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A
PERPLEXING PASSAGE
In Matthew 25, Jesus speaks two phrases that are
almost universally applied to the doctrine of eternal torment:
Then shall he say
also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
angels: Matt 25:41
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the
righteous into life eternal. Matt 25:46
Once again, when we quote phrases like this
entirely out of context, they may sound impressive, but they are
meaningless unless considered along with the entire passage in
which they appear. These phrases are taken from Jesus' story of
the 'sheep and the goats':
When the Son of
man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with
him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And
before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall
separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his
sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his
right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King
say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave
me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a
stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was
sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto
me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when
saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave
thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in?
or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in
prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and
say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have
done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have
done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the
left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred,
and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no
drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and
ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me
not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw
we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or
sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then
shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye
did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting
punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matt
25:31-46
The proper interpretation of Jesus' parable
of the 'Sheep and the Goats' has been widely debated among Bible
Scholars. The main issue seems to be that this passage is not
easily reconciled with modern evangelical teaching which states
that salvation is by faith apart from works. The popular
teaching affirms that no one is saved by their works, and that
no one will be damned by their works. To the contrary we are
saved only by our faith in Jesus, and we will be damned only by
rejecting him. Even a brief amount of reflection will serve to
show why then this parable of Jesus has caused so much
controversy in evangelical and fundamental circles. We have here
described for us a judgment which is clearly based on works.
This has led many to automatically assume that this parable
simply cannot have reference to the last 'Great White Throne'
judgment which is described in Revelation 20. We have taken up
these issues in detail elsewhere where we give our scriptural
reasons for believing that this parable does indeed refer to the
last great judgment of mankind. Please see our Chapter
The Day
of Judgment for detailed information, or the
addendum below
where we briefly answer the major objections to our reasoning.
The purpose of our present inquiry is to determine whether or
not the fate of the wicked described in this parable,
'everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels', is the
same as the furnace of fire in Mathew 13 that brings about
'weeping and gnashing of teeth'. It is our contention that our
modern theology has been very careless in applying both of these
passages to 'hell', a word which does not exist in the context
of either.
THE TIME ELEMENT
The first question we must concern ourselves with is that of
a time element. We learned from Mathew chapter 13 that
Jesus set a very specific time element when he gave the parable
of the 'wheat and the tares'. We found that he was describing a
time period which was both the end of this current age, but also
one in which the Kingdom had been established. The events were
culminated by a 'harvest' in which the angels cast those wicked
(those living in this specific time period) into a 'furnace of
fire'. According to Jesus, these are the events which are to
close the age in which we currently live.
Therefore as the
tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at
the end of this age. Matt 13:40
Once again I cannot stress enough that the reader must grasp
this one simple truth; that the 'furnace of fire' described
in Matthew 13 takes place at the end of this age, not
before and not after. This is a basic fact which is almost
completely overlooked by most modern expositors of this passage.
Now, we must ask ourselves if there is a similar specific
time element in Jesus' parable of the 'sheep and the goats', and
if so, are we dealing with the same time period which is
described in Matthew 13. Indeed, the very first sentence of this
parable contains the very time element we are looking for:
When
the Son of man shall come in his glory, and
all the holy angels with him, then shall he
sit upon the throne of his glory:
Then of necessity, all the remaining events described in this
parable take place after the time element given in this
very first sentence. The events are very clear. First Jesus
must come, and then after his coming must
sit down on the throne of his glory, and THEN the described
judgment begins. Nothing could be clearer than these simple
facts. Once again it may be helpful to look at the order of
these events as given in the book of Revelation.
Rev 1-10
C
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r
e
n
t
a
g
e |
Rev 11 |
Rev
15 |
Rev
16 |
Rev
17-18
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Rev
19a |
Rev 19b |
Rev 20a
J
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M
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REV 20b
L
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Rev 21-22
AGES
OF
THE AGES |
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H A R V E S T
End of this Age -Beginning
of Next
(Ages Overlap) |
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K
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d
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E
s
t
a
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s
h
e
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HARVEST
DE-
SCRIBED
ANGELS
GATHER WICKED
AND CAST THEM INTO THE WINEPRESS OF GOD'S WRATH |
HARVEST
DETAILED
(BOWL JUDGMENTS-
furnace of fire) |
PARENTH
B
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A
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Matthew chapter 13 described for us the harvest which is
detailed in Revelation chapters 14-19. We found that in every
detail, those events which are described by Jesus in Matthew 13
are matched by the events described in Revelation 14-19.
