Romans 2:16 “in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”
Based on what is recorded in the books that are opened each unbeliever will receive differing degrees of punishment, for each one will be judged with righteous judgement. In other words each life will be judged in absolute detail and with complete impartiality. The above quoted passage of scripture declares that we will judge the secrets of men’s hearts on that day, for their secrets will be revealed in the books that are opened. And so nothing will be overlooked, for every thought, word and deed will be judged on that day. This is why the apostle Paul states that we can clearly see the sins of some of men in this life, but then there are those who look good on the outside, but nevertheless inwardly they are just as sinful (1 Timothy 5:24). And so there are no sins that will remain hidden on that day for all will be revealed.
Psalms 88:6-7 “You have laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the depths. (7) Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and You have afflicted me with all Your waves.”
Hell is made up of many different levels and the lower down one is placed there the greater the degree of punishment that is incurred. Our Lord Jesus was laid in the lowest pit of hell to suffer the wrath of God for the sins of the world. In the passage of scripture quoted above the Holy Spirit reveals this truth to us through the psalmist prophesying the words of our Lord Jesus when He was in the depths of the earth for three days and nights. And so because Jesus had to pay the price for every sin committed by mankind He had to be taken down into the lowest pit to suffer the full punishment of God for the sin of mankind, including the most wicked among them.
Isaiah 14:12-15 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! (13) For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; (14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' (15) Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.”
Someone else that we know will be cast into the lowest pit of hell is the devil. The Holy Spirit reveals that truth to us in the above quoted passage of scripture when He tells us that Satan will taken down into the lowest depths of the pit. This passage of scripture refers to the period of time when Satan will be locked up in the lowest pit of hell during the thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth. Obviously as the one who is undoubtedly the most wicked one of all, it is only appropriate that he be cast into the lowest pit to suffer the fullness of God’s wrath.
Michael E.B. Maher
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