Much like the Bible indicates varying degrees of blessings and rewards in eternity for believers (in addition to Heaven), it also seems to indicate different levels of punishment in eternity for unbelievers (despite their assignment to Hell followed by the lake of fire).
One such passage is Hebrews 10:26-31, “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
The writer of Hebrews indicated in the above passages that God’s judgment upon those who willfully reject Jesus and His sacrifice—treating His shed blood as common—will be far worse than that of those who rejected the law of Moses. This fact is due to them treating Jesus’ shed blood as common, rendering it as having “no more sacred character or specific worth than the blood of any ordinary person...and that in refusing to regard Christ’s blood as that of an atoner and redeemer, it was implied that his blood was unclean as being that of a transgressor” (Vincent, Marvin R. “The Epistle to the Hebrews: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament” Volume IV [New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1902]).
Another section of Scripture that signified various degrees of punishment in eternity for unbelievers is Matthew 11:21-24. Jesus said, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”
Jesus explicitly stated in the above verses that those who refuse to repent of their sins after witnessing (the testimony of) His miracles will be punished more severely at the final judgment than those who did not have such an opportunity. The implication is that greater revelation brings greater responsibility, resulting in more severe judgment (and punishment) for those who ignore or dismiss it.
A third passage of Scripture that appeared to convey degrees of punishment for unbelievers in eternity is Luke 12:45-48. Jesus said, “But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”
Jesus indicated in the above passages that He would severely punish those who lived (sinfully) as though His return was delayed, or they denied His return altogether. However, those who knew how to live in accordance with His will and expected His return but failed would be punished less severely than they, yet more severely than those who did not know and were oblivious of His return. Hence, the punishment will match the offense, resulting in varying degrees of punishment for those in Hell.
Another passage that seemed to imply that greater levels of punishment exist for those who committed greater sins is John 19:11. After Pilate told Jesus of his power to crucify or release Him, Jesus said, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
Additional verses supporting the idea that unbelievers will experience different degrees of punishment in eternity, based on their actions, are found in Romans and Revelation.
Romans 2:5-6 says, “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds.”
Revelation 20:11-13 states, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.”
I hope this brief article encourages you to study this topic further and share your findings with someone who would benefit from the information.
