Part 2 — A Hell Trilogy
By: General James Green
IN PART ONE WE EXPLORED the false idea that the Bible teaches annihilation of the wicked in the Lake of fire. Connected to this is the question about the second death found in Rev. 2:11; 20:6, 14 and 21:8.
The proponents of this false idea use the above verses as “proof texts”. In a pamphlet I have before me the author writes: “Four additional texts (besides some of the ones we explored in part 1), firmly verify that the wicked will be destroyed (or annihilated) in Hell: Heb. 10:27; Luke 12:5; Matt. 10:28 and Rev. 20:14-15.” The author says of the lost: “Rev. 20:14, 15 reports that at the Final Judgment Hell is described as the second death, not as endless torment.”
The article in which these texts appear is titled Is The Soul of Man Immortal? This Evangelical Congregational pastor of 45 years has some very “strange exegesis” in his article. Many are confused and misled by the fact that John in several texts says that we have eternal life now in the present tense….We possess eternal life now as a promised inheritance which WE DO NOT YET EXPERIENCE.” What he believes is that we are not saved NOW, only after we get to heaven! Very strange indeed. We’re only promised salvation / eternal life after the resurrection.
I can understand his angle here for he is refuting “eternal security” (we can’t lose our salvation or “once saved, always saved” teaching), but this teaching is equally wrong.
We receive eternal life whenwe repent of our sins and invite Christ into our lives as Savior and Lord. NOW!
Rev. 2:11 Text
LET’S START OUT with the above text, the first (he did not list 2:11 nor 21:8) in the N.T. dealing with the “second death”.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches (Ekklesias). He who conquers shall not be hurt by the second death” (v. 11). If annihilation was true, here would be a perfect place to state it. It could have been spoken thusly: “He who conquers shall not be annihilated in Hell.”
What we have is a contrast of “the crown of life” (v.10) (eternal Life) versus “the second death” (eternal Hell).
Immunity from the “second death” will be ultimate Victory, the “second death” will be ultimate defeat.
The term “second death” was commonly used by Jewish writers of that period.
Thanatos (Gk.) = Death (Eng.)
“THANATOS” IS USED in Scripture of :
a) the separation of the soul / spirit (the spiritual part of man) from the body (the material part);
b) the separation of man from God; Adam died on the day he disobeyed God (see Gen. 2:17), and hence all man / humankind are born in the same spiritual condition. Romans 5:12 tells us that “sin came into the world through one man and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men.” Verse 14 continues to tell us “Yet death held sway from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not themselves transgress as Adam did. Adam was a type of the One who was to come (second Adam = Jesus Christ).” Read v. 15, v. 17 and v. 21 from which, however, those who believe in Christ (saved by repentance) are delivered.
Despite what our confused congregational pastor believes and teaches, the Bible says, “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open (remember Rev. 2:11?) to My (Jesus’) Words—who listens to My message- and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him who sent Me (the Father) has (possesses NOW!) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment—does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation—but he has already passed over out of death into life” (Amp. Bible, John 5:24).
That pretty much refutes our pastor’s strange idea about salvation is after the resurrection. While it is true COMPLETE salvation will occur then, for the body will be made new.
“Believe Me when I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, The time is coming and is here now (present) when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it shall live” (v. 25).
Jesus goes on to proclaim (read v. 28) “…those who have practiced doing good [will come out] to the resurrection of [new] life; and those who have done evil will be raised for judgment—raised to meet their sentence” (see Daniel 12:2). The evil will be sentenced to Hell forever, not annihilated.
In 1 John 3:14 we read: “We know that we have passed over out of the death into the Life by the fact that we love the brethren. He who does not love abides—remains, is held and kept continually—in [spiritual] death” (Amp).
Death = Separation
LET’S SETTLE IT NOW—death, both physical and spiritual denotes separation not annihilation. It never, ever denotes “non-existence.” As spiritual life is conscious existence in communion with the Living God, so spiritual death is conscious existence in separation from God. This is Biblical truth. To teach otherwise is unBiblical.
