|
Online Truth
|
|
THE FATE OF ALL UNREPENTANT SINNERS! Recently the following request was received: “A lady at work is interested in what happens at death. We know about a man dying like an animal and that Christ said no one has ascended to heaven, and that the wicked will one day be ashes underfoot. So what is the proper interpretation of Revelation 20:10, you Wizards of the Word? If the wicked will be ashes under the feet of the righteous (be burned up, completely), then what about the two humans mentioned here? The Beast and False Prophets are humans, are they not? One possible explanation could be that the extremely wicked ones who have wreaked so much pain and suffering and havoc upon literally millions of people--including, of course, Satan--will receive a slightly different punishment than just "regulars" like perhaps you and me (but we hope it is not like us). For most, then, it will be eternal punish-ment, whereas for a few exceptional, extremely hardened and wicked, destructive folk it could be eternal punish-ing, as would be the case here with these two--and perhaps a Hitler or a Stalin. Is it a verse like this that has gotten everyone to thinking that every person who doesn't make it will be tormented forever? And, of course, the parable of Lazarus and the rich man may not help, either. Your comments, please, dear brothers and brokers of the word.” It is obvious that there is much confusion over what is the actual fate of unrepentant sinners. Some believe that there is a difference in the degrees of punishment—in an everlasting hell fire. Some believe this is true of humans and some believe it is extended to include Satan and the demons. Still other believe it applies as understood, but just to the evil spirit beings, and not to humanity. So we will begin this study to first determine the fate of Satan and the demons, and, by extension, come to a valid conclusion on the fate of all unrepentant sinners—whether they be human beings or currently in the spirit world. Let us now take a closer look at the numerous scriptures which deal with the fate of Satan. Who is Satan—and what is Satan? In a discussion of this nature, it is important to remember that scripture reveals that Satan is a created being! So he has not forever existed and does not possess the same nature of life as does YHWH our Father or Yahshua Messiah. This is an extremely important point to remember as it has everything to do with whether or not Satan can actually die. It has long been understood from the account in Ezekiel 28 that the one now known as Satan was once a magnificent angelic being. Please note Ezekiel 28:15 (The Scriptures translation unless otherwise noted) Eze 28:15 “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you.” It is clear that the covering cherub who became Satan the Adversary had a created beginning—and it was Yahweh who created him. It is to be understood that the entire creation, both spiritual and physical in nature are under the supreme control of the one who created them. Nothing that is created possesses the kind of status that is above the knowledge, wisdom and power of the Almighty. Some have contemplated as to whether Yahweh had the wisdom, knowledge, and foresight to actually know that this magnificent being would eventually sin and fall away. To provide us with a little more insight on this matter let us consider that in the beginning Yahweh called this great spirit being Heylel. While the root of this Hebrew word can mean to shine, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon confirm that the name can also mean to boast, to rave, to be clamorously foolish, to make a show, to celebrate, to rage against, and stultify. Most would acknowledge that all of these are undeniably attributes of the one we know as Satan. So it seems very likely that Yahweh did indeed foresee the ultimate demise of Heylel and named him appropriately. (Many have attributed the later Latin interpretation Lucifer which has been interpreted as to shine or light bringer, but there is still much discussion on these matters.) When Yahweh names someone or something, it is always very significant. Some believe that Heylel was and archangel, but there is really no scriptural record of his ever having been so. Many believe this was an assumption of the Roman Catholic Church. Michael, the Prince of Israel (Jude 9 and Daniel 12:1) is the only one who is actually referred to as an archangel. Not even Gabriel is actually called by this title. While it could be the case that Heylel and Gabriel are/were archangels, the Scriptures do not actually confirm the fact. Heylel indeed was a mighty angelic being designated as a covering cherub (Ezekiel 28:14). He was one of the two angels who were stationed at the throne of Yahweh and had the charge of covering the actual mercy seat with their wings (so Satan has wings). At that time his status and authority were very important in heaven. It is learned from scripture that eventually Heylel sinned grievously in his rebellion against the Most High. As a result a major change occurred. Heylel, now