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A wrong view of God’s character is one of the main reasons why
people have trouble getting to know and trust Him. The teaching of
eternal torment has done more to drive people to atheism and
insanity than any other invention of the devil. It is slander to the
loving character of a tender, gracious heavenly Father. In His word,
God tells us He has no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked
(Ezekiel 33:11). It is called a strange work (Isaiah 28:21). Not
only is the idea of eternal torment contrary to God’s love and
mercy, it is not even fair or just. What just earthly judge would
sentence a criminal to be beaten continuously and roasted over a
slow fire, for any length of time? Then shall not “the judge of all
the earth” “judge righteously?” (Genesis 18:25; Psalms 96:10) ) “The
wages of sin is death,” not eternal torment. (Romans 6:23) Then
what really happens when someone goes down to the grave? and what
will happen to the wicked?
Man is Mortal, and only Receives Immortality at
the Resurrection.
Previously we have seen that man is mortal and only receives
immortality if he accepts Christ. We have also seen that the
righteous receive immortality when they are resurrected (1
Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Let’s have a look at
some further evidence for this:
David expected
to receive immortality when he awoke in the resurrection.
I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy
likeness. Psalms 17:15
Peter declared
that righteous David has not yet gone to heaven.
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of
the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his
sepulchre is with us unto this day... For David is not ascended into
the heavens:… Acts 2:29, 34
Peter’s argument to prove that David is not in heaven was that
David’s body was still in the tomb. He understood that there is no
such thing as disembodied souls. Christ, Elijah, Enoch and Moses,
all ascended to heaven bodily. Other than a few exceptions, the
righteous dead have not been raised, and have not yet gone to
heaven.
Paul did not
expect to receive his crown until the day of Christ’s second
appearing, along with the rest of the righteous.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at
that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his
appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7, 8 |
