What If The Doctrine of Eternal Punishment is True?

How would this apply practically to you?

Symbolics 3The 1689 Baptist Confession

[Chapters 21-32]Chapter 32

Of the Last Judgment

Part 1

Introduction: The Contents1 God hath appointed a day wherein he

will judge the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ; to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father; in which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon the earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.

Introduction: The ContentsI. The Concept of the Last Judgment (par 1)

A. Its Scriptural Summary (Acts 17:31)

B. Its Messianic Instrumentality (John 5:21f)

C. Its Absolute Universality

D. Its Dual Activity: "giving and receiving"

Introduction: The Contents 2 The end of God's appointing this day, is for the

manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the eternal damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient; for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and glory with everlasting rewards, in the presence of the Lord; but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast aside into everlasting torments, and punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

Introduction: The ContentsII. The Goal of the Last Judgment (par 2)A. The Identity of the Goal

1. The Manifestation of God's Mercy in the Salvation of the Elect2. The Manifestation of God's Justice in the Damnation of the Reprobate

B. The Realization of the Goal1. For the Righteous2. For the Wicked

Introduction: The Contents3 As Christ would have us to be certainly

persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity, so will he have the day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come, and may ever be prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus; come quickly. Amen.

Introduction: The ContentsIII. The Impact of the Last Judgment (par 3)A. Of What is Known and Certain about It

1. It is a deterrent from sin.2. It is a consolation in adversity.

B. Of What is Unknown and Uncertain about It1. Watchfulness against Sin2. Eagerness for Christ's Coming

Introduction: Its ExpositionI. The Scriptural Support for Endless

Punishment (This Week)II. The Practical Implications of a General

Judgment (Next Week)

I. Scriptural Support for Endless Torment The Confession reiterates this doctrine: "eternal

damnation," "everlasting torments," and "everlasting destruction."

No one questions that this language teaches the endless punishment of the wicked.

Many challenge the idea that the Scriptures such phrases echo teach endless torment.

The Scriptural support for this doctrine: A. Its Positive Assertions B. Its Emphatic NegationsC. Its Miscellaneous Expressions.

A. Its Positive AssertionsThe Scriptures positively assert that the

sufferings of the damned are eternal. Matt 18:8 …it is better for you to enter life

crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.

Matt 25:41 Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels

Matt 25:46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

A. Its Positive Assertions2 Thess 1:9 These will pay the penalty of

eternal destructionHeb 6:2 instruction about … the resurrection of

the dead and eternal judgment.Jude 1:6 angels…He has kept in eternal

bonds…for the judgment of the great day,Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment goes

up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night…

A. Its Positive AssertionsThose who deny the doctrine of endless

torment have frequently objected to it: "The terms translated by the words, eternal or

everlasting, in these passages may in some cases designate limited or finite duration."

To this objection several, conclusive rebuttals may be made:

May such language have a finite meaning?(1) While some of this language may be used of

finite duration and mean age-long, yet, if the Bible wished to express eternal duration, these were the best and only words available to them.

A. A. Hodge: The strongest terms which the Greek language affords are employed in the NT to express the unending duration of the penal torments of the lost. The same words (aion, aionios, and aidios) are used to express the eternal existence of God (1 Tim. 1:17; Rom. 1:20, 16:26), of Christ (Rev. 1:18), of the Holy Ghost (Heb. 9:14), and the endless duration of the happiness of the saints...

May such language have a finite meaning?(2) In the vast majority of the uses of such

language the meaning is that of endless duration.

When used of the age to come and not this age, it universally refers to endless duration.

Shedd: In by far the greater number of instances, aion and aionios refer to the future infinite age, and not to the present finite age; to eternity, and not to time. Says Stuart, "...In all the instances in which aionios refers to future duration it denotes endless duration..."

May such language have a finite meaning?(3) The language which refers to the eternal

blessedness of the righteous is strictly parallel to that which refers to the eternal torment of the wicked.

Any argument which denies the eternal punishment of the wicked also undercuts the eternal blessedness of the righteous.

Matt 25:46 "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

May such language have a finite meaning?(4) The adjective, eternal (aionios) as distinct

from the noun, eternity or age (aion), always mean eternal in the NT.

The lexicons recognize that the noun may refer to an age, but not the adjective, aionios.

Of the 71 uses of the adjective in the New Testament 69 are translated by means of eternal or some synonym in the NASB & ESV.

In all sorts of ways the meaning of endless duration is made clear in such passages.

The Adjective, Eternal (Aionios)It is used constantly of eternal life (Matthew

19:16): “And behold, one came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?"

It is used of eternal punishment as contrasted with eternal life (Matthew 25:46): "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

The Adjective, Eternal (Aionios)It is used to describe a sin for which one can

never be forgiven (Matthew 12:32): "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." It is used of that water of eternal life after the drinking of which we will never thirst (John 4:14). “But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

The Adjective, Eternal (Aionios)The food of eternal life is contrasted with the

food that perishes (John 6:27). "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you, for on Him the Father, even God, has set His seal."

Having eternal life means never perishing (John 10:28): “and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.”

The Adjective, Eternal (Aionios)It is used of the eternal God (Romans 16:26):

“but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith”.

It is used of God’s eternal dominion (1Timothy 6:16): “who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.”

The Adjective, Eternal (Aionios)It is used of the eternal electing purpose of God (2

Timothy 1:9): “who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity”.

It is used of the eternity of the Spirit of God (Heb 9:14): “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

The Adjective, Eternal (Aionios)It is used of the endless duration of the New

Covenant (Hebrews 13:20), “Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant.”

