Will All the Impenitent Burn Eternally?—Does the Bible Teach Everlasting Torment?
By Albert M. Dart
Since, as shown in previous articles, man is mortal, perishable, corruptible, and has life only through Christ, it is patent that those without Christ meet the fate of their nature. So we are exhorted to be partakers of the divine nature through Christ, and escape corruption. 2 Peter 1:3, 4.
This puts forever to rout the horrible, God-dishonoring doctrine of eternal, conscious existence in hell fire; for corruptible, perishable things do not exist forever in fire.
The absolute destruction of the wicked is in perfect accord with the plan of salvation, and on no subject does the Bible speak more plainly than on this one.
UNQUENCHABLE FIRE
Of Jesus it is written that He will “gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matt. 3:12.
No argument is needed to convince the reader that the wheat represents the good people, those saved through Christ; and the chaff, the wicked, or unsaved.
Some have thought this a favorable text for eternal life in hell fire; but if it is, what shall be said of the texts not favorable to that doctrine?
The wicked are here likened to chaff, a very inflammable material. How different this from material that could stand the ravages of the hottest of fires to all eternity!
The word “unquenchable” in no wise calls for eternity of existence. God declared of ancient Jerusalem that because of the wickedness of the people, He would “kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” No one would hold that the fire is still burning, nor that the palaces were able to resist the flames. No; the statement is that the fire would devour the palaces, nor could it be quenched till it had. So in Matt. 3:12. The chaff—the wicked—He would burn up with unquenchable fire. The fate of the wicked is here made plain.
“WHERE THEIR WORM DIETH NOT”
The destiny of the wicked is clearly set forth in the Saviour’s language found in Mark 9:43-48. He states that “It is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched; where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
A vivid picture of the fate of the wicked, as pointed out by the Saviour, was in constant operation before the eyes of the people outside the walls of Jerusalem.
Greenfield, in his “New Testament Lexicon,” thus defines the word “hell” in the text under consideration: “Gehenna, the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, once celebrated for the horrid worship of Moloch, and afterward polluted with every species of filth, as well as carcasses of animals and dead bodies of malefactors; to consume which, in order to avoid the pestilence which such a mass of corruption would occasion, constant fires were kept burning.”
Let it be observed that whatever or whoever was cast into this Gehenna fire was consumed by the unquenchable fire. Nothing cast therein resisted the flames nor continued to exist. The worm was associated with the fire, for the reason that worms preyed upon portions remaining around the edge, of whatever was cast into the fire. What was not destroyed by the fire was consumed by the worms. Thus is given a picture of utter destruction for the wicked.
The continuance of the fire was dependent upon a constant supply of new material. Though admitting that the lost will vastly outnumber the saved, we would hardly expect an attempt to prove that from the ranks of the wicked could be obtained a supply lasting through the eternal ages. In all consistency, this is necessary to prove the fire burning forever.
PAST EXAMPLES OF “ETERNAL FIRE”
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrah . . . are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude 7. Whatever “eternal fire” did to Sodom and Gomorrah, that it will do for the wicked.
Let the apostle Peter explain: “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.” 2 Peter 2:6.
This explanation needs no comment; and the word “eternal,” and other similar words in this connection, are seen to refer to the effects of the fire—ashes eternally.
With this agree the words of the prophet Malachi. In speaking to this same point, he compares the wicked to “stubble” and says: “The day that cometh shall burn them up, . . . that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. . . . And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.” Mal. 4:1, 3.
BRITISH SUBMARINE
How awful the doom that awaits the wicked! How astonishing the love that provided a way of escape!
ESCAPE THE AWFUL DOOM
“But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.” Ps. 37:20. Listen, dear reader: It is the enemies of the Lord that perish, are consumed by fire. Turn to God. Be His friend. Escape the doom. He has made ample provision. It was “when we were enemies” that “we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son.” Rom. 5:10.
Be sure that all who suffer this doom have chosen to be enemies of God. “Their own way have I recompensed upon their heads.” Eze. 22:31. “For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: they would none of My counsel: they despised all My reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.” Prov. 1:29-31.
“For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.” Ps. 37:10.
REJOICE THAT NO SUCH PLACE EXISTS
Are you not glad that in the completed plan of salvation, there is no place for the eternal suffering of any who have chosen to be enemies of God, and thus perpetuate sorrow and misery?
How much more of love can be seen in the annihilation of the wicked than in a place provided where they eternally suffer the results of their choice!
Sin is in its very nature destructive. God’s provision to escape it cannot be neglected with impunity. Flee from sin as you would flee from the fires that in the last day will destroy it and the wicked who have chosen it. Take one look at the doom. Then look to Christ, the Saviour from it.
Both righteous and wicked die. When will the results of their choice be apparent? This question will be answered next week.
