RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT

“In the entire Bible, there is not a single verse that records anything to the effect that "Everyone has eternal life; it's only a matter of where each will spend it." Yet this is what most of the church today believes.

Contrary, to popular opinion, the Bible never says that all people are born with an immortal soul. Rather. it states that only God has immortality*, and He blesses whom He chooses with the gift of eternal life.

The Scriptures DO teach that some will suffer eternal torment in the lake of fire. For example:

1. The devil, the beast and the false prophet will suffer eternal torment:|

Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

2. Those who worship the beast and receive his mark will suffer eternal torment:

Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

The Scriptures DO teach that others will also be cast into the lake of fire but DO NOT teach that they will be tormented forever and ever:

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Cast into the lake of fire is the second death - NOT eternal life. Death! - not life forever.

The Scriptures DO teach that some will burn up - be consumed -and not burn forever.

Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

"burn up" = "consume wholly. Greek G2618 katakaiō to burn down (to the ground), that is, consume wholly: - burn (up, utterly).

Righteous Judgement?

The Scriptures specifically state that those who are cast into the lake of fire are to receive "righteous judgement" and be judged "according to their deeds".

Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

On the other hand, Modern Christianity teaches that all who are not "saved" will be judged and given the exact same punishment as Satan - eternal torment!

If a fifteen year old boy who committed few sins is given the same sentence as Satan how could that be "righteous judgment according to his deeds"? The answer is obvious. Jesus taught us the principle of descending levels of punishment when he said:

Luk 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

Luk 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.

Punishment according to ones deeds is righteous judgment. If all in this parable by Jesus were punished the same it would not be righteous judgment … When we stop to think about it how could a God of love create people whose only destiny is to join the billions who have never even heard of Jesus in a vast lake of charred, screaming souls burning forever. Justice and mercy demand an end to their suffering relative to the light they had and degree of sin they committed.”

Harold Kupp

Donna adds: The second death = cease to exist.

* 1 Tim 6:15-16—"He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality..."

dk