While Jesus experienced physical death (of the body) He in no wise died spiritually (He never sinned), for in Scripture, death is always viewed as the penal consequence of sin, and since sinners alone are subject to death (Rom. 5:12), it was as the Bearer of sin that Jesus submitted to the cross (1 Pet. 2:24). While the bodily death of Jesus was the essence of His sacrifice, it was not the whole. Although Jesus cried, “Why hast thou forsaken me,” and darkness surrounded His Spirit side, He was never separated from His Father, Heaven or the Holy Angels because of any sin He committed.
We, as Christians, feel, at times, separated from God, not because of sinning, but at times God allows us to feel what sinners feel—what Jesus felt.
The Damned
JESUS MADE NO MISTAKE in His Matt. 25:46 statement: “Then they will go away into eternal (or everlasting) punishment, but those who are just and uprightly and in right standing with God into eternal life.” Here Jesus presents the wicked and the righteous; One class is invited to Heaven, the other sent to Hell.
Note the Word “eternal” is used in some translations; “everlasting” in others.
“Aion” (Gk) = an age; is translated “eternal” in Eph. 3:11, literally ‘(purpose) of the ages’ (marg.), and in 1 Tim. 1:17, literally ‘(king) of the ages’ (marg.).
“Aionios” (Gk) describes duration, either undefined (but not endless) as in Rom. 16:25 and elsewhere, or undefined because endlessas in Rom. 16:26 and 66 other places in the N.T. This latter meaning is the predominant meaning of “aionios,” being that for which it is used everywhere in the N.T., save several places.
Moreover it is used of persons and things which are in their nature “endless”, as, e.g., of God (Rom. 16:26); His Power (1 Tim. 6:16); His glory (1 Pet. 5:10); the Holy Spirit (Heb. 9:14); our redemption effected by Christ (Heb. 9:12); and our personal salvation, if we hold fast to it—continue in it (Heb. 5:9); as well as of His future rule (2 Pet. 1:11), which is elsewhere declared to be without end (Lk. 1:33); of the life received by those who believe in Christ for salvation (Jn. 3:16);etc., etc.
My point of all this is that the words “eternal” / “everlasting” can, at times, be rendered as “an age or duration of time” (which most cults use!), or, most regularly in the Bible, mean “endlessly” / “forever” / “time without end.”
When we have the contrast like Matt. 25:46, the same Gk. word is used for both the future of the redeemed and damned. If the redeemed are eternally with Christ in Heaven, the damned will be with Satan in Hell forever—the same word is used.
Suffer Punishment!
“SUCH PEOPLE WILL PAY THE PENALTY and suffer the punishment of everlasting ruin (destruction and perdition) and [eternal exclusion and banishment] from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thes. 1:9).
The use of “aionios” here shows that the punishment referred to is not temporary, but final, and, accordingly, the phraseology shows that its purpose is NOT REMEDIAL or ANNIHILATION but RETRIBUTIVE (endless!!).
“Aidos” (Gk.) denotes “everlasting” (from aei, “ever”; see Rom. 1:20, R.V.). “Everlasting” for A.V. = “eternal” / “aionios”. Gk. scholars believe that “aionios” (eternal) should always be translated “eternal” and “aidios” “everlasting.”
Shut Out!
2 THES. 1:9 USES THE WORDS “everlasting ruin” and “eternal exclusion” (Amp. Bible); the KJV uses “everlasting destruction” and “from the presence of the Lord”. Either way, it certainly does not mean annihilation – the wicked MUST (by punishment) CONTINUE to exist to be EXCLUDED from God’s presence. “Everlasting destruction” is rightly rendered “everlasting ruin”. Ruined in the sense of what a person was created for – to be with the Lord forever. Men were not created for Hell.
