Question:
Dear Hank; I have often heard about the supposidly “different levels of Hell” ie Dante’s Inferno and would like some Biblical references on it. In addition, McGee has often mentioned the fact that heaven will have some sort of a distinguishing characteristics assigned to every believer, like name, occupation – kings and priest and I believe even ranking for the general saints. Is there some biblical truth to this line of thought and please furnish some references for your comments. Sincerely; Warren B. Dortch xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx PS I never heard back from you regarding your thoughts on the “Promise Keepers movement”. I checked with Hank Hannagraff and down loaded some of his thoughts but he tends to treat it from a “whose leading it” position and their validity as opposed to wheather it is a true movement of the Holy Spirit. I’m not sure if it is the HS or a movement of the “Flesh”.
Answer:
I don’t know of any Scripture that talks of different levels of Hell. But the Bible does talk of degrees of punishment in Hell. Matt 23:14 says, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” Revelation 20:11-15 describes a judgment of the unsaved where works will determine the degree of punishment. Matthew 11:22-24 tells of cities where Christ preached that will receive a greater degree of punishment in Hell. Verse 20 “Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:” Verse 21 “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” Verse 22 “But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.” Verse 23 “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.” Verse 24 “But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.” Promise Keepers doesn’ have a clear gospel and adds works to the plan of salvation. Everyone who attends seems to be accepted as Christian including Mormans and denominations that clearly teach works. These are serious problems.