THE FUTURE OF THE WICKED

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It is not hard to think of everlasting life, but it is hard to think of an eternity in hell; nevertheless, it is true.

A. The Scriptural Teaching.

1. There Will Be a Day of Judgment (Acts 17:30, 31).

2. Every Man Will Be Judged for His Works (Rom. 2:16; Rev. 20:12).

3. It Is Eternal (Mark 9:43-48). See also Matt. 13.

4. There Will Be Degrees of Punishment (Rev. 20:12; Rom. 2:5, 6).

5. There Will Be a Resurrection of the Unjust As Well As of the Just (John 5:29).

6. Language Describes It (Matt. 25:46; Mark 9:45-48; John 3:36).

7. All Is Based Upon the Character of God as Righteous.

B. The Terms Used.

The following are the places where wicked human beings and angels are, or shall be sent to:

1. Sheol.

This is the Old Testament word describing the place of the departed wicked.

2. Hades.

This is the New Testament Greek word, describing the immediate state of the wicked dead; it is the same as Sheol. There is nothing in the Bible that speaks of an eternal Hades, or Sheol.

3. Tartarus.

This is the place where the wicked angels are chained; it is a place of darkness.

4. Gehenna.

Gehenna was the city dump outside of Jerusalem, whose fire never went out. The Lord Himself likened hell unto it, describing the fires of hell that shall always burn: “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44).

5. Tophet.

“Tophet” is the Old Testament Hebrew word meaning the same as Gehenna.

6. Abyss.

This is the place of fallen angels, human beings are never placed here (Rom. 10:7).

7. Lake of Fire.

This is found only in the Book of the Revelation. Its meaning is the same as Gehenna.

8. Eternal.

Sometimes this word is translated “everlasting.” The meaning is the same. The punishment of the wicked is eternal.

a. First Interpretation.

Thayer translates it to mean “without beginning and without end.”

b. Second Interpretation.

This states that “eternal” means “without beginning.”

c. Third Interpretation.

This holds that “eternal” means “without ending.” We agree with all three. We do not hold to the interpretation that it means only “age lasting.” Some would have us believe that the wicked will endure hell for just an age. But the word “eternal” describing hell is the same word which describes eternal life (John 3:16), and the everlasting God (Rom. 16:26), and the everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:11).

C. The Theories Proposed.

1. Universalism.

This is the belief that all will finally be saved, including the Devil. What would the words “judge” and “judgments” mean if they did not mean judge or judgment. When God speaks about eternal judgment, He means eternal judgment (Acts 3:21-24; I Cor. 15:22; Matt. 18:9; John 3:36).

2. Conditionalism.

This false teaching was not found in the Early Church, but it first made its appearance in the nineteenth century. It was reasoned that eternal life is based upon the acceptance of Jesus Christ. If one accepts Him, he has eternal life. If he does not accept Him, he will never live; non-acceptance in this life will result in non-existence in the future life. There is no Scriptural foundation for this theory.

3. Everlasting Punishment.

This is based upon Biblical truth, which connects sin with punishment. All sins committed are committed against eternity. He who sins by rejecting Jesus Christ shall endure eternal punishment.