The psalmist asked, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there” (Psalm 139:7-8, NASB, emp. he Hebrew equivalent of the Greek Hades…to which both the righteous and unrighteous go at death”-see “Sheol,” 1986). The Bible reveals that God is even present in Sheol (“the abode of the dead…. What’s more, though God is with Christians (Hebrews 13:5), and is ever-present on Earth, God also has made more direct, periodic appearances in spirit or fleshly forms (Genesis 18:1 Acts 9:5,17 Acts 23:11). Though God has hidden His face from sinners who have separated themselves spiritually from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), God still fills the Earth with His presence, knowing and seeing everything (Hebrews 4:13 Jeremiah 23:23-24). God is present in and among His church (1 Corinthians 3:16). Solomon referred to “heaven” as God’s “dwelling place” from which He hears the prayers of His people (1 Kings 8:30). God is present on His throne in heaven (Hebrews 8:1 12:2 Revelation 21:5). The Bible does, however, speak of God’s presence in different senses. No one can flee from God’s presence (Psalm 139:7). Indeed, God does “fill heaven and earth.” Solomon said: “Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You ” (1 Kings 8:27). Through the prophet Jeremiah, God asked: “Am I a God near at hand…and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?… Do I not fill heaven and earth?” (Jeremiah 23:23-24). “ll things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). The Bible certainly indicates that God is all-knowing and ever-present. Since God is omnipresent, does that mean that He will be present in hell?
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