Eternal Sentences Pronounced

The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

(Revelation 20:13-15)

As mentioned in the previous section, the judgment day for unbelievers is not to determine their guilt or innocence, as all will have already been pronounced guilty. Since unbelievers do not have their names recorded in the Book of Life, as revealed in the above passage of Scripture, they will all be cast into the lake of fire due to their guilt. If the purpose is not to determine guilt or innocence, what will they be judged for on that day? To understand the judgment unbelievers will face, we can compare it to the legal system of this world. In earthly courts, when a criminal is convicted and found guilty, they are typically not sentenced immediately but held in custody until a hearing where the judge pronounces their sentence. Similarly, all unbelievers have already been found guilty and are held in torment in Hades, awaiting their day of judgment when the church will pronounce their eternal sentence for their works on earth.

And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.' But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."

(Luke 10:9-16)

Using the legal system of this world as an example, we know that although all criminals are found equally guilty, not all receive the same sentence. Each is sentenced according to the severity of their crime. The same principle applies on the unbelievers’ day of judgment. In the above passage of Scripture, our Lord Jesus reveals that not all unbelievers will receive the same sentence. He states that the towns where He preached, which rejected His message of salvation, will face greater punishment than Tyre, Sidon, and even Sodom. This passage provides insight into how heaven views sin. Naturally, we might assume that the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah would receive greater punishment than towns like Bethsaida and Capernaum. However, heaven considers rejecting the gospel a greater sin than even the sinful practices of Sodom and Gomorrah. Nevertheless, every unbeliever will receive just punishment for their deeds on earth, with no deed going unaccounted for.

There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

(Luke 13:1-5)

In an earlier passage of Scripture, we saw that all whose names are not written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity. Thus, regardless of how good or wicked a life unbelievers lead, they will all be cast into the lake of fire. In the above passage of Scripture, our Lord Jesus emphasizes this truth, stating that all sinners who refuse to repent and believe in the gospel will perish. Another truth revealed in this section is that, although people do not go to hell because of their sins, their sins determine the level of punishment they receive once there.

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

(Revelation 20:14-15)

As previously mentioned, all unbelievers will face the second death. As revealed in the above passage of Scripture, the second death is being cast into the lake of fire for eternity. No one need suffer the second death, as Jesus died for the whole world, and the death He died for us is, in fact, the second death (2 Corinthians 5:14). This is why the second death has no power over believers (Revelation 2:11). Therefore, those who reject God’s salvation from the second death condemn themselves to eternal punishment.

And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

(Matthew 25:40-41)

In the above passage of Scripture, our Lord Jesus confirms that mankind was never destined to partake in the second death. Jesus reveals that the lake of fire was prepared for the devil and his angels, not for mankind. Yet, sadly, most of mankind will still face the second death, having rejected the sacrifice Jesus made for them.

Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

(Revelation 14:9-11)

The above passage reveals that the lake of fire will exist for eternity, as the smoke of that fiery furnace will ascend forever and ever. As noted earlier, even Death and Hades will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity.

Michael E.B. Maher

The End of the Age

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