Why Darwin Went Wrong
When you hear the name “Charles Darwin,” the word “evolution” might come to your mind immediately. Most people associate Charles Darwin with the development of modern evolutionary thought, mainly because of the two books he authored (On the Origin of Species and The Descent of Man) that introduced the idea that all living things developed from one single-celled organism. But it may surprise you that Darwin started his career as a naturalist, he was a Bible-believing Christian who believed in the Biblical account of Creation. So what led him to pursue the course that he did?
There were probably several factors, one of them being his life-changing trip on the H.M.S. Beagle while reading a book by Charles Lyell, “The Father of Geology,” entitled Principles of Geology, which introduced him to the false idea of uniformitarianism, which states that the present is the key to the past. Darwin was then led to reject the Biblical account of Creation, and try to look for clues in the present to try to piece together the story of how our world came into existence.
But Darwin admitted that one of the reasons why he rejected the Bible’s account of Creation was because of the way it depicted God. He thought it revealed God to be a harsh, cruel God, ready to cast anyone who did not follow His commands into a horrible place of torture called hell. This view that Darwin had of our God was probably shaped by preachers of his day, such as Jonathan Edwards, who preached the renowned sermon “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God.” He just couldn’t understand how a God who claims to be kind and loving (1 John 4:8) could just burn people forever in a place called hell.
Is it true? Does God really burn people forever in hell? Let’s take a look at the Biblical evidence. What does the Bible really have to say about hell?
1. Hell is not burning right now.
Notice the words of prophecy: “And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven led away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works … And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11, 12, 15, KJV). Notice when this lake of fire is kindled – at the Great White Throne Judgment, which occurs at the end of the world. So according to this information that is given us, is there anyone in hell now? No, if we are to take the Bible as it reads! In addition to this, the Bible tells us that hell is not some place down in the center of the earth – no, no! Rather, the whole world will be set on fire and this is the “lake” of fire into which the lost are cast. Please notice what the apostle Peter had to say about this: “The heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10, KJV). Hellfire will be the great destruction of this world, after which God will create a new heavens and a new earth, according to 2 Peter 2:13, just three verses later.
2. Hellfire does not burn forever.
This may come as a surprise to you, but just think about it. We just read what the Word of God tells us in 2 Peter 3:10, about how the heavens and the earth will be melted, burned up, destroyed and dissolved. Then the Bible tells us that God will create a new heaven and a NEW EARTH following hellfire, so how is hell going to continue on for billions and billions of years if the earth, which will be hellfire itself before God creates a new earth? “Oh,” but you say, “aren’t there passages in Scripture that say that the fire will be everlasting and eternal?” True. Jesus tells us that at the end of the world, He will tell Satan and those who side with him, “Depart from Me, ye cursed, into EVERLASTING FIRE, prepared for the Devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). He also says, speaking of the wicked, that “these shall go away into EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT” (verse 46). But notice, it is everlasting punishment, not everlasting punishing. The results of the fire will be everlasting. However, if you’re not convinced quite yet, the Bible speaks of everlasting fire elsewhere, this time referring to an Old Testament story: “As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of ETERNAL FIRE” (Jude 7, NKJV). You are probably familiar with the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities that were very wicked, which God punished by raining fire and brimstone out of heaven. Jude tells us that the fire was eternal. Many Bible scholars believe that the area where the Dead Sea is today was where Sodom and Gomorrah once stood. Yet, if you were to go over to that area today, there is no fire burning there, only ashes and sulfur balls, which the Bible refers to as “brimstone.” That is because the effects of the fire were eternal, not the fire itself! Now what about phrases such as “unquenchable fire” and “for ever and ever?” There is a special link at the end of this blog entry that answers all those questions and any other questions you may have about hellfire and the punishment of the wicked.
3. The punishment of the wicked is foreign to God’s nature.
“God is love,” says 1 John 4:8. He takes no pleasure in consigning people to the flames of hell, contrary to what the Devil would have us to think. It is the Devil who concocted the theory that God would burn people forever in a place called hell. People have gone crazy over the thought that one of their loved ones might be suffering in hell, never to be relieved of their agony and pain. Many people have been led to hate God because of this. Once again, this is a strategy of the Evil One. The Bible tells us that the destruction of the wicked is a “strange act” for God (Isaiah 28:21)! God Himself tells us in Ezekiel 33:11, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross of Calvary to pay the price for sin, which is eternal death (Romans 6:23). As we behold Him dying there on the cross, what can we do but accept His offer of eternal life and give our hearts and lives to Him? What will you do about the sacrifice that Christ has made for you?