However, this makes it obvious that the 'furnace of fire' in
Matthew 13 is not 'hell', but a description of the seven last
bowl judgment which represent the 'great winepress of the wrath
of God', part of which is indeed torment by fire. This is not a
determination which is made by whim or wishful thinking. Is is
a determination which is demanded by the time element Jesus
himself has given us in Matthew 13. The events described in
Matthew 13, including the 'furnace of fire' take place in the
end of this age. This age closes at the
Battle of Armageddon, so the 'furnace of fire' described in
Matthew 13 simply cannot be a reference to any fire following
the close of this current age. For a detailed description of
these events please see
part two of
this series.
Now notice very carefully that the second coming of Jesus
which brings about the Battle of Armageddon follows the
seven bowl judgments. When we consider this fact along with the
time element which Jesus gives in his parable of the 'sheep and
the goats', one thing becomes very clear; THE FIRE WHICH IS
DESCRIBED IN MATTHEW 25 (EVERLASTING FIRE PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL
AND HIS ANGELS) SIMPLY CANNOT BE THE SAME FIRE AS
THE ONE DESCRIBED IN MATTHEW 13 (A FURNACE OF FIRE WHICH BRINGS
ABOUT WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH)!
In Matthew 25 we read that Jesus must come, then he
must sit down on his throne, then he must gather all
nations before him for judgment, and then, only after all
these events do the wicked go into 'everlasting fire prepared
for the devil and his angels'. Clearly this fire, whatever it
may be, cannot have any reference to a fire brought about by the
harvest if this harvest precedes the second coming! The fire of
Matthew13 precedes the close of this age, the fire of
Matthew 25 follows not only the close of this age, but
that of the age to come.
The time elements given in Matthew 13 and Matthew 25 simply
do not match. These passages are not parallels of each other,
and as such the fires are also different. When a preacher tells
his congregation that 'hell' is described as both 'a furnace of
fire in which there is weeping and gnashing of teeth', and
'everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels', he is
simply being dishonest. This type of reasoning exists only on
the assumption that all references to fire must refer to 'hell',
even though the word 'hell' exists nowhere in the context of
either.
WHICH FIRE
WAS PREPARED
FOR THE DEVIL?
Someone may reason that although the time elements of these
passages are not the same, the fires are because they both
simply refer to hell; some are sent to hell at the close of this
age, and then some later, but the fires are the same. Could this
be the case?
Every evangelical scholar will be forced to admit that their
theology admits the existence of two hells. One of these
would be designated by the Greek word Hades which they
believe to be a temporary place of punishment for the wicked
prior to the 'Great White Throne Judgment', and the other which
is designated by the Greek word Gehenna which represents
the final resting place of the wicked, or the 'lake of fire'.
In Revelation 20:14 we read that Hades itself is
to be cast into this lake of fire, which clearly indicates that
Hades and Gehenna are two very different and
distinct things.
Which fire was prepared for the Devil and his angels? We read
in Revelation 20:10:
And the devil that
deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.
Clearly then it is the 'lake of fire' that was prepared for
the devil and his angels, and consequently it is this same lake
of fire from Revelation 20 which is referred to in Matthew 25.
Depart from me, ye
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and
his angels (Matt 25:41)
Now consider for a moment that no human goes into this 'lake
of fire' prior to the 'Great White Throne Judgment'. Because
the events of the 'harvest' described in Matthew 13 precede the
great white throne judgment, then the fire these wicked are cast
into as a result of this harvest, the one which brings about
weeping and gnashing of teeth, cannot be the same fire which was
prepared for the devil and his angels as stated in Matthew 25!
No matter how we look at these two passages we must always come
to the conclusion that fires described in each are clearly not
the same.
