A STUDY OF 10 BIBLICAL PROOFS OF CONSCIOUS
RESURRECTION OF THE UNSAVED
Updated - 11/3/10
There
are a lot of verses that indicate that the unsaved that have previously died
from this world, whose bodies are presently sleeping in the dust, must awake to
consciousness to experience affliction.
Here
are 10 groups of passages or proofs that show that the unsaved who have
previously died from this world, whose bodies are presently sleeping in the
dust, must “awake” to consciousness. Additional studies have been prepared that
show more proofs of this truth.
The
eternal character of the suffering for sin is examined in another study. There
are more proofs of the conscious “awaking” of the unsaved than the eternal
character of suffering.
1. Daniel 12:2 and 2 Kings 4:31 along with the help
of other verses declare that the unsaved saved must “awake” to consciousness in
their bodies at judgment day.
We
read in Daniel 12:2:
And many of them that sleep in the dust of
the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt.
Daniel
12:2 says that both the saved and unsaved will “awake” in their bodies. The
question is does this word “awake” require that the person “awakes” to
consciousness or does an unconscious corpse or dry bones meet the definition of
this word “awake”?
The
Bible says that when we die from this world, that our body also falls “asleep”.
That language is used to describe both
the saved and the unsaved. Here are some example verses:
For
the saved:
1
Kings 2:10 So David slept with his
fathers, and was buried in the city of
1
Kings 11:21 And when Hadad heard in
Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host
was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own
country.
Acts
7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with
a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said
this, he fell asleep.
1
Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ
risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
For
the unsaved:
1
Kings 14:20 And the days which Jeroboam
reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and
Nadab his son reigned in his stead.
1
Kings 16:6 So Baasha slept with his
fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.
1
Kings 16:28 So Omri slept with his
fathers, and was buried in
2
Kings 10:35 And Jehu slept with his
fathers: and they buried him in
2
Kings 14:29 And Jeroboam slept with his
fathers, even with the kings of
2
Kings 15:22 And Menahem slept with his
fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.
The
body falls asleep in that there is no consciousness in the body and it begins
to decay.
Daniel
12:2 God says that both the saved and the unsaved will “awake” in their bodies.
It is the body that sleeps in the dust. The opposite of falling asleep is to
awake. By this parallel language of “sleeping” and “awaking”, that is used for
both the saved and the unsaved, we are directed to understand that “awaking”
means a return to consciousness in the body.
Here
are some verses with this same Hebrew word translated “awake” in Daniel 12:2:
Psalms
3:5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked <06974>; for the LORD sustained me.
Psalms
17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face
in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake <06974>, with thy likeness.
Psalms
35:23 Stir up thyself, and awake <06974> to my judgment, even unto
my cause, my God and my Lord.
Psalms
44:23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord?
arise <06974>, cast us not
off for ever.
Psalms
139:18 If I should count them,
they are more in number than the sand: when I awake <06974>,
I am still with thee.
Isaiah
26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together
with my dead body shall they arise. Awake <06974>
and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and
the earth shall cast out the dead.
Isaiah
29:8 It shall even be as when an hungry man
dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh <06974>,
and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh;
but he awaketh <06974>, and,
behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude
of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.
Joel
1:5 Awake <06974>,
ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new
wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.
In
all of the above verses, the one “awaking”
is coming to greater consciousness. This Hebrew word is never used to refer to
an inanimate object “awaking”
without consciousness. In fact Habakkuk 2:19 we read:
Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake <06974>; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is
laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the
midst of it.
God
is using this same Hebrew word translated “awake”
in Daniel 12:2 to give the command that we are not to say to an
inanimate object, like wood, to “awake”. That is because this Hebrew word is
always used to refer to someone “awaking” to consciousness. In Habakkuk 2:19
God is specifically saying that we should not think that an inanimate object,
like wood or bones, can fulfill the prophecy of Daniel 12:2 that says that both
the saved and the unsaved must “awake” in their bodies.
God defines words by how He uses them in
the Bible. This Hebrew word translated “awake” in Daniel 12:2 is never used to
describe an inanimate object “awaking” without consciousness. Therefore, God is
showing that this Hebrew word signifies an “awaking” to consciousness.
Since
the Bible defines the failure of the body and loss of conscious in it as the
body “sleeping”, we are further directed to understand the “awaking” of the
body as the return of consciousness to the body.
Also,
because Daniel 12:2 is written to indicate that the bodies of both the saved
and the unsaved will “awake”, and we
know that the saved are awakened to consciousness in their bodies, so we are
further directed to understand that the “awaking”
of Daniel 12:2 refers to a return to consciousness in the body for both the
saved and the unsaved.
However, is there
any clear indication that this Hebrew word “awake” signifies consciousness in
the body or can unconscious bones be “awake”?
Actually,
there is.
In
2 Kings 4:31 God gives a very important verse that uses this same Hebrew word translated
“awake” and defines that an
unconscious corpse is not awake. This is very important because it is
taught that the unsaved will “awake”
as unconscious corpses or unconscious bones.
But,
2 Kings 4:31 says that this is not possible. God’s definition of this Hebrew
word “awake” will not allow for an unconscious corpse to be called “awake”.
We
read in 2 Kings 4:31:
And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff
upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing.
Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not
awaked.
2
Kings 4 has the account of a boy that was born to a family. This boy became
sick and died. His corpse was put in a room and then later he is resurrected by
Elisha. In verse 31 the body of the boy is still sleeping in the dust, to use
the Biblical language. There is no consciousness in his body. The body of this
boy in 2 Kings 4 will be resurrected later on in the chapter. In verse 31 God,
speaking through Gehazi, declares that this boy is “not awaked”, using
the same Hebrew word translated “awake”
in Daniel 12:2. This is a very important statement. God is using this situation
to give definition for this Hebrew word translated “awake” in Daniel 12:2. God put those words in Gehazi’s mouth. In
verse 31, God is indicating that an unconscious corpse is not “awake”.
1
Corinthians 2:13 declares that God defines words by how He uses them in the
Bible. In 2 Kings 4:31 God is defining that an unconscious corpse is not
“awake.” Therefore, when Daniel 12:2 says that the unsaved also will “awake”,
they cannot remain as unconscious corpses.
This
is the same word “awake” that is used in Daniel 12:2, to speak of both the
saved and unsaved “awaking” at the end of the world. Therefore, when the graves
open at the Rapture, unconscious corpses or bodies do not count for being
“awake”. This is God’s definition. God says that both the believers and the
unbelievers will “awake” in their bodies. That is, they must awake to
consciousness. They will not remain as an unconscious corpse or bones, because
2 Kings 4:31 declares that an unconscious corpse is not “awake”.
2
Kings 4:31 provides definition for the word “awake” in Daniel 12:2 and
indicates that an unconscious corpse is not “awake”. Therefore, the
bodies of the unsaved must awake to consciousness in order to fulfill the
statement in Daniel 12:2 that says that they will “awake”.
Why does God uses
the word “awake” and not “life” in Daniel 12:2?
We
can understand why God uses the word “awake” and not “life” in Daniel 12:2. We normally
think of “life” as conscious existence. However, God says that He is “life”
(John 11:25, 14:6), and that “life” for mankind has to do with his relationship
to God, who is “life” (1 John 5:12). Please click on the link before for a
detailed study of the Biblical definition of “life” and “death” for mankind.
In
this study we learn that there are many verses in which God defines that “life”
for mankind does not have to do with conscious existence. Rather, God
defines that “life” for mankind has to do with his relationship with God, who
is life. By using the word “awake”, God, with the help of 2 Kings 4:31, is
defining that the unsaved awake to consciousness, but they are completely
separated from God, who is “life”.
“but there was neither voice, nor hearing.”
In
2 Kings 4:31 we read this important phrase “but there was neither
voice, nor hearing.” describing the unconscious corpse of this boy. Through
this phrase God is giving more information about an unconscious corpse.
We
remember that God wrote every word in the Bible and has put all of this
information into the Bible to teach us.
Notice
that 2 Kings 4:31 says that an unconscious corpse does not hear nor
speak (voice). We can understand that an unconscious body cannot speak (no
voice). However, it is being taught that an unconscious corpse or dry bones can
“hear” the word of God, even though it is unconscious. We read in John 5:28-29:
28 Marvel not at this: for
the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his
voice,
29 And shall come forth;
they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have
done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
It
is being taught that an unconscious corpse or bones or dust can “hear” the
voice of God as indicated in John 5:28-29.
However,
in 2 Kings 4:31 God declares that an unconscious corpse has “no hearing”.
We must remember that God put these words into 2 Kings 4:31. Therefore, 2 Kings
4:31 is telling us that an unconscious corpse does not “hear” as
required by John 5:28-29.
Some
people argue that the “bones” of Ezekiel 37:4 can hear. We read in that verse:
Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and
say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
It
is said that we can understand Ezekiel 37:4 in a literal way and that this
verse is teaching that literal dry bones can “hear” the word of God.
However,
we have to read everything that God says about those “bones” in Ezekiel 37. We
cannot isolate one verse from it’s context.
We
read in verse 11:
Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the
whole house of
In
verse 11 God is talking about those same “bones” that He was talking about in
verse 4.
In
verse 11 God gives more information about those dry bones. These bones can
talk. Notice these bones say “Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we
are cut off for our parts.”.
These
bones of Ezekiel 37 talk. They can also experience conscious affliction. In
verse 11 they are complaining about the awful condition.
Therefore,
the bones of Ezekiel 37 cannot be literal dry bones. They are unsaved people
that hear, talk and experience affliction. They have consciousness.
However,
if someone wants to insist that the unsaved are resurrected as literal dry
bones that can hear because of Ezekiel 37:4. Then, according to Ezekiel 37:11 they
will also be able to speak and to experience the afflictions of the lake of
fire. That is, they will have consciousness.
We
have to admit that the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-11 can hear, speak and
experience affliction. That is, those dry bones have consciousness. In reality
Ezekiel 37:1-11 is a parable and the dry bones can only represent unsaved
people becoming saved.
Therefore,
God has given two proofs of the conscious awaking of the unsaved at Judgment
Day with the help of 2 Kings 4:31.
God has carefully
crafted the language of 2 Kings 4:31 to give us two proofs the unsaved must be
resurrected to consciousness.
A.
According to 2 Kings 4:31 an unconscious corpse does not meet the
criteria of being “awake” in Daniel
12:2
B.
According to 2 Kings 4:31 an unconscious corpse does not meet the
criteria of “hearing” in John
5:28-29.
The
“bones” of Ezekiel 37:1-11 can hear, speak and experience affliction. They are
unsaved people with consciousness.
“falling
asleep”
What
about the fact that when people (both believers and unbelievers) die from this
world there is no consciousness in their bodies? Doesn’t that prove that “death
= cessation of existence” for unbelievers?
A
key point is that when man dies a second time, the Bible indicates that his
body also “sleeps”. This is a very important point. We confuse these two terms
“death” and “sleep”, thinking that they are describing the same thing. However,
they do not.
The
second time that man dies occurs at the same time that his body sleeps in the
dust of the earth. This is because when his body fails, unsaved man is no
longer in God. He no longer moves in God as prescribed in Acts 17:27-28. He is
further separated from God, who is life. Please see the study on the Biblical definition
death for mankind for more explanation:
Because
the second time unsaved man dies is simultaneous with his body failing and
sleeping in the dust, we identify “death” in our minds with the body sleeping
(the corpse), but this is not accurate. Adam died, both in body and soul, the
day he sinned. He was separated from God, both in body and soul. (It was not
yet a complete separation). But, his body did not “sleep” in the dust that day.
He was still conscious in his body.
Adam had died, both in body and soul, the
day he sinned, but his body had not yet fallen asleep. He was still conscious
in his body.
Then,
at 930 years of age, he died a second time. If he died unsaved, then he died a
second time in body and soul, which was a complete separation. At the same
time, his body fell asleep. There was no consciousness in his body. It returned
to the dust.
The second time
man dies is simultaneous with his body sleeping in the dust. This is so because
while unsaved man is in this world, he is in God and moves in God and in that
sense he lives because God is life.
We
see this in Acts 17:27-28. We read there:
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they
might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our
being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his
offspring.
While
man is in this world, he is not completely separated from God. He is “in him” or “in God” and he “moves”
in God and has his “being” in God.
Unsaved man in this world is still “in God” and in that sense, he “lives”
because God is life (John 11:25, 14:6).
But,
once his body fails, he is no longer in God. He no longer moves in God. Corpses
do not move. He dies a second time, because he is further separated from God,
who is life Himself. So, when his body fails, he dies a second time, both in
body and soul. This is explained in great detail in the study whose link is
given above.
Let’s
go back to Daniel 12:2 where God talks about the bodies of both the believers
and the unbelievers “sleeping” and “awaking”.
We
read in Daniel 12:2 that both the believers and unbelievers whose bodies
“sleep” in the dust will “awake” at the end of the world. This verse is talking
about the bodies because it talks about dust from which our bodies are made and
to which they return.
This
really means that the body temporarily does not have consciousness. It is very
parallel to when we go to sleep at night. We are not conscious for several
hours. When a believer dies from this world his soul goes to heaven, but there
is no consciousness in his body. His body sleeps in the dust. It returns to the
dust. There is no consciousness in his body until his body “awakes” at the last
day. Effectively the body is sleeping in the dust. The body of the unbeliever
also “sleeps” in the dust meaning so that there is no consciousness in his body
either. However, his body will “awake” to consciousness at the last day.
Daniel
12:2 says that both groups, the believers and the unbelievers, will “awake” at
the end of the world. They “awake” from what? They “awake” from being “asleep”.
We read in Daniel 12:2:
And many of them that sleep in the dust of
the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt.
Both
the believers and the unbelievers fell asleep in their bodies upon death from
this world. That is, there was no consciousness in their bodies.
But,
at the end of the world, both the believers and the unbelievers will “awake” in
their bodies. For the believers, they were in heaven in their soul essence, but
their bodies were asleep in the dust like the bodies of the unbelievers. At the
end of the world, for both the believers and the unbelievers, their bodies will
no longer be “sleeping” in the dust. That is, there will be consciousness again
in their bodies.
