Will Hell be EMPTY?

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Ok, surely I’m not the only one who has misgivings about The Eurasian’s post.

First, let’s reinforce the fact that the eternal punishments in Hell are eternal:

From the Summa, Third Part “Supplement” Q. 99, Art. 2
It is written (Mt. 25:41): “Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels.” Therefore they will be punished eternally.

Further, just as the good angels were made happy through turning to God, so the bad angels were made unhappy through turning away from God. Therefore if the unhappiness of the wicked angels comes at length to an end, the happiness of the good will also come to an end, which is inadmissible.

Ok, now, the damned in Hell repenting and beind “saved.”
As nice a proposition as that is, I would assert that no, it’s not a true proposition. Don’t give people anti-purgatory ammunition. Many believe that you Catholics believe that Purgatory is like where people go for a second chance to be saved, and now you’re making Hell sound just like that wrong view of Purgatory. And don’t second guess what the BVM says.

Ok, I’ll continue in a second post, thanks.
 
Ok, now,

First, it should be understood as highly likely that those eternally in Hell will think of God, wish they were not in Hell, and wish to be released from the pains of their afflictions. After all, having a will, having a resurrected body, etc. they are people. However, they will not “repent” in the sense that we think of the word normally. They will repent only insofar as one can who dislikes the state that they are in due to their sin.

You know how it is, you sin and you are in trouble, or you feel awful, and perhaps worst of all, you disappoint somebody important to you. Those in hell will likely have that kind of repentance, which stops short of “true Gospel repentance.”

The repentance they will be incapable of is that saving kind, which hates the sin itself. They will hate the “effects” of the sin, ie. the eternal punishment, but not the sin itself.

That is what is meant in Wisdom 5:1-14, when the wicked are ashamed for how they persecuted the just man.

Repent, yes, but freed from the torments of Hell, no, for they are in capable of repentance in the sense that’s necessary for salvation.

The devils also believe, and tremble. - James 2:19
 
Ok, surely I’m not the only one who has misgivings about The Eurasian’s post.
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You were not the only one. The suggestion that those in hell will one day repent and be in heaven is the sin of heresy, according to Catholic dogma. Any Catholic asserting such a thing, ought to prayerfully study their faith better.

“The doors of hell are locked on the inside.”
– C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
 
I’m sure that the way this old world is going, hell will be filled to overflowing.
 
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