CS Lewis believed that the doctrine of Hell displays not merely the justice of God, but His grace as well. In Hell, God makes room for those who want nothing to do with God. People in Hell have no desire for fellowship with God. Lewis wrote, “I willingly believe that the damned are, in one sense, successful, rebels to the end; that the doors of hell are locked on the inside.” (see here) Lewis dealt with Heaven and Hell in his short book The Great Divorce. His thesis is that nobody is in Hell who did not choose to be there; from their perspective, Heaven is worse than Hell.

Lewis writes,

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened.’“

In this video, apologist Frank Turek engages with a determined young atheist who exemplifies Lewis’ argument. Of course rebellious people can change via the operation of the Holy Spirit . . . but they have to first be open to the Spirit.