God
gives clear confirmation in 2 Kings 4:31 that this word “awake” in Daniel 12:2
means to awake to consciousness.
The
awaking to consciousness is confirmed when we learn from 2 Kings 4:31 that an
unconscious corpse is not “awake”. Through these passages, God is
clearly defining that this word “awake” requires consciousness.
Verses
with this Hebrew word translated “awake” have been offered to try to refute the
teaching that the unsaved will “awake” to consciousness in their bodies along
with the saved at the end of the world.
We
will now look at those verses. We read in
Job 14:12:
So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be
no more, they shall not awake <06974>,
nor be raised out of their sleep.
This
verse is offered to prove that the unsaved do not awake to consciousness at the
end of the world. Job 14:12 has the same Hebrew word translated “awake”
as we find in Daniel 12:2.
It
is argued that Job 14:12 teaches that the unsaved will not “awake” at the end
of the world. However, Job 14:12 can be read two ways.
It
can be read that the unsaved will not awake and even at the end of the world,
they will not awake.
OR:
It
can be read that the unsaved will not awake until the end of the world, “till
the heavens be no more”. At which point, they will awake.
It
is possible to read Job 14:12 either way of the above ways.
However,
if we study Job 14:12 more closely, we find that God has written this verse in
such a way that we can know which is the Biblical way to read this verse.
To
download the Hebrew font used in this study, right click the link below. Select
‘Save Target as’, then use the Control Panel in Windows to install the font.
Let
us examine the phrase “till the heavens be no more” in Job 14:12. The phrase “till … no more” is the Hebrew word “ytlb-de”
We
see this Hebrew word in Job 14:12. The English and Hebrew texts are shown
below:
Job 14:12
So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no
more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
Mtnsm wrey-alw wuyqy al Myms ytlb-de Mwqy-alw bks syaw Job 14:12
God uses this same Hebrew word in several
other verses. Here are some examples:
Deuteronomy 3:3 So the LORD our God delivered into our hands
Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none
was left to him remaining.
dyrv wl-ryash ytlb-de whknw wme-lk-taw Nsbh-Klm gwe-ta Mg
wndyb wnyhla hwhy Ntyw Deuteronomy 3:3
Deuteronomy 3:3 describes the conquest of the
kingdoms of Og and
Once all of the people of those two nations
had been destroyed, did
No. Once all of the people were destroyed,
In Deuteronomy 3:3, God is using this same
Hebrew word translated as “till … no more” to refer to something that has an end point. It does
not continue indefinitely.
Here are two more verses with this same
Hebrew word:
Joshua 10:33
Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him
and his people, until he had left him none remaining.
dyrv wl-ryash ytlb-de wme-taw eswhy whkyw sykl-ta rzel rzg
Klm Mrh hle za Joshua 10:33
Joshua 11:8
And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and
chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of
Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none
remaining.
dyrv Mhl-ryash ytlb-de Mkyw hxrzm hpum teqb-dew Mym twprvm
dew hbr Nwdyu-de Mwpdryw Mwkyw larvy-dyb hwhy Mntyw Joshua 11:8
In these two verses, and in all verses with
this same Hebrew word, it refers to something that does come to an end. Once a
nation was destroyed,
With this understanding, let’s look again at
Job 14:12:
So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be
no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
From the above verses, God provides direction
as to how we are to understand the Hebrew word translated “till … no more” in the sentence “till the heavens be no more, they shall not
awake”. This phrase in Job 14:12 is saying of the unsaved whose bodies are
sleeping in the dust, that presently “they shall not awake”. At this time, those bodies sleeping in the
dust, those corpses “shall not awake”.
But, when “the heavens be no more”, when we come to the end of the world, then
the statement that the unsaved “shall
not awake” will come to an end. That is, the unsaved shall awake.
God defines words by how He uses them. The
Hebrew word translated “till …
no more” is always used in other verses to speak of something that finally comes
to an end. So, this statement “till
the heavens be no more, they shall not awake” teaches that when “the heavens be no more”, the condition “they shall not awake” comes to an end: That is, the
unsaved shall awake. We saw above that this Hebrew word “awake”
signifies an awaking to consciousness.
So, when we study Job 14:12 carefully,
comparing Scripture with Scripture, we actually find that it confirms the
statement of Daniel 12:2 that the bodies of the unsaved will awake to
consciousness. However, Job 14:12 provides the important additional information
that the bodies of the unsaved will awake after this universe has passed
away.
We
read two more verses with this same Hebrew word “awake”:
Jeremiah
51:39 In their heat I will make their
feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a
perpetual sleep, and not wake <06974>,
saith the LORD.
Jeremiah
51:57 And I will make drunk her princes,
and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and
they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake <06974>,
saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
These
two verses talk about the unsaved. They say that God will make the unsaved sleep
a perpetual sleep and that they will not awake.
It
said that these two verses somehow cancel out Daniel 12:2 and therefore the
unsaved will not “awake”.
However,
we must remember that every verse in the Bible is true. Also, we don’t
establish truth by “verse voting”. That is, we have two verses that vote that
the unsaved will not awake, and we have one verse that votes that the unsaved
will awake. Therefore, by majority rule, we conclude that the unsaved will not
awake.
This
is not valid reasoning. Every verse in the Bible is true and we do not
determine truth from the Bible by comparing the number of verses that appear to
teach one truth with the number of verses that appear to teach another
conflicting truth. Then select the truth apparently taught by the most number
of verses as the real truth. The whole Bible teaches one truth. We have to
harmonize all verses.
To
harmonize these and other verses we must understand that God uses the word
“sleep” in different ways.
God
uses the word “sleep” in different ways
As
we study the Bible, we learn that God uses the word “sleep” in more than one
way. For example we read in Isaiah 29:10-12:
10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the
spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers,
the seers hath he covered.
11 And the vision of all is become unto you as
the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is
learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is
sealed:
12 And the book is delivered to him that is not
learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
God
is declaring here that He is blinding the eyes of the false prophets so that
they cannot understand what God is teaching in the Bible. God says that He has
closed their eyes. That is, He has closed their minds so that they cannot
understand the Bible. This is parallel to what God says in 2 Thessalonians 2:11
where God says that He will send a “strong
delusion” that they may believe a lie.
Notice
in Isaiah 29:11, God says that the book, the Bible, is sealed. They cannot
understand it.
In
Isaiah 29:10 God calls this blocking of truth as “sleep”. They are in a “deep sleep”.
Another
way that God uses the word “sleep” is to mean that we cannot understand Bible
truth. We are not conscious of certain Bible truth, yet we still have
consciousness.
This
agrees with what we read about the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-7:
1 ¶ Then shall the kingdom of heaven be
likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the
bridegroom.
2 And
five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They
that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But
the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And
at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to
meet him.
7 Then
all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
The
5 foolish virgins represent the unsaved in the church, which are also called
the “tares”. The 5 wise virgins represent the true believers in the church,
which are also called the “wheat”.
Notice
that they all were sleeping and near the end of time they awake. This ties into
what we read in Isaiah 29:10-12. The sleeping virgins represented the church
people during the church age. During the church age, God did not open the
church people’s eyes to some truth from the Bible. But, near the end, the
virgins awake. They are no longer “sleeping”. That is, near the end, God opens
the eyes of people to more Bible truth. They become conscious of more Biblical
truth.
The
parable of the 10 virgins also uses the word “sleep” in the sense of having
one’s eyes closed to Bible truth. The ones “asleep” are not conscious of
certain Bible truths, yet they still have consciousness.
The
word “sleep” is used in a similar way in Ephesians 5:14 where we read:
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and
arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
In
Ephesians 5:14 God is talking to unsaved man and basically God is commanding
him to become saved. From the rest of the Bible, we know that finally God has
to fulfill this command in us.
God
tells unsaved man to arise from the dead. That is, he is separated from God. He
needs God, who is life, in him, so that he has life. God is life (John 11:25,
14:6). This happens to him when he becomes saved. This is explained in the
Bible study on the Biblical definition of life and death for mankind. These two
links provide help with this question:
Please see the study on the
Biblical definition of “life” and “death” for mankind.
In
Ephesians 5:14 God also commands the unsaved to awake from sleep. In this case,
sleep does not refer to an unconscious body sleeping in the dust. God is
speaking to unsaved people here in the world who are conscious.
The
word “sleep” in Ephesians 5:14
refers to the fact that the unsaved are not conscious of certain Bible truths
as indicated in Isaiah 29:10-12. They are “asleep”
to the Bible and their standing before God. God is telling unsaved man to awake
from his sleep of unconsciousness of Bible truth and his standing before God.
This happens when someone becomes saved.
So,
both commands in Ephesians 5:14 are pointing to salvation.
Isaiah
29:10-12, Matthew 25:1-7 and Ephesians 5:14 help us to understand how God is
using the word “sleep” in Jeremiah 51:39 & 57.
In
Jeremiah 51:39 & 57, God uses the word “sleep” to teach that the unsaved
will forever remain unconscious of Gospel truth. That is so because God will
never save them. However, they will be conscious, just like those “asleep” in
Isaiah 29:10-12, Matthew 25:1-7 and Ephesians 5:14 are conscious.
We
have seen that when God talks about the word “sleep” it signifies not being conscious to something, but not
necessarily having no consciousness at all. We have also seen that the word “awake” always signifies coming to an
increased level of consciousness. Here is a summary of the example verses that
we examined:
1.
Isaiah 29:10-12: The false prophets are “asleep” or are not conscious of
important Bible truths. Upon salvation, they will “awaken” or become conscious
of those Bible truths.
2.
Matthew 25:1-7: The people throughout the church age were “asleep” to certain
Bible truths that God kept hidden. They “awoke” in that they became conscious
of end-time Bible truths.
3.
Ephesians 5:14: The unsaved are “asleep” to the Gospel and their standing
before God. Upon salvation, they will “awaken” to Gospel truth.
Let
us note two important differences between Jeremiah 51:39 & 57 versus Daniel
12:2 by looking at these three verses together:
Daniel
12:2 And many of them that sleep in the
dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt.
Jeremiah
51:39 In their heat I will make their
feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual
sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah
51:57 And I will make drunk her princes,
and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and
they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is
the LORD of hosts.
We
remember from the previous discussion that when God talks about “awaking” it
means to come to increased consciousness about something. Each verse with the
word “awake” must be examined to see
from the context to what type of “awaking”
God is referring.
There
are two important differences between the language of Daniel 12:2 and that of
Jeremiah 51:39 & 57:
a.
Daniel 12:2 talks about the awaking of both the saved and the unsaved. We read
in Daniel 12:2, “some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt”. That refers to both the saved and the unsaved.
Whereas, the two verses in Jeremiah 51 talk only about the unsaved.
b.
Daniel 12:2 gives key information that points to the awaking of the bodies of
the saved and the unsaved that are sleeping in the dust. We read about them
that sleep “dust of the earth”. Both the words “dust” and “earth”
tie into this world and our bodies that come from this earth.
We
find these same two Hebrew words in these two significant verses:
Genesis 2:7
And the LORD God formed man of the dust <06083> of the ground <0127>, and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 3:19
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the
ground <0127>; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust <06083> thou art, and
unto dust <06083> shalt thou return.
Both
of these verses identify with the body of man that is made of the dust of the
earth. Particularly Genesis 3:19 talks about how man’s body will return to the
ground because his body is made of dust.
So,
with the language of “dust of the earth”, God is tying Daniel 12:2 into
the body of mankind that is sleeping in the dust of the earth. Daniel 12:2
refers to the body of man that is sleeping in the dust of the earth upon death
from this world.
Daniel
12:2 is talking about the awaking of the bodies of the just and the
unjust at the last day.
However,
we read no such language in the two Jeremiah 51 verses that identify those
verses with the body of man. Also, those verses only focus upon the unsaved.
The language of the Jeremiah 51 verses will not identify with the true
believers. So, we can know that Jeremiah 51 verses 39 and 57 are not talking
about the bodies that are sleeping in the dust of the earth.
Rather,
Jeremiah 51 verses 39 and 57 identifies with what we read in Isaiah 29:10-12,
Matthew 25:1-7 and Ephesians 5:14. These three passages talk about how upon
salvation we “awake” or become conscious of gospel truth. However, once we reach
Judgment Day, the unsaved will remain “asleep” forevermore to the Gospel truth
that God gives with salvation. We can see this if we compare Jeremiah 51 with
Isaiah 29:10-12:
Isaiah
29:10-12:
10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the
spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers,
the seers hath he covered.
11 And the vision of all is become unto you as
the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is
learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is
sealed:
12 And the book is delivered to him that is not
learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
Jeremiah
51:39 In their heat I will make their
feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a
perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.
Isaiah
29:10-12 tells us that the unsaved are presently “asleep” to the Gospel truth
that God gives with salvation. In Isaiah 29, there is still the possibility of
salvation.
However,
Jeremiah 51:39 talks about Judgment Day at which point there will be no more
possibility of salvation. The unsaved will remain in the state described in
Isaiah 29:10-12 forevermore. They will never “awake” to salvation as described
in Ephesians 5:14.
The
unsaved will be conscious, like they are today, but they will remain “asleep”
to the Gospel truth that comes with salvation.
We
have developed a study that looks more closely at Jeremiah 51 verses 39 &
57, which have the words “sleep” and
“wake”, and how those verses relate
to Daniel 12:2. Please click on the link below to see that study:
THE
UNSAVED SLEEP A PERPETUAL SLEEP AND NOT WAKE
Summary on the
word “awake”
Daniel
12:2 declares that both the saved and unsaved will “awake”. We know that this is talking about the resurrection of the
bodies on the last day because it talks about sleeping in the “dust of the
earth”. It is the bodies of men that are sleeping in the “dust of the
earth”. Also, Daniel 12:2 is parallel to John 5:28-29 and Acts 24:15 that
are talking about the resurrection of the just and the unjust. Therefore, we
can know that Daniel 12:2 is talking about the awaking of the just and the
unjust at the end of the world.
When
properly examined, no other verse with this Hebrew word translated “awake” contradicts the teaching that
the bodies of both the just and the unjust will “awake” to consciousness at the end of the world.
