Final Retribution
We are all responsible for the decisions we make, and are to accept responsibility for the thoughts, actions, and deeds committed in our lifetime. The decisions we make here, shall decide where we spent our eternity.
There are those who deny hell and the lake of fire. But to say there is no hell is to also say there is no heaven. Hell and the Lake of fire are the punishment handed out to sinners after death. It shall be dealt to them in proportion to the crimes committed.
Or we may share in the Saviors inheritance, this in proportion to the faith, love and dedication of one’s life in sharing the Gospel message with others.
What is the position of Scripture concerning these questions? For those who do not seek the Saving grace of Jesus Christ in this lifetime, shall in the future, suffer everlasting punishment. This is a just and necessary payment for rejecting Christ.
Those who do not understand God’s justice will say, “How awful, what kind of God would condemn someone to an eternal lake of fire? I don’t believe that,” or, “I wont accept that teaching.”
What they don’t understand is, God does not condemn us. Unrepentant sinners condemn themselves. Scriptures teach that all those who pass from life to death will be judged. Eternal punishment, or eternal salvation with the Lord. One of the two final destinations wait for us.
“Is Jesus Christ the only way to the Father?”
What has Scripture to say about this question? Is there Scriptural proof that Jesus is the only way? Or are these the teaching of fanatical men?
The following declare who will not enter God’s kingdom?
1. Matthew 5:20, Jesus said, “except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven,” buried in rules and laws, lacking in love, compassion and a heart for God.
2. Acts 16:30-31, The keeper of the prison asked Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house = (household.)”
3. Matthew 7:21-23, “Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.” — “then will I = (Jesus) profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me.”
4. Luke 13:25, Jesus said, “Once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not .”
5. Matthew 18:3, Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
6. Luke 13:24, Jesus said, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”
7. Others verse are, Mark 10:23 thru 27. Matthew 7:13, John 3:3-4-5. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. Galatians 5:19-20-21. Ephesians 5:5. Hebrews 3:19, 4:1-13.
Scriptures do not teach of an intermediate state of existence after death, as in purgatory, or that many will be raised from the dead, and given a second chance. There is no such teaching in the Scriptures.
1. Daniel 12:2, “Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
2. Matthew 7:13, Jesus said, “Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.”
3. Mark 16:16, Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Sealed or not sealed by God’s Holy Spirit.
4. John 5:28-29, Jesus said, “All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
5. 1 Peter 4:18, “If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
6. Others verses are, Psalms 17:14-15. Proverbs 10:28, 14:35. Matthew 3:12; 7:14-21, 8:11-12, 13:30 thru 43, 47 thru 50. 24:46 thru 51, 25:23-thru 46. Luke 6:23-24, 47-48-49. John 3:16. Romans 9:21-22-23. 2 Timothy 2:19-20. Galatians 6:7-8. Hebrews 6:8-9. Philippians 3:17 thru 21. 2 Thessalonians 1:5 thru 12. Romans 6:21-22-23.
The precept of, “everlasting, eternal, forever, and forever and ever,” all are uses in the future sense. The following terms are as strong as any in the Greek, expressing endless duration. There is nothing in the context of the following verses or in the nature of the subject itself to indicate that they are used differently, or have some symbolic, mysterious or unknown meaning. The antithesis in several of the following passages sets the tone for their meaning beyond any doubt.
1. Daniel 12:2, “Some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
2. Matthew 25:41-46, Jesus said, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire — these shall go away into everlasting punishment.”
3. 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, “Them that know not God, and obey not the gospel — shall be punished with everlasting destruction etc.”
4. Mark 3:29, Jesus said, “He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.”
5. Also, Matthew 18:8. Jude 7-13. 2 Peter 2:17. Revelation 14:10-12. 19:3, 20:10, 2 Corinthians 4:18.
The following verses express future punishment by words and phrases which imply forever and eternal.
1. Matthew 12:31-32, Jesus said, “Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. — whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”
2. Hebrews 6:8, “That which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.” Compare with,
2a, Matthew 13:30, Jesus said, “Gather — first the tares = (sinners) and bind them in bundles to burn them:”
3. Hebrews 10:26-27, “for if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”
4. Luke 9:25, Jesus said, “What is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”
5. Matthew 10:28, Jesus said, “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him = (God) which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
6. Also, Mark 9:43-48. Luke 14:26. John 3:36, 8:21. Philippians 3:9. James 2:13. Mark 3:29. 1 John 5:16.
There are those whom it is impossible to renew to repentance, who’s end will be the lake of fire. They had known the gospel, studied the word, but denied having pulled back. These are responsible for the loss of their own soul.
Hebrews 6:4, “It is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame.”
2. Mark 3:29, “He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.”
The lake of fire is to suffer the final wrath of God. If a man dies in sin, having not repented, they cannot be with Christ. Judgment without mercy, their end is destruction. When a sinner dies, night falls, it will be a time when no man can work. Heavens door is closed forever to the unholy and the unjust. God has spoken, we have been warned. God voice will be heard.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com.