Rev. 14:6-13, What do ya’ know: Everybody Has a Future (4)

You may have noticed in the “doctrinal statement” the phrase, “the everlasting, conscious, punishment of the lost.”  As we said earlier, sometimes doctrinal statements reflect issues of the day, and this is a doctrine not held by some mainline churches as well as Adventists and others.  They often teach “annihilation,” that the lost have no conscious existence in the future.  Without going into detail (we have done so on this blog on Saturdays, in 2016, from 7/30-9/24) let me post a brief review.

·       The primary reason for denial of eternal, conscious punishment is that it cannot be squared with the concept of a loving and merciful God.  I would maintain that God is absolutely good to all mankind, desires all people to be saved and has done all that is necessary to make this a possibility.  And He is holy, totally and absolutely and universally distinct, separate from all else that exists.  There is no inconsistency between eternal punishment and a proper understanding of God.

·       It also stems from an inadequate view of man.  The Bible consistently points out the depravity of man.  Consider these passages: Jer. 17:9; Psalm 14:1-3; Rom. 1:18-23 and Rom. 3:9-18.  And it may stem from an inadequate view of judgment.  There are two broad principles in Scripture.  First, God’s judgment applies the “law of the harvest” (what you sow, you reap; Gal. 6:7-8).  Second, God’s judgment is according to works (Mt. 6:21; 12:35-37).  In God’s view, what He concludes for each man is based on what that person does.

·       In our more detailed study we countered some passages that are thought to teach either conditional immortality (the soul is not eternal) or annihilation (body and soul of wicked are destroyed) and I am not repeating that here.  But I do want to call your attention to a few of the passages we believe teach that the punishment is as conscious and eternal as the life of those who are righteous in Christ.  Keep that in mind as you consider the following: Dan. 12:2; Matt. 25:46; Mark 9:47-48; Rev. 14:9-11; 20:10 and Luke 16:23-24.

Let me conclude with a quote from J. A. Seiss and his commentary on Rev. 14:

There may be those who mock and jeer at the idea of an eternal hell for the wicked.  Many are the jests they perpetrate at the expense of those preachers of fire and brimstone.  But here a great and mighty angel from heaven is the preacher, and his sermon from beginning to end is nothing but fire and brimstone, even everlasting burning and torment for all who take the mark of Antichrist!  Shall we believe our modern sentimental philosophers, or abide by the word of our God and of his holy angels?  Alas, alas, for the infatuated people who comfort themselves with the belief that perdition is a myth -- the bugbear of antiquated superstition.

There is no glee or joy in this subject and its clear teaching in Scripture.  God does not take joy in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 18:23).  He says, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says the Lord God.  ‘Therefore turn and live.’  Those words will lead us to one final thought on this subject.