.
"In My Father’s house (Heaven) are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).
Who Goes to Heaven?
The righteous "IN" Christ go to Heaven. But mankind has a problem, they are not righteous and cannot do anything to make themselves righteous. The Bible teaches that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
And there is none righteous, no not one.
"As it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10).
But because every human being is a sinner, you are born dead and already judged and condemned to Hell.
"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned" (Romans 5:12).
"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18).
We all deserve Hell as the just punishment for our SINS and rebellion against God.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
Jesus was clear that “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
"Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
He was also clear that Hell is an eternal punishment for those who do not obey Him.
"Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).
"Dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:8–9).
They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” John the Baptist said about Jesus,
“His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12).
How Does a Sinful Man Become Righteous?
So, how does a sinful man become righteous? You are made righteous by God’s grace in Jesus Christ. All those who trust, believe, and have faith in Jesus Christ are made righteous by grace through faith alone.
"For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3),
This righteousness is based on Jesus’ propitiation (total satisfaction for God's wrath and justice).
"And He Himself (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world" (1 John 2:2).
The Bible, however, is clear that no amount of good works can earn heaven; only faith in the shed blood of Christ on the cross and the righteousness of Christ imputed to us can save us and destine us for heaven.
"For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28).
"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" 2 Corinthians 5:21).
The Apostle Paul wrote, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that his righteousness came from God based on his faith in Jesus.
"And may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Phil 3:9-11).
He was therefore confident that when he died, he would go to be with Christ.
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better" (Philippians 1:23).
All those, and only those, whose names are written in the “Book of Life” will go to Heaven.
"And nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it (Heaven), but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life" (Revelation 21:27).
Those whose names are in that book are there because of God’s grace. They are made righteous through believing by faith in the work of Christ.
The Decision is Yours
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:18).
So, those who go to Hell are specifically those who do not believe in Jesus’ name. To “believe” goes beyond a mental recognition of the truth. To believe in Christ for salvation requires a transfer of allegiance. We stop worshiping ourselves, we forsake our sins, and we begin to worship God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt 22:36–37).
God desires that every person spend eternity with Him.
"So, it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish" (Matthew 18:14).
"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9),
He honors our decision to accept or reject Him.
"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:14).
Anyone who so desires can go to Heaven.
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).
Jesus already paid the price for our salvation, but we must accept that gift and transfer ownership of our lives to Him.
"And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me" (Luke 9:23).
Heaven is perfect, and God cannot take anyone there who insists on holding on to his or her sin. We must allow Him to cleanse us of our sins and make us righteous in His sight
One verse that shows us the problem and the solution.
“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
We can choose to trust in Jesus’ payment for our sins, or we can choose to pay for our sins ourselves—but we must remember that the payment for our sins is an eternity in Hell. C. S. Lewis said it this way:
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’”
All Punishment is Not Equal in Hell!
What Role Does Sin Play in Punishment?
It is important to understand that unbelief in Jesus and what God has revealed determines who will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. But what part does sin play in the punishment of those who reject God? The biblical teaching is that a person is now and will be condemned for their sins unless they believe in Jesus.
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey (believe, have faith in) the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).
All mankind is born under God's wrath, condemnation, and judgment. It is called "original sin." Unbelievers are now dead in their trespasses, sins, and transgressions.
"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. (But) when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)" (Ephesians 2:1-3, 5).
"When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He (Jesus) made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions" (Colossians 2:13).
They are spiritually separated from God's life.
"So, this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles (unbelievers) also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart" (Ephesians 4:18).
This means unbelievers are positionally IN their sins and will remain spiritually dead, separated from God forever. Believing in Christ for salvation is the only escape from this death and certain judgment, condemnation, and punishment for sins. The Apostle Paul, through the Holy Spirit, wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:17c that without Christ's actual historical life, death, and resurrection, "...you are still in your sins." Jesus told the Pharisees,
"Therefore, I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24).
Unbelievers Are Not in the Book of Life
The "Great White Throne Judgment" will only include unbelievers. Christ will judge them based on the absence of their names from the Book of Life, which is why they will be destined for the Lake of Fire. Additionally, He will judge them according to their works or deeds which will be the criteria for greater or lesser judgments or condemnation in Hell, the Lake of Fire.
"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them, and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11–15).
The people at the "White Throne Judgment" are judged “according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” All the people at this judgment are thrown into the Lake of Fire.
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done" (Revelation 22:12).
So, perhaps, the purpose of the judgment is to determine how severe the punishment in Hell will be.
Unbelievers Will Be Judged on Severity of Deeds
Believers and unbelievers alike are judged according to their deeds—the believer for crowns and rewards, and the unbeliever for the degree of condemnation and punishment. Therefore, unbelievers, due to their sins and unbelief, will be judged proportionally according to the severity of their sins. A clear passage is where Jesus speaks of comparative punishment. First, Jesus says this about a village that rejects the gospel:
“I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town” (Luke 10:12).
Then He speaks to Bethsaida and Chorazin.
“It will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you” (Luke 10:14).
Whatever punishment the former residents of Sodom, Tyre, and Sidon were experiencing in Hell, the Galilean towns that refused to hear Christ would experience more. Here the level of punishment in Hell seems to be tied to the amount of light a person rejects.
Another indication that Hell has different levels of punishment is found in Jesus’ words.
“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:47–48).
Jesus, the one who will judge unbelievers, nations, and cities repeatedly taught greater judgment and condemnation for greater sins including unbelief.
"And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless, I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you” (Matthew 11:23-24).
Different Punishments
Different Judgments | Holy Scriptures |
"according to deeds" | "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds" (Matthew 16:27). |
"cause a child to stumble" | "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matt 18:5-6). |
"receive greater condemnation" | “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation” (Mark 12:38-40). |
"search heart, test mind according to ways and deeds" | “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds" (Jerimiah 17:10). |
"receive greater Judgment" | “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation” (Luke 20:46-47). |
"you have no excuse" and "storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath" and "selfishly ambitious" and "do not obey truth" and "obey unrighteousness" and "wrath and indignance" and "every soul of man who does evil" | "Therefore, you have no excuse...But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God" (Romans 2:1a, 6-11). |
"each one of us will give an account of himself to God" | "But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” So, then each one of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:10-12). |
"recompensed for his deeds in the body" | "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10)" |
"conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth" | "If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth" (1 Peter 1:17). |
"I am He who searches the minds and hearts" | "And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts, and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds" (Revelation 2:23). |
"If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire" | "According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire" (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). |
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