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Are There Degrees of

Punishment in Hell?

By Paul Tatham
tatham47@hotmail

Most evangelical Christians have a fairly clear understanding of the

concept of varying degrees of reward in Heaven.
They are familiar with Scriptures which speak of crowns, and the like,
that will be awarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ and seek to live their
lives with that prospect in mind.
Not as many evangelicals, however, grasp the reality that there exist
similar variations of punishment in Hell for the lost.
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Although Hell will be a place of horrific anguish for all its residents,
some will suffer worse than others.
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Without delving into the exact meaning of the following Bible

passages, it is clear that they all speak to the fact that there are degrees
--perhaps literally - of punishment in Hell.
The degree of punishment seems to be predicated on just two factors:
the amount of gospel light, to which one was exposed, and one’s works.
If someone, during his life on earth, had the privilege to be presented
with a clear presentation of God’s plan of salvation, and dismissed it, his
punishment will be greater than for someone who had no such exposure.
Furthermore, although only one sin is needed to condemn a person to a
lost eternity in Hell, some sins are worse than others and will be punished
accordingly.

Where is the Biblical Evidence?

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Luke 12:47-48

“And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself,
neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall
be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of
him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much,
of him they will ask the more.”

Romans 2:12

“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and
as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law.”

Luke 10:14

”But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for
you.”

Matthew 10:15

“Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and
Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.”

2 Peter 2:20-21

“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the
knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled
therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness,
than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment
delivered unto them.”

Hebrews 10:26-29

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the
truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. But a certain fearful
looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the
adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or
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three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be

thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath
counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy
thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

Mark 12:40

“Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these
shall receive greater damnation.”

Matthew 23:15

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and
land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold
more the child of Hell than yourselves.”

Matthew 18:6-7

“But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it
were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he
were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of
offences! For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by
whom the offence cometh!”

Matthew 16:27

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels;
and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”

Deuteronomy 25:2-3

“And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge
shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to
his fault, by a certain number. Forty stripes he may give him, and not
exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many
stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.”
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1 Samuel 2:3

“Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your
mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are
weighed.”

2 Samuel 3:39

“And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of
Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil
according to his wickedness.”

Ezra 9:13

“And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great
trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities
deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this.”

Psalm 28:4

“Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of

their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them
their desert.”

Hosea 4:9

“And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their
ways, and reward them their doings.”

Hosea 12:2

“The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob
according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.”

Obadiah 1:15

“For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it
shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.”
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Jeremiah 17:10

“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man
according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

Luke 23:41

“And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this
man hath done nothing amiss.”

Revelation 20:13

”And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered
up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according
to their works.”

John 19:11

”Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it
were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath
the greater sin.”

1 Peter 4:17

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it
first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of
God?”

Matthew 16:27

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels;
and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”

Proverbs 24:12

“If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart
consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not
he render to every man according to his works?”
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Revelation 20:12

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened: and 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.”
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