Question about Hell

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Of course only God knows.
But there’s evidence enough that God has on occasion revealed the identities of damned souls, in private revelation.
Also in the parable of the Sheep and the Goats Christ is pretty definite that there are, or will be, goats.
Likewise in the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man, Our Lord describes the rich man as being in hell.
I don’t see how He could use such stories, even as teaching tools, if nobody ever goes to hell.
Private revelation is just that: private revelation. Not doctrine (which is public).

Jesus uses those parables to teach us the truth about final judgment, end times, etc., which includes Hell, as the Catholic Church teaches.
 
Firstly we do know that the devil and his angels are there. And we know, from scripture, that SOME people will indeed, at the last judgement, be condemned to join them.

‘Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will be saved’. Clearly shows that some - even among those to profess to follow Christ, let alone among those who don’t - will NOT be saved. No doubtski aboutski.
Yes, but the devil (and other angels) are not humans. I thought this thread was about human persons being taught (or not) by the Church as being in Hell.

Regarding Matthew 7, read the entire chapter, keep things in context. The verse prior to the partial one you cite says “by their fruits you shall know them.” Meaning, simply professing (saying) one believes is not adequate, our works (fruit, acts, virtues, etc.) must also demonstrate that we live the Christian life and not just talk about it. Whether or not any one individual is in fact subject to this final judgment of Hell is unknown to the Church.
 
[Wisdom]
{5:14} Talia dixerunt in inferno hi, qui peccaverunt:
{5:14} Such things those who sinned said in hell.

[Job]
{21:13} Their days are prolonged in wealth, yet, in an instant, they descend into hell.
{21:14} Who has said to God, “Depart from us, for we do not want the knowledge of your ways.
{21:15} Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And how is it helpful to us if we pray to him?”

[Philippians]
{2:9} Because of this, God has also exalted him and has given him a name which is above every name,
{2:10} so that, at the name of Jesus, every knee would bend, of those in heaven, of those on earth, and of those in hell,
{2:11} and so that every tongue would confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

[Luke]
{10:15} And as for you, Capernaum, who would be exalted even up to Heaven: you shall be submerged into Hell.

{16:19} A certain man was wealthy, and he was clothed in purple and in fine linen. And he feasted splendidly every day.
{16:20} And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, covered with sores,
{16:21} wanting to be filled with the crumbs which were falling from the wealthy man’s table. But no one gave it to him. And even the dogs came and licked his sores.
{16:22} Then it happened that the beggar died, and he was carried by the Angels into the bosom of Abraham. Now the wealthy man also died, and he was entombed in Hell.
{16:23} Then lifting up his eyes, while he was in torments, he saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom.
{16:24} And crying out, he said: ‘Father Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to refresh my tongue. For I am tortured in this fire.’
{16:25} And Abraham said to him: ‘Son, recall that you received good things in your life, and in comparison, Lazarus received bad things. But now he is consoled, and truly you are tormented.
{16:26} And besides all this, between us and you a great chaos has been established, so that those who might want to cross from here to you are not able, nor can someone cross from there to here.’
{16:27} And he said: ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers,
{16:28} so that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torments.’

[Ecclesiastes]
{9:3} This is a very great burden among all things that are done under the sun: that the same things happen to everyone. And when the hearts of the sons of men are filled with malice and contempt in their lives, afterwards they shall be dragged down to hell.

[Mark]
{9:42} And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off: it is better for you to enter into life disabled, than having two hands to go into Hell, into the unquenchable fire,
{9:43} where their worm does not die, and the fire is not extinguished.
{9:44} But if your foot causes you to sin, chop it off: it is better for you to enter into eternal life lame, than having two feet to be cast into the Hell of unquenchable fire,
{9:45} where their worm does not die, and the fire is not extinguished.
{9:46} But if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out: it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into the Hell of fire,
{9:47} where their worm does not die, and the fire is not extinguished.

[Matthew]
{25:45} Then he shall respond to them by saying: ‘Amen I say to you, whenever you did not do it to one of these least, neither did you do it to me.’
{25:46} And these shall go into eternal punishment, but the just shall go into eternal life.”

[Acts]
{24:15} having a hope in God, which these others themselves also expect, that there will be a future resurrection of the just and the unjust.

[Revelation]
{20:13} And the sea gave up the dead who were in it. And death and Hell gave up their dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
{20:14} And Hell and death were cast into the pool of fire. This is the second death.

On the Beatific Vision of God
Constitution issued by Pope Benedict XII in 1336
“Moreover we define that according to the general disposition of God, the souls of those who die in actual mortal sin go down into hell immediately (mox) after death and there suffer the pain of hell. Nevertheless, on the day of judgment all men will appear with their bodies “before the judgment seat of Christ” to give an account of their personal deeds, “so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body” (2 Cor. 5.10).”
 
CCC 1035 The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, “eternal fire.”

Catholics may not hold the opinion that no one is in Hell. This idea contradicts the clear and definitive teaching of Sacred Scripture, including Christ’s own words, and contradicts the teaching of Pope Benedict 12 in Benedictus Deus.

Also, the resurrection of the just and the unjust is a dogma of the Faith, but if no one is in Hell, then there would be no resurrection of the unjust.

CCC 1038 The resurrection of all the dead, “of both the just and the unjust,” [621] will precede the Last Judgment. This will be “the hour when all who are in the tombs will hear [the Son of man’s] voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.” [622] Then Christ will come “in his glory, and all the angels with him … Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left… and they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” [623]

It is a heresy to claim that no human persons go to Hell.

[Galatians]
{1:9} Just as we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone has preached a gospel to you, other than that which you have received, let him be anathema.

[James]
{3:1} My brothers, not many of you should choose to become teachers, knowing that you shall receive a stricter judgment.

[1 Timothy]
{1:5} Now the goal of instruction is charity from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and an unfeigned faith.
{1:6} Certain persons, wandering away from these things, have been turned aside to empty babbling,
{1:7} desiring to be teachers of the law, but understanding neither the things that they themselves are saying, nor what they are affirming about these things.

[Titus]
{3:10} Avoid a man who is a heretic, after the first and second correction,
{3:11} knowing that one who is like this has been subverted, and that he offends; for he has been condemned by his own judgment.
 
Ron,

With respect, I do so wish that you would read the context of the OP and of the thread prior to opining as though your opinions held Magisterial authority.

Nobody is claiming that there is no Hell; nobody is proposing a universalistic theology of salvation.

All that is being affirmed is that we have no way of knowing as to whether a ***particular *** soul is or is not in hell, and that we have a Christian duty to pray for all men to be saved, even though we know that some will not respond to the grace of God. That’s it.

You really need to watch your claims of “heresy”.
 
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