Once this distinction is recognized, some very interesting
facts come to light. Once we realize that the 'weeping and
gnashing of teeth' from Matthew 13 has no reference to that lake
of fire in Revelation 20 which was 'prepared for the devil and
his angels', it becomes obvious that NO reference to 'weeping
and gnashing of teeth' applies to Revelation 20 either. Why is
this significant? Because the lake of fire is the only
permanent and final condition of the wicked, with all other
judgments prior being temporal.
Every scriptural reference to 'weeping and gnashing of teeth'
is of a temporal nature and represents judgments which can only
be inflicted upon living men and women. I challenge any
believer who professes to stand on a scriptural foundation to
prove otherwise! I respectfully submit that it simply cannot be
done! There are only three condition which are said to
bring about 'weeping and gnashing of teeth':
1) 'A furnace of fire' (Matt 13:42, 13:50)- We have
commented on these passages extensively in
part two and
shown what we feel is conclusive proof that the 'furnace of
fire' refers to the seven last great 'bowl judgments' of God
which are described under the figure of a harvest just before
the second coming of Jesus. These judgment are poured out
upon the earth on living men and women who are worshiping the
beast. There is not one scriptural statements which would
indicate that this is a condition which continues beyond this
life.
2) 'Outer Darkness' (Matt 8:12, 22:13, 25:30 cf. Luke
13:28)- All have reference to people in general, or the Jewish
nation in particular, who though they had held a favorable
position in God's sight, fell into judgment through disobedience
or unfaithfulness. They experience 'weeping and gnashing of
teeth' once they see others attain to the position of favor once
afforded them and realize that they themselves are under the
judgment of God.
In some cases (Matt 22:13) this refers to the Jewish nation,
who by rejecting their Messiah were thrown into a condition of
outer darkness for 20 centuries. Can anyone deny that the Jews
have endured bitter persecution and weeping and gnashing of
teeth?
In other cases (Matt 8:12) it refers specifically to those
national leaders who rejected Jesus. He informs them that they
will see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob come and sit down in the
kingdom, and they themselves cast into 'outer darkness'. This
can only happen in the context of a resurrection during the day
of judgment (see
detailed discussion) when these men realize the position
that was offered to them, but which they rejected.
They will find themselves subjected to the kingdom they
aspired to inherit, and on the same level as the gentiles which
they so despised. But again, the description is not that of an
eternal hell, but of a temporal condition during the last
judgment following the resurrection. Please see also our
article In the Day of Judgment for further discussion. Compare also
Matthew 12:39-42.
In the remaining cases (Matt 25:30, Luke 13:28) we have
general warnings toward those who would presume they had
attained to a favorable position without watchfulness or
obedience. But once again these can only be understood within
the context of the resurrection and in the day of judgment when
every man will be made to give an account to God. Those who had
presumed they stood in God's favor will weep bitterly once
confronted with the truth of their unfaithfulness and
disobedience. Once again, there is nothing in the text to
indicate that these conditions happen upon any but living men
and women, howbeit in the resurrection, and nothing to indicate
that such conditions continue beyond the judgment.
3) 'The portion with the hypocrites' (Matt 24:51)-
This has reference to a servant who is not watching for his
Master's return. Jesus warns that this servant will be caught
off guard, scourged severely (cut asunder- indication the most
severe and cruel form of Roman torture), and appointed his
'portion with the hypocrites'. Hence, the passage is dealing
with those 'evil servants' who are alive at the second
advent. In part one
we proved that these were same group as the 'tares' and had
reference to this same furnace of fire in Matthew 13. Once
again, the judgment is of a temporal nature and only happens
upon living men and women.
These three cases and seven verses record the ONLY
circumstances which bring about 'weeping and gnashing of
teeth'. NONE of them say that these conditions happen upon
anyone beyond this life. NONE of them say that 'weeping and
gnashing of teeth' takes place in 'hell'. NONE of them say that
'weeping and gnashing of teeth' goes on for eternity. While some
represent the conditions of some during the judgment NONE
of them speak one word of anything following the
judgment.
There are four terms which describe the
final and the only permanent state of the wicked;
Everlasting Fire, Gehenna Fire (or Hell fire in the KJV), The
Lake of Fire and the Fire That Shall Not Be Quenched.
