30-The Destruction of the Wicked - RSV

1. God's Character Is One of Love.
Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD appeared to him from afar. I have loved you with an _everlasting_ love; therefore I have continued my _faithfulness_ to you.

2. God Does Not Want Anyone to Perish.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is _forbearing_ toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach _repentance_.

3. Our God Is a Consuming Fire. This Means Sin and Sinners Cannot Exist in His Presence.
Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a _consuming_ _fire_.

4. Sinners Will Ultimately Be Burned Up, Or Turned to Ash.
Malachi 4:1-3 "For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when all the _arrogant_ and all _evildoers_ will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them _neither_ root nor branch. [2] But for you who fear my name the sun of _righteousness_ shall rise, with _healing_ in its wings. You shall go forth _leaping_ like calves from the stall. [3] And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.

5. The Wicked Shall Not Be.
Psalms 37:10 Yet a little while, and the _wicked_ will be no more; _though_ you look well at his place, he will not be there.

6. The Wicked Shall Perish, They Shall Be Consumed Away.
Psalms 37:20 But the wicked perish; the _enemies_ of the LORD are like the glory of the _pastures_, they vanish--like smoke they vanish away.

7. The Wicked Will Not Be Found.
Psalms 37:36 Again I passed by, and, lo, he was no more; _though_ I _sought_ him, he could not be found.

8. There Will Not Be One Punishment Whose Effects Last Forever. There Will Be One Punishment Whose Effects Last Forever.
Matthew 25:46 And they will go away into eternal _punishment_, but the _righteous_ into eternal life."

9. Sodom and Gomorrah Are Examples of Everlasting Punishment.
these Cities Have Ceased to Exist.
Jude 1:7 Just as Sodom and Gomor'rah and the _surrounding_ cities, which likewise acted immorally and indulged in unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a _punishment_ of eternal fire.

10. The Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah Are Turned into Ash.
2 Peter 2:6 If by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomor'rah to ashes he _condemned_ them to _extinction_ and made them an example to those who were to be ungodly;

11. The Fire Cannot Be Quenched Or Put Out Until Sin Is Totally Eradicated From the Universe.
Matthew 3:11-12 "I baptize you with water for _repentance_, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [12] His _winnowing_ fork is in his hand, and he will clear his _threshing_ floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with _unquenchable_ fire."

12. Jerusalem Was Destroyed by An Unquenchable Fire Which Humans Could Not Put Out. The Fire's Work Was Complete and Jerusalem Is Not Burning Today.
Jeremiah 17:19-27 Thus said the LORD to me: "Go and stand in the Benjamin Gate, by which the kings of Judah enter and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem, [20] and say: 'Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates. [21] Thus says the LORD: Take heed for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. [22] And do not carry a burden out of your houses on the sabbath or do any work, but keep the sabbath day holy, as I _commanded_ your _fathers_. [23] Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but _stiffened_ their neck, that they might not hear and _receive_ _instruction_. [24] "'But if you listen to me, says the LORD, and bring in no burden by the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but keep the sabbath day holy and do no work on it, [25] then there shall enter by the gates of this city kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in _chariots_ and on horses, they and their _princes_, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall be _inhabited_ for ever. [26] And people shall come from the _cities_ of Judah and the _places_ round about Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the Shephe'lah, from the hill _country_, and from the Negeb, bringing burnt offerings and _sacrifices_, _cereal_ offerings and _frankincense_, and bringing thank offerings to the house of the LORD. [27] But if you do not listen to me, to keep the sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter by the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day, then I will _kindle_ a fire in its gates, and it shall _devour_ the _palaces_ of Jerusalem and shall not be _quenched_.'"

13. The Wicked Shall Be Destroyed Forever. Forever Does Not Always Mean Endless Existence But Is Literally Translated "Until the End of the Age. ".".
Revelation 20:10 And the devil who had _deceived_ them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be _tormented_ day and night for ever and ever.

14. A Slave Shall Serve His Master Forever Or As Long As He Lives.
Exodus 21:6 Then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the _doorpost_; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall _serve_ him for life.

15. Hannah Presented Samuel Before the Lord Forever Or As Long As He Would Live.
1 Samuel 1:22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her _husband_, "As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the _presence_ of the LORD, and abide there for ever."

1 Samuel 1:28 Therefore I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he _lives_, he is lent to the LORD." And they _worshiped_ the LORD there.

16. The Evil Angels and All the Wicked Are Reserved Unto Judgment.
hell Is Not Burning Now.
2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and _committed_ them to pits of nether gloom to be kept until the _judgment_;

Revelation 20:9 And they marched up over the broad earth and _surrounded_ the camp of the saints and the beloved city; but fire came down from heaven and _consumed_ them,

17. Satan Himself Will Be Consumed to Ashes.
Ezekiel 28:17-18 Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you _corrupted_ your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. [18] By the _multitude_ of your iniquities, in the _unrighteousness_ of your trade you profaned your _sanctuaries_; so I brought forth fire from the midst of you; it _consumed_ you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who saw you.

18. The Fire Will Burn Itself Out and There Will Not Be Even a Coal Left.
Isaiah 47:14 Behold, they are like stubble, the fire _consumes_ them; they cannot deliver _themselves_ from the power of the flame. No coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before!

19. The Wicked Shall Be As If They Had Never Been.
Obadiah 1:16 For as you have drunk upon my holy _mountain_, all the nations round about shall drink; they shall drink, and _stagger_, and shall be as though they had not been.

20. The World Shall Be Dissolved and Afterwards God Will Create a New Heavens and a New Earth.
2 Peter 3:12-13 Waiting for and _hastening_ the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and _dissolved_, and the elements will melt with fire! [13] But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which _righteousness_ dwells.

Next Bible Study: 31-Questions on the Destruction of the Wicked

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