Jude teaches that hell is “endless” (both images of fire and darkness). The wicked will “suffer the punishment of eternal fire” and are “wandering stars for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever” (Jude 7, 13). Fire for the body, darkness for soul / spirit…complete punishment.
Smoke Rises
IF THE WICKED ARE ANNIHILATED then what do we make of Rev. 14:10, 11?…the wicked drinking of God’s Wrath, “Tormented with fire and brimstone (v. 10)…and the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night….” (v. 11). This does not portray annihilation. Even if we use the words forever and ever in a limited sense, how long does it take to “burn up” a body in fire, especially Hell’s Fire?
Smoke indicates fuel for the fire. Even if the fire is figurative (as some believe), the Word never even hints of escaping it.
Hell, torments, fire, punishment, implies an ongoing existence.
Back to Rev. 2:11
BEING SPARED THE SECOND DEATH parallels other concepts that express gaining final / complete salvation (meaning body – soul – spirit joined).
The first death can be viewed 2 ways: 1) spiritual death, a separation from eternal life; 2) physical death – all must die. The second death is one’s FINAL and COMPLETE destination = Lake of Fire, not annihilation.
As I stated in part one, the Beast and False Prophet were cast alive into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 19:20). Later Satan was cast in, joining the other two for eternal torment (Rev. 20:10). No where do we find the Beast and the False Prophet being extinct, no, they are still ALIVE when Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire with them – all three are alive forever, tormented forever!!
The “second death” is merely the “final state of death”, forever separated from their Creator.
The last 2 chapters of the Bible verify the endless duration of Hell. The wicked will exist in perpetual separation from God’s eternal Life (death) in conscious torment (fire).
Jesus, Paul, Jude and John unitedly agree that the duration of Hell is ENDLESS. I must add also that not all punishment (degrees) is the same for all. The Bible makes a distinction about this, but this is another subject.
Final Perdition
“SECOND DEATH” IS ANOTHER rabbinical mode of speech in very frequent use of that day, and by it they understood the punishment of Hell in a future life.
Rev. 20:6, 14, 15
“BLESSED AND HOLY IS HE that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:6, 14, 15, KJV).
Verse 6 speaks of the “second death”, verse 14 also. As already stated, that phrase was used by the rabbis. In Erubin, fol. 19, 1; Chagi, fol. 27, 1: “Res Lakish said, The fire of hell hath no power over the disciples of the wise men.”
Verse 14
HERE WE HAVE BOTH death and Hell being cast into the Lake of Fire, which is the “second death”. Following (v.15) were the wicked being cast into it.
The place (death and Hell) are no longer needed as a place for incarcerated sprits of the wicked. The grave gives up its dead, Hell gives up its dead—ALL are cast into final perdition, the Lake of Fire.
The first death is that from which there may be a resurrection; the second is that from which there can be NO recovery.
Second Esdras 8:53 affirms that with the passing of the first and evil age, Death is hidden and Hades and corruption have fled away. This consignment of Death and Hades to the lake that burns with unquenchable fire is called the “second death”, not annihilation.
Some scholars who do not like v. 14 play the interpolation game. But this verse is found in ancient MSS of various sorts.
In 1 Enoch 48:9 the wicked are to be burned; in 2 Esdras 7:36 the pit of Torment, the furnace of Gehenna, is reserved for the wicked as over against the place of paradise for the righteous.
According to 2 Enoch 10:2, a Gehenna of fire is provided for all the wicked.
Diligent Bible scholars point out for us that there is an interesting description of the punishment for those condemned is found in the neo-Hebraic Apocalypse of Elijah: They are imprisoned in a large pit where they are showered with fire and brimstone coming down from heaven. The fiery pit, as pointed out, is a place of TORTURE for the wicked in Mark 9:43 and Matt. 5:22.