None of the passages in which these
terms appear speak of any pain or suffering for mankind other
than their final destruction. In particular, the phrase
'weeping and gnashing of teeth' is never used in conjunction
with any of these to describe the final state of the wicked.
This is highly significant. Not only do those seven passages
which speak of 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' NEVER
mention hell, but those passages which clearly do speak
of the final state of the wicked NEVER mention 'weeping
and gnashing of teeth! This is a fact which simply cannot be
brushed aside.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, you have been lied to! I
plead with you to open your eyes and see the fallacy of applying
these verses to an eternally burning hell.
THE AMAZING
HARMONY OF GOD'S WORD
Once we drop our preconceived ideas and
let the Bible speak for itself, one cannot help but be struck by
the remarkable harmony of God's word. What once seemed to be a
mass of disjointed passages which all referred to hell, at once
becomes a clear panorama of those events immediately preceding
and following the second coming of our savior.
When we realize that Matthew 13 and
Matthew 25 are not attempting to give us vague warnings about
hell, but both contain time elements in addition to their
warnings, we are able to put them side by side and see the big
picture. But even beyond this, the order of events and the time
elements given in these two passages match perfectly with those
given in the book of Revelation.
| Matthew |
Revelation |
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THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE AGE
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The harvest is the end of the
age. Matt 13:39
So shall it be at this end of the age. Matt 13:40
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Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the
time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of
the earth is ripe. Rev 14:15 |
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THE REAPERS ARE THE ANGELS
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The reapers are the angels Matt 13:39
The angels shall come forth, and sever the
wicked from among the just. Matt 13:49
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And another angel came out of the temple which
is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. Rev 14:17
And another angel came out from the altar, which
had power over fire; Rev 14:18
And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth,
and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the
great winepress of the wrath of God. Rev 14:19
|
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WICKED CAST INTO GOD'S WRATH
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And shall cast them into a
furnace of fire: Matt 13:50
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And cast it into the great winepress of the
wrath of God. Rev 14:19
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TORMENT BY FIRE
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a
furnace of fire. Matt 13:50
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and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. Rev
16:8
And men were scorched with great heat. Rev 16:9
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WAILING AND GNASHING OF TEETH
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there shall be wailing and
gnashing of teeth. Matt 13:50
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And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him
glory. Rev 16:9
and they gnawed their tongues for pain Rev 16:10
|
|
Revelation 20 |
|
Rev 19 |
Rev 20 A |
Rev 20 B |
Second Coming
of Jesus
|
Great White Throne Judgment
|
Lake of Fire
|
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Matthew 25 |
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Matt 25:31
A |
Matt
25:31B-32 |
Matt 35:41 |
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the
holy angels with him |
Then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before
him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate
them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep
from the goats:
|
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared
for the devil and his angels:
|
We can be more than confident that many passages of scripture
have been wrongfully applied to the doctrine of eternal torment
Why is it that so many people accept such twisted explanations
of scripture without question? Why do people just refuse to ask
questions and go beyond the assumptions of what they have been
taught?
No dear reader, 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' does not take
place in hell. But, it will come upon those even today
who sit safe in their theology, too lazy to search out the truth
for themselves simply accepting the errors which they have been
taught. Have we refused to study these warnings because we feel
they cannot apply to us? Brothers and sisters, they most
certainly WILL apply to us unless we can get past this smug
attitude that we must have the truth simply because our teachers
tell us so. Can we pretend to be faithful when we spend more
time in front of the television than in God's word? Can we
really proclaim to know the truth when our Bibles collect dust?
May God help our generation to wake up and forsake these God
dishonoring traditions which have kept mankind in bondage for so
long. |
n
both Matthew 13 and Revelation 14, the harvest is said to be the
instrument for punishing the wicked who are alive on the earth
at the end of the age. Just as the flood in Noah's day destroyed that
wicked generation, the events which comprise this 'harvest' are
to be absolutely cataclysmic in their destruction of the wicked
at the end of this age. The wrath of God which is to be
poured out upon that particular generation of men and women who
are found worshiping the beast or have taken its mark will never
be forgotten. The generation in which these events are to take
place is to be both the culmination of the wickedness of
mankind, and of the wrath of God against sin.