Satan the Adversary, was stripped of his office and cast out of heaven along with the rebellious angels who followed his lead. And, as a result, they all will come under the judgment of Yahweh. Satan is not on the same plane spiritually as the Father and the Son and he is not currently on the same plane as the angels who remained righteous. This is confirmed in the scriptures. We should not assume that the stature and status applicable to the angels who did not sin are any longer relevant to him. Yet that is exactly what we see in the traditional view. One of the greatest and far reaching of all Satan’s lies is the lie that nothing ever really dies. He has convinced many that human beings never really die. He has convinced many that certainly not those created as spirit beings—even if they sin, can die—and certainly not he himself could ever die. This lie was perpetrated in the Garden of Eden and seems to have continued ever since. This is one area is which Satan certainly has deceived the whole world. This brings us the to traditional view that Satan, the demons, and all evil human being will be punished in some form, often depicted as burning forever in hell, and being tormented, but never actually dying. While many in the Churches of God tradition have come to understand the false concept of the immortality of the soul, it seems they still are determined to hold fast to the lie that Satan and the demons cannot die. So with this doctrine, as with so many others, there are various interpretations and degrees of understanding of the “extreme” doctrine. The question might be asked, “Does Satan and all other unrepentant sinners deserve death? Immediately certain scriptures will come to mind. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the favorable gift of Elohim is everlasting life in Messiah יהושע (Yahshua) our Master. It should be understood from this scripture that death means the cessation of life, and not the continuation of life in some other state or realm. This is confirmed in Ezekiel 18:4 “See, all beings are Mine, the being of the father as well as the being of the son is Mine. The being that is sinning shall die.” John was inspired to write: 1 John 3:8 The one doing sin is of the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of Elohim was manifested: to destroy the works of the devil. Our Messiah rebuked the Pharisees as religious leaders with the words spoken in John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you wish to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it.” Please note that the Messiah actually calls Satan a murderer. This is a very important statement in that John was also inspired to write in 1 John 3:15 “Everyone hating his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has everlasting life staying in him.” Here we are plainly told that no murderer has eternal life in him, staying in him. Certainly this passage cannot be interpreted in a way that would omit the one who is said to be a murderer from the beginning. For those who would be demanding further proof, it must be acknowledged that the Messiah also called Satan the father of lies. In other words, he was the initiator of lies. Then all we need do is to turn to Revelation 21:8 and read the fate of all murders and liars (and committers of other unrepentant sins). Revelation 21:8 “But as for the cowardly, and untrustworthy, and abominable, and murderers, and those who whore, and drug sorcerers, and idolaters, and all the false (liars), their part is in the lake which burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.” We must certainly take note that Yahweh makes a direct connection between being thrown in the lake of fire and with the second death. Again, this is very significant with respect to any discussion of Satan’s fate. When you think of the Second Death, what comes to mind? Do we really believe it is merely separation from Yahweh in some other place or realm? Or do we understand that it is truly death—the cessation of life forevermore—never to be again resurrected to life? Indeed, this is the understanding that the scriptures support. Scriptures tell us that all human beings deserve death, and that Our Savior came and died for us while we were yet sinners and in our sins. It is by grace that we can be granted repentance, and combined with the gift of faith in Our Savior, our sins are atoned, and forgiveness of our sins and their complete removal takes place. As David requested, so it is with us. Our sins are forgiven and Totally Blotted Out! (Yet it is interesting that some actually see Satan as the live goat who was taken out and released in the wilderness in Leviticus 16, thus symbolic of the sins of the people being removed so that Yahweh could dwell with them—before the ultimate sacrifice of Our Savior whose shed blood covered all sins of the repentant. John the Baptist was inspired to reveal that it was the Lamb of Yahweh that takes away the sins of the world. John 1:29 On the next day Yoḥanan saw יהושע (Yahshua/Jesus) coming toward him, and said, “See, the Lamb