More
importantly, 2 Kings 4:31 God defines this word “awake” so that an unconscious
corpse is not awake. Therefore, following the Bible, we know that the saved and
the unsaved will “awake” to conscious existence in their bodies at the end of
the world.
God
has given us a clear proof in 2 Kings 4:31 and Daniel 12:2 that the unsaved
will awake to consciousness at the end of the world.
2. Revelation 14:9-10 declares that the unsaved must
endure conscious affliction because of their sins.
We
read in Revelation 14:9-10:
9 And the third angel
followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his
image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of
the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup
of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the
presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Let’s
examine the criteria of verse 9 to understand to whom this verse refers. The Greek
word translated “image” is used back
in Romans 1 to talk about the making of idols which has been a common practice
of unsaved mankind throughout the history of the world. We read in Romans 1:23:
And changed the glory
of the uncorruptible God into an image <1504> made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and
fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Throughout
history unsaved mankind has made “images” of the gods that he serves and
ultimately any god other than the true God of the Bible points back to satan.
The
word “beast” is another name for satan. We see the word “beast” in verse 9.
People tie that into Revelation 13 that talks about a “beast” coming out of the sea in verse 1 and
a “beast” coming out of the earth in verse 11. Revelation 13 is talking about
the Great Tribulation and so people identify the term “beast” as a name for satan
only during the Great Tribulation. However, we must read everything that
God says about the “beast”. We read about the same “beast” in Revelation
17:3-6:
3
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a
woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having
seven heads and ten horns.
4
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with
gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of
abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE
GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6
And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the
blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great
admiration.
We
see the “beast” in verse 3 and that it carries a woman. A careful study of this
woman, and her title “MYSTERY, BABYLON
THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH”, shows that
she represents the unsaved people in the churches, which are also called “tares”
in Matthew 13:25.
We
know that this “beast” represents satan and we read more about this “beast” in
Revelation 17:8:
The beast
that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit,
and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose
names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world,
when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
The
phrase “bottomless pit” refers to
the fact that satan was bound at the cross. So the statement that the beast “shall ascend out of the bottomless pit”
refers to the loosing of satan at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Therefore,
the previous phrase “The beast that thou
sawest was, and is not;” means that that satan “was” in the past referred to as the “beast”. That would refer to time before the Great Tribulation period.
The
phrase “is not” does not mean that
the beast, who is satan, ceased to exist somehow. Rather, during the church
age, satan “is not” in the strong
position of authority because he has been bound (Matthew 12:29, Revelation
20:1-3).
So,
in this phrase “The beast that thou
sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit,” God gives
a little chronology of satan, who is called the “beast”. He “was” ruling
with great authority over mankind during the Old Testament. Then, during the
Church Age, he “is not” with the
same authority that he had in the Old Testament because he is bound. But, he “shall ascend out of the bottomless pit”
at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Therefore, this statement of
Revelation 17:8 establishes the term “beast”
as a title for satan in both the Old and New Testaments.
The term “beast” as a title for satan is
not limited to just the Great Tribulation. God uses this title for satan in
Revelation 17 to point to his authority before the Great Tribulation.
We
read back in Revelation 17:3 that the “beast” had “ten horns”. God gives more explanation concerning these “ten horns” in verse 12:
And the ten
horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet;
but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
God
talks about “ten kings” that have
not yet received their kingdom, but will receive power or authority as kings
for “one hour”. The “one hour” refers to the Great
Tribulation when satan (called “the beast”) will reign with great authority. We
see the term “one hour” used to refer
to the Great Tribulation in these verses:
Revelation 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give
glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made
heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Revelation 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal,
there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
The
phrase “about the space of half an hour”
refers to the first part of the Great Tribulation in which almost no one was
saved.
So,
Revelation 17:12 teaches that the word picture of the woman upon the “beast” in
verses 3-6 refer to a time when the ten kings have “received no kingdom as yet” with the beast. This is the time of the
church age, before the Great Tribulation started, before the time that
the 10 horns, along with the beast or satan, will receive their “kingdom” in the sense that they will
rule in all of the churches.
Revelation 17:12 shows that verses 3-6
describe satan as a “beast” carrying the woman during the church age before
the Great Tribulation. This is further confirmation that the title “beast” is also
used to describe satan before the Great Tribulation.
Let’s
continue our examination of the criteria of Revelation 14:9. This verse talks
about those that “worship the beast”
or worship satan. Here are a few verses that teach that the unsaved throughout
time have “worshipped satan”:
Exodus 32:8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way
which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and
have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which
have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
The Jews in the wilderness worshipped the molten calf, an idol. Finally,
any god other than the true God of the Bible, points to satan. Worshipping
idols is effectively worshipping satan.
1 Kings 11:33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have
worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the
Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in
my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my
statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
1 Kings 22:53 For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and
provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had
done.
2 Kings 21:3 For he built up again the high places which
Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a
grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served
them.
Jeremiah 16:11 Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your
fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and
have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not
kept my law;
Jeremiah 44:19 And when we burned incense to the queen of
heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to
worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?
Acts 7:43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and
the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship <4352> them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
These are verses in which God talks about the worshipping of false gods.
The people worshipped Ashtoreth, Baal, the queen of heaven, Moloch, Remphan and
other false gods. Worshipping these false gods is finally worshipping satan.
The unsaved throughout time have
worshipped satan who is also called the “beast”.
In
Revelation 14:9, God also declares that the unsaved have satan’s “mark in his forehead, or in his hand”.
The “mark” points to the fact that
the unsaved are owned by satan in both their thinking, “forehead”, and their will, “hand”.
We
read about the true believers being owned by God in Revelation 14:1:
And I
looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and
four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
The
true believers have the mark of their heavenly Father in their “foreheads” in the sense that His Name
is written there. This indicates that God owns the thinking of the true
believers. In the same way, satan owns the thinking of the unsaved.
Let
us compare the criteria of Revelation 14:9 to that of Revelation 20:4:
Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying
with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his
mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them,
and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were
beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not
worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark
upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ
a thousand years.
Revelation
20:4 gives the criteria that describes the true believers throughout time.
Notice how this criteria, “which had not
worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark
upon their foreheads, or in their hands”, is the opposite of the criteria
that God gives in Revelation 14:9. The criteria of Revelation 20:4 applies to
all of the true believers throughout time. Revelation 14:9 gives the opposite
criteria so therefore, it is describing all of the unsaved throughout time.
So, when we examine the criteria of
Revelation 14:9 phrase by phrase we learn that it applies to all of the unsaved
throughout time.
Someone
might insist that Revelation 14:9 is only talking about people who lived during
the Great Tribulation because the setting of verses 6 through 8 is the Great
Tribulation.
The
reason that verses 9 to 11 are set in this context is because it is after the
Great Tribulation, at the end of the world, that the unsaved are cast into the
Lake of Fire. Revelation 14:10-11 is describing the Lake of Fire and the
unsaved are cast into the Lake of Fire after the Great Tribulation.
However, let’s assume
for argument sake that the criteria of Revelation 14:9 only applies to the
unsaved living during the Great Tribulation.
According
to the time line of history, the Great Tribulation will last for 23 years. Each
week about 1,000,000 people die from this world. Let’s consider only the church
people. They make up about 1/3 of the population of the world, so that each
week more than 300,000 church people die from this world, many of whom never
became saved. No one can deny that Revelation 14:9 applies to unsaved church
people during the Great Tribulation.
During
the 23 year Great Tribulation period more than 300,000,000 or 300 million
church people will die from this world. Many of whom never became saved.
Revelation 14:9-10 certainly applies to them.
Even
if someone wants to insist that Revelation 14:9 only applies to the unsaved
church people during the Great Tribulation, more than 300,000,000 of them will
have died from this world during this 23 year period. Many of these people
never became saved. In order to fulfill the criteria of Revelation 14:9 the
unsaved among those 300,000,000 must awake to consciousness to experience that
promised affliction in Revelation 14:9-11.
Even if someone insists that Revelation
14:9 only applies to the unsaved during the Great Tribulation, there are hundreds
of millions of unsaved people who have already died from this world during the
Great Tribulation. They must awake to consciousness to experience the promised
affliction of Revelation 14:10-11.
God gives further proof that Revelation 14:9 is
speaking about all of the unsaved throughout time.
We
learn from Psalm 75:8 that all of the unsaved shall drink of the wine of the
wrath of God; because they are all under the wrath of God. We read there:
For in the hand of the LORD there is
a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the
same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them
out, and drink them.
Psalm
75:8 declares that “all the wicked”, which
is all of the unsaved throughout time, will drink the cup of God’s wrath.
Revelation 14:10 connects the drinking of the cup of God’s wrath with being
“tormented”. This family of words for “torment” is always used for conscious
experience. Psalm 75:8 indicates that all of the unsaved, including those that
have previously died from this world, must experience the cup of God’s wrath,
which includes being tormented according to Revelation 14:10. To be tormented
requires conscious existence.
Psalm
11:6 provides more information on this subject. Psalm 11:1-2 confirm that this
Psalm is speaking about all of the unsaved throughout time, including those in
the days of King David. We read there:
1 ¶ <<To the chief Musician, A
Psalm of David.>> In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul,
Flee as a bird to your mountain?
2
For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow
upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
Verses
1-2 talk about the difficulty that David suffered because of the unsaved in his
days, about 3,000 years ago. They also apply to all of the unsaved throughout
time. Psalm 11 is talking about God’s relationship to all of the saved and the
unsaved throughout time.
We
read in Psalm 11:6:
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire
and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of
their cup.
Psalm
11:6 is an important tie into Revelation 14:10. Psalm 11:6 describes the nature
of the cup of God’s wrath. Psalm 75:8 says that all of the unsaved that have ever
lived must drink the cup of God’s wrath and Psalm 11:6 gives more information
about this cup. According to Psalm 11:6 their cup includes “fire and brimstone”. With Psalm 11:6
alone, we would not know if this “fire
and brimstone” was just the burning up of the corpses of the unsaved.
However, Revelation 14:10 says that the cup of God’s wrath includes the
tormenting by “fire and brimstone”.
This word “tormenting” is always used for conscious experience.
Revelation
14:10 is a commentary that defines the nature of the “fire and brimstone” that the unsaved must experience as part of the
cup of God’s wrath. Together, these verses teach that all of the unsaved must
be tormented, a conscious experience, by God, who is a consuming fire.
So,
Revelation 14:9-10 with the help of Psalm 75:8 and Psalm 11:6 shows that all of
the unsaved, including those that have previously died, will experience
conscious suffering.
Therefore,
the unsaved that have previously died from this world must awake to
consciousness to experience this promised affliction.
Revelation 20:15 shows that the criteria of
Revelation 14:9 includes all of the unsaved throughout time.
Revelation
20:15 explains that the criteria of Revelation 14:9 includes all that are not
found in the book of life. That is, all of the unsaved throughout time. We read
in Revelation 20:15:
And whosoever was not found written in the
book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Those
not found in the book of life include all of the unsaved throughout time, going
all the way back to Cain. God clearly says that all of the unsaved throughout
time must be cast into the lake of fire. God is talking about the lake of fire
in Revelation 14:10 and Revelation 20:10.
When
we factor in the statement of Revelation 20:15 that “whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire.” and that the lake of fire includes torment (a
conscious experience), then we can see that the Bible declares that all of the
unsaved who have previously died must awake to consciousness to experience this
suffering.
They
will “awake”. But, they will be completely separated from God, who is “life”,
as explained in the studies of the Biblical definition of “life” and “death”
for mankind. The link for two studies are given below:
THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF
“LIFE” & “DEATH” FOR MANKIND
“whosoever was not found written in the book of life”
= all of the unsaved throughout time
Revelation
14:10 is describing the lake of fire because it talks about being tormented
with fire, using parallel language to Revelation 20:10. Revelation 20:15 says
that whosoever was not found in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire. Those not found in the book of life are all of the unsaved throughout
time. They all must be cast into the lake of fire according to Revelation
20:15. This ties back to the criteria of Revelation 14:9. The criteria of
Revelation 14:9 includes all of the unsaved throughout time. Sadly, they all
must suffer torment, a conscious affliction. This requires that the unsaved who
have previously died from this world awake to consciousness to experience this
torment.
Someone
might say that the torment of Revelation 14:10 and 20:10 is just the
difficulties of this world. However, Job 21:7-15, Psalm 73 and Luke 16:19-31 teach
that the unsaved can pass their sojourn in this world without any noteworthy affliction
and die from this world peacefully. Therefore, the torment, or conscious
affliction, promised by Revelation 14:10, 20:10 and other verses must be on the
other side of the grave.
two important
facts about the lake of fire.
1.
The lake of fire is not the fire of 2 Peter 3:10 that melts the elements. That
is because you cannot be tormented “day and night” in a physical fire
(Revelation 14:10-11, 20:10). Those thrown into physical fire quickly go
unconscious in a few seconds or minutes. They are not tormented “day and
night”. They are only tormented a few minutes or seconds.
2.
The lake of fire includes torment (a conscious affliction), so those thrown in
the lake of fire must be conscious. The definition of the lake of fire is to be
“tormented day and night …” (Revelation 20:10) or to be “tormented with fire
and brimstone …” (Revelation 14:10). This family of words for “torment” always
indicates conscious experience. Someone’s bones cannot be tormented according
to how the Bible defines this family of words. Therefore whosoever is subject
to the lake of fire must be conscious to fulfill it. It is necessary that they
awake to consciousness to fulfill these verses (Daniel 12:2).
There
is more information about the lake of fire in the study at the following link:
COULD THE LAKE OF FIRE
BE A VOLCANO?
As
mentioned, Revelation 20:15 says that whosoever was not found in the book of
life was cast into the lake of fire. That includes all of the unsaved
throughout time. All of the unsaved throughout time must awake to consciousness
because Revelation 14:10 & 20:10 indicate that torment, which is conscious
affliction, is a required part of the lake of fire.
