Hell is clearly described in the Bible. If we reject the teaching about hell, we must reject the teaching about heaven. For we learn of both from the same place—God’s word. However we must also believe God’s word when it reveals that hell was not actually made for man. Matthew 25:41 calls it “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” It was made for the terrible and powerful enemies of God (Revelation 20:10). The same passages show that condemned people will go there. But they will go there against God’s wish. God has spoken very clearly on this matter:
”I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live” (Ezekiel 18:32).
God our Savior… desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
[The Lord] is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish [die], but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
So in a sense we may answer, “No, hell is not part of God’s plan of love for man.”
God’s love wants to keep people away from hell. Yes, God’s mercy has even planned for all to be able to come back to Him. The cost of that plan is greater than we can measure! But those who reject God’s plan have chosen God’s enemy. They must then go to the place God prepared for that enemy. So in another sense we may say that even hell comes from the loving God.
Love for justice, love for truth, love for His own people—this is the love which causes God finally to remove all His enemies. If these enemies continue to have their way creation will forever remain a place of disorder, suffering and death. It is the God of love who has set hell as the end to all active rebellion. Ending all rebellion will allow the return of complete order, peace and goodness for saved humans. This is what God had planned from before the creation—that people should live with Him in the joy-filled, perfect, eternal Home (Ephesians 1; Revelation 21,22).