So, tonight we discussed several things within the account of God's beginning work of creation in Genesis 1:1 (as well as several other rabbit trails...). One of the questions that came up was "when was Hell created?"
Well, to answer it quite simply, the Bible never states a particular point when Hell was created however, as we examine the Scriptures, we can find the approximate point when there was a necessity for the existence of the place of Hell. Let's take a look, shall we?
Let's start with this, Heaven. In Genesis 1:1, we see that God created the heavens and the earth. This "heavens" that is found here is referencing many places, namely the sky in which the birds and clouds fly within, the vast expanse of space in which the celestial bodies reside, and Heaven itself, the place where God resides and where all the Heavenly beings and creatures sing of His glory.
The first thing that I want us to understand in this context is that Heaven is a prepared place. When we view the creation account, we see that God is preparing all of creation for His purposes. Flash forward to John 14, verse 3. Here, Jesus is telling his disciples about the place of Heaven, saying that he will go and "prepare a place" for you.
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." - John 14:3
So, Heaven is a prepared place. God has intentions for his children and is preparing a place for them. But what about Hell? What does the Bible say about Hell. Take a look at Matthew 25
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." - Matthew 25:41
So, Hell is a prepared place also. But notice who it is prepared for; the devil and his angels. Hmmm. No mention of mankind in there. God never intended for you and I to be there, and yet if we reject Him, God shows us that the only place for us is is the place of eternal separation from God, Hell.
(Now, before I get nasty grams, yes, this everlasting fire is the Lake of Fire at the final judgment for the unbelievers and is different than Hell itself that was created for Lucifer and the fallen angels, but just stay with me here. I will continue.)
Isaiah 14 describes the fall of Lucifer and the place of Hell.
"Yet thou shall be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." - Isaiah 14:15
So, Hell is revealed as "the pit". It is a real place. Ezekiel also confirms this in chapter 31, verse 16.
"I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit." - Ezekiel 31:16
Scripture even defines the geographical location of Hell as well. For this, let's look at the account of Jesus' immediate place after death on the cross.
"For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." - Matthew 12:40
So Hell is in the "heart of the earth". Ephesians 4:9 even describes a specific part of the earth, the "lower parts of the earth. There are also many other verses that confirm this place. Look up these verses when you have a chance: Psalm 55:15, Proverbs 5:5, Proverbs 7:27, Ezekiel 31:16 and 17, Ezekiel 32:21 and 27, Matthew 11:23, Luke 10:15, 2 Peter 2:4.
21 times the Bible describes the location of Hell as "down", twice as "beneath", twice states a "descent" into the pit, seven times locates Hell in the "lower" or "nether" parts of the earth....
But we still haven't stated when it was created??? We are getting there. Hang with me
I believe, in context of the description of the creation account found in Genesis 1, that Hell was not part of original creation. At each day in the week of creation, God states "it is good" (with the account in the creation of man that it is very good). If there was a need for Hell to be prepared at this point, I doubt that God would have described this as good as Lucifer's rebellion against God is anything but good. By this interpretation then, the creation of Hell is then a direct result of the fall of Lucifer and the angels that rebelled with him. (You can find the extended account of his fall in Revelation 12:7-9) There would have been no purpose for it before that time. And since we see that Lucifer did indeed serve a lofty purpose in Heaven (Ezekiel 28:11-15), then the creation of Hell came at some point before the events of Genesis 3, but after the account of original creation of the heavens and the earth found in Genesis 1:1-31.
I hope this helps a bit. I know it is not a full answer to the question, but then, as we have discussed, sometimes we just have to realize that there are some things which will remain to us, by the account of God's Word, a Deuteronomy 29:29 issue:
"The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
Comments? Questions? Thoughts?
I'd love to hear them. Love you guys!
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