To
say it another way:
Those
cast into the lake of fire must be conscious because the definition of the lake
of fire is to be “tormented day and night …” or “tormented with fire …” . These
verses cannot be fulfilled unless those thrown into the lake of fire have
conscious existence.
According
to Revelation 14:10, 20:10 & 15, all of the unsaved that have lived
throughout time must be experience conscious affliction as punishment for sin.
Job 21:7-15, Psalm 73, Luke 16:19-31 and other passages indicate that the
unsaved can pass their sojourn in this world and die from this world without
affliction. Therefore, the affliction must be on the other side of the grave.
That matches the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. They must awake to
consciousness to experience this affliction.
For example, Cain
also must also be cast into the lake of fire
The
Bible is pretty clear that Cain never became saved.
Cain,
like all those that have previously died from this world unsaved, are included
among those “not found written in the book of life”.
The Bible doesn’t say that the remains of Cain will be cast into the lake of
fire. The Bible says “whosoever … ” referring to the people themselves.
Therefore,
Revelation 20:15 indicates that Cain is included in those that must be cast
into the lake of fire. The definition of the lake of fire is to be “tormented with fire and brimstone” (Revelation
14:10) or “tormented day and night” (Revelation 20:10).
As
a result, Cain must also experience “torment”, which is always used to indicate
conscious affliction. This requires that Cain “awake” in his body to conscious
existence to experience this “torment”. The Bible says, he will “awake” to
consciousness. This word “torment” is only used to describe conscious
affliction of some kind.
3. Deuteronomy 28:15-68 declares that all of the
unsaved THAT HAVE EVER LIVED must suffer many types of afflictions because of
their sins.
Deuteronomy
28 declares many blessings that come upon those that obey the Bible. That is,
those that become saved. Likewise, this chapter declares many afflictions that
come upon those that do not obey the whole Bible. That is, those that remain
unsaved.
We
read in Deuteronomy 28:1-14 many blessings that will come upon man if he obeys
the law of God, the Bible. This passage applies to every saved person
throughout time.
But,
then, starting in verse 15 and continuing through the end of the chapter in
verse 68, God describes horrible things that will come upon man if he does not
obey all of God’s commandments, the whole Bible.
We
read in Deuteronomy 28:15:
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt
not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his
commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these
curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
Deuteronomy
28:15-68 speaks to the people of ancient
Deuteronomy
28:15-68 also speaks to the New Testament church people who were given the
whole Bible. Finally, it speaks to all of mankind throughout time. They have
all committed sin. Just like Deuteronomy 28:1 is directed to all that become
saved throughout time, Deuteronomy 28:15 is directed to all that remain unsaved
throughout time.
Verse
15 says that all of the curses of Deuteronomy 28 will come upon each of the
unsaved that have ever lived. Also, as we read through Deuteronomy 28:15-68 we
find that it is one continuous discussion. Verse 15 is talking about the same
group of people as verse 68. Therefore, as we read through Deuteronomy
28:15-68, we can know that all of the things described there must come upon all
of the unsaved that have ever lived throughout time.
If we’re honest with the Bible we cannot
say that Deuteronomy 28:15-68 is only speaking about unsaved people here on
earth on May 21, 2011. The language of verse 15 is clear that it is speaking
about every unsaved person throughout time which includes the people of ancient
Israel and those of the New Testament church ago, both groups received this
commandment as part of the Bible that they had.
In
the same way, we know that verse 1 is speaking about everyone who sins have
been covered by Christ.
Again,
notice that according to verse 15 all these curses of Deuteronomy
28:15-68 will come upon everyone who remains unsaved.
Deuteronomy
28 uses parabolic language to describe eternity, rather than the final 5
months. For example, verse 30 talks about getting married and not having your
wife. We read there:
Thou shalt
betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house,
and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not
gather the grapes thereof.
This
verse also talks about building a house and not dwelling in it. During the
final 5 months, people won’t be getting married and building houses. Rather
this describes the complete frustration of hell and the impossibility of
salvation (coming into the house of God or becoming the bride of Christ).
Verse
39 says that people will be planting and dressing vineyards, but not eat of the
fruit. Five months is too short of a period of time for people to be planting
and caring for crops. However, the tie is into Isaiah 65:21 that says in heaven
the believers will plant vineyards and eat the fruit.
Notice
the parallel language in these two verses:
Deuteronomy
28:39 Thou shalt plant vineyards, and
dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the
grapes; for the worms shall eat them.
Isaiah
65:21 And they shall build houses, and
inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
In
other words, both Deuteronomy 28:39 and Isaiah 65:21 use parabolic language.
Both refer to the Gospel. In hell (Deuteronomy 28:39) the unsaved will never
have any Gospel, pictured by the lack of grapes and wine. There will be an
effort to somehow have the Gospel of salvation as pictured by the planting of
vineyards. However, there will be no harvest, indicating that there will be no
salvation.
This
is a parable. Even if somehow they could plant vineyards in hope of receiving
the wine of the Gospel, they will receive none. There is no possibility of any
Gospel, any salvation in hell.
In
heaven (Isaiah 65:21), there is an abundance of Gospel pictured by the
abundance of grapes and wine. The believers will not be literally planting
vineyards in heaven, but the figure is that in heaven there will be plenty of
vineyards and fruit. That is, in heaven, there is plenty of Gospel. The
believer’s sins have been eternally covered. There is no threat of ever coming
under the wrath of God again.
This
gives us direction in how to understand Deuteronomy 28:15-68 as well as
Deuteronomy 28:1-14.
Deuteronomy
28:15-68 describes an on-going conscious suffering that all of the unsaved that
have ever lived must experience.
As
we study these verses, we must remember that Job 21:7-15, Psalm 73 and Luke 16:19-31
teach that the unsaved can live out their lives in this world without any
affliction and die peacefully. Therefore, the conscious affliction promised by
Deuteronomy 28:15-68 must be on the other side of the grave. That is also the
truth taught by Luke 16:19-31.
Also,
if we are honorable with the Bible we must keep in mind that we cannot simply
say “Deuteronomy 28:15-68 means you will die and cease to exist”. We will see
that this passage has many verses that speak of conscious affliction. As indicated
by Job 21:7-15, Psalm 73 and Luke 16:19-31 many unsaved people can die from
this world in a very peaceful way without any conscious affliction or pain. We
cannot quickly pass over Deuteronomy 28. We must read it carefully, listening
to what God is saying.
There
is confusion about the Biblical definition of “life” and “death” for mankind.
To help understand this important subject we have prepared the following study:
Now,
let us examine some verses in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 that teach that all of the
unsaved throughout time must experience conscious affliction as punishment for
their sins.
We
read in Deuteronomy 28:27:
The LORD will smite thee with the botch of
God
talks about “smiting” the unsaved.
Some
of the words used in this verse and other verses in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 are
not found very often in the Bible. Or, they are used in ways that we cannot
clearly say if they always indicate conscious affliction.
However,
in this verse God talks about the “botch of
9 And it shall become small dust in all the
10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood
before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil <07822> breaking forth with blains
upon man, and upon beast.
11 And the magicians could not stand before
Moses because of the boils <07822>;
for the boil <07822> was upon the
magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.
Notice
that this “boil” or “botch” did impact the Egyptians so that
the magicians could not stand before Moses. It was a conscious affliction to
them.
In Deuteronomy 28:27, God is directing
us to look at the affliction of the Egyptians in Exodus 9 to learn about the
afflictions that all of the unsaved must endure because of their sins.
We
read in Deuteronomy 28:28
The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness,
and astonishment of heart:
The
word translated “madness” is a derivative of a word translated “mad” that is used to described David’s
actions before the Philistine king Achish in Samuel 21:14-15, but the exact
same word translated “madness” in Deuteronomy 28:28 is found in 2 Kings
9:20 to describe the riding of Jehu. We read there:
And the watchman
told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is
like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously <07697>.
In
2 Kings 9:20 it is translated “driving furiously”. Jehu was stirred up
with his purpose to slay the king. In the same way, those cast into the lake of
fire will be consciously stirred up by what they experience.
The
word “astonishment” comes from a family of words translated “marvel” or “wonder”.
Here are some example verses:
Genesis
43:33 And they sat before him, the
firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth:
and the men marvelled <08539> one
at another.
Psalm
48:5-6:
5 They saw it, and so they marvelled <08539>; they were troubled, and
hasted away.
6 Fear took hold upon them there, and
pain, as of a woman in travail.
Daniel
4:2 I thought it good to shew the signs
and wonders <08540> that the high
God hath wrought toward me.
Daniel
4:3 How great are his signs! and
how mighty are his wonders <08540>!
his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from
generation to generation.
This
word “astonishment” always signifies a conscious amazement of some
manner. The unsaved will experience amazement in the lake of fire.
Deuteronomy 28:28 gives two words,
“madness” and “astonishment”,
that always signify conscious affliction that help describe what all of the
unsaved that have ever lived must endure in hell.
We
read in Deuteronomy 28:29:
And thou
shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not
prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and
no man shall save thee.
We
read two times in this verse that the unsaved will “grope”. This Hebrew word means to “feel” or “search” as we see in
these verses:
Genesis 27:12 My father peradventure will feel <04959> me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall
bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.
Genesis 27:22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father;
and he felt <04959> him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but
the hands are the hands of Esau.
Genesis 31:34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them
in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched <04959> all the tent, but found them not.
Genesis 31:37 Whereas thou hast searched <04959> all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household
stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may
judge betwixt us both.
This
Hebrew word translated “grope” two
times in Deuteronomy 28:29 always signifies a conscious action. It is the
action of one searching. It would agree with the idea that the unsaved are
trying to find some way to escape hell, but sadly, that will not be possible. In
any case, this Hebrew word always signifies conscious action.
We
read in Deuteronomy 28:32:
Thy sons and
thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall
look, and fail with longing for them all the day long: and there
shall be no might in thine hand.
In
this verse God is teaching that the unsaved in hell will have the conscious
affliction of regret concerning their loved ones, specifically their children.
The language “thine eyes shall look, and
fail with longing for them” identifies with conscious affliction,
the affliction of regret over loved ones.
This
agrees with the language of the rich man suffering in hell and having a concern
over his loved ones. In this case, it is his brothers. We read about that in
Luke 16:27-31:
27
Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him
to my father’s house:
28
For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also
come into this place of torment.
29
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear
them.
30
And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the
dead, they will repent.
31
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither
will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
In
both passages, God is describing a conscious affliction of regret over one’s
loved ones. In Deuteronomy 28:32, God speaks of regret concerning your
children. In Luke 16:27-31, God speaks about one’s brothers.
There
is some confusion about Luke 16:19-31, the passage about the rich man and
Lazarus. For a detailed study on that passage, please click on the link below:
THE
PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN & LAZARUS CAREFULLY EXAMINED
In
Deuteronomy 28:32 we read the phrase “all
the day”. The word “day” has to
do with the time keepers of this universe. Some people argue that when we see
verses that make reference to the time keepers of this universe, that limits
the duration of the verse to the end of the universe. However, a closer
examination of the Bible will show that God makes references to the time
keepers of this universe to speak about things that will go on in eternity
future. Therefore a reference to the time keepers of this universe in no way
limits the duration to this world’s existence. For more information on this
question, please see the Bible study below:
DOES THE PHRASE “DAY
AND NIGHT” LIMIT DURATION TO THIS WORLD’S EXISTENCE?
We
read in Deuteronomy 28:34:
So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes
which thou shalt see.
The
word “mad” used in verse 34 is the same word that is used to describe
David’s visit to the Philistine king Achish.
Here
are some verses with this word “mad”:
1
Samuel 21:14 Then said Achish unto his
servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad <07696>:
wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
1
Samuel 21:15 Have I need of mad men <07696>, that ye have brought this fellow
to play the mad man <07696> in my
presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
2
Kings 9:11 Then Jehu came forth to the
servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well?
wherefore came this mad <07696> fellow
to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication.
David’s
visit to Achish is described in 1 Samuel 21. The verse in 2 Kings 9:11 makes
reference to the prophet that brought the message to Jehu that he would be
king. In both cases, this word is used to describe someone who seems to be
crazy.
Deuteronomy
28:34 tells us that the unsaved act in a “crazy” way because of what is
happening to them in the lake of fire.
In
Deuteronomy 28:35 we read:
The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the
legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto
the top of thy head.
God
talks about “smiting” or “striking” the unsaved from the sole of their foot to
the top of their head. In other words, in their whole being God will smite the
unsaved. This word “smite” signifies
striking.
In
this verse God uses the word “botch”. This is the same word that we
talked about back in Deuteronomy 28:27 which refers to the “boils” that
the Egyptians received. We read in Exodus 9:9-11:
9 And it shall become small dust in all the
10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood
before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil <07822> breaking forth with blains
upon man, and upon beast.
11 And the magicians could not stand before
Moses because of the boils <07822>;
for the boil <07822> was upon the
magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.
This
word “botch” or “boil” describes some kind of conscious
affliction that the Egyptians suffered. God is using the account of Exodus 9 to
teach us the afflictions of the unsaved in the lake of fire.
Deuteronomy
28:35 says that affliction will be upon their whole being, top to bottom.
We
read in Deuteronomy 28:45:
Moreover all
these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee,
till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD
thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:
Verse
45 is near the middle of God’s discussion of all of the curses and afflictions
that must come upon all of the unsaved. In the middle of this discussion, God
repeats the point that “all these curses”
will come upon the unsaved. God is talking about all of the curses that He has declared
thus far and those that will be declared in the coming verses. The reason that
these curses are coming is because “thou
hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments
and his statutes which he commanded thee:”. All of the unsaved throughout
time are guilty of this violation. This includes the unsaved people of ancient
Israel who received this commandment. It also includes all of the unsaved New
Testament church people who received this commandment because it was part of
the Bible.
These people of ancient Israel and the
New Testament era are now sleeping in the dust of the earth and many of them
were able to pass their sojourn in this world with minimal problems as we read
about in Job 21:7-15, Psalm 73 and Luke 16:19-31. Therefore, the fulfillment of
this passage requires that they awake to consciousness to experience the
promised conscious affliction.
