The Destiny of the Wicked

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11. THE DESTINY OF THE WICKED In the Bible it is clearly portrayed the fact that those who refuse to follow God will have a fateful destiny. For centuries, the idea of an eternal burning hell where souls are tormented for thousands of years has been taught among Christians, depicting a God who in the end doesn’t look loving and fair.

In the Bible we find quite a different account about the way in which God deals and will deal with those who act contrary to His law.

1. Is There Something, According to the Bible, That God Wants to Destroy?

 1 John 3:8 Jesus was manifested in order to destroy the works of the devil.

2. Why does God Want to Destroy Sin?

 Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23; Romans 5:12 Sin means rebellion against God and His law (see Daniel 9:5 and 1 John 3:4). That is why sin separates us from God. It is like telling to God that we do not want Him, nor need Him.

Since God is the only life giver (see 1 John 5:12), away from Him there is no life, but just death. So sin naturally brings death, even though its consequences do not fall immediately upon us (just like a fan detached from its power source takes time to stop).

Sin is not just a personal problem of the sinner, but it is contagious and spreads rebellion and death all around. As it is said in Ecclesiastes 9:18, one sinner destroys much good. This is the work of the devil.

Sin and sinners come from the devil (see John 8:42-44) and God will destroy them in the end.

3. Does God Like the Idea of Destroying Sinners?

 Ezekiel 18:23,31-32 God does not find any pleasure in the death of the wicked.

God wants them to be converted and no longer to be sinners, but through the help of God change and therefore live. 2 11. The Destiny of the Wicked – Menorah Mission School – 2018/2019

4. Does God Give Every Sinner the Opportunity to Change?

 John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9 Whoever believes in Jesus, in His power to forgive and to change a sinner into a saint, will not perish, but will have life, everlasting life. Every human being is given this opportunity, without exceptions.

Jesus is even postponing His Second Coming in order to give people enough time to convert, because He wants to be fair in giving this opportunity to everyone.

5. How Will God Destroy Sin and Sinners?

 Psalm 37:20; Malachi 4:1-3 The enemies of the Lord shall vanish away into smoke. They will be burned up and turned into ashes.

6. DOESN ’ TTHE BIBLE SPEAK ABOUT AN EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT?

 Matthew 25:46 Yes, the Bible actually speaks about an everlasting punishment, but does it really mean a continual punishment that lasts forever? We will let the Bible clarify that.

7. What Kind of Fire Will Destroy the Wicked and What are Its Effects, According to the Bible?

 Jude 1:7; 2 Peter 2:6 (Matthew 18:8; Mark 9:43) It is described as an eternal fire (in Jude 1:7) and as an everlasting fire (in Matthew 18:8). An eternal fire is a fire that turns everything into ashes.

Sodom and Gomorra are no longer burning, but have been completely destroyed by the fire sent from heaven (see Genesis 19:24) and only ashes remained.

So, an eternal fire will continue to burn until ashes is all that remains. We find confirmation of this in the parallel we have between Matthew 18:8 and Mark 9:43, where this everlasting fire is described as a fire that can never be quenched, whose flames can never be stopped before it has turned everything that is burning into ashes.

This means that an everlasting punishment does not mean everlasting suffering, but a punishment that has everlasting consequences.

8. What is This Fire That Will Turn the Wicked Into Ashes?

 Psalms 50:3; Hebrews 12:29 11. The Destiny of the Wicked – Menorah Mission School – 2018/2019 3 At the presence of God there is a devouring fire that destroys all that is sinful and stands in His presence (see Leviticus 9:24, 10:2 and Numbers 16:35). God Himself is this devouring fire and this is the reason why this fire is eternal.

At His presence no sinner can stand and live. Sinners will be desperate at the idea of staying at the presence of God, who will be to them as a devouring fire (see Isaiah 33:14).

Even if sinners would be allowed to live forever, they would be in total disharmony with God and with the atmosphere that reigns in heaven. They would feel out of place and completely uncomfortable. That would indeed be like an eternal torment to them.

God in His mercy gives us time today to repent and be converted from our sins. Yet, in His love God spares from eternal suffering and wretchedness those who decide otherwise, giving them the only thing that they themselves will ask for: destruction (see Revelation 6:15-17).

9. How is This Final Destruction Also Called?

 Revelation 21:8; Revelation 14:10 It is called the second death and implies an eternal separation from God, having to drink, in a symbolical sense, of the cup of His wrath (see also Psalm 75:8).

This same cup is the one that Jesus had to drink in order to save us from our sins (see Matthew 26:39 and John 18:11).

Jesus tasted the second death for everybody (see Hebrews 2:9) so that His plan of salvation could have the potential to save every human being from destruction.

10. When Will This Final Destruction of the Wicked Happen?

 Revelation 20:7-9 After the Millennium the wicked will be destroyed with fire from heaven, from the presence of God, as it happened to Sodom and Gomorra.

11. What Will Happen to Satan?

 Ezekiel 28:18-19 Satan will also be destroyed forever by unquenchable fire and turned into ashes, after the Millennium.

12. Will It Be Possible for Sin and Rebellion to Come Back Again?

 Nahum 1:7-10 The Bible assures us that affliction will not rise a second time. 4 11. The Destiny of the Wicked – Menorah Mission School – 2018/2019 God is dealing in a fair way with everyone and all will finally see that God is just in everything He did. Even the wicked, before their destruction, will give glory to God confessing His righteousness (see Romans 14:11).

After such a universal confession in regard of God’s righteousness and after all the suffering brought from sin and death and experienced by the human race, the saved will forever be witnesses to the love and righteousness of God in front of the whole universe (see Isaiah 43:10), for sin and rebellion to never come back again.

Appeal

We can have this freedom because Jesus tasted the second death for us, so that we don’t have to pass through that experience. We have the opportunity to live forever. It is now our privilege to choose life and live, conforming ourselves to God’s plan of love.

God in His mercy gives us time now to repent and be converted from our sins through His power, that we may be able to stand in His glorious presence faultless and live forever with Him.

Do you want to recognize today that God is just and loving in His dealing with His creatures?

Do you want to ask God that He may intervene in your life, through His power, to make you ready to stand faultless in His presence?