It’s Not Fair!
But as for the cowardly and unbelieving, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)
…the unquenchable fire, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:43-44)
How can a just God condemn a person to eternal torment in the lake of fire for his evil deeds committed during his short lifetime? Isn't the punishment disproportionate to the crime, and therefore unjust?
That is a good question.
If a person's eternal destiny were only a matter of reward or punishment for the specific deeds done, then one might make a good case for a limit on suffering. However, it is one's character that determines his eternal destiny, not merely the weighing of his good or evil deeds.
Set, Like Concrete
To be sure, at the Judgment each person will be judged according to his deeds, for they are the evidence of his character, and one's character is formed by the thoughts and deeds to which he gives himself throughout his lifetime. Once that lifetime has come to an end, his character is set for all of eternity, as the Bible so simply puts it:
He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. (Revelation 22:11)
“Still” means without changing — on a steady course throughout eternity. For the Bible assumes the immortality of the human soul, and tells of a resurrection for all who have ever lived — some to a second and eternal life, and some to a second and eternal death.1 It is according to how a tree is bent. There is a point after which it cannot be straightened.
There is an example from nature that illustrates this truth in a limited way. It is a well-known fact that once an animal has killed and tasted blood, it can no longer be trusted. Something is forever changed in its character. It will always crave fresh blood.
Certainly people are of a higher nature than animals, and have the capacity to rise above their lower instincts to live in accordance with the moral law in their conscience. Yet when a person repeatedly pushes past the voice of his conscience to satisfy his own desires, in callous disregard of the welfare of others, it distorts his character.2 Eventually he can no longer hear the voice of his conscience, and he becomes set — like concrete — and cannot change. By his deeds he has chosen his eternal destiny, for they have conformed him to the image of Satan himself, whose voice he has preferred, and whose destiny he will share.3
Tantamount
So the choices and judgments we make in our lifetime are tantamount4 to choosing our eternal destiny, sealing our character and disposition eternally. It only takes one lifetime. In fact, that is the purpose of our short lifetime on this earth — to form and test our character in preparation for an eternity of service in the universe for those who pass the test. Contrary to the ambitions of the space program, God is not going to let man reach the stars until sin has run its course and the last judgment has taken place. At that time, Satan and his angels, and all who prefer their company, will be sealed off for eternity in the place the Bible calls the lake of fire, never to deceive and destroy again.
Then there will be a new heavens and a new earth5 that will be populated by those who have been judged worthy of a second and eternal life6 instead of a second and eternal death.7 These are the righteous people of the earth who listened to the voice of their conscience, consistently choosing the good they knew to do, and turning away from the evil.8 Although they often fell short, their upright character was obvious to all. When they died and their souls went into death,9 they were able to pay the wages of their sins10 because their character was such that they took responsibility for their sins, not blaming them on others. The long discipline of death was able to accomplish its work, cleansing them of their guilt.11 When they were resurrected to stand in the Judgment, there was nothing to be held against them, but only mercy and comfort, and a bright future in the new heavens and the new earth under the good rulership of Messiah and His bride.12
The Sheep and the Goats
Yahshua, the Messiah, described this judgment with profound simplicity:
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?”
And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
