Psalms 37:10, commentary and pictures

After a little while the wicked shall not be, and even a diligent search of his place will find no trace of him. During earthly life the wicked may appear prosperous and escape visible judgment. The death that is their portion is the second death, the final penalty for sin and the opposite of everlasting life, not merely the temporal death that all people suffer before the resurrection. Because of Adam's sin all mankind go down into the grave, and through the plan of salvation all are brought forth from their graves, and then those who have not secured pardon must receive the penalty of transgression.

That punishment varies in duration and intensity according to each person's deeds and works. Having suffered their guilt, the wicked sink into hopeless, eternal oblivion and are as though they had not been, not preserved in endless life in torment. When Christ comes sin is to have an end, and the wicked are consumed as dross by fire from God out of heaven. The final destruction carries out the death sentence on those who persist in transgression and purifies the earth from their wrongdoing and defiance of God.

This describes the end of Satan and all who join him in rebellion, after sin has fully shown its nature and the plan of redemption is complete. Their destruction is not arbitrary; by choosing sin they separate themselves from God, the source of life, and receive the result of that choice, because God cannot save the sinner in his sins. They will have no place in the earth made new and will be excluded from the city of God. In contrast, life is the inheritance of the righteous, the meek inherit the earth, and God remembers and honors those who fear him by giving them everlasting life through his Son.