EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT by C. A. Wyman

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 10, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 49.

EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT.

By C. A. Wyman

BY C. A. WYMAN.

Duration of Eternal Punishment.

HAVING located the place and time of "everlasting punishment," we are now prepared to comprehend more clearly its duration.

The doctrine of "eternal torment," based upon the error of "inherent immortality," logically upholds the perpetuity of sin, for no change except in this life is offered, hence the sinful mind continuing on, augments its guilt by rebellion and blasphemy; and as all are punished "according to their works," it follows that the longer the wicked live, the more sinful they become, and the more punishment must follow. Thus justice can never be satisfied, and the arm of infinite power would be too weak to close the horrible drama of sin. But God had a clean universe once, and if the wisdom of God, the justice of God, and the word of God mean anything, he will have a clean universe again, when the wicked "shall be as tho they had not been" (Obadiah 15, 16); when "the former things shall not be remembered nor come into mind" (Isa. 65:17); when "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. Thus in the glad "sometime" the whole universe of God will resound "with the melody of peace."

"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Eze. 18:20. "The wages of sin is death." Rom. 6:23. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." 1 Cor. 15:26. "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." Rev. 20:14. "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 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. 4:2, 3. "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. "For yet a little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction." Isa. 10:25.

From the burden of a thousand testimonies the life of both wicked men and wicked angels finally ceases. The effect of the punishment is death.

As there are degrees of sinfulness, so there will be of punishment, and this "according to their works." Neither wicked men nor angels have acknowledged the goodness, mercy, nor justice of God in the time of their probation. Yet when the trying touchstone of fire shall come, the guilty conscience will be awakened, and each will see just where he turned from the "holy commandment," just where he resisted the pleading voice of God, just where he has violated his own conscience, through which alone God could reach him.

When the wisdom, justice, and mercy of God are seen in all his dealings with his creatures; when each one sees where he crossed the boundary line, refusing to yield to the truth; when he sees that God did all that infinite love and wisdom could do for his salvation, and that he with his own will and hand has rejected it all; there before that tribunal, with nothing to shield the guilty soul, the haughty "knee shall bow," and "every tongue shall confess" that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:11.

With this confession, justice is satisfied, and upon all, "according to their deeds," the complete penalty is visited, until all but Satan has yielded to confess God's justice in their utter destruction. He, the leader in the great rebellion, and the framer of the awful controversy against righteousness, is the last to yield. He, the antitypical "scapegoat," receiving the penalty of confessed sins which he has led the children of God to commit, with no one to sympathize with him in his hatred of the law of God, still cries: "I am God," in the face of the One who created him, a bright and beautiful angel, for God's glory.

At last he, too, yields the controversy; "a fire springs forth from the midst of him, and devours him," and he, too, is brought to ashes upon the earth. Eze. 28:9, 10.

Then the last voice in rebellion is hushed, the root and branches are wholly consumed, the seeds of sin are no more. The fire dies out, and the earth, purified and freed from its curse, is molded anew. The whole earth breaks forth into singing, and "blossoms as the rose," and the promised land, so long foretold, becomes the "garden of God," and his people a joy.

All have been tried, and through Christ were overcomers. Each, seeing what sin has wrought, looks upon it as does God, and never throughout eternity will the thought of sin mar the character of that ransomed throng. Thus, some in a few moments, others longer, and Satan last of all, cease to be; and "everlasting punishment" is seen to be "everlasting destruction." 2 Thess. 1:9.