Notice three features of what Jesus says here. First, he contrasts when these places were prepared. While the kingdom has been prepared “since the creation of the world,” Jesus gives no such designation for the fire. This reminds us of the point made in chapter 1: God creates heaven and earth—and creates them good. God does not create “heaven, earth . . . and hell.” The destructive wildfire of hell is an intruder in God’s good world; it holds creation in bondage. But it does not have the last word. A place has been prepared for it—outside God’s kingdom.