- Ilcias Vargas, Jr.
There were probably several factors, one of them being his life-changing trip on the H.M.S. Beagle while reading a book by Charles Lyell, “The Father of Geology,” entitled Principles of Geology, which introduced him to the false idea of uniformitarianism, which states that the present is the key to the past. Darwin was then led to reject the Biblical account of Creation, and try to look for clues in the present to try to piece together the story of how our world came into existence.
But Darwin admitted that one of the reasons why he rejected the Bible’s account of Creation was because of the way it depicted God. He thought it revealed God to be a harsh, cruel God, ready to cast anyone who did not follow His commands into a horrible place of torture called hell. This view that Darwin had of our God was probably shaped by preachers of his day, such as Jonathan Edwards, who preached the renowned sermon “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God.” He just couldn’t understand how a God who claims to be kind and loving (1 John 4:8) could just burn people forever in a place called hell.
Is it true? Does God really burn people forever in hell? Let’s take a look at the Biblical evidence. What does the Bible really have to say about hell?
1. Hell is not burning right now.
Notice the words of prophecy: “And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven led away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works … And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11, 12, 15, KJV). Notice when this lake of fire is kindled – at the Great White Throne Judgment, which occurs at the end of the world. So according to this information that is given us, is there anyone in hell now? No, if we are to take the Bible as it reads! In addition to this, the Bible tells us that hell is not some place down in the center of the earth – no, no! Rather, the whole world will be set on fire and this is the “lake” of fire into which the lost are cast. Please notice what the apostle Peter had to say about this: “The heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10, KJV). Hellfire will be the great destruction of this world, after which God will create a new heavens and a new earth, according to 2 Peter 2:13, just three verses later.
2. Hellfire does not burn forever.
This may come as a surprise to you, but just think about it. We just read what the Word of God tells us in 2 Peter 3:10, about how the heavens and the earth will be melted, burned up, destroyed and dissolved. Then the Bible tells us that God will create a new heaven and a NEW EARTH following hellfire, so how is hell going to continue on for billions and billions of years if the earth, which will be hellfire itself before God creates a new earth? “Oh,” but you say, “aren’t there passages in Scripture that say that the fire will be everlasting and eternal?” True. Jesus tells us that at the end of the world, He will tell Satan and those who side with him, “Depart from Me, ye cursed, into EVERLASTING FIRE, prepared for the Devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). He also says, speaking of the wicked, that “these shall go away into EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT” (verse 46). But notice, it is everlasting punishment, not everlasting punishing. The results of the fire will be everlasting. However, if you’re not convinced quite yet, the Bible speaks of everlasting fire elsewhere, this time referring to an Old Testament story: “As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of ETERNAL FIRE” (Jude 7, NKJV). You are probably familiar with the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities that were very wicked, which God punished by raining fire and brimstone out of heaven. Jude tells us that the fire was eternal. Many Bible scholars believe that the area where the Dead Sea is today was where Sodom and Gomorrah once stood. Yet, if you were to go over to that area today, there is no fire burning there, only ashes and sulfur balls, which the Bible refers to as “brimstone.” That is because the effects of the fire were eternal, not the fire itself! Now what about phrases such as “unquenchable fire” and “for ever and ever?” There is a special link at the end of this blog entry that answers all those questions and any other questions you may have about hellfire and the punishment of the wicked.
3. The punishment of the wicked is foreign to God’s nature.
“God is love,” says 1 John 4:8. He takes no pleasure in consigning people to the flames of hell, contrary to what the Devil would have us to think. It is the Devil who concocted the theory that God would burn people forever in a place called hell. People have gone crazy over the thought that one of their loved ones might be suffering in hell, never to be relieved of their agony and pain. Many people have been led to hate God because of this. Once again, this is a strategy of the Evil One. The Bible tells us that the destruction of the wicked is a “strange act” for God (Isaiah 28:21)! God Himself tells us in Ezekiel 33:11, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross of Calvary to pay the price for sin, which is eternal death (Romans 6:23). As we behold Him dying there on the cross, what can we do but accept His offer of eternal life and give our hearts and lives to Him? What will you do about the sacrifice that Christ has made for you?
- Ilcias Vargas, Jr.
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