One might want to investigate more fully the torments of the damned found in the Apocalypse of Peter 8-14, the Sibylline Oracles 2:190-338, and the Apocalypse of Paul 31-43. It is from such Christian sources which were probably influenced by Orphic Views, that the concept of Hell has arisen, besides what Jesus Himself taught; He spoke quite a lot about this subject. Why have ministers stopped teaching on this subject?
Lamb Slain
WHILE ONE CAN get caught up into the Apocalypse world in Revelation, blood, fire, destruction etc., etc., one must not miss the truth that in the midst of all this, the finality of evil choice and rebellion against God, Jesus, the Lamb of God, who was slain for our redemption / salvation, is central.
Even though John writes about death – Hell – Fire etc., all the sorrows, the final end of the condemned, he moves on to a lengthy and joyful description of the redeemed.
Grant you, Revelation is apocalyptic; the language is strange, even confusing at times. For sure we can’t take everything literally, but on the other hand, not everything is figurative.
Rich man—Lazarus
IN THE STORY OF THE RICH MAN and Lazarus (Lk. 16:19-31) we have distinctions between the temporary abode of the wicked and the righteous. Abraham’s bosom is peaceful; Hades, formerly the abode of the dead, now has fire in it. Even though this scene is this side of the final judgment, it has profound truth for us. People, wicked people are still in Hell awaiting the Lake of Fire. We could rightly call the “Lake of Fire” the “Lake of Torment” or the “furnace of the Pit” in it. Even though this scene is this side of the final judgment, it has profound truth for us. People, wicked people are still in Hell awaiting the Lake of Fire. We could rightly call the “Lake of Fire” the “Lake of Torment” or the “Furnace of the Pit.”
Jesus: Love & Judgment
WHILE OUR OPPONENTS CLAIM that “eternal suffering” goes against the nature of both the Father and Son, they err: both are true of God and Son.
Both Jesus and John speak from the perspectives of divine sovereignty and human responsibility—if one’s name is not found written in the book of life, they will automatically, by their own choice, go to Hell / Lake of Fire.
The dead are judged according to their deeds (not their words). Both the righteous and wicked get what they deserve – Heaven or Hell!!
Revelations 21:8
IN CASE YOU BLEEDING-HEART LIBERALS think that God will over look the sins of the wicked (and yours!) ponder Rev. 21:8. Don’t think for one minute that the LORD will wink at the list of offenders, including those “darling pink homosexuals” whom you approve of, promote, ordain, even praise.
There is just NO WAY we as honest Bible students can believe for a minute that both wicked and righteous will be together in Heaven. No Way! The great disparity is from Genesis to Revelation…so the DAMNED get what they deserve. God is not unjust. It is right to punish sinners.
The “Call to ALL” goes out, “to him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of water of life” (21:6)…but the wicked will be left outside God’s Heaven as 22:15 tells us.
By our fruits (not our lying, deceiving, self-loving words) we’re known. By one’s conduct decides Heaven or Hell.
It would be nice if annihilation was true. But it’s not.
There is no blurring of moral or spiritual issues in the Bible. Yet we have liars and deceivers today, bitter and hateful messengers of Satan, finding (?) corrosive phrases in which to castigate ALL who hold to non-blurred, sharp and clear Biblical truths. Indeed we have a whole movement, called “Emergent Church”, blurring, even erasing the distinction between good and evil, light and darkness. They teach a FALSE and sentimental Gospel (write for our “Recreant Philosophers” booklet).
The “fearful” (v. 8) are those who, for fear of losing life or their property / reputation, will be shut out from God’s presence. The “unbelieving” are those who have no faith in Christ. The “abominable” are those who are polluted with unnatural lust.
The list groups classes of sinners together—All these should have their proper place in the Lake, this is the second death.
I need not add anything more here. The fact is, ANNIHILATIONISM IS POPULAR, BUT IT IS A LIE!! It is better to face the truth now, live right, and avoid Hell / the Lake of Fire altogether. Repent of your sins, invite Jesus to be your Savior and Lord.