of Elohim who takes away the sin of the world!” Yet some refuse to believe that it is Our Savior that takes away all sin (upon repentance) and insist on believing that sins are not blotted out, or even forgiven—but only stored—to be transferred to Satan (placed on his head???). This would indicate that he is the one who pays for our sins—with his punishment. But that is not what the scriptures say.) The penalty for sin—the Second Death—is removed and revoked, and instead eternal life is guaranteed to those who remain faithful to the end. But there is no indication that Satan and the demons will ever repent or be granted repentance. No signs of remorse and no attempt to mend their ways or even ask for mercy are ever revealed in the scriptures. In their case, they remain in their sins and the one penalty for unrepentant sin remains—the Second Death in the lake of fire. It is very interesting that in the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25 that those represented by sheep are to inherit the reign prepared for them from the foundation of the world. On the other hand, concerning those represented by the goats the following is said: Matthew 25:41 “He shall then also say to those on the left hand, ‘Go away from Me, accursed ones, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his messengers”. This passage states that the lake of fire—the place of ultimate, utter and certainly final punishment called the “Second Death” was actually prepared for Satan and the demons. In other words, the lake of fire is prepared for Satan and the demons and not primarily for human beings, though some will end up being destroyed in the lake of fire as stated in Revelation 21:8. So both those who are now spirit and have sinned and remain unrepentant and human beings who remain unrepentant will be destroyed in the lake of fire—the Second Death. However, several questions must yet be answered. Some will ask, “Can that which is spirit die?” In response to that question let us consider, would it approach blasphemy to believe otherwise? Certainly any who have studied the scriptures are aware that the one who became flesh and came to earth to die to pay the penalties for our sins was Spirit—from the beginning. He is not a created being. Yet he emptied Himself and became flesh so that He could actually die and pay the death penalty for the sins of mankind. So instead let us ask, “Can spirit (Satan and the demons) be made flesh so that they may die—for their own sins? Remember, we have already concluded that Spirit can become flesh so it can die—unless some really do not believe that Our Savior actually died to pay the penalty for our sins. But if that conclusion is arrived at there are many other questions that would have to be answered—questions much more serious than the one under discussion. Please consider the following two passages: Isaiah 14 is quite familiar to most students of the scriptures. Some acknowledge that at least the first 20 verses of Isaiah 14 and pertinent to revealing the ultimate destiny of Satan. But let’s start in verses 4, 6-7 –“ that you shall take up this proverb against the sovereign of Baḇel, and say, “How the oppressor has ceased, the gold-gatherer ceased! …He who smote the people in wrath with ceaseless blows, he who ruled the gentiles in displeasure, is persecuted and no one restrains. “All the earth is at rest and at peace, they shall break forth into singing.” Certainly only the death of one greater than a single human being is being pictured for the whole earth to be at rest and to break forth singing in response to the release so derived. There really is no break in the story flow of this chapter. So let’s continue. Isaiah 14:9-19--“The grave from beneath is excited about you, to meet you at your coming; it stirs up the dead for you, all the chief ones of the earth; it has raised up from their thrones all the sovereigns of the gentiles. Isa 14:10 “All of them respond and say to you, ‘Have you also become as weak as we? Have you become like us? Isa 14:11 ‘Your arrogance has been brought down to the grave, and the sound of your stringed instruments; the maggot is spread under you, and worms cover you.’ Isa 14:12 “How you have fallen from the heavens, O Hĕlĕl, son of the morning! You have been cut down to the ground, you who laid low the gentiles! Isa 14:13 “For you have said in your heart, ‘Let me go up to the heavens, let me raise my throne above the stars of Ěl, and let me sit in the mount of meeting on the sides of the north; Isa 14:14 let me go up above the heights of the clouds, let me be like the Most High.’ Isa 14:15 “But you are brought down to the grave, to the sides of the Pit. Isa 14:16 “Those who see you stare at you, and ponder over you, saying, ‘Is this the man (note: is this an indication that Satan will be changed to flesh and blood to suffer death—the second death??) who made the earth tremble, who shook reigns, Isa 14:17 who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who would not open the house of his prisoners?’ Isa 14:18 “All the sovereigns of the gentiles, all of them, were laid in esteem, everyone in his own house; Isa 14:19 but you have been thrown from your grave like an abominable branch, like the garment of those who are slain, thrust through with a sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, like a trampled corpse (trodden underfoot).” Though some wish not to do so, this passage should be viewed in regards to its flow and not in terms of the king of Babylon with just a few short verses concerning Satan. The story flow is continuous—and is very revealing. Please note that verse 15 begins with “Yet” which is a good indicator that the reference is still to Heylel who was the subject of the preceding verses. When read in this manner, notice how well it fits with the passage found in Malachi 4:1,3--Mal 4:1 “For look, the day shall come, burning like a furnace, and all the proud, and every wrongdoer shall be stubble (this is certainly a perfect description of Satan as portrayed in Isaiah 14). And the day that shall come shall burn them up,” said יהוה of hosts, “which leaves to them neither root nor branch. Mal 4:3 “And you shall trample the wrongdoers, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,” said יהוה (Yahweh) of hosts.” Surely we can see that the fate of Satan and that of the incorrigibly wicked are tied together and are one and the same—eternal death in the lake of fire. They will all (including the demons) be burned up and be destroyed—and their ashes will be trodden underfoot by the righteous! The other passage concerning Satan’s description is understood to be that found in Ezekiel 28. This is the most graphic depiction of his fall and ultimate fate. But as in Isaiah, we again need to exercise caution as to not artificially divide the chapter into separate sections to support our own theology. Even if we make the assumption that the first part of the chapter is dealing with a human individual, all should conclude that by verse 12 this would no longer be a proper interpretation. From this point forward this passage is definitely in reference to Satan. This continues all the way to verse 19. Eze 28:12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the sovereign of Tsor, and you shall say to him, ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “You were sealing up a pattern, complete in wisdom and perfect in loveliness. Eze 28:13 “You were in Ěḏen, the garden of Elohim. Every precious stone was your covering: the ruby, topaz, and diamond, beryl, shoham, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald and gold. The workmanship of your settings and mountings was prepared for you on the day you were created. Eze 28:14 “You were the anointed keruḇ that covered. And I placed you, you were on the set-apart mountain of Elohim. You walked up and down in the midst of stones of fire. Eze 28:15 “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you. Eze 28:16 “By the greatness of your trade you became filled with violence within, and you sinned. So I thrust you from the mountain of Elohim, and I destroyed you, O covering keruḇ, from the midst of the stones of fire. Eze 28:17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your loveliness, you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendour. I threw you to the earth, I laid you before sovereigns, to look at you. Eze 28:18 “You profaned your set-apart places by your many crookednesses, by the unrighteousness of your trading. Therefore I brought forth fire from your midst. It has devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth before the eyes of all who see you. Eze 28:19 “All who knew you among the peoples were astonished at you. Waste you shall be, and cease to be, forever.” ’ ” Please note that these accounts from Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 are very revealing in regards to Heylel’s past, and Satan’s present and future. Note again the reference to fiery destruction and the finality of the matter—he shall cease to be—forever. Do Satan and the demons know what is in store for them? We need only to turn to Mark 1:23-24. Mar 1:23 And there was a man in their congregation with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, Mar 1:24 saying, “Ha! What have we to do with You, יהושע of Natsareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are: the Set-apart One of Elohim!” In this passage, the word destroy is translated from the Greek appollumi. This word is a strong verb in the Greek. According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, it means to destroy fully, to perish, to lose, to die. It is also used in several other passages, one of them being James 4:11-12. Jam 4:11 Brothers, do not speak against one another. He that speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against Torah and judges Torah. And if you judge Torah, you are not a doer of Torah but a judge. Jam 4:12 There is one Lawgiver and Judge, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? Yahshua (Our Messiah) also used this word in a similar statement in Matthew 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the being. