Bible Study — Did God Create Hell?

An atheist follower of my blog posts asked, “Why did God create hell?”

A better question: did God create Heaven? “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 MEV

Yes, God created Heaven.

A question arose in my mind, “Is Hell like a vacuum?” Did God create vacuum? What is a vacuum? One dictionary defines a vacuum as, “a space not filled or occupied; emptiness; void.”

German physicist Niels Marquardt of the Institute for Accelerator Physics and Synchrotron Radiation describes vacuum physics:

“The word “vacuum” comes from the Latin “vacua”, which means “empty”. However, there does not exist a totally empty space in nature, there is no “ideal vacuum”. Vacuum is only a partially empty space, where some of the air and other gases have been removed from a gas containing volume (“gas” comes from the Greek word “chaos” = infinite, empty space). In other words, vacuum means any volume containing less gas particles, atoms and molecules (a lower particle density and gas pressure), than there are in the surrounding outside atmosphere. Accordingly, vacuum is the gaseous environment at pressures below atmosphere.“

We know for a fact even outer space is not a perfect vacuum. The vast interstellar medium (ISM) features “Varying quantities of gas exist at different locations within the ISM. If you’re looking for a perfect vacuum devoid of matter, you’ll have a hard time finding it in space.” according to Johnson Space Center writer, Kevin Lee.

I have come to think Hell was not a creation; it is the absence of the Spirit of God. Like a black hole, whatever goes in, stays in, never to emerge, including light.

The Bible variously describes Hell as a terrible, inescapable place. The New Testament book of Mark, chapter 9, verses 44, 46, and 48 describe Hell as a place. In Hell, “their worm [maggot] does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”

Conclusion: Hell is not a vacuum. Is Hell like a black hole? Nothing escapes a black hole, not even light. There is nothing in the Bible to suggest or outright claim that God created hell.

Hell is not a place created by God. Hell is a creation of those persons who reject God’s invitation to eternal life and forgiveness of all sins.

John White
Rockwall, Texas