The Tribulation is scary? Want to hear my theory about hell?
Okay, first off, when the earth was first created, I believe it, and the rest of the universe actually existed elsewhere, completed, outside of normal space. I believe it was pushed into our universe in stages, and then expanded from a single point. So, the first thing to be exposed in normal space was the earth itself. A thin film of space was stretched out from the center, exposing the earth. So in a sense, the universe at that time consisted of the earth, only.
But from this single point, God added energy/light to this thin film of space so far just clinging to earth( “Let there be light”), and the space surrounding it absorbed the energy and stretched out to fill the entire universe, most likely instantaneously as there may be no temporal component. The Bible says in several places that the heavens (space) were “stretched out like a tent” on the first day. In Isaiah 40:22: It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, (the earth is mentioned to be a sphere) and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
The word above for “curtain” literally means a thin transparent fabric. As space absorbed the energy that was given to it, it stretched and absorbed, but also reflected back excess energy, so the universe originally was full of light. In fact, too much light to see the sun, or the moon or the stars. On day 4, the sun and stars are mentioned as it probably took that long for the light emitted from the surrounding space to dissipate to see them. The Genesis account of creation is written from the view of a human observer standing on the earth at that time, a human with normal eyes.
Incidentally, the Bible mentions 3 “heavens”. The first heaven is the atmosphere, the second, also called the “heaven of heavens” is space, and the third Heaven is where God resides, outside of normal space and time.
So why do I bring all this up regarding hell? Because, if this is true, that space was stretched out from a single point starting from earth, that means that, even to this day, we must be at least near the dead center of the universe (taking account for drift) more or less. I think this is significant, because near the end of history, the Bible mentions that as in Isaiah 34:4: All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll.
So at first, space was “stretched out like a tent”, but at the end, it will “roll up like a scroll”, or collapse back in on itself, again, most likely instantaneously. But before this happens, before the destruction of the universe, there will be wild vibrations as space violently contracts and expands during the Tribulation times. Isaiah 13:13: Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fierce anger. Notice that the heavens/space are trembling, which causes earth to be shaken out of its place (which is its orbit).
As space violently vibrates, the light trails from the stars will be erased, since we aren’t looking at stars when we look up into the sky, we’re looking at trails of light that stretch for billions of light years in some cases. But just as a chalk board is erased by scattering the particles of chalk dust with an eraser, this vibration of space will cause the sky to go dark. Isaiah 13:10: For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising and the moon will not shed its light.
Lucky for us, then, that we are near the center of the universe, so that when it begins to collapse and expand, we will be in the eye of the hurricane if you will. We will be buffeted, but not broken up into a million pieces.
Now, at the end of human history, people are said to be judged, and then those that chose to live with God will go on to live in the new universe— Isaiah 65:17: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” And those that chose to live without Him will be simply left here, away from God’s presence. Matthew 13:42: and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash(or grind) their teeth.
So what is hell? I think hell is a supermassive black hole, formed from the collapse of this universe, at the end of history. From our point of view then, hell doesn’t yet exist. But since God (and Heaven) exist outside of normal space/time, hell can be accessed now, from Heaven, like a backdoor in a piece of software. This entrance into hell in Heaven is called the “Lake of Fire”, which I believe is a portal into the event horizon of the hole. Revelation 20:15: and if any one’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
The event horizon of hell (the point beyond which no event can take place- time ceases to have meaning) is mentioned by Jesus when He says in Luke 16:26: And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
Hell (this hole) is called in the Bible the “bottomless pit”, and in 2nd Peter the “storm of darkness”- which is a perfect description of a rotating black hole. Also whenever Satan is said to be judged in the Bible, he is said to be “crushed”. Romans 16:20: then the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. (center of the earth which will be at the (future) center of the hole) or as in Genesis 3:15: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed (the antichrist) and her seed(Jesus); he(Jesus) shall crush your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Hell is also called a place of great heat ( the furnace), but also a place of darkeness as photons would be torn apart in the extreme gravity of the hole. It has been theorized that time in the center of a hole, beyond the event horizon may continue on as normal, if so, it would literally be a place of eternal destruction.
Lastly, after the judgment is ended, the portal (lake of fire) is closed, and collapses like a throat closing or swallowing. 1st Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Anyway, that is my hell theory.
I don’t believe hell is a literal burning place. I think it is the total opposite of Heaven. It’s the eternal separation from God and is the destruction of the soul.
A theoretical physicist has recently made a strong case that black holes don't actually form, don't quite get to that point, because the universe would run out of time beforehand. In other words, there's nothing on the other side of the event horizon except for the normal universe beyond.
As space violently vibrates, the light trails from the stars will be erased, since we aren’t looking at stars when we look up into the sky, we’re looking at trails of light that stretch for billions of light years in some cases.
The wavefront of starlight is going out in all directions so even if you were to move to the side suddenly, your retinas would still have star photons falling upon them.
But I did enjoy reading your theory. There are some real interesting thoughts in it. Thanks.