"Some Like It Hot"
"Some Like It Hot"
Hell is never a subject to be taken lightly; and this little treatise is in no way seeking to do this. Still, the title of the 1959 movie, "Some Like It Hot" does, it seems to me, address the horrible situation of an eternal perdition in hell.
Anyone who has read Dante's Inferno knows that the great Italian poet viewed hell as having various degrees or descending realms. I agree with this overall interpretation (on the whole). Dante even had the boldness to stick some particularly-nefarious popes near the bottom of the pit. Heaven also, I think, has its "levels," though everyone who is or will be there will experience nothing but perfect bliss, (whereas the exact opposite will be true for those in hell).
My point in this paper is to consider the people who self-consciously do what will appoint them the lowest places in hell. . . . Though this is not a happy topic--we will conclude with some counter-balancing gospel grace in Jesus.
To get right to the point, here are the categories I have in mind; and I am working from the bottom, up. . . .
Just above Satan and his fallen demons are those people who ascribe the work of the Holy Spirit, to the devil himself. This is the appropriately-called, "Unforgivable Sin." We may read about this in Matt. 12:31-32. No one who has ever committed this sin has any concern about having done so.
The next level "up," in my opinion, is that of deliberately perverting the pure gospel of grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. In this case, I would cite Paul in Gal. 1:8-9. With John Calvin, I also believe that this sin is repentable; and that Paul's denunciation of it is not one unto absolute perdition. Still, the gravity of this sin can hardly be overstated. It is reprehensible; and is to be utterly abominated (by the true saints of the church).
The next step "up," (if I may say it that way), is the case of people who cause others--particularly, children--to "stumble," or sin. And these are especially in relation to "little ones," i.e. little children (or little "lambs"), who "believe in [Jesus]." Christ's warning here, is that for those who cause "little ones who believe in [Him]" to "stumble," or sin, it would be better for them to have a millstone placed around their necks, and to be drowned in the deepest sea. (We may read about this teaching in Matt. 18:6, Mk. 9:42, and Lk. 17:2.)
The next sphere "up," in my judgment, is rejection of Christ, despite the hearing of the gospel, (and even the seeing of miracles wrought in Jesus' name). In this instance, I will cite Matt. 11:21.
Continuing the "ascent" from the bottom of hell's pit, we, I think, would next encounter those who lived in and celebrated perverse behaviors, i.e. actions that could never be appropriate in any circumstances. The twisted inhabitants of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are good "poster children" of this category; and we may read about their demise in Gen. 19:24.
In my opinion, the next levels "up" would be inhabited by garden variety unbelieving and unrepentant (let alone unregenerate) sinners--the residents of the lowest parts (of these "higher" realms) being those who love their sins with most ardency.
Please note that according to my reckoning, the lowest places in hell are reserved for ardently religious people. The "usual suspects" of immoral, murdering, thieving, greedy, lying sinners have their places in perdition--but none of them are as low as religious sinners, especially those who propound false "gospels." But again, all of these sins may be forgiven through regenerative faith in the blood of the Son of God--except for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
Now, in closing, here is some good news. The Apostle Paul, who would have been a really good (initial) candidate for a very low spot in hell, wrote some wonderful words in 1 Tim. 1:15. Here they are: "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost," (ESV).
Rev. Mark J. Henninger
Treatise #35
7 November 2025
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