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both being (rendered soul in some translations—meaning spiritual death) and body in Gehenna.” We can be quite certain that when the demons reacted in fear when they asked Messiah if He had come to destroy them, that they knew full well what they were saying and what their fate is to be. And then finally we have the passage in Revelation 20:10--(Good News Bible) (GNB) Then the Devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. While some translations translate it as the Devil being cast into the lake of fire where the beast and false prophet are, it must be noted that in most translations the word are is in italics, which means it is not in the original manuscripts and was inserted by the translators. Unless one chooses not to believe the scriptures that say the soul that sins, it shall die—and instead insists on believing humans have an immortal soul, it must be acknowledged that the beast (system) and false prophet were cast into the lake of fire and burned up. The beast and false prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire before the thousand years and Satan is thrown into the lake of fire at the end of the thousand years. Yet there are problems, as a number of translations as the NIV translate this verse “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and false prophet Had been thrown. They (all three) will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Most other translations or versions render this verse in the same manner. And a number of commentaries support this point as well. So we find that Satan, the beast, and the false prophet are all being referred to in this verse as being tormented. This has seemingly forced many to believe that man has an immortal soul. Either all three beings are burned up in the lake of fire, or all three are to remain alive in some sort of ever-burning torture. So Revelation 20:10 doesn’t adequately substantiate the premise that Satan alone (or Satan and the demons) will receive some type of everlasting punishment. But it does confirm that he will receive the same punishment as the beast and the false prophet are destined to receive—the second death in the lake of fire, which is eternal death! From what we have seen previously, we ought to have a deeper conviction of what Satan’s fate really is. So this passage in Revelation 20:10 definitely needs additional attention—specifically the last phrase in regard to the statement that Satan, the beast, and the false prophet will be tormented day and night forever and ever. We will begin with the phrase day and night. Are we to assume that the current day and night cycle will continue on a never-ending cycle? Scriptures say otherwise. We must note that after the judgment, all will again be made spirit. It is spoken of as the new heaven and the new earth. Please note Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it, for the esteem of Elohim lightened it, and the Lamb is its lamp. And again, in Revelation 22:3-5 we read: “And no longer shall there be any curse, and the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. And they shall see His face, and His Name shall be upon their foreheads. And night shall be no more, and they shall have no need of a lamp or the light of the sun, because יהוה Elohim shall give them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. The concept of day and night as we have experienced it during this time of the physical creation is not an eternal condition. Now let us consider the phrase forever and ever in our passage in Revelation 20:10. Often in English our concept of forever means from now on for eternity. But this is not so in the Hebrew or Greek languages. The word in this verse is the Greek word aion which means an age. So the determining factor as to how this phrase is to be used is dependent upon the context of the passage. Please consider the use of the Greek word aion in Philemon: Phm 1:10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimos, whom I brought forth while in my chains, Phm 1:11 who formerly was of no use to you, but now is of good use to you and to me, Phm 1:12 whom I sent back to you, and receive him, that is, my own tender affections, Phm 1:13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News. Phm 1:14 But without your opinion I wished to do none at all, so that your good deed should not be by way of necessity, but voluntary. Phm 1:15 For he parted from you for a while, possibly because of this, so that you might have him back forever, G165 αἰών aiōn ahee-ohn' From the same as G104; properly an age; by extension perpetuity (also past); by implication the world; specifically (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future): - age, course, eternal, (for) ever (-more), [n-]ever, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, without end). Compare G5550. In this passage, obviously, though aion is translated forever it is not a reference to eternity. There is no reason to believe that Paul was saying that Oneseimus would be the slave of Philemon for all