Are there degrees of punishment in Hell?

I am certainly no expert on this, but I think when Jesus judges the lost at the Great White Throne of judgment (Rev 20:11-12), he looks at their works. This seems to indicate a degree of punishment, but I cannot conclude that from those versus.

 

I don't think it really matters. Hell is an eternity in the absence of God. Compared to that, any supposed degrees are superflous.

Kind of like being sentenced to prison and wondering if the cells come in different colors.

 

Good point JohnV.

 

If it's important enough to be in the Bible, isn't it important enough to think about it?

 

Not any more than the context implies. For example, the Bible mentions a Peter in a boat. But it's unimportant as to the details of the boat. Yet there's no shortage of Christians who will make a scriptural mountain out of such molehills.

 

So, if it is determined that Scripture states that there are varying degrees of punishment for the lost, then it is unimportant?

How do we pick and choose which parts are important?

I wonder why the Holy Spirit had it included if it is unimportant?

 

Probably no more degrees than there are degrees in human ability to jump to the moon. Michael Jordan gets much closer than I do... but relatively speaking he isn't really any better off than I am.

 

Scott J speaks my mind.

 

Hell is eternal aeperation from God. What can be more punishment then that?

 

I would suppose Hitler will receive more punishment than a "good" man who never comes to Christ. None will be pleasant, but just as JESUS will reward the good that the righteous have done, the wicked shall be "rewarded" according to their works.

 

If there are degrees of rewards for the saints, then there could be degrees of punishment for sinners. Not a subject that is looked into much, because of limited reference in scripture. Since that is the case, God may not want us to dig too deep into it. We can only know what He reveals and on this subject He doesn't reveal much. After all, it isn't relevant to the saints because they'll spend eternity with God. It isn't that relevant to the lost because the fact that they'll spend eternity in torment, without God gets the message across without needing to go into detail about who is a worse sinner.

 

Exactly. It's important to know, but not important to study.

It's like common salvation; there's very little of it in the Bible. It's important, but God doesn't want you dwelling on it.

Most of the Bible concentrates on our behavior after being saved. It exhorts us, it warns us, etc.

 

Hell is not simply eternal seperation from God but eternal conscious torment, let us not forget that, and redouble our efforts to reach the lost.

Kind regards to all.

Bob

 

Good point, Bob.

The answer to rl's OP is, yes. There are degrees of punishment as there are degrees of reward. Nothing else can be concluded from the Scriptures you've posted.