We
read in 3 verses the same Hebrew word translated “distress”:
Deuteronomy
28:53 And thou shalt eat the fruit of
thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy
God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine
enemies shall distress <06693>
thee:
Deuteronomy
28:55 So that he will not give to any of
them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing
left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall
distress <06693> thee in all thy
gates.
Deuteronomy
28:57 And toward her young one that
cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear:
for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and
straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress <06693>
thee in thy gates.
This
word Hebrew word translated “distress”
is always used to describe conscious experience. Here are a few example verses:
Judges
14:17 And she wept before him the seven
days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he
told her, because she lay sore <06693>
upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.
Judges
16:16 And it came to pass, when she
pressed <06693> him daily with
her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
Isaiah
8:22 And they shall look unto the earth;
and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish <06695>;
and they shall be driven to darkness.
Jeremiah
19:9 And I will cause them to eat the
flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every
one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their
enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten <06693> them.
This
Hebrew word translated “distress” always signifies conscious experience.
Therefore,
in Deuteronomy 28:53, 55 & 57 God is teaching that unsaved will experience
“distress”, a conscious affliction in the lake of fire.
We
read in verses 58-59:
58
If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are
written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE
LORD THY GOD;
59
Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy
seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses,
and of long continuance.
In
Deuteronomy 28:58-59, God is again giving the criteria for which the curses of
verses 15-68 will come upon us. The criteria is that if we fail to keep the
whole law of God, or as God puts it: “If
thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this
book”. The ones that have violated this criteria include all of the unsaved
throughout the history of the world.
Verse 58 helps to confirm that
Deuteronomy 28:15-68 applies to all of the unsaved throughout time.
We
read in Deuteronomy 28:60:
Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of
In
this verse, God says that He will bring upon the unsaved “all the diseases
of
Verse
60 is telling us that God is promising plagues of conscious affliction upon the
unsaved in the lake of fire. Something of the nature of these plagues can be
learned by looking at what happened to the Egyptians during the 10 plagues.
We
read in Deuteronomy 28:66-67:
66
And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day
and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:
67
In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou
shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou
shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
These
verses help us to understand why God talks about “day and night” in Revelation 14:11 and 20:10 as we read:
Revelation 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up
for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast
and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast
into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are,
and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
When
some people read about “day and night”
in a verse they assume that this language limits the duration of the verse to
this world’s existence. However, a more careful examination of the Bible shows
that God uses phrases like “day and
night” and other references to the time keepers of this world to refer to
things in eternity future. Therefore, references to the time keepers of this
world, like “day and night”, do not
limit the duration to this world’s existence. For more information please see
the following Bible study:
DOES THE PHRASE “DAY
AND NIGHT” LIMIT DURATION TO THIS WORLD’S EXISTENCE?
Going
back to Deuteronomy 28:66-67, we see that God is making reference to day and
night in these verses. We read in verse 66, “day and night”. Then in verse 67 God gives more explanation of what
He means, “In the morning thou shalt
say, Would God it were even!”. Then, at evening, the opposite occurs, “at even thou shalt say, Would God it were
morning!”. Verse 67 helps to define what God means by “day and night” in Deuteronomy 28:66 and also in Revelation 14:11
and 20:10. God is talking about an on-going or continuous affliction. Verse 67
explains it in this manner: In the morning (or in the day), the unsaved will
desire something different, like the evening (or the night). In the even (or in
the night) the unsaved will desire something different, like the morning (or
the day). God is using the phrase “day
and night” to describe an on-going affliction in which the unsaved will
desire something different; some type of relief.
We
can understand this better if we think of an analogy from this world. If
someone fears the night he can hope for some relief when the day comes. Then,
when the day comes there is some relief. However, Deuteronomy 28:66-67 is
helping to define what God means by the term “day and night” in connection with the punishment of the unsaved. It
means that they hope for some coming relief, like the person fearful of the
night can hope for the day. But, sadly, in hell there will be no relief. The
illustration is that the person in hell hopes for the day for some relief, but
then when the day arrives, he finds that there is no relief. Then, he hopes for
the night instead.
This
does not mean that there will be literal “day
and night” in hell just like there does not need to be literal “vineyards” in heaven like Isaiah 65:21
describes. Rather, God is using an analogy from this world to describe the
condition of the unsaved in hell. Just like God uses the idea of a “vineyard” to describe the condition of
the saved in heaven.
God
uses similar language of “day and night”
in Isaiah 28 to describe the on-going affliction that the unsaved receive in
hell. We read in verses 18-19:
18
And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement
with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through,
then ye shall be trodden down by it.
19
From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by
morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation
only to understand the report.
Isaiah
28:18-19 talks about the punishment of conscious affliction that must come upon
all of the unsaved that have ever lived. God talks about day and night in verse
19 with the phrase “by day and by night”.
God is describing a continuous conscious affliction with the language “for morning by morning shall it pass over”.
A more detailed study of Isaiah 28 can be found in the link below. Click and
the link and search for “Isaiah 28”:
MORE
BIBLICAL PROOFS OF THE CONSCIOUS AWAKING OF THE UNSAVED AT JUDGMENT DAY
In Deuteronomy 28:66-67 God defines what
“day and night” in Revelation 14:11 and 20:10 mean concerning the punishment of
the unsaved. This phrase means an on-going affliction in which the unsaved hope
that relief will come, but sadly, it will not come.
These
are some examples of words that indicate that the unsaved must endure conscious
affliction. There are more awful descriptions given in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. In
verse 15 God has promised all of these afflictions will be given to all of the
unsaved that have ever lived.
We
remember that God instructs in 1 Corinthians 2:13 that we are to compare
Scripture with Scripture to understand what God is teaching by words and
phrases and when we do this we find many phrases in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 that
teach conscious affliction that must come upon the unsaved.
Job
21:7-15, Psalm 73 and Luke 16:19-31 teach that unsaved can pass their sojourn
in this world without any significant affliction and peacefully die from this
world. Therefore, the conscious affliction promised by Deuteronomy 28:15-68
must be on the other side of the grave.
Deuteronomy
28:15-68 tell us how to understand what God means when He talks about the
“destruction”, “perishing” and “consumption” of the unsaved
Seven
times Deuteronomy 28:15-68 uses a common Hebrew verb translated “destroyed”.
We read:
Deuteronomy
28:20 The LORD shall send upon thee
cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to
do, until thou be destroyed <08045>,
and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby
thou hast forsaken me.
Deuteronomy
28:24 The LORD shall make the rain of
thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou
be destroyed <08045>.
Deuteronomy
28:45 Moreover all these curses shall
come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be
destroyed <08045>; because thou
hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments
and his statutes which he commanded thee:
Deuteronomy
28:48 Therefore shalt thou serve thine
enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and
in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron
upon thy neck, until he have destroyed <08045>
thee.
Deuteronomy
28:51 And he shall eat the fruit of thy
cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed <08045>: which also shall not leave
thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or
flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.
Deuteronomy
28:61 Also every sickness, and every
plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD
bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed <08045>.
Deuteronomy
28:63 And it shall come to pass, that
as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD
will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought <08045>; and ye shall be plucked from off
the land whither thou goest to possess it.
The
word “nought” in verse 63 is this same Hebrew word normally translated “destroy”.
In
these verses from our English Bible we see the word “destroy” is written in the past tense, “destroyed”, implying a completed action. However, that is not the
tense used in the Hebrew. In the Hebrew these verses are not written
with the completed or past tense. They are written in a tense which is properly
translated with an “ing” on the end.
So,
these verses are properly translated “until destroying you”.
These
verses describe an on-going destruction, not a completed action. They
are not written in the past or perfect tense.
Deuteronomy
28:15-68 describes on-going suffering of a continuous “destroying” of
the unsaved. In Deuteronomy 28:15-68 God is defining what He means by the word
“destruction” in connection with the
unsaved. Sadly, it is an on-going “destroying”
and not an instantaneous destruction.
“perishing”
Four
times Deuteronomy 28:15-68 uses the Hebrew verb “abad” frequently translated “perished”
or “destroyed” from which “Abaddon” comes in Revelation 9:11. This
Hebrew word “abad” is the common Old
Testament word for “perish”.
We
read:
Deuteronomy
28:20 The LORD shall send upon thee
cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to
do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish <06>
quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken
me.
Deuteronomy
28:22 The LORD shall smite thee with a
consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme
burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall
pursue thee until thou perish <06>.
Deuteronomy
28:51 And he shall eat the fruit of thy
cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also
shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of
thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed <06> thee.
Deuteronomy
28:63 And it shall come to pass, that
as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD
will rejoice over you to destroy <06>
you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land
whither thou goest to possess it.
These
verses are translated as “perished”
or “destroyed”. However, all of them
are also written in a tense which does not specify a completed action.
Rather, they should be translated “perishing” or “destroying”. The tense is not
the past or perfect tense in Hebrew.
So,
these verses are properly translated “until you are perishing” or “until
destroying you”.
We
see the word “quickly” in verse 20
so we may think that the unsaved are “quickly annihilated”. However, the verb
“to perish” is in a tense that is properly translated with an “ing” and does not
specify a completed action. It should be translated “until quickly you are
perishing”. That is, unsaved man comes quickly into the wrath of God.
We
see two other verses using this Hebrew word translated “quickly”:
Deuteronomy
9:12 And the LORD said unto me, Arise,
get thee down quickly <04118>
from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have
corrupted themselves; they are quickly <04118> turned aside
out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.
Deuteronomy
9:16 And I looked, and, behold, ye had
sinned against the LORD your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had
turned aside quickly <04118> out
of the way which the LORD had commanded you.
Unsaved
man “quickly” comes into the
experience of the wrath of God; the lake of fire. Unsaved man thinks he has a
long time in this world, but by God’s perspective, it passes “quickly” and soon unsaved man will be
cast into the lake of fire.
The
time of unsaved man in this world is short from God’s perspective and he
quickly must leave this world and the next thing he will know is that is suffering
in hell (Luke 16:22-23).
By
using this Hebrew word “abad” 4
times in Deuteronomy 28:15-68, God is defining the “perishing” or “destroying”
that He means for the unsaved. It is a “perishing”
or “destroying” of continuous
affliction.
“being
consumed”
In
verse 21 God uses the Hebrew word “kalah”
that is frequently translated “consumed”
or “to make a full end”. This verb
has been used as a proof text of the annihilation of the unsaved. However, in
Deuteronomy 28:21 we will see that it is being used in a verse that is part of
a passage that describes an on-going affliction.
This
Hebrew word “kalah” is found in
Deuteronomy 28:21 where we read:
The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee,
until he have consumed <03615>
thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.
This
word translated “consumed” in verse
21 is also in a tense that does not specify a completed action. Rather,
an “ing” translation is most
appropriate. This verse should be translated “until consuming you”. It is
speaking of an on-going “consuming”.
It has a similar meaning as Psalm 31:10 and Psalm 39:10 where we read:
Psalms
31:10 For my life is spent <03615> with grief, and my years with
sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are
consumed.
Psalms
39:10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I
am consumed <03615> by the blow
of thine hand.
In
Psalm 31:10 this same Hebrew word is translated “spent”.
These
two verses describe an on-going consuming of affliction that the Psalmist
experiences. For more information about the Hebrew word “kalah” that is translated “consume”
in Deuteronomy 28:21 please see the study below:
DO
THE PHRASES “FULL END”, “CONSUMPTION”, “UTTER END”, ETC. SIGNIFY ANNIHILATION?
These
verbs found in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 are all used in a tense that does not
indicate a completed action, but rather an on-going action. This tense is most
accurately translated as “until destroying you”. Therefore, these verbs in this
passage do not give any sense of completion. However, they do give definition to the “destruction”, “perishing” or “consuming”
that God intends for the unsaved. Sadly, this passage describes a continuous
conscious suffering that is defined as “destroying you”, “perishing” or
“consuming you”. The criteria of verse 15 is all the unsaved that have ever
lived throughout time.
Deuteronomy
28:15-68 declares conscious affliction upon all that sin; not only those on the
earth at the end. There are many verses in this passage that have words that
can only describe conscious suffering of some kind.
If
we are honest with the Bible we cannot say “All of these verses of Deuteronomy
28:15-68 are summed up in that you will cease to exist.” We cannot gloss over
verses and ignore what they are saying. We have to read each verse and
recognize what God is saying to us in that verse.
The
Bible declares that we are to compare Scripture with Scripture to understand
what God is saying (1 Corinthians 2:13). As we do that with words and phrases
from Deuteronomy 28:15-68 we find many statements of conscious affliction that
cannot be ignored. In this chapter, God is describing a continuous “perishing”,
“consuming” and “destroying” that comes upon all of the unsaved. One of the
reasons that we can know that this passage describes an on-going affliction is because
of the 12 occurrences of those three key verbs in a tense that indicates an
on-going action. This Hebrew tense does not specify a completion, but
rather an on-going action. It is not the past or perfect tense in
Hebrew. It is best represented by an “ing” word.
Deuteronomy
28:15 is clear that this passage applies to anyone that sins and it says that all
of the curses of this chapter come upon all of the unsaved who have ever lived.
Job 21:7-15, Psalm 73, Luke 16:19-31 and other passages indicate that unsaved
people can pass their sojourn in this world and die from this world without noteworthy
affliction. Therefore, the affliction must be on the other side of the grave.
Luke 16:19-31 specifically states that the suffering for the unsaved is on the
other side of the grave.
4. Revelation 22:18 says that the “plagues” written
in the Bible will come upon anyone that adds to the Bible. These include “plagues” of conscious
affliction.
We
read in Revelation 22:18:
For I testify unto every man that heareth
the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things,
God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
This
Greek word translated “plagues” is always used for conscious experience. God
uses many words in the Bible to describe plagues of conscious suffering for the
unsaved. One example is the family of words translated as “torment”. We also
see many words of this type in Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
Below
are example verses that use this word “plagues” from Revelation 22:18:
Luke
10:30 And Jesus answering said, A
certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves,
which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded <4127> him,
and departed, leaving him half dead.