eternity. We must also consider Jude 7 -- Even as Seḏom and Amorah and the cities around them in a similar way to these, having given themselves over to whoring and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, undergoing judicial punishment of everlasting fire. Here the word everlasting is translated from: G166 αἰώνιος aiōnios ahee-o'-nee-os From G165; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well): - eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began). However, it is quite obvious that the fire that consumed the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are not still burning. Yet it is still referred to as being eternal or everlasting. But it is understood that the fire lasted as long as it took to completely burn and destroy the cities—to complete the destruction. In like manner, the torment of Satan and the demons—and all humanity that refuses to repent of their sins—will last just as long as it takes to consume them—in the lake of fire—the second death. The real torture they will experience will be when they finally grasp that they are about to perish forever (for all eternity). For all this time Satan and the demons have deluded themselves into believing that they would get away with their sins—and they will have deceived some of mankind into believing the same thing. But the current world is going to come crashing down—and there will be real torment. In conclusion, have not the scriptures clearly revealed the final destination of all who refuse to repent of sins? Surprising as it might sound this is the message of the early account of creation and the Garden of Eden. Consider Genesis 2:16-17-- And יהוה (Yahweh) Elohim commanded the man, saying, “Eat of every tree of the garden, Gen 2:17 but do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it you shall certainly die.” The promise of the death penalty for sin was revealed loud and clear. But Satan lied to Eve: Gen 3:1 And the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which יהוה Elohim had made, and he said to the woman, “Is it true that Elohim has said, ‘Do not eat of every tree of the garden’?” Gen 3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We are to eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, Gen 3:3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, Elohim has said, ‘Do not eat of it, nor touch it, lest you die.’ ” Gen 3:4 And the serpent said to the woman, “You shall certainly not die. Unfortunately, the vast majority—even of Christianity—has accepted the lie that sin does not bring about death. Many, rather, accept that those in their sins live forever, only in a different place or condition. But the scriptures tell us that the soul that sins, it shall die. This is where the ultimate sacrifice of Our Savior and His grace come into play. But for those who are unrepentant, they remain in their sins and reap the penalty of the second and final death. As for Satan (and his participants), Gen 3:14 And יהוה Elohim said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all livestock and more than every beast of the field. On your belly you are to go, and eat dust all the days of your life. Gen 3:15 “And I put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed. He shall crush your head, and you shall crush His heel.” This passage is a prophecy that Satan would be responsible for bruising (crushing) the heel of Messiah. This is in reference to the physical death of the Savior of mankind by crucifixion. Scriptures reveal that Satan Himself entered into Judas Iscariot at the time of the arrest and crucifixion of Messiah. This minor injury referred to as bruising the heel speaks of the first death. However, it is prophesied that Messiah would bruise (crush) the HEAD of Satan. This obviously represents a mortal blow and a fatal wound, which is the Second Death from which there is no resurrection. Part of the problem is that many have not understood and appreciated the passages concerning the coming of the Heavenly Jerusalem, the new heaven and the new earth. From the Book of Hebrews we find that Abraham, the father of the faithful, looked even past the Kingdom period referred to as the thousand years, and looked for the city to come, the New Jerusalem—when the plan for mankind in this physical condition will be past and all will again be spirit. In the universe that Messiah will then turn back over to the Father who will ultimately inhabit and rule, there will be no place for sin and no realm for sinners. Consider how revolting it would be to think that after all Satan and the demons and unrepentant mankind have done, that when all is said and done, they would still be allowed to exist in some other state of being or part of the universe, where they would continue to rant out their venomous raging against the Father, His Son, and all His children—now composed of spirit. Please consider that the Father will not tolerate sin. In this world to come He will not permit sin to defile Himself or any part of His creation. All sin and unrepentant sinners will cease to exist. Period.
|
