Sin is a horrendous act against the righteous and holy God (cf. Gen. 39:9). Being holy and just, God cannot overlook sin; it must be dealt with. Yet, God also desires to be in fellowship with man, the crowning glory of His creation. He does not wish for anyone to perish (2 Pet. 3:9). Therefore, He dealt with sin in a way that He can be both just, and justify the one who has faith in Christ (Rom. 3:26). Jesus Christ was His answer -- the shedding of blood in order to remove sin (Eph. 1.7;cf. Heb. 9:22). In spite of this, many will still be lost (Matt. 7: 13-14). Why? Because of sin (Rom. 6:23). They did not avail themselves of God's grace; they did not, by faith, submit to the will of God and let Him remove their sins (Rom. 5:2; Eph. 2:8; Col. 2:12). Their sins will still be punished.
What will this punishment be? Will God annihilate them so that they know nothing? Will God punish them severely for a short time and then give them another chance? Various theories have been advanced. However, the Bible gives the answer. While we may not know fully all that we might like to know about future punishment, we do know the following from the Scriptures:
1. Future punishment is certain. Jesus spoke with certainty:
"And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than having two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire" (Mark 9:43; also vv. 45, 47-48). The various teachings of Christ show that punishment is for the impenitent (cf. Matt. 7:13-14;Matt. 25:l4ff etc.). He promised an hour in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth: those who have done good to the resurrection of life, those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:28-29). The rest of Scripture offers the same support. Paul spoke of certain punishment: those who do not know God, and those who do not obey the gospel "will pay the penalty of eternal destruction." (2 Thess. 1:9) Peter wrote that the "day of the Lord will come" (2 Pet. 3:10). There will be punishment for those whose names are not found in the book of life. (Rev. 20: 15).2. The punishment involves consciousness, pain, and anguish. The eternally lost will be consciously aware of their condition. Some teach the doctrine of annihilation, that they will basically cease to exist. However, in the Scriptures the idea of destruction or perishing means "ruined, wholly lost." It does not mean a cessation of existence. Luke 16:19-3 describes the rich man and Lazarus, and the relative rewards that each received. They are both conscious, aware of their situation after death. The rich man was in torment and agony, pleading for relief that would not come. This shows that punishment involves consciousness. Furthermore, the descriptions used of hell show that there is pain, sorrow, and great fear and agony involved in this punishment. Jesus spoke
"weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt. 25:30). Hell is a place "where the worm does not die and fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:48). Paul wrote, "There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil" (Rom. 2:9). These and other passages tell us that those being punished will be conscious; they will feel the punishment.3. The punishment is eternal. After Jesus spoke of judgment, He said, "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matt. 25:46). Some say that the punishment is not really "eternal," and they try to say that this word does not necessarily indicate "never-ending." This may be true in some contexts; but whatever else may be said of this word (aionios), the fact is that however long the "punishment" is, it is the same length of time that the "life" is. If "eternal life" refers to the never-ending reward, then "eternal punishment" refers to the never-ending condemnation. Elsewhere it is said to be everlasting (2 Thess. 1:9; cf. Rev. 20:10). This is also taught when Jesus said that
"worm does not die and fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:48). If what Jesus said is true (and it is), then He is describing a never-ending punishment.Some may think that the concept of future punishment is unfair. On the contrary, it is perfectly fair; in fact, it is what we really deserve. We have all sinned and deserve to die (Rom. 6:23). Furthermore, God has offered a way to avoid this certain punishment. Through His grace (which is, by its nature, not "fair," being unmerited), He has offered salvation from sin -- hope for heaven and eternal life (l Pet. 1:3-5; 1 John 2:25). By submitting to the will of God, we may thus avoid the punishment. If we
"know God" and "obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus," then we will be able to rejoice in the day that He is revealed (2 Thess. 1:7-10).Knowledge of future punishment is a tremendous deterrent to doing wrong.
"Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness" (2 Pet. 3:11). "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men..." (2 Cor. 5:10-11a). We would plead with all people to renounce sin and submit to the Lord and His gracious gospel. The future is far too important to ignore.Page last updated: March 03, 2003