Why does the Bible say the fire is everlasting if the wicked are destroyed?
It's time to UNLEARN the lies.
UNLEARN
Hey, welcome to UNLEARN.
My name is Lex, and I'd like to invite you to join us each week as we UNLEARN the lies
and dig deeper into the truth of God's Word.
Now, let's get started.
We already spoke about the Great White Throne judgment, but I want to take a look at the
second death and the eternal fire that will consume the wicked.
The Bible teaches that God is a just God who makes righteous judgments.
Which is why it's important for us to have an accurate understanding about the punishment
of the wicked, because we don't want to believe lies about the Almighty.
Many people are confused about the punishment of the wicked in the lake of fire.
They seem to think that the wicked are going to be tortured for eternity, but the Bible
says the wicked will be destroyed in the fire.
So, why does the Bible say the fire is everlasting if the wicked are destroyed?
The fire is eternal because it was not created for mortals, it was created for Satan and
other fallen angels.
"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the
everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:"
- Matthew 25:41
Satan and other fallen angels are not mortal, they are heavenly beings, and the Bible says
that they will be tormented for eternity.
"The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast
and the false prophet are.
And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
- Revelation 20:10
It’s important to note that when Satan, the beast, and the false prophet are cast
into the lake of fire, there is no mention of their death.
The Bible is very specific when it mentions those three who will be tormented forever,
while there is no mention of anyone else receiving such torment.
Unlike the devil and his angels, humans will not be able to endure the eternal flames.
When a mortal is cast into the lake of fire they will die, which is why the Bible calls
it the “second death.”
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters,
and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone,
which is the second death."
- Revelation 21:8
The Bible also tells us that Sodom and Gomorrah suffered the vengeance of eternal fire, but
we know for a fact that they are not still burning to this day.
“as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having
given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth
as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
- Jude 1:7
If eternal fire means the fire never stops and those in the fire never stop burning,
that would require Sodom and Gomorrah to still be on fire today.
Yet, we know they were destroyed by the fire and remain destroyed to this day, never to
return.
This is what Jude was talking about when he said they suffered the vengeance of eternal
fire.
The Bible makes it clear that the lake of fire is a place of punishment for the wicked,
and we should make every effort to avoid it at all costs.
Yeshua taught that it’s better to pluck out your eye or cut off your hand than to
have your whole body thrown into the fire of Gehenna.
"If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more
profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast
into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is
more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast
into Gehenna."
- Matthew 5:29-30
Notice that Yeshua said, that your whole body would be cast into Gehenna, indicating that
it’s a bodily destruction.
Likewise, He indicates in another place that both the body and the soul will be destroyed
in the fire of Gehenna.
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.”
- Matthew 10:28
This is significant because it shows that the soul is not kept alive in an eternal state
of torture separate from the body (as many people teach), but the soul is actually destroyed
by the fire.
This is why the lake of fire is referred to as the “second death," because the Scriptures
teach us that “the soul who sins shall die.”
I’ve had minor burns on my skin over the years, and although they were only minor,
they were extremely painful.
I can’t even imagine how terrible it would be to have your entire body burning to death
in fire.
I wouldn’t want to suffer one second in a fire like that, and I wouldn’t wish it
upon anyone else either.
That’s why I am so thankful that God is so gracious that He didn’t allow humans
to become immortal in their sin, so they will find grace even in their punishment.
If you haven’t seen them yet, be sure to check out my other teachings about heaven,
hell, eternal life, and the resurrection of the dead.
I have a playlist with these teachings to make it easy for you to find.
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Thank you so much.
And remember, the truth will set you free.
See you next time.