2 Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. (14) And no wonder! For Satan, himself transforms himself into an angel of light. (15) Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
Among the sons of men scripture reveals to us the different levels of wickedness as viewed by heaven. Those who will experience the worst punishment in that day are those who are Satan’s ministers. These are the false teachers and false prophets as mentioned in the passage of scripture quoted above, for these deliberately teach false doctrine in the church in order to mislead the church.
Hebrews 10:29 “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”
The next level of punishment will be reserved for the ones who have at one time been believers saved by grace who have since turned their backs on Jesus and no longer follow Him. The passage of scripture quoted above describes these individuals as having counted the blood of the covenant a common thing.
Revelation 14:9-11 “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, (10) 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. (11) 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.”
The next level of punishment will be reserved for those who have followed after the Antichrist and worshipped him. This truth is revealed to us in the passage of scripture quoted above. After them there will be those who have rejected the preaching of the gospel of salvation, for we have already seen in an earlier passage that these individuals will incur a greater degree of punishment on that day. As an aside we need to recognize that it is truly a dangerous thing to be exposed to the gospel and to reject it, and so believers who share the gospel with others should keep this in mind. The next level of punishment will be reserved for the truly wicked like the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah. And then finally the rest of the unbelievers will receive their judgement. Nevertheless even though there will be differing levels of torment for the differing levels of wickedness, all not found recorded in the Book of Life will be condemned to eternal punishment in the lake of fire on that day.
Isaiah 66:22-24 “For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me," says the Lord, "So shall your descendants and your name remain. (23) And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the Lord. (24) "And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
The lake of fire and brimstone will be present outside the New Jerusalem throughout all eternity for all to see, for we have seen in the previous passage that the lake of fire will be in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb and we will see the smoke of their torment ascending forever. The Holy Spirit confirms this truth to us in the above quoted passage of scripture when He tells us that those who come up to worship before the Lord in the New Jerusalem will go forth to look at those who are suffering their eternal punishment in the lake of fire and brimstone.
Michael E.B. Maher
Comments