A Voice in the Wilderness
site navigation
free newsletter
|
" Eternal Torment? "
Do you mean to tell me that a "Loving God" would force a [Chris-
tian] mother in heaven to watch her [non-Christian] son being tortured
in hell for eternity?! The closest bond on earth is between a mother and
her child. God would NEVER inflict such cruelty upon a mother. The
concept of an "eternal hell," coming from pagan beliefs, has been
foisted upon us by the Catholics.
Or...in the end it doesn't matter what we did. After all, God has
promised to "restore all things." He is going to make all things "new"
and will "write His laws upon the heart" and they shall be His people."
These are but two alternatives to God's verdict upon the
unregenerate. In this first example the proponents believe that the
unregenerate simply "fade away from existence." They quote, "So man lies
down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, They will not
awake Nor be roused from their sleep. (Job14:12) "Before I go to the
place from which I shall not return..." (Job10:21) "For what happens to
the sons of men also happens to animals...as one dies, so dies the
other. Surely they all have one breath; man has no advantage over
animals..all go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to
dust."(Ec3:19-20)
In this example, these passages are out of context. It should be
remembered that Scripture, while teaching God's Laws given to man; also
gives an accurate account of historical incidents and what men did and
said in certain circumstances. The book of Job is one such book. God and
Satan had a conversation in which Satan challenged God regarding Job's
uprightness. In his utter state of suffering Job and his friends sit
around, philosophizing. This is not God's teaching, but rather, an
accurate account of what Job and his friends discussed.
In the words of the "Preacher," the verses are applied out of
context, and these people neglect to continue one more verse, to v.21,
"the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the
animal, which goes down to the earth." Showing the "Preacher's"
realization that there is a spiritual dimension to human life.
The Second example, sometimes referred to as "Ultimate
Restorationism," uses as it's proof texts things like, "For He must
reign till He has put all enemies under His feet..now when all things
are made subject to Him..that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow..and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord..behold I make all things new." (1Cor15:25,28, Phil2:10-11,
Rev21:5) And, I have heard these groups preach a Salvation of Works,
"work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who
works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Phil2:12-
13)
These groups "twist" Scripture "to their own
destruction."(2Pet3:16) Not recognizing God's holiness and justice, and
jealousy against those who "hate" Him. (Ex20:5)
What does Scripture teach about God's judgment of those who reject
Him? Terms such as "hell, sheol, heart of the earth," etc. are familiar,
remembering that Scripture records accuratly the suppositions of people
throughout history. But let us see what is SPECIFICALLY "Taught" on the
subject.
Not a whole lot is taught. A detailed description of the punish-
ment and suffering is not rendered. And what is taught, is often done so
in metaphors (pictures). But what is given is quite clear as to its
nature.
1) First of all, we understand that judgment involves TORMENT. It
is a place of "outer darkness." There will be "weeping and gnashing of
teeth."(Mt8:12) The "rich man" spoke of the "flame;" of it being a
"place of torment." (Lk16:24,28)
Furthermore, amount/quality of judgment is based on works. "And
the dead were judged according to their works..and were cast into the
lake of fire." (Rev20:12-14)
There is also a principle regarding seeking pleasure apart from
God, "in the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously,
in the same measure give her torment and sorrow;" (Rev18:7)
2) Judgment is EVERLASTING. "Then He will..say..Depart from Me,
you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his an-
gels: (Mat25:41) We see that this punishment was designed originally for
Satan and his demons. This "fire" is not extinguished... "where 'Their
worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.'(Mk 9:44) The person
is conscious and aware.
Many will mock and say, "Well, if I go to hell, at least I'll be
with my friends...Ha, Ha, Ha!" Let me tell you, friend, the only person
you will know about is Satan. "The devil, who deceived them, was cast
into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false
prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
(Rev20:10)
3) Many try to impress people with their flair in life. They want
pleasures, respect and adulation. In this place of eternal punishment,
"they shall go..and look Upon the corpses of the men who have trans-
gressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not
quenched. They shall be an ABHORRENCE to all flesh." (Isa66:24)
4) Those judged will NOT BE IN HEAVEN. In the New Heaven and
Earth, "they shall be His people..God Himself will be with them and be
their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there
shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more
pain, for the former things have passed away." Those who "overcome" will
"inherit all things.. but the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable,
murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall
have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone...which
is the second death...but there shall by no means enter it anything that
defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are
written in the Lamb's Book of Life." (~Rev21)
WHAT A LOVING GOD! Those who have believed in God, and have been
washed in the blood of the Lamb, whose names are in the Book of Life,
will be in God's holy presence; away from Satan, without the constant
haranguing influence of his demons; and will no longer have to put up
with the corruption of those who refused to believe God and humble
themselves, and chose, instead, to follow Satan.
God will have "avenged" the blood of the martyrs.(Rev6:10) And
will have punished with just retribution the sins of the rebels and
given to them their "just due...Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and
righteous are Your judgments."(Rv16:6-7)
There is only a finite amount of time before God's says, 'thus
far, and no further.'
"And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of..prophecy of this
book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust
still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous,
let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy
still..behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to
every one according to his work." (Rev22:10-12)
Amen!
|