The Destiny of the Wicked by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 14, 1915

The Destiny of the Wicked

By G. B. Thompson

(Concluded)

THE Lord has declared that he will “put away sin” by the sacrifice which he made. Heb. 9:26. He came to “destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil,” the originator of sin. Heb. 2:14. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8. Sin is the work of the devil. It is this that the Creator is determined to destroy in the lake of fire. If we refuse to allow sin to be separated from us now, we must needs be destroyed with it in the lake of fire. The Lord loves and will save every sinner who repents, but sin he purposes to destroy, and this affliction we are assured will not rise up the “second time.” Nahum 1:9.

Many other texts teach the same blessed truth. In “smoke shall they consume away.” Ps. 37:20. “The fire shall devour them.” Ps. 21:9. “They that forsake the Lord shall be consumed.” Isa. 1:28. “The transgressors shall be destroyed together.” Ps. 37:38. “Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed.” Prov. 13:13. “He that hateth reproof shall die.” Prov. 15:10. “They shall be as though they had not been.” Obadiah 16. “Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.” Isa. 47:14. No eternally burning hell; the very fire which consumes the wicked will itself go out; there “shall not be a coal to warm at.” Nothing will remain but ashes.

In addition to these clear and unimpeachable statements of God’s Word, we have placed before us some examples that will enable us to clearly understand what the Lord means when he speaks of the destruction of the wicked: “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; and spared not in the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, the preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.” 2 Peter 2: 4-6. These cities were utterly destroyed, completely annihilated, as cities. They are not still in flames; they have been totally consumed; they are extinct; they do not exist. The Dead Sea is said to roll over the place where they once stood. The inspired pen records that the destruction of these cities stands as an “example” of the destruction of the wicked at the last day.

Another writer bears similar testimony: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude 7.

Here again we are told that the destruction of these wicked cities is an “example” of the final destruction of sinners. We are told further that they suffered the vengeance of “eternal fire.” Not that they are eternally burning, for the flames have long since gone out, but the fire is eternal in that the effect is eternal. The cities were destroyed forever. In like manner will all the finally impenitent be “punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” 2 Thess. 1:9. Surely these scriptures are conclusive in this matter, and settle beyond a cavil the fate of the lost.

But some may say, Do not the Scriptures say that the wicked will go into everlasting punishment?—They do. “And these [the wicked] shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal.” Matt. 25:46. This text is in perfect harmony with those already studied. The punishment for sin is not eternal life in misery, but death,—the second, awful death; a death from which they will never be raised; a death that will hold them in its fixed embrace forever. The wicked receive eternal death; the righteous receive the opposite, or the gift of God, eternal life. The beautiful harmony of this must be clear to all.

The Universe Will Be Clean

A glorious, triumphant scene, beheld in vision by the Patmos seer, should be noticed in this connection, as it has a vital connection with the topic under consideration, and bears further testimony in harmony with the foregoing position in reference to the fate of sinners. “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” Rev. 5:13. Here “every creature” in the universe is represented as praising the Lamb, and adoring him who sits on the throne. There is not a discordant note anywhere throughout all the created works of God.

Never since Lucifer was cast out of heaven, nor since Adam was driven from his Paradise home, has this been true. There has been a controversy ever since the author of sin entered to mar the handiwork of God. Satan and his angels have been at war with the government of heaven, and he succeeded in leading this planet into revolt also. Rebellion is here. The law of God has been despised, and his Son been hated and set aside. “Every creature” does not now praise God, neither could this text ever be fulfilled if it were true that there was an ever-burning hell somewhere on the outskirts of creation, in which myriads of human beings were to suffer, wail, and gnash their teeth in torture and unspeakable woe through numberless cycles of time, as long as God himself would exist. But the Lord declares that there is a time coming when “there shall be no more curse.” Rev. 22:3. There will not be, then, an endless lake of fire and brimstone in which millions of lost souls will through countless ages curse and blaspheme their Creator. No such foul blot as this will remain to mar the creation of God.

Every unrepentant sinner will pass under the dominion of the second death. Every incorrigible being will be destroyed; every rebel voice will be stilled in the realms of the second death. Then, and then only, will be heard the glorious anthem of universal praise and adoration which the revelator records. Then the prolonged controversy will be ended. Sin will have been blotted out. Satan, fallen angels, and sinners will have been destroyed. The gospel will have gloriously triumphed. God’s universe will be forever clean, and joy and gladness will fill every heart throughout the illimitable realm of the great Creator. Then those who have by faith laid hold upon the abundant life which Christ has promised to the believer, will be found a triumphant company, clad in immortality, and with joy and inexpressible happiness will praise and adore their Redeemer through all the ages to come. Shall not we be there? G. B. Thompson.