Judgement: 5 Judgement of the Unbeliever
By Mark Farquharson
Unbelievers, the unfaithful do not go back to sleep after the Great White Throne. The Lake of Fire is known as the second death, but that does not mean it is like the first death, were people are asleep. I cover the Lake of Fire in Part 6. Unbelievers are punished, which means they can not be asleep. This part covers the punishment mentioned in the Bible.
This rules out instant annihilation at the great White Throne Judgement, because you can not have them annihilated and then punish them. There is also no point punishing them and then annihilating them, it just does not make a lot of sense. Why punishment if you are going to annihilate them anyway.
All punishments are limited, there are no on going punishments, or never ending punishments.
Judgement Based on Acts
The judgement will be based on a persons acts.
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man is destined to be coming, in the glory of his Father, with his messengers,—and, then, will he give back unto each one, according to his practice. {REB}
Romans 2:5-7 Yet, in accord with your hardness and unrepentant heart you are hoarding for yourself indignation in the day of indignation and revelation of the just judgment of God, Who will be paying each one in accord with his acts: to those, indeed, who by endurance in good acts are seeking glory and honor and incorruption, life eonian;" {CLV}
Those enduring in good acts life eonian, that is the benefit of life for a period of time, as opposed to the punishment for the ones doing acts worthy of punishment. All those doing good acts gain immortality, however this is contrasting want happens during this time period. It is not detailing want will happen over the whole of eternity.
Romans 2:8-11 yet to those of faction and stubborn, indeed, as to the truth, yet persuaded to injustice, indignation and fury, affliction and distress, on every human soul which is effecting evil, both of the Jew first and of the Greek, yet glory and honor and peace to every worker of good, both to the Jew first, and to the Greek." For there is no partiality with God, {CLV}
Those persuaded to injustice, indignation, those effecting evil, will suffer fury, affliction and distress. Note not annihilation, burning in hell, or on going never ending torture.
Romans 2:16 in the day when God will be judging the hidden things of humanity, according to my evangel, through Jesus Christ." {CLV}
Revelation 20:12-13 And I perceived the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. And the scrolls were opened. And another scroll was opened which is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged by that which is written in the scrolls in accord with their acts." And the sea gives up the dead in it, and death and the unseen give up the dead in them. And they were condemned, each in accord with their acts." {CLV}
Matthew 12:36-37 Now I am saying to you that, for every idle declaration which men shall be speaking, they shall be rendering an account concerning it in the day of judging." For by your words shall you be justified, and by your words shall you be convicted." {CLV}
Severe Judgement on Religious Hypocrisy
Luke 20:46-47 Take heed of the scribes, who are wanting to walk in robes, and are fond of salutations in the markets and front seats in the synagogues and first reclining places at the dinners, who are devouring the homes of widows and, for a pretense, are prolix in praying. These will be getting more excessive judgment." {CLV}
Those that desire to walk in long robes, those who want to be seen, those that are proud and haughty. Those that want people to pay them respect, homage. The ones that what and think they should have the best places in the temples. The ones fond of making long prays that are just a pretense, that is for show will be getting more excessive judgement. This should serve as a warning to all those who follow this practice in the churches, for these will be getting more serve judgement.
Punishment for the Unfaithful Slave
In the parable in Luke 12:37-48 the Lord representing Christ has gone away, and the slaves do not know when He will return. Those slaves who watch will be happy. However the slave that beats the boys and the maids and gets drunk will be cut asunder and appoint his part with the unbelievers.
Luke 12:45-46 the lord of that slave will be arriving on a day for which he is not hoping and at an hour which he does not know, and shall be cutting him asunder and shall be appointing his part with the unfaithful." {CLV}
The Lord will arrive suddenly, without warning at a time that the unfaithful salve does not expect. Having knowledge of what the salve has been up to, the Lord will punish the unfaithful slave. This show be a warning to all the salves, servants of Christ, for he will return at an hour that many of they will not expect, it will be sudden, and all those who are unfaithful in their duties will be harshly punished and have their lot with the unbelievers.
Luke 12:47-48 Now that slave who knows the will of his lord and does not make ready, nor yet does aught with a view to his will, shall have many lashes." Now he who does not know, yet does what deserves blows, shall have few lashes. Now to everyone to whom much was given, from him much will be sought, and to whom they committed much, more excessively will they be requesting of him." {CLV}
The punishment in the parable is lashes. This does not mean actual lashes, this is to show the severity of the punishment. The one who knows the will of the Lord and does not make ready or does aught will receive many lashes, for he should have known better. Yet the one that does not know, but does that which deserves lashes, shall have few. That is lesser punishment.
That is the slave receives many lashes compared to a few lashes, not ongoing never-ending lashes. The judgement is limited to few or many lashes. That is the punishment is not never-ending punishment it does come to an end.
Woe to Unrepentant Cities
Greater Judgement for some cities than other cities {Matthew 11:20-24}. That is when the inhabitants of these cities are resurrected, the inhabitants of one city will receive greater judgement than that of another city.
Matthew 11:20 Then He begins to reproach the cities in which most of His powerful deeds occurred, for they do not repent." Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the powerful deeds which are occurring in you occurred in Tyre and Sidon, long ago they would repent, sitting in sackcloth and ashes." Moreover, I am saying to you, For Tyre and Sidon shall it be more tolerable in the day of judging than for you."And you, Capernaum! Not to heaven shall you be exalted! To the unseen shall you subside, for, if the powerful deeds which are occurring in you had occurred in Sodom, it might remain unto today." Moreover, I am saying to you that for the land of Sodom shall it be more tolerable in the day of judging than for you." {CLV}
In the day of judging different cities will get more punishment than other cities. This seem to be based on if the city would have repented, if powerful deeds had been done in the city.
Copyright © Mark J Farquharson 2021
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