The Adjective, Eternal (Aionios)What about the other 2 of its 71 uses?What are they?Romans 16:25 and Titus 1:2How are they translated? How should they be translated?

The Adjective, Eternal (Aionios)In Rom 16:25 the NASB translates, long ages past. according to the revelation of the mystery which has

been kept secret for long ages past The Greek is literally for (or to) times eternal. This is perfectly intelligible: From eternity God kept

the gospel secret. The identical root must be translated, eternal, in

Rom 16:26: the commandment of the eternal God.The eternal God in His eternal plan from eternal

times kept it secret

The Adjective, Eternal (Aionios)In Tit 1:2 the NASB translates, long ages go.“in the hope of eternal life, which God, who

cannot lie, promised long ages ago...” The adjective occurs twice in this verse: once

translated eternal and once long ages. The Greek literally is before times eternal. The use to mean eternal life in the same verse

makes this translation attractive. Past eternal times promised future eternal life.

The Adjective, Eternal (Aionios)But what can it mean for God to have promised

eternal life from all eternity? To whom could He have promised it in eternity

past? The reference to “the chosen of God” mentioned

in Tit 1:1gives the answer. God chose His people in Christ (Eph. 1:4).

The Adjective, Eternal (Aionios)In the “covenant of redemption” between the

Father and Son in eternity past the Father promised eternal life for them to His Son.

2 Tim 1:9 …who has…called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

This is the exact Greek phrase used in Tit 1:2 and its only other occurrence in the NT.

1 Cor 2:7 a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory

The Adjective, Eternal (Aionios)Conclusion?There is not one of the 71 NT uses that does not

bear the meaning, eternal. In the 2 doubtful texts it is the best translation. Theories attempting to escape eternal

punishment by assigning other meanings to biblical terms are lexically futile and no safe refuge from eternal punishment.

B. Its Emphatic NegationsButtressing this doctrine are those Scriptures

which affirm eternal torment by using the negative.

Luke 3:17 He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Cf. Matt 3:12.

Mark 9:43 …it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire

B. Its Emphatic NegationsButtressing this doctrine are those Scriptures

which affirm eternal torment by using the negative.

Mark 9:48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

Matt 5:26 Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

C. Its Miscellaneous ExpressionsVarious expressions convey the hopelessness

and endlessness of the torments of hell. Matt 24:51 and will cut him in pieces and assign

him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matt 25:30 "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Such texts coupled with solemn warnings not to incur such judgment point to final despair in hell.

C. Its Miscellaneous ExpressionsThe unpardonable sin implies this doctrine.Mark 3:29 but whoever blasphemes against the

Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" --

Matt 12:31-2 …blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

C. Its Miscellaneous ExpressionsJesus refers to those for whom it would have

been better if they had never been born. Mark 14:21 …woe to that man by whom the

Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.

Cf. Matt. 26:21-22.Perhaps no other text so clearly warns of

eternal punishment.

C. Its Miscellaneous ExpressionsThe resurrection is the final and eternal human

condition, but the wicked will be resurrected.John 5:29 those who did the good deeds to a

resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

Acts 24:15 there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

Daniel 12:2 those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.

This resurrection assumes eternal punishment.

Concluding LessonsSuch evidence puts beyond any doubt the

scriptural support for the doctrine of the endless torments of the wicked.

Two heresies, however, have sought to challenge this evidence.

It is necessary briefly to mention them and present additional arguments against them.

Universalism Annihilationism

UniversalismUniversalism Defined: All men without exception

will be saved. Universalism Refuted: Scripture everywhere teaches two categories &

destinies of men: the righteous and the wicked. Universalism implies the absurdity that Satan

himself will be saved. It is always better to have been born if

Universalism is true and so Christ was wrong.

UniversalismThe evidence for Universalism is the same cited by

Arminians to prove universal atonement: the universal language of Scripture (all men, the world).

The same considerations which refute Arminianism refute it.

Such language does not designate all men without exception, but all the elect or mankind as a whole.

The elect can be saved, and in them the world as a whole, without each and every man being saved.

AnnihilationismAnnihilationism is the more popular heresy today. Adopted and condoned by leading Evangelicals. After a period of punishment in hell, both the

bodies and the souls of the wicked will be extinguished into non-existence.

The punishment for sin, death and the second death, is viewed as final extinction or absolute annihilation.

AnnihilationismSeveral considerations show the folly of this

position. 1st, it cannot be reconciled with the statement

of Christ that for some it would have been better if they had never been born.

It must say that ultimately their condition will be exactly as if they had never been born.

Annihilationism2nd, it persists in equating the Biblical language

of destruction with the philosophical idea of annihilation.

Destruction in the Bible, however, never means to put something into complete non-existence.

It means to ruin. 2 Peter 3:6 through which the world at that time

was destroyed, being flooded with water.

AnnihilationismFinally, annihilationism perverts the biblical

teaching regarding the penalty for sin. When Jesus vicariously took upon Himself the

penalty for our sins, He was not annihilated.He was punished with suffering and torment

both of body and soul. Annihilationism, then, logically contradicts the

doctrine of substitutionary atonement.

Concluding LessonsAny doctrine of the love of God which doubts

or denies eternal punishment is false. It distorts God by under-estimating His perfect

justice and by minimizing the radical evil of sin.Do not confuse firm insistence on eternal

punishment with sadistic delight in it. It was the one who with perfect accuracy said

that He was gentle and humble of heart who most frequently, insistently and vividly warned of the danger of eternal fire.