Luke
12:48 But he that knew not, and did
commit things worthy of stripes <4127>, shall be beaten with few stripes.
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom
men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Acts
16:23 And when they had laid many
stripes <4127> upon them, they cast them into prison,
charging the jailor to keep them safely:
Acts
16:33 And he took them the same hour of
the night, and washed their stripes <4127>; and was
baptized, he and all his, straightway.
2
Corinthians 6:5 In stripes <4127>,
in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
2
Corinthians 11:23 Are they ministers of
Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in
stripes <4127> above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths
oft.
Revelation
11:6 These have power to shut heaven,
that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to
turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues <4127>,
as often as they will.
Revelation
18:4 And I heard another voice from
heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her
sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues <4127>.
Revelation
18:8 Therefore shall her plagues <4127>
come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly
burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
When
we look at the verses which use this Greek word “plagues”, if they provide any
definition for this word “plague”, they provide a definition of conscious
experience or affliction. It can be a physical or emotional affliction. In some
of these verses the plague is the emotional affliction of hearing that you are
following the wrong Gospel, that you must leave your local congregation and
that you are under the wrath of God.
Revelation
11:6 talks about the true believers during the church age smiting the earth
with plagues. We wonder if that is a conscious affliction or not.
As
the true believers brought the Gospel during the church age, their message
warned of the plagues of the wrath of God that will come. The unsaved that
heard the Gospel were “smote” by these plagues in the sense that it was an
affliction to them to be told that they were under the wrath of God and that
only God can saved them.
For
example, we read in 2 Timothy 4:3-4:
3 For the time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears
from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
The
word “endure” is mostly translated “suffer”. When the true
believers bring the Gospel the unsaved must “endure” or “suffer” hearing things
they don’t like. This is an affliction for them. In that sense, they are being
“smote” by the plagues of the Bible.
We
find another example in Hebrews 13:22. We read there:
And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of
exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
Notice
the word “suffer”. This is the same idea. As the true believers brought
the Gospel the unsaved did not like to hear that the gospels were wrong. This
was an affliction for them. Finally, at the end of the church age, the unsaved
in the churches were able to get rid of the true believers. That is what
Revelation 11:7-10. That is why the people are happy in verse 10. The true
believers that afflicted them with the truth of the Bible are gone.
This
is how we can understand Revelation 11:6. The true believers “smote” the people
of the world with the plagues of the wrath of God as they brought the true
Gospel to them. The unsaved had to “endure” or “suffer” the
emotional stress of hearing about the wrath of God and other things that they
did not like. Unsaved church people had to hear that they were following the
wrong Gospel. This principle is developed in 2 Corinthians 11.
This
agrees with Revelation 11:10 that says that the people rejoiced that the two
witnesses were dead because these two witnesses “tormented” the people. That
is, as the true believers brought the true Gospel it was an affliction to the
unsaved people. They did not like hearing about the wrath of God and other
truths from the Bible.
The
unsaved did not endure the full “plagues” of the wrath of God, but they were
afflicted by the warnings of them. In that way, the believers smote the unsaved
church people with the plagues of the Bible.
Finally,
remember that Revelation 22:18 talks about the unsaved suffering the plagues
written in this book, the Bible. That includes all of the plagues written in
the Bible. And, there are many plagues of conscious affliction written about in
the Bible.
To
those that add to the Bible, God says he will add plagues to him.
Which
plagues?
The
plagues that are written in this book, which is the whole Bible. Many of the
plagues written about in the Bible include conscious affliction.
Therefore,
God is saying in Revelation 22:18 that those that add to the Bible will receive
plagues of conscious affliction which are written about in the Bible.
From
1 Corinthians 2:13 we know that God defines words and phrases by how He uses
them in other parts of the Bible. As we examine this Greek word translated
“plagues” in other verses of the Bible, we find that it is always used to
indicate conscious affliction. Therefore, we know that the “plagues” of
Revelation 22:18 include those of conscious affliction.
Sadly,
the Mormons, Christian Scientists, Catholics and others have been violating
Revelation 22:18 for hundreds of years. The Pentecostals have been doing this
for decades. Again, many unsaved people live their lives peacefully without any
“plagues”. Job 21, Psalm 73 and the parable of the rich man and Lazarus confirm
that unsaved people can live their lives out peacefully and die in peace.
Therefore,
Revelation 22:18 requires that the unsaved who are sleeping in the dust awake
to consciousness for it’s fulfillment for the unsaved that have added to the
Bible.
5. Six verses declare that judgment day will be more
“tolerable” or more “sufferable” for the unsaved that have heard less of the
Gospel message.
Matthew
10:15, 11:22,24, Mark 6:11, and Luke 10:12,14 talk about Judgment Day
being more “tolerable” (more sufferable) for those that knew less of the Gospel
than for those who knew more of the Gospel. This word “suffering” is always
used to describe conscious affliction; either emotional or physical.
We
read:
Matthew
10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be
more tolerable <414> for the
Matthew
11:22 But I say unto you, It shall be
more tolerable <414> for
Matthew
11:24 But I say unto you, That it shall
be more tolerable <414> for the
Mark
6:11 And whosoever shall not receive
you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet
for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable
<414> for
Luke
10:12 But I say unto you, that it shall
be more tolerable <414> in that day for
Luke
10:14 But it shall be more tolerable <414>
for
The
cities in these verses received more Gospel preaching than did
So
the people of these cities of
We
must compare Scripture with Scripture to understand what God is teaching
Below
are all the verses which have this word “tolerable” in them. We read in 1
Corinthians 2:13 that we are to compare Scripture with Scripture to understand
what God is teaching. In order to understand what God is teaching in a verse we
must look up the words and phrases found in that verse and see how they are
used in other parts of the Bible. By this means, we receive the Biblical
definition for the words and phrases.
As
will be seen in all the uses of this Greek word “tolerable” or “sufferable”,
they all have to do with conscious experience. This word is never used to
indicate a non-conscious punishment like the shaming of ones bones in the sight
of God. Therefore, God is defining that this word indicates greater conscious
affliction.
As
can be seen below, this word “tolerable” is always used to indicate conscious
affliction.
Therefore,
Matthew 10:15 and the other similar 5 verses are teaching that unsaved who are
sleeping in the dust must awake to conscious existence to experience this
suffering:
Below
are all of the words with this Greek word translated “tolerable”:
Matthew
17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O
faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall
I suffer <430> you? bring him hither to me.
Mark
9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O
faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer <430>
you? bring him unto me.
Luke
9:41 And Jesus answering said, O
faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer <430>
you? Bring thy son hither.
The Lord Jesus suffered emotionally because of the
unbelief of mankind. Because of their unbelief the Lord Jesus wept over
Acts
18:14 And when Paul was now about to
open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong
or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear <430>
with you:
Gallio was a judge and the Jews wanted to put Paul on
trial before Gallio. Gallio would have had to endure the arguments from both
sides and the efforts by both sides to have their way. That would have been an
enduring for him. This would have been a conscious burden upon him.
1
Corinthians 4:12 And labour, working
with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it <430>:
Being persecuted is a conscious suffering. Paul
suffered much persecution in his service to God.
2
Corinthians 11:1 Would to God ye could
bear <430> with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear <430>
with me.
2
Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh
preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive
another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have
not accepted, ye might <430> well bear with <430> him.
2
Corinthians 11:19 For ye suffer <430>
fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
2
Corinthians 11:20 For ye suffer <430>,
if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of
you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
In verse 1, Paul asks the Corinthian people to “bear”
(same Greek word) with him; that is to listen to him and endure what he has to
say. The message Paul was going to give to the Corinthian people would not be
happy for them. He would tell them that they are following some wrong
doctrines.
Some people had come to that church with a wrong
gospel, probably a works-grace gospel. Now, Paul will speak to them and try to
correct their wrong understanding. This is not a pleasant process for the
people. He asks them to “bear” his speech. This “bearing” or enduring is not
pleasant, because you hear that your gospel is wrong. For those that hold to a
wrong gospel, there is emotional suffering to hear that their gospel is wrong.
This is that to which verse 1 refers.
In verses 4, 19 & 20, God refers to the
“suffering” or enduring that the Corinthian people did in listening to those
people that brought the wrong gospel. False teachers disrupt a church that had
been taught the truth. Paul had taught the Corinthian people the truth of the
Bible. Now, others came in and were twisting the truth. To listen to these
people was an “enduring” or “bearing with” that the Corinthian people
experienced. These false teachers created confusion in the minds of the people
by their wrong teaching.
Often times these false teachers are looking for money
or something from the church. That could explain verse 20 that talks about the
church people being devoured or being taken. God even uses the word “smite”. As
people listen to preachers bringing them a wrong gospel, they will suffer as
indicated by the fact that God uses the words “devour”, “take” and “smite” to
describe the impact of these false preachers. It will have an emotional impact
on them. Sometimes these false preachers take money from the people which adds
to their suffering.
In verse 19 it says that they suffered fools “gladly”.
This refers to people who wanted to hear man’s ideas rather than the Bible’s
truth. Verse 20 builds on how the Corinthian people suffered, but verse 19
shows they some of them were happy with the suffering that they endured. They
liked the man’s ideas rather than the Bible’s truth. They were afflicted by
these false teachers who led them away from truth. But, they liked the message,
so they suffered it gladly.
In this context, “suffer gladly” could also mean that
the people set aside the truth they were following and gladly “suffered” or
“put up with” the lies spoken by these false teachers. The word “gladly”
reinforces that this was a conscious experience for them.
Ephesians
4:2 With all lowliness and meekness,
with longsuffering, forbearing <430> one another in love;
Colossians
3:13 Forbearing <430> one
another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even
as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
2
Thessalonians 1:4 So that we ourselves
glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your
persecutions and tribulations that ye endure <430>:
These
verses use this word to refer to the suffering that true believers must endure
to get along with other people. At times, we must “put up” with the weaknesses
of others that impact us. This is a conscious affliction. The last verse refers
to suffering persecutions and tribulations that we must endure.
2
Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when
they will <430> not endure <430> sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching
ears;
Hebrews
13:22 And I beseech you, brethren,
suffer <430> the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter
unto you in few words.
These verses tie into the discussion in 2 Corinthians
11 above. To listen to the truth of the Bible causes emotional distress for us
at times because we don’t like what it says. But, we must listen and make
correction. This has an emotional impact on us.
This is all of the verses with this Greek word
“tolerable”.
All of the uses of this Greek word translated
“tolerable” indicate conscious experience
So, each of the usages of this word “tolerable”
involves conscious experience. God is defining this word to mean conscious
experience of some type. We must remember the rule of 1 Corinthians 2:13. God
defines words and phrases by how He uses them in other parts of the Bible.
We are not free to say “the unsaved that previously
died ‘suffer’ shame because God shames them, even though these unsaved people
don’t know it”.
We cannot say this because 1 Corinthians 2:13 declares
that God defines words by how He uses them in the Bible. God always uses this
word “tolerable” to mean conscious experience.
Therefore, as we look at Matthew 10:15 and the 5
companion verses, we are assured that these verses require the unsaved who knew
some of the Gospel, that are now sleeping in the dust, to awake to
consciousness at the Day of Judgment to experience this suffering.
This means that those that have lived throughout the
New Testament era, that have heard the Gospel and have rejected it, must experience
some suffering to fulfill these verses. They will experience more “suffering”
in the Day of Judgment than the people of
This means that the unsaved that have previously died
who have rejected the Gospel must experience at least some conscious suffering
in the Day of Judgment for fulfillment of these 6 verses. This requires an
“awaking” to conscious existence at the Day of Judgment for fulfillment.
The
people preached to throughout the New Testament era that rejected the Gospel
must awake consciously to experience this suffering.
The
6 “more tolerable” verses agree with the teaching of Luke 12:47-48
This
ties into Luke 12:47-48. We read there:
47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will,
and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be
beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things
worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever
much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed
much, of him they will ask the more.
Luke
12:47-48 confirms the teaching of the 6 verses with “more tolerable”.
Luke 12:47-48 teaches that the more we know of the Lord’s will (the whole
Bible) the more stripes we will receive if we never become saved. That is so
because we are more guilty before God for our increased knowledge of the Bible.
This is the same teaching of the 6 verses with “more tolerable” in them.
In
the 6 verses with “more tolerable” we saw that for those that heard less
of the Bible Judgment Day would be “more tolerable” for them.
The
whole Bible is the Lord’s will.
Judgment
Day will be “more tolerable” for those that heard less of the Bible, the
Lord’s will, because they will receive fewer stripes. That agrees with Luke
12:47-48. The unsaved that knew less of the will of the Lord will receive fewer
stripes. Judgment Day will be more tolerable for them.
Several
statements have been made to try to limit these verses. They are:
1.
It is said that these verses talk about knowing the Lord's will. Yet, no one
knows all of the Lord's will, so therefore they don’t apply to anyone.
In
verse 48 God expands the application of the principle in Luke 12:47-48. God
says that to whom “much” is given of him “much” shall be
required. Then, God repeats the same principle with the words “much” and
“more”. The application of these verses is not just to someone who knows
all of the Lord's will. If we have been given “much” then these verses
can apply to us. The term “much” is general and can be applied to many
people that have lived and died from this world unsaved through the recent
decades. These words broaden the principle of Luke 12:47-48 to include anyone
throughout the centuries who has been given more Bible truth as compared to
another person who have been given less Bible truth.
2.
It is said that the context of these verses is the end of the world therefore
the application is only to those living at the day of judgment, May 21, 2011.
The
reason that these verses appear after a discussion of the end of the world is
because it is near the end of the world that God is opening so much more truth
from the Bible. Also, God is proclaiming the Gospel world-wide today to a much
greater extent than has occurred in the past. So, there is greater application
of these verses to those living in the end-time generation.
However,
in Luke 12:47-48 God lays down a fundamental principle without giving any
limitation in time. Therefore, it applies to all time. We are not free to place
limits on verses that God does not place.
Also,
the teaching of Luke 12:47-48 agrees with the teaching of the 6 “more
tolerable” verses that speak of the days when Jesus was here on earth.
3.
