Chapter 33: Of the Last Judgment

Question.

Shall the wicked who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, be cast into everlasting torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power?

Yes. (Matthew 25:31 to the end; Romans 9:22-23; Acts 3:19; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.)

Well then, do not the Socinians err, who defining eternal death to be the extinguishing of the body and soul, maintain, that the wicked are to suffer no torment in hell; and that their whole punishment will be to be deprived of eternity, or annihilated, that is, both soul and body turned into nothing?

Yes.

Do not likewise the Origenists, and some Anabaptists err, who think, that not only the wicked, but the devils themselves, after many torments in hell, shall be received by God into favor, and be made blessed and happy?

Yes.

By what reasons are they confuted?

(1) Because, the Apostle affirms, almost in so many words, that which we have asserted (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). (2) Because, life eternal, and death eternal, are in Scripture opposed to one another in the same sense (Matthew 25:46). But life eternal in Scripture, is not taken for being simply eternal, but for being eternally happy, or to be in a blessed eternal state and condition (Psalm 133:3). Therefore, eternal death must be taken in Scripture not for annihilation, or being turned into nothing; but for an eternal wretched and miserable state and condition. (3) Because, the Scripture says, but the children of the kingdom shall be cast into utter darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12-13). (4) Because, the Scripture affirms expressly, that the wicked are tormented in hell (Luke 16:24). Next, there are some degrees of torments there, but there are no degrees in non esse, that is, in not to be. (5) Because, Abraham says expressly, there can no man pass from the place of torment, to the place of bliss and happiness (Luke 16:26). (6) Because, the torments of the wicked are called a worm that dies not; a fire that cannot be extinguished. (7) Because, the Scripture says, that the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever (Revelation 14:11; Revelation 19:3). (8) Because, the wicked will be carried into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:46). And the same wicked, are to rise again to shame, and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2). And to suffer the vengeance of everlasting fire (Jude verse 7). And now only is the accepted time, and now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).