The idea of hell strikes fear into the hearts of everyone who acknowledges the awesome power of God. It is only right to appreciate God’s power and freedom, and truly, if God is able to make a creature suffer in one moment, He can choose to prolong suffering for as long as He wills.
While the concept of hell is theoretically possible, then, will it be a reality or is it merely part of the ancient fables of organised religion — is it part of our history, but not part of our future?
My own understanding is that religion is just as relevant today as it always has been. Even though there is a perception that churches are often empty these days, there are still many God-fearing people who are dedicated to studying the Scriptures and seeking God’s will. Many people find that reading the Bible or the Qur’an completely changes their perspective on all the most important questions at the heart of the mystery of life, and reading the Scriptures tends to provoke people to take the ideas of paradise and hell very seriously.
If one reads the Bible or the Qur’an, it becomes clear that more than being an ancient fable, Judgement Day is at the heart of God’s plan for the future of humanity. In the Qur’an, the day of judgement is described as God’s ‘binding promise’. So it would seem that we do have to take the idea seriously.
In recent years, my own work in the realm of philosophical theology has been focused on trying to understand the Day of Judgement, both the reasons for it and what it will entail. I have found the clearest direction on the subject can be found in the Qur’an, which was revealed after the Bible and contains many corrective statements aimed at guiding human beings towards right conduct, with the Day of Judgement as an ever-present focus. I have written about the free will debate and how the conduct of human beings relates to the existence of a sovereign God, and how we can make sense of Judgement Day if in truth God is in control of the unfolding of all events (my books are available here if you’re interested).
Whether the Day of Judgement is near or far, no one except God knows. He chooses to keep the timing secret. But it’s best to see your life as a spiritual journey with God at the centre, because He created you, sustains you, and has the ultimate say over your destiny.
Perfect Chaos 