It is said that these verses are only speaking of knowledge of the timing of
Christ’s return and some of the other new teachings.
However,
the “Lord's will” is the whole Bible. Throughout the centuries there have been
many church people who were taught Bible truth and died unsaved. They knew
“much of the Lord's will” as compared to other people who had no Bible
knowledge.
Luke
12:47-48 is speaking about them also. This is the same message as is taught by
the 6 “more tolerable” verses.
God
says the “Lord's will”, which is the whole Bible. We are not free to change
that to information about the timing of the end.
Is
the “Lord’s will” the whole Bible or just timing of Christ’s return?
Without
contention, we can know that the whole Bible is the “will” of God. No one can
seriously argue that.
However,
God has given verses that help to confirm this:
Matthew 7:21 Not every one
that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he
that doeth the will <2307> of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 12:50 For whosoever
shall do the will <2307> of my Father which is in heaven, the same
is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Luke 11:2 And he said unto
them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will <2307> be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
John 7:17 If any man will
do his will <2307>, he shall know of the doctrine, whether
it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Romans 2:18 And knowest his
will <2307>, and approvest the things that are more
excellent, being instructed out of the law;
Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be
ye not unwise, but understanding what the will <2307> of the Lord is.
Colossians 1:9 For this
cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you,
and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will <2307> in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding;
The
above verses confirm to us that when God talks about His will, it is the whole
Bible.
The
more an unsaved person knew about the Bible, the Lord’s will, the more stripes
that he must receive. Luke 12:47-48 is talking about the Lord’s will; which is
the whole Bible. Not only Today, but during the past hundreds of years, there
have been people who have knew some of the Lord's will, the Bible and yet died
unsaved. These 6 verses, along with Luke 12:47-48, state that these people must
endure some conscious suffering in the day of judgment.
The
teaching of Luke 12:47-48 agrees with what we read in Proverbs 19:29:
Judgments are prepared for scorners, and
stripes for the back of fools.
In
Proverbs 19:29 God is saying that “stripes” are prepared for the unsaved. Luke
12:47-48 and the 6 “more tolerable” verses give more detail, indicating that
the more someone knew from the Bible, whenever they lived, the more “stripes”
he will receive. But, Proverbs 19:29 says that every unsaved person will
receive some stripes.
Psalm
73, Luke 16:19-31, Job 21:7-15 and other passages indicate that unsaved can
live in this world and die without affliction. Therefore, the affliction must
be on the other side of the grave.
These
six “more tolerable” verses talk about suffering in the “day of judgment” for
those that lived in Jesus’ day and throughout time that knew Gospel truth but
did not become saved . God is indicating that this suffering will occur at the
end of the world. Therefore the unsaved that knew truth from the Bible must
awake to consciousness to experience that suffering.
6. Luke 6:25 declares hunger, mourning and weeping
for those - throughout time - that reject the Gospel.
We
read in Luke 6:25:
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall
hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
The
context of Luke 6:25 is the Gospel going out at anytime. Let’s look at verses
20 to 30 to pick up the context:
20
¶ And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye
poor: for yours is the
21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye
shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and
when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you,
and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy:
for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did
their fathers unto the prophets.
24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have
received your consolation.
25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall
hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well
of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
27
¶ But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate
you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one
cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to
take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of
him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
Christ
is declaring the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are principles that apply
throughout time. In verses 20 to 23, Christ speaks of blessings that come to
those that become saved throughout history. In verses 24 to 26, Christ speaks
warnings to those that reject the Gospel throughout time.
Looking
again at verse 25, God uses the word “full”, “laughed”, “hunger”, “mourn” and
“weep”. This verse is speaking to anyone throughout time that has been “full”
of the things of this world and “laughed” rather than mourned about their own
sins. God promises that these people will “hunger”, “mourn” and “weep”.
Here
are some example verses with these three words “hunger”, “mourn” and “weep”.
hunger:
Matthew
4:2 And when he had fasted forty days
and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred <3983>.
Matthew
5:6 Blessed are they which do
hunger <3983> and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be
filled.
Mark
11:12 And on the morrow, when they were
come from Bethany, he was hungry <3983>:
1
Corinthians 4:11 Even unto this present
hour we <3983> both hunger <3983>, and thirst, and
are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
Philippians
4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I
know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be
full and to be hungry <3983>, both to abound and to suffer need.
In
Matthew 5:6 we have those that desire salvation. They hunger for that salvation
and they hunger to know truth from the Bible. This is a conscious experience
for them.
mourn:
Matthew
5:4 Blessed are they that mourn <3996>:
for they shall be comforted.
1
Corinthians 5:2 And ye are puffed up,
and have <3996> not rather mourned <3996>, that he
that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
2
Corinthians 12:21 And lest, when
I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail <3996>
many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and
fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
James
4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn <3996>,
and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to
heaviness.
In
Matthew 5:4 and James 4:9, God discusses that we should mourn about our sins,
how awful they are in the sight of God.
weep:
Matthew
2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard,
lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping <2799>
for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Matthew
26:75 And Peter remembered the word of
Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
And he went out, and wept <2799> bitterly.
Luke
7:13 And when the Lord saw her, he had
compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep <2799> not.
John
11:31 The Jews then which were with her
in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily
and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep <2799>
there.
Acts
21:13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye
to weep <2799> and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be
bound only, but also to die at
Revelation
5:4 And I wept <2799> much,
because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look
thereon.
We
must remember that 1 Corinthians 2:13 declares that God teaches what words mean
by how they are used in other parts of the Bible.
These
words “hunger”, “mourn” and “weep” are always used to indicate conscious
experience. Therefore, Luke 6:25 is teaching that the unsaved that are sleeping
in the dust must “awake” to consciousness to experience the hunger, mourning
and weeping that God promises in Luke 6:25.
7. Proverbs 1:26-28 declares fear, distress and
anguish upon those - throughout time - that reject wisdom (the gospel). The
context is all time.
We
read in Proverbs 1:20-33:
20 ¶ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
21 She crieth in the chief
place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her
words, saying,
22 How long, ye simple
ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and
fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn you at my reproof:
behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto
you.
24 Because I have called,
and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at
nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at
your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 When your fear cometh as
desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and
anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call
upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not
find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not
choose the fear of the LORD:
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised
all my reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of
their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay
them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell
safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Verse
20 talks about Wisdom crying out. Wisdom refers to the Lord Jesus and the
knowledge of God. In Psalm 19:1-4 and Romans 1:17-32 God insists that all
mankind throughout time have known that there is a God to whom they are accountable.
God insists that through creation He has revealed to man that He exists and
that all mankind is guilty before God because they know that God exists.
In
this way, Wisdom has been crying without throughout all time.
Note
the language of Psalm 19:1-4:
1 ¶ <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The
heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth
speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech
nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out
through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he
set a tabernacle for the sun,
This
is parallel language to Proverbs 1:20-21. To some degree the knowledge or
wisdom of God has been given to all mankind through creation.
God
elaborates about this in Romans 1:18-32 that all mankind throughout time have
known that there is a God to whom they are accountable. We read in Romans
1:18-23:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness;
19
¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath
shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the
creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are
made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without
excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they
glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in
their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became
fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible
God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted
beasts, and creeping things.
In
verse 19 God insists that He has “shewed” sufficient truth about God that
unsaved man knows that there is a God and he is without excuse. This is the
same message as Proverbs 1:20-23.
In
Romans 1:21 God says that man knows that there is a God but will not glorify
Him as God. This is the same message as Proverbs 1:24-25.
God
says in Romans 2:14-15 that God has given man a conscience that makes him know
that he is a sinner. This also times into the language of Proverbs 1:20-33.
Psalm
19:1-4 and Romans chapter 1 confirm that the context of Proverbs 1:20-33 is all
time.
The
language of Proverbs 1:26 matches Psalm 2:4. Notice the parallel language:
Psalm
2:1-4:
1 ¶ Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth
set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and
against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands
asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the
heavens shall laugh <07832>: the Lord shall have them in derision <03932>.
Proverbs 1:26 I also will
laugh <07832> at your calamity; I will mock <03932> when your fear cometh;
Psalm
2:1-4 is talking about all of the unsaved throughout time. The context is all
time. In Psalm 2:4 God says that He shall “laugh” at the unsaved on
Judgment Day. Also, God will have them in “derision” or “mock”
them. Both of these Hebrew words are common to both verses.
We
see the clear connection between Psalm 2:4 and Proverbs 1:26. They are both
giving the same message and are talking about the same group of people; all of
the unsaved throughout time.
We
can see that the context of Psalm 2:1-4 is all time. We also see the parallel
language between Psalm 2:4 and Proverbs 1:26. Therefore, this further confirms
that Proverbs 1:20-33 is directed to all of the unsaved throughout time.
Proverbs
1:26-28 talk about conscious suffering upon all of those that have rejected God
throughout time. The words “distress” and “anguish” are always
used for conscious experience.
Here
are some sample verses with these Hebrew words translated “distress” and
“anguish”:
distress:
Genesis
42:21 And they said one to another, We are
verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish <06869> of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not
hear; therefore is this distress <06869> come upon us.
Deuteronomy
31:17 Then my anger shall be kindled
against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from
them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles <06869> shall befall them; so that they will say in that day,
Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?
Judges
10:14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye
have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation <06869>.
2
Kings 19:3 And they said unto him, Thus
saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble <06869>, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are
come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.
Psalms
10:1-2 Why
standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times
of trouble <06869>?
2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute
the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
Jeremiah
4:31 For I have heard a voice as of a
woman in travail, and the anguish <06869> as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the
voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that
spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is
wearied because of murderers.
Daniel
12:1 And at that time shall Michael
stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and
there shall be a time of trouble <06869>, such as never was since there was a nation even
to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one
that shall be found written in the book.
Jonah
2:2 And said, I cried by reason of mine
affliction <06869> unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of
hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
anguish:
Judges 14:17 And she wept
before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the
seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore <06693> upon him: and she told the riddle to the
children of her people.
Judges 16:16 And it came to
pass, when she pressed <06693> him daily with her words, and urged him, so
that his soul was vexed unto death;
Isaiah
8:22 And they shall look unto the earth;
and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish <06695>; and they shall be driven to darkness.
Jeremiah
19:9 And I will cause them to eat the
flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every
one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their
enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten <06693> them.
Both
of these Hebrew words are always used to indicate conscious experience.
Therefore, God is promising that all of the unsaved that have lived throughout
time will consciously experience the wrath of God as indicated in Proverbs
1:27.
This
requires that the unsaved that are sleeping in the dust to awake to
consciousness to experience this suffering.
In
verse 28 the calling out and seeking God identifies with the rich man calling
out to Abraham in Luke 16:24. The rich man did not receive an “answer” to his
problem. The rich man remains in hell without any mercy from God. In hell the
rich man was not able to “find” God as his savior. We will examine the parable
of the rich man and Lazarus in another study.
Proverbs
1:28 also identifies with the unsaved calling out to God in Matthew 7:21-23 and
in Luke 13:24-30.
Proverbs
1:32 declares that God will “destroy” the unsaved. People identify the word
“destroy” with annihilation. However, God defines His own terms. We studied
Deuteronomy 28:15-68 above. That passage has a common word “destroy” appearing
7 times. Each time this word appears in that chapter it is in the “infinitive”
which describes an on-going action of “destroying”. As shown above, Deuteronomy
28:15-68 describes an on-going “destroying” that God intends for the unsaved.
This
word “destroy” in verse 32 is actually the Hebrew word “abad” which is most
commonly translated “perish” or “destroy”. This Hebrew word is also found 4
times in Deuteronomy 28:15-68, which describes a continuous “perishing” or
“destroying” that God plans for the unsaved.
Proverbs
1:32 also has the word “slay”. For help on what God means by “slaying” the
unsaved the study on the Biblical definition of “life” and “death” for mankind
should be consulted. This study shows proofs that the Biblical definition of
“death” or “perishing” for mankind is separation from God and His blessings.
That agrees with the description given in Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
The
words “distress” and “anguish” in verse 27 are always used to indicate
conscious experience. Therefore, verse 27 requires the unsaved that have
previously died to be resurrected to experience this distress and anguish.
8. God declares in Romans 2:8-9 that all of the
unsaved are under his wrath and indignation and will also experience tribulation
and anguish. These latter two words are always used for conscious experience.
We
read in Romans 2:1-9:
1 ¶ Therefore thou art inexcusable, O
man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou
condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against
them which commit such things.
3
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things,
and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and
longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself
wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his
deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well
doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are
contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation
and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish,
upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the
Gentile;
Verses
1 to 5 were included to show God’s emphasis that Romans 2:1-9 is talking about
all mankind throughout time, all of the saved and all of the unsaved.
Verse
6 applies to everyone throughout time. God will render to everyone who has ever
lived throughout time according to his deeds. This includes all of the unsaved
and all of the saved. Verse 6 is not talking about some people but about all
mankind throughout time. Reading verses 1 to 5 helps establish the fact that
verses 6 to 9 are talking about all mankind throughout time. The word “render” is also found in the verses
below confirming that it is talking about all mankind throughout time:
Matthew 5:25-26:
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles
thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to
the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into
prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no
means come out thence, till thou hast paid <591> the uttermost farthing.
Matthew 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy
Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward <591> thee openly.
Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that
men shall speak, they shall give <591> account thereof in the day of judgment.
Luke 12:58-59:
58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the
magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be
delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee
to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence,
till thou hast paid <591> the very last mite.
2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give <591> me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them
also that love his appearing.
1 Peter 4:5 Who shall give <591> account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the
dead.
Then,
in verses 7 to 9 God divides all mankind into two groups of people; all of the
saved and all of the unsaved. Verse 7 speaks about all of the true believers
throughout time.
Verses
8 & 9 talk about all of the unsaved throughout time. Just like verse 7 lays
down principles for all believers throughout time, verses 8 & 9 lay down
principles for all of the unsaved throughout time.
Verses
7 to 9 are elaborating on verse 6 that applies to all mankind throughout time.
Verse
8 talks about “them that are contentious and do not obey the truth”.
