Why was hell's place of torment enlarged?
Hell’s place of torment was enlarged because paradise was removed from that area. After paradise was taken out, the whole region became totally the place of torment. Thus, when an unbeliever dies, that person still goes immediately to the place of torment.
Les explains that the Old Testament tells us the place of torment was enlarged. This enlargement occurred after paradise was removed from that area; the whole region then became totally the place of torment. Consequently, when a person dies today—even in our time—the unbeliever still goes immediately to the place of torment. Later, at the great white throne, the unjust are raised bodily before Christ as Judge, and there will be degrees of punishment, as Jesus indicated when He said Capernaum would suffer more than Sodom and Gomorrah.