THE DOCTRINE OF HELL FIRE.
V. Of the Place and Time of Man’s Punishment.
In our study of this question thus far, we have found that God’s nature is love, not hate; that in His love and wisdom He made man’s continuance in life dependent upon harmony with the source of life, or righteousness; that permanence in righteousness means permanence in life, while “the soul that sinneth it shall die.” All these are against a never-ending hell of suffering of any kind, either physical, or mental. In this study we wish to learn, if possible, where the place of punishment is, or is to be. Where will the wicked be punished? where will the righteous be rewarded? Is it in some subterranean region destitute of light, in “darkness visible,” where the wicked shall pass ceaseless ages? How could a God whose nature is love contemplate this for a moment? What profit would such a punishment be either to them or their Maker? Is the reward of the righteous to be as the old hymn ran: “Beyond the bounds of time and space”? Reader, the place and the time of punishment are not far to seek. They are neither mystical nor mythical. God’s Word has clearly revealed both, if we are willing to accept the simple, clear, positive evidence. Man finds himself on this planet called the earth. This has always been his home so far as history records. There is nothing in nature evidential to his five senses which would indicate that the earth might not be the home of man for the future. Studying other planets from the earth standpoint, the earth elements, the earth basis throughout (a ground work which may be largely erroneous), it would seem impossible for man to exist upon any other planet of our solar system. Too hot or too cold, too dense an atmosphere or too rare, or some other unconquering difficulty would prevent man taking up his abode upon another planet. Moreover, he can not get there, and there is neither excursion train nor balloon express yet advertising a through trip. Man is adapted to the earth, the earth to man and here is his home. And the evidence of common facts is in harmony with the teaching of God’s Word: “The heavens are the heavens of Jehovah; but the earth hath He given to the children of men.” Ps. 115:16. Therefore, in the beginning the earth was made first, prepared for man’s abode, and then man was created, given dominion over it, and told to populate it. Gen. 1:26-28. And so the prophet avers: “Thus saith Jehovah that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain. He formed it to be inhabited; I am Jehovah; and there is none else.” Isa. 45:18. The very existence of Jehovah is pledged to the full development of His purpose, and the eternal persistence of His plan. Here then man is to dwell; here he has sinned, and by his sin brought a curse upon the earth, and everything placed under his dominion; here too will he be punished; for “the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner!” Prov. 11:31. We are not to understand by this that all the wicked receive their just dues in this life. We know that many do wickedly, that they seem to be prospered, that there seem to be no compunctions of conscience or remorse of soul. Thus Asaph of old saw them; and, in contemplating present conditions, he, as others later almost stumbled over the seeming injustice. He says:— “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death; but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness; they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression; they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. . . . And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. . . . When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” Ps. 73:3-17. There is a beyond to the wealthy oppressor of the poor, who lives in luxury on the life-blood of others. There is a future to the heartless libertine who has crushed hearts and despoiled virtue to satisfy his own inflamed lusts. Sometimes a part of the harvest of the seed-sowing comes here; but the final and absolutely just punishment comes in the great judgment day when “each one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12), and then shall Christ render to “each one of you according to your works” (Rev. 2:23). “Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his days, yet surely . . . it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days.” See Eccl. 8:11-13. This future punishment is not at death; it is not a long-continued period of the ages; it is at a definite specific time in the future. “For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then shall He render unto every man according to his deeds.” Matt. 16:27. And in His message to His waiting church Jesus declares: “Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to render to each man according as his work is.” Rev. 22:12. We have learned that the place of punishment is this sinful earth, “reserved against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:7. And the time of punishment is in the day of judgment, beyond the second coming of Jesus Christ. The punishment itself and various scriptures bearing upon it, will be the subject of our studies in future articles.