Terry Ward 03404162
Theo 202-D 12
Essay 4 The Destiny of the Unsaved The quotation from Clark Pinnock refers to the belief of annihilationism. This belief holds that after death humans cease to exist. There is therefore no eternal punishment for the unsaved. They will simply die and be burnt up and no longer exist. Another belief that offers an escape from eternal punishment is known as universalism. Universalism holds the belief that all men will be reconciled to God. Atonement is not just for those that accept the salvation of God but to everyone. We as Christians hold to the doctrine of eternal punishment for the lost. A person who never accepts the Lord will go to a place of torments after they die. The bible plainly tells us that sin will be punished. This punishment will be given in a place called Hell. The bible refers to hell as a place of fire, Matt. (8:12), a place where the fires never go out, Mark( 9:43). It is a place where there is eternal darkness Matt. (8:12), and where the worm will not die Mark (9:48).1 The worst thing about hell will be the eternal separation from God. The word hell has been defined in different ways. The old testament uses the word Sheol. Sheol is a place where no one can save themselves. Ps. (89:48), it is the place where people go when they die Genesis. (37:35) (44: 29, 31) A place where the wicked go upon death Job (21:13), also a place the righteous are saved from. Ps. (49:15, 86:13; Prov. 15:24) Sheol is a place that God has absolute sovereignty over. No one can escape from God in Sheol (Amos 9:2), God Himself brings people down to it (1 Sam. 2:6).2 The New Testament uses two words, the first being Hades. Sheol and Hades are virtually alike in meanings’ they both are used for the grave. Luke 16:23 says that Hades is the place of punishment of the wicked dead. The second word is Gehenna. Gehenna is a valley located on the out skirts of Jerusalem. Gehenna is described in the book of Jeremiah as a place of shame and will be the place of punishment by God. Jeremiah (7:32; 19:6),3 it is described as hell; it was a waste dump, where the refuse of the city was taken and burned. The fire burned day and night and was never allowed to go out. The bible describes it as the furnace of fire, where there is also wailing and the gnashing of teeth, the crying and grinding of teeth because of the pain that will be in that place. Matt (13;42 ) Gehenna and Hades both a place of eternal punishment. Eternal punishment of the unsaved is what we believe hell will be. The bible has many references of the eternal punishment of the lost. Luke in the sixteenth chapter tells us that the rich man at his death lifted his eyes being in torments in hell. Jesus said that the unsaved would go into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Matt. ( 25:46) Revelation tells that “anyone not found in the written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. (20:15) This event will take place at the “Great White Throne Judgment,” which is the judgment of the unsaved. Matthew in his gospel (25:46) says “And these ( the unsaved) will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” John Macarthur in his commentary has this to say,” The same Greek word is used in both instances. The punishment of the wicked is as never ending as the bliss of the righteous.”4 The lost will suffer through out eternity. They will not be annihilated, nor will they be universally saved. God has promised eternal life to all who believe in Him, John (3:16), and eternal punishment to those who reject Him. Eternal means forever, and ever, it is infinity. The world sees this idea of hell as just a fairy tale used to scare people into doing good. They cannot perceive a God of love being so unkind that He would send a person to eternal punishment, just for not believing in Him. God is a just God is not a respecter of persons, Rom (2:11). He judges each man the lost and the saved alike, we as Christians will stand before the Judgment seat of Christ to give an account for what we have done with the salvation God has given us. 2 Cor. (5:9-11) The unsaved will stand and be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment, for their sins. Rev.(20:1-15) The only thing separating the saved from the lost is belief in and accepting Jesus as savior and Lord. God gives us all a choice, to either accept or reject Christ. Acts ( 4:12) states “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” God so loved this world that He made a way that all men could be saved. John (3:16) God cannot show love to the saved, His children, by allowing those who do not believe escape, from judgment and the punishment that goes with it. A person may show love for another person’s child, but not the same love they have for their own children. God by His very nature has to be fair; therefore He still loves, but He still has to judge and implement just punishment to those that reject Him. 2 Peter sums this up it says, ”The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Although He loves HE still has to judge. Evangelism and missions are both aided because of the doctrine of hell. We have to let people know the saving mercy of God , but we also have to tell them about What happens when they do not accept Christ as their savior. Are people more willing to come to Christ when they realize that there is a heaven to gain, and a hell to lose, we certainly hope so.
Words (1032)

Works Cited

1.Van Gemeren. "Evangelical Dictionary of Theology." Sheol, Edited by Walter A. Ewell, 1098. GRAND RAPIDS: Baker Academic, 2001

2.Van Gemeren. "Evangelical Dictionary of Theology." Sheol, Edited by Walter A. Ewell, 1098. GRAND RAPIDS: Baker Academic, 2001.

3.Cruz. "Evangelical Dictionary of Theology." Gehenna, Edited by Walter A. Ewell, 480. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.

4.Mcarthur, John. Mcarthur Study Bible. Nashville: Word Bibles, 1997. 2012).