How Can We Find Peace And Comfort Over People Who Have Gone To Suffer In Hell Forever?

Heb​rews 12:1-3, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.​”

There are others that I am straddling on the fence about, not sure where they went. My best friend when growing up at one time professed faith in Jesus Christ. But several years later, after I went off to Bible college and we parted ways, I met him again and he told me he was now an atheist and a communist. I was heartbroken. A year or so later he commit suicide with his father's shotgun. His name was Greg and he was only 22 years old. I have no idea where my friend went. My heart tells me he didn't make it to Heaven. But even John the Baptist while in prison, whom Jesus had said was the greatest man ever born among women (Matthew 11:11), doubted if Jesus was the Christ. So, even God's best and brightest saints can still succumb to depression, doubt and discouragement. I hope my friend was saved, but just down and discouraged at the time. Only Greg and his Creator know.

But to answer your question, there's really no way to find peace and comfort about friends, acquaintances and loved ones who've perished in their sins and gone to Hell forever. All we can do is LOOK TO JESUS as the Bible tells us to do...

Heb​rews 12:2-3, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.​”

I have received countless emails from discouraged believers over the years, some even talking about self harm, because they are discouraged. I always remember Hebrews 12:2, which exhorts every believer to stay focused on our dear Savior, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. What God has started, He will finish. Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” If we foolishly take our eyes off of the Lord Jesus Christ—instead focusing on this horrible temporary world, dwelling upon personal problems, thinking about things that mean people have done to hurt us, and allow the ungodliness in society today to fill our brains—then we will definitely become discouraged, disillusioned and frustrated.

I trust God's wisdom, omnipotence, love and omniscience. I cannot find peace and comfort in knowing that my best friend while growing up is likely burning in Hell forever. I laid my small pocket New Testament on his coffin as they lowered him 6-feet down into the grave. I was crying uncontrollably alongside his living family members in sadness for my dear friend, forever saying goodbye. On the way home from Bible college on my way to work, I used to stop by the cemetery and visit Greg's grave, to walk with God and pay respect to my beloved friend, wondering where he was in eternity. It is so sad and tragic.

Greg made his own choices, for which I cannot blame myself or feel guilty and sad. I have peace in knowing that God will one day wipe away my tears as He promised. Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” I don't know exactly what the phrase means, “for the former things are passed away.” I find it hard to accept that God would allow us as His children to spend eternity feeling sorrow, discomfort and depression knowing that our family, loved ones, friends and neighbours are burning in Hell forever.

Will God erase our bad memories? I don't know. Revelation 21:4 will happen AFTER the 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ over the earth. The dead (unsaved) throughout the ages will be judged and sentenced to the Lake of Fire (Greek: Gehenna) at this time (Revelation 20:11-15). When all is said and done, God will wipe away every tear. In my humble thinking, the only way God can wipe away our tears is to remove our memories of the painful past. Because as long as I can remember people who have gone to Hell forever, I will cry tears.

I simply do not know the answer to how to find peace and comfort over those who are burning in Hell forever, except that we are commanded in the inspired Scripture to LOOK TO JESUS, the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our faith. God knows what is best. Our omnipotent Creator would never allow anyone to suffer in Hell for their sins, unless they intentionally rejected Jesus as their personal Savior. That is why all children automatically go to Heaven. Every child's name is already written in the Lamb's Book of Life, Someone's name is not removed from the Book of Life until they knowingly reject Christ.

There have been many celebrities who died in their sins without Jesus (John 8:24). Some names that come to mind are: Gene Roddenberry, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, Roddy McDowall, Gene Wilder, David Bowie, Steve Jobs, Stephen Hawking, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, Margaret Sanger, Britney Spears, Pat Tillman and Orson Welles. Some hellbound living atheists are: Jodie Foster, Bill Maher, Warren Buffet, Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves, to name but just a few. Psalms 14:1, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.  They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”

I am so glad to be a born-again Christian. I have great peace and comfort in knowing that MY NAME is written down in the Lamb's Book of Life. Jesus told me to rejoice about this fact (Luke 10:20). Every believer should rejoice that we are saved certain!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!