A controversial topic that Pope Francis and Dennis Prager view differently. But what does the Bible say about this? By Pat Arrabito

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Spring is in the air! Peach, plum, nectarine and almond trees are blooming, and my little apricot tree is already budding. I often think about how wonderful and amazing it is that we are surrounded by so much beauty despite progressive sin and its effects on this planet. It is evidence that God is very involved in what is happening on planet Earth.

»I like to imagine hell empty.«

In a recent interview, Pope Francis was asked how he imagines hell. He answered:

»What I am saying now is not a dogma of faith, but my own personal view; I like to imagine hell to be empty; I hope it’s empty.”

The Jewish talk show host Dennis Prager reacted in one of his “fireside chats”:

"I do not agree with it. I hope not that hell is empty. I also hope that hell will be empty in the future. But right now I'm hoping it's not empty. I would go even further. I would say that if no one was punished... for evil, then I would cease to be a religious person. A large part of my faith rests on the fact that God is just and compassionate, and that together this means that he rewards the good and punishes the wicked."

Well, Pope Francis can be happy because hell is empty. But not because all sinners are saved. It is empty because dead sinners lie unconscious in their dusty graves, not burning (Ecclesiastes 9,5.6.10:XNUMX, XNUMX, XNUMX).

But Dennis Prager can also be happy, because God is both just and compassionate, and yes: the wicked will be punished. “The LORD knows how to save the godly from temptation, but to keep the unrighteous until the day of judgment, when they will be punished” (2 Peter 2,9:2 NIV). But in the meantime, he is “patient with us, not wanting any to perish, but for all to turn to him” (3,9 Peter XNUMX:XNUMX NIV).

The day of judgment is coming. Sinners will receive eternal punishment. And although it won't be as the Pope or Dennis Prager imagine, I think they would both be happy with the final outcome - Hell will be empty. The wicked will receive their just judgment - their lives will end forever. Sin and sinners will be no more.

We can pray that both men and many other misled and ignorant people will, through God's grace and our witness, come to know the true nature of our loving God, as well as the sinfulness of sin and the depth of God's gift: Jesus' death on the cross for our salvation. And that they will see God's universe forever free from evil!

From www.lltproductions.org (Lux Lucet in Tenebris), Newsletter March 2024