That describes all of the unsaved throughout time.
What
comes upon them?
Four
things: “indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish”
We
know from the rest of the Bible that all of the unsaved throughout time are
subject to “indignation and wrath”.
Romans
2:8-9 ties all four words, “indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish”
together. Therefore, we know that all of the unsaved are also subject to “tribulation
and anguish”.
As
added confirmation that God is speaking about all of the unsaved throughout
time, God adds “upon every soul of man that doeth
evil”. Here God declares that the “every” that He has in mind is
everyone “that doeth evil”. This is all of the unsaved throughout time.
All of the unsaved have done evil and their sins have not been
covered by Christ’s payment. So, this defines the “every soul of man” as all unsaved people that have lived throughout
time.
The word translated “soul”
in verse 9 is mostly translated as “soul”
and is the Greek word “psuche”. This
word refers to either the soul, that is the spirit-essence of the person, or it
refers to the whole person himself, body and spirit. We see this truth in the
verses below:
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but
are not able to kill the soul <5590>: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul <5590> and body in hell.
In the case of Matthew 10:28 God is using the Greek word “psuche” in the sense of the
spirit-essence of man in contrast to his body.
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I
am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls <5590>.
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy soul <5590>, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is
the first commandment.
Luke 1:46 And Mary said, My soul <5590> doth magnify the Lord,
Luke 12:19-20:
19 And I will say to my soul <5590>, Soul <5590>, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine
ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this
night thy soul <5590> shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things
be, which thou hast provided?
John 12:27 Now is my soul <5590> troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from
this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were
baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three
thousand souls <5590>.
Acts 2:43 And fear came upon every soul <5590>: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were
of one heart and of one soul <5590>: neither said any of them that ought of the
things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
Acts 7:14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob
to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls <5590>.
Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain
which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls <5590>, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the
law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
Acts 27:37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred
threescore and sixteen souls <5590>.
Romans 13:1 Let every soul <5590> be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power
but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and
submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls <5590>, as they that must give account, that they may do it
with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and
superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which
is able to save your souls <5590>.
1 Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once
the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a
preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls <5590> were saved by water.
2 Peter 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them,
in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul <5590> from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot
cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls <5590>: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices;
cursed children:
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou
mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul <5590> prospereth.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them,
and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls <5590> of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and
for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image,
neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands;
and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4 is another verse in which this Greek word “psuche” must signify the
spirit-essence of the person.
This Greek word “psuche” always refers to
the person himself, either his whole personality or his spirit-essence.
Sometimes the translators translated this Greek word as “mind”, “heart”, “life”
or “you”, as shown in the verses below.
Matthew 2:20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and
his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the
young child’s life <5590>.
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for
your life <5590>, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for
your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life <5590> more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Luke 12:23-23:
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I
say unto you, Take no thought for your life <5590>, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall
put on.
23 The life <5590> is more than meat, and the body is more than
raiment.
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not
his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea,
and his own life <5590> also, he cannot be my disciple.
Acts 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the
Gentiles, and made their minds <5590> evil affected against the brethren.
2 Corinthians
12:15 And I will very gladly spend and
be spent for you <5590>; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be
loved.
Ephesians 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as
the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart <5590>;
Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh
the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may
hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind <5590> striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such
contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your
minds <5590>.
In each of the above verses, and in every verse with this Greek word, God
uses this word to signify either the spirit-essence of the person or the whole
personality. We can see this because in each of the above verses either the
words “soul” or “person” or “whole personality” can be substituted for the
Greek word “psuche” in the verse and the verse will make
perfect sense. This word is never translated “alive”, an adjective, in the
sense of a state of being. It is always used as a noun to refer to the person
himself.
Romans 2:9 could be translated with the phrase “soul of man” or “person of
man” or “heart of man” or “mind of man” or “life of man” in the sense of the whole personality of the man.
Thus, in the phrase “soul of man”
found in Romans 2:9, God is emphasizing either the spirit-essence of man or his
whole personality. In any case, God is referring to the man himself.
The
words “tribulation” and “anguish” are always used to indicate
conscious experience.
Here
are some examples of the word “tribulation”. This word is always used to
indicate conscious experience:
Matthew
13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself,
but dureth for a while: for when tribulation <2347>
or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Matthew
24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to
be afflicted <2347>, and shall
kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Matthew
24:21 For then shall be great
tribulation <2347>, such as was
not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
John
16:21 A woman when she is in travail
hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the
child, she remembereth no more the anguish <2347>,
for joy that a man is born into the world.
Acts
7:11 Now there came a dearth over all
the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction <2347>:
and our fathers found no sustenance.
Romans
12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in
tribulation <2347>; continuing
instant in prayer;
2
Corinthians 1:8 For we would not,
brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble <2347>
which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength,
insomuch that we despaired even of life:
Here
are all of the other uses of this word “anguish”. All of these uses are
in a setting of conscious experience.
Romans
8:35 Who shall separate us from the love
of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress <4730>,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
2
Corinthians 6:4 But in all things
approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions,
in necessities, in distresses <4730>,
2
Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
distresses <4730> for Christ’s
sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
We
must remember that God has established the rule in 1 Corinthians 2:13 that we
are to compare Scripture with Scripture. God defines words and phrases by how
He uses them in various parts of the Bible. We cannot make up our own
definitions for words and phrases.
Since
every usage of these words “tribulation” and “anguish” indicates
conscious affliction then God is teaching that the all of the unsaved
throughout time must experience conscious affliction because of their sins.
Job
21:7-15, Psalm 73 and Luke 16:19-31 indicate that the unsaved can pass their
sojourn in this world without significant problems and peacefully die from this
world. Therefore, the conscious affliction promised in Romans 2:8-9 must be on
the other side of the grave.
Below
is a summary of proofs from Romans 2:1-9 that the unsaved who have previously
died from this world, whose bodies are presently sleeping in the dust, must
awake to consciousness to experience affliction as promised in these verses:
1.
Romans 2:1-5 establish that the context of this passage refers to all of the
saved and all of the unsaved throughout time.
2.
The Greek word translated “render”
in Romans 2:6 is applies to all mankind as shown by other verses with the same
Greek word.
3.
The phrase “every man according to his
deeds” applies to all mankind throughout time. The Bible establishes the
principle that all mankind are accountable for their deeds.
4.
The language of verse 7 applies to all of the saved throughout time, not to
just some of them. It is parallel language to that found in verses 8 & 9 so
that we know that the whole passage refers to all of mankind throughout time.
5.
The phrase “unto them that are
contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness” in verse
8 applies to all of the unsaved throughout time. All of the unsaved meet this
criteria according to the Bible.
6.
The phrase “soul of man” in verse 9
refers to the person of man himself; either his spirit-essence or his whole
personality.
7.
The phrase “that doeth evil” applies
to all of the unsaved throughout time. They have all done evil or sin that is
not covered by the Lord Jesus.
God has given much proof in Romans 2:1-9
that all of the unsaved must experience conscious affliction because of their
sins. Therefore the unsaved whose bodies are sleeping in the dust must awake to
consciousness to experience this promised affliction.
9. Those that don’t forgive, whenever they have
lived, will be subjected to the tormentor.
We
read in Matthew 18:34-35:
34 And his lord was wroth,
and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto
him.
35 So likewise shall my
heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one
his brother their trespasses.
These
two verses are a part of a parable that is contained in Matthew 18:23-35. This
parable teaches a very important truth that applies to all time.
The
principle is that if we are unable to forgive our fellow man that is evidence
that God has not forgiven us. This principle is taught in other verses (Matthew
6:12-15, Mark 11:25-26, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13).
These
two verses are part of an important parable that teaches that if we cannot
forgive others for what they have done to us, then that is evidence that God
has not forgiven us of our sins. This principle holds true throughout time.
The
word “tormentor” is in the family of words for “torment” found in the New
Testament. This family of words is always used for conscious affliction. It may
be either physical or emotion affliction, but this family of words is always
used to indicate conscious experience.
We
must remember from 1 Corinthians 2:13 that God defines the meaning of words by
how He uses them.
Verse
35 says that if have lived in an unforgiving way in our lives, then we will be
delivered to the tormentors. God defines this family of words as indicating
conscious affliction. Therefore, it is necessary that the unsaved that have
previously died from this world “awake” to consciousness to fulfill this
passage.
Notice
also in Matthew 18:35 that Christ says that His father will “do also unto you”. Christ was speaking to those
people about 2,000 years ago as well as to all people since then, and
ultimately to all mankind. Christ is saying that any of us who don’t forgive
will be delivered to the “tormentor”. God defines this family of words as
indicating conscious affliction.
Therefore,
fulfillment of this verse requires the unsaved who have previously died from
this world “awake” to conscious existence to experience this torment.
10. God talks about shame and affliction for the
unsaved in Psalm 83:17-18:
We
read there:
17 Let them be confounded
and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18 That men may know
that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over
all the earth.
In
verse 17 the word “confounded” means to be ashamed.
We
also read in verse 17 that the unsaved will be “troubled”. This Hebrew word
translated “troubled” is always used for conscious affliction. The unsaved will
be shamed and experience conscious affliction (be troubled) for ever.
Below
are all of the verses with this same Hebrew phrase “for ever”:
Psalms
92:7 ¶ When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of
iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:
Psalms
132:12 If thy children will keep my
covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also
sit upon thy throne for evermore.
Psalms
132:14 This is my rest for ever: here
will I dwell; for I have desired it.
Isaiah
26:4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for
in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Isaiah
65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for
ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and
her people a joy.
From
1 Corinthians 2:13, we know that God defines words and phrases by how He uses
them in other parts of the Bible.
Psalm
92:7 talks about the destruction of the unsaved. That is forever. Everyone
agrees that the destruction of the unsaved is truly forever. The only question
is if it is a continuous destruction that goes on forever or a destruction that
lasts forever.
2
Thessalonians 1:9 confirms that the unsaved will experience “everlasting
destruction”. Therefore, we know that the “for ever” of Psalm 92:7 is truly
forevermore.
The
remaining verses, Psalm 132:12, 14, Isaiah 26:4, and Isaiah 65:18 are all
talking about God’s salvation. God has promised that His salvation and
blessings to the true believers are forever. We know that is truly forevermore.
We
can see that God always uses this particular Hebrew phrase translated “for
ever” found in Psalm 83:17 to describe something that truly goes on
forever. Therefore, based upon 1 Corinthians 2:13, we know that the shame and
troubling of the unsaved truly continues forevermore, according to Psalm 83:17.
This
word “troubled” is always used to indicate conscious experience. It
could be either emotional or physical affliction.
Here
are some example verses with this word. All verses could be listed but it would
make this study unnecessarily long:
Genesis
45:3 And Joseph said unto his brethren,
I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer
him; for they were troubled <0926> at his presence.
Judges
20:41 And when the men of Israel turned
again, the men of Benjamin were amazed <0926>: for they saw that
evil was come upon them.
1 Samuel 28:21 And
the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled <0926>,
and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put
my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto
me.
Ezra
4:4 Then the people of the land weakened
the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled <0926> them in
building,
Job
4:5 But now it is come upon thee, and
thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled <0926>.
Psalms
6:3 My soul is also sore vexed <0926>:
but thou, O LORD, how long?
All
of the above verses are speaking of a conscious affliction. They cannot refer
to something done to bones or dust.
Everywhere
God uses this Hebrew word translated “troubled” in Psalm 83:17 it always
indicates conscious affliction. Therefore, based upon 1 Corinthians 2:13, God
is defining this Hebrew word translated “troubled” as a conscious
affliction. It could be either emotional or physical.
In
verse 17 the word “yea” is the word most commonly translated “and”.
The second part of verse 17 is giving more information the punishment of the
unsaved.
God
says they will perish or die. From the study on the Biblical definition of life
and death for mankind, we can see that the Bible teaches that death, which is
perishing, is to be separated from God.
Unsaved man is eternally separated from God and all of His blessings.
That is a horrible troubling. Please see the study on the Biblical definition
of life and death for more information.
Psalm
83:17-18 and other verses teach that this separation from God results in a
continuous affliction for the unsaved throughout eternity future. That is why
the second death is defined with the word “torment” rather as cessation of
existence (Revelation 14:10, 20:10, 14).
This
ties into the continuous “perishing” described in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. The
word “perish” in Psalm 83:17 is the Hebrew “abad” and it appears 4 times in
Deuteronomy 28 (verses 20, 22, 51 and 63). In each of those verses it is in the
“infinitive”. This is a tense that gives no completion. These verses should be
translated with the phrase “until you are perishing”, describing an on-going
perishing. The language of Deuteronomy 28:15-68 describes an on-going perishing
of conscious affliction.
Let’s
continue with Psalm 83:18
The
word “men” has been improperly added in verse 18. The word “men” is not in the
Hebrew text. Verse 18 must be translated “that they (the unsaved in verse 17)
may know that thou …”. Or, more accurately is to translate it “that they shall
know that thou …”.
That
is, when the unsaved are suffering in the lake of fire, they will finally know
that Jehovah is God. The fact that they will “know” that Jehovah is God does
not mean that they have become saved. God also uses this language to speak of
those that remain under the wrath of God (Ezekiel 30:19, 25, 26, 32:15).
In
Psalm 83:18 the translators were confused about how someone could perish and
then know that Jehovah is the most high. The reason is that they did not
understand that for mankind “death (or perishing) = separation from God”, so
they put in the word “men”. However, that word is not in the Hebrew text. Psalm
83:18 should be translated “That they may know
that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over
all the earth.”
This
is speaking about the unsaved in verse 17. They will finally know that Jehovah
God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus, is the true God.
Summary:
These
are 10 groups of passages that indicate that the unsaved that have previously
died must awake to consciousness.
God
avoids using the word “life” to speak about the eternity of the unsaved not
because they don’t exist. Rather, God defines “life” for mankind in terms of
his relationship with God, who is “life”. The unsaved are eternally and
completely dead; that is they are eternally and completely separated from God,
who is life, and from His blessings, yet they are resurrected or awake to
consciousness to endure the lake of fire. How sad.