How Severely Does God Judge People who Die in the Sin of Unbelief?
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The punishment unbelievers will endure after they die and before they get tossed into the lake of fire will be in accordance with what they knew about God's will but chose not to obey.
47“And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, 48but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few." (Luke 12:47-48 NASB)
Those who knew a lot but who do not follow Christ will be punished severely, while those who knew little and who did not follow Christ will be punished less severely while they wait to go to the lake of fire.
47“And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, 48but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few." (Luke 12:47-48 NASB)
Those who knew a lot but who do not follow Christ will be punished severely, while those who knew little and who did not follow Christ will be punished less severely while they wait to go to the lake of fire.
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I don't recall any place in the bible that tells of punishment before the lake of fire, only people coming up with that conclusion. It is possible that the difference in punishment, which would be nearly impossible to be meted out fairly in Hades due to the short time in it in the latter days, doesn't exist in Hades. We are told that Heaven would be like the parable of the Unmerciful Servant who was given many lashes until his debt was paid. Also in many places we are told of the "fire" of punishment refining people. Therefore, it seems possible that the evil ones remaining in the fire forever could be the evil fleshly bodies and the spiritual bodies that have been refined might be retrieved from the lake of fire after punishment, with the exception of the beast, false prophet and Satan. I realize that our fleshly bodies are turned into spirit bodies, so I am not saying that the fleshly bodies are actually remaining in the fire, but that the smoke that goes up forever might be the remnants of the sins of the flesh that will rise forever. Where does smoke go after it disappears from sight?
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Here's where the Bible talks about that:
"9then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment" (2 Peter 2:9 NASB)
" 22“Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. 23“In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. 24“And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ 25“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 26‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’ 27“And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— 28for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’" (Luke 16:22-28 NASB)
The wicked and the hypocritical will be punished with torment while they await their fate in the lake of fire. The torment they are subjected to will be in accordance to what they did in this life, and the extent to which they are responsible for what they did. Meanwhile, the faithful who endure to the end will be in God's comfort while they await their entrance into the kingdom of God at the resurrection.
"9then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment" (2 Peter 2:9 NASB)
" 22“Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. 23“In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. 24“And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ 25“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 26‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’ 27“And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— 28for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’" (Luke 16:22-28 NASB)
The wicked and the hypocritical will be punished with torment while they await their fate in the lake of fire. The torment they are subjected to will be in accordance to what they did in this life, and the extent to which they are responsible for what they did. Meanwhile, the faithful who endure to the end will be in God's comfort while they await their entrance into the kingdom of God at the resurrection.
When people were never a believer; they are already condemned and heading to hell as sin is a poison that separates us from God and all that is good.
John 3:[SUP]17 [/SUP]For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.[SUP]18 [/SUP]He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
So Jesus abides in former believers, but the consequences there is, being rejected from attending the Marriage Supper in His honor as vessels unto honor but to be received later after the pre trib rapture as vessels unto dishonor in His House, but that also include any professing believer that are in other kinds of iniquity & did not repent before the Bridegroom had come.
2 Timothy 2:[SUP]10 [/SUP]Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.[SUP]11 [/SUP]It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:[SUP] 12 [/SUP]If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:[SUP] 13 [/SUP]If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself...........[SUP]18 [/SUP]Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.[SUP] 19[/SUP]Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.[SUP]20 [/SUP]But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.[SUP]21 [/SUP]If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for those saints left behind because once that door is shut to the Marriage Supper, no believer or new believer can have that firstfruit of the resurrection inheritance again to be that vessel unto honor in His House. However, God will perform a miracle by wiping the tears from the eyes of those coming out of the great tribulation to help them get passed their loss and live as vessels unto dishonor in His House as they will testify t the power of God in salvation for those who believe towards the coming generations out of the millennium reign of Christ.
John 3:[SUP]17 [/SUP]For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.[SUP]18 [/SUP]He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
So Jesus abides in former believers, but the consequences there is, being rejected from attending the Marriage Supper in His honor as vessels unto honor but to be received later after the pre trib rapture as vessels unto dishonor in His House, but that also include any professing believer that are in other kinds of iniquity & did not repent before the Bridegroom had come.
2 Timothy 2:[SUP]10 [/SUP]Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.[SUP]11 [/SUP]It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:[SUP] 12 [/SUP]If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:[SUP] 13 [/SUP]If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself...........[SUP]18 [/SUP]Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.[SUP] 19[/SUP]Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.[SUP]20 [/SUP]But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.[SUP]21 [/SUP]If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for those saints left behind because once that door is shut to the Marriage Supper, no believer or new believer can have that firstfruit of the resurrection inheritance again to be that vessel unto honor in His House. However, God will perform a miracle by wiping the tears from the eyes of those coming out of the great tribulation to help them get passed their loss and live as vessels unto dishonor in His House as they will testify t the power of God in salvation for those who believe towards the coming generations out of the millennium reign of Christ.
I really don't feel like stirring the pot this evening, but I cannot let this twisting of the biblical text go unchallenged. The Scripture does not say that the virgins "became foolish" (unless it's in a different translation), that they were "once believers" or that their oil was "gone". They didn't bring any oil; simple as that. They didn't have any to start with. Let's not be reading our assumptions into the story to make it fit a particular soteriology. 
Believing: in the context it is written is Faith that works by Love, its also evident that "Daily pick up your cross and follow Me" is involved, as Paul said: One thing I do, forgetting what is behind I press on. As mentioned our languages having different meaning, "For we are saved if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end." "God calls those things witch be not as though they are, and since we are saved at the end, and now by "Faith that works by Love," as we continue in the Love of God we are eternally secure and if we don't we were not saves in the first place. Bear with me, speak French and English fluently with mistakes and don't take sides between eternal security and what shall we say then of: "Fear God (admiration worship) and obey His commandments." Now summed up in tree commandments. "A new commandment I give to you that you Love one another as I have loved you; that you also Love one another." This is the end of the Law for right relationship with God and each other for all that believe." "Christ in You the Hope of Glory." God will not share His Glory with another, if our heart is divided between a life for ourselves and a life in God, we will not have part in the first resurrection, "Over these the second death has no power." "The rest of the dead are not raised until the thousand years are fulfilled." "Some will be saved but as through fire but lose their reward." "The sea (Nations) gave up the dead that are in them, death and hell gave up the dead that are in them, and everyone was judged according to their work (labour)."
I did not check references this is all from memory, feel free to make any corrections, farewell.
PHart, I think you are right about sheol, and I now see where it says that there will be punishment before the day of judgement. I was thinking that it was punishment on earth, but this verse from "The Complete Jewish Bible" indicates that it will be continuous until the judgement, which would need to include time after death. 2 Peter 2:9-10 [FONT="] [/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="]9 So the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and how to hold the wicked until the Day of Judgment while continuing to punish them, [/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="]10 especially those who follow their old natures in lust for filth and who despise authority.
It would however not need to exclude a redemption in the Lake of Fire, once punished enough. Not saying that it would have to be that way, just trying to include the Unmerciful Servant ending.[/FONT]
It would however not need to exclude a redemption in the Lake of Fire, once punished enough. Not saying that it would have to be that way, just trying to include the Unmerciful Servant ending.[/FONT]
Not really, since {belief} = {unbelief}.
Since believing is a measure of faith, it really doesn't matter if the hope is expressed as belief or unbelief, they both are equal expressions of the hope. Whether one believes something is true or whether someone believes it is not true does not require the believer to consider any external factors in the formulation of what they believe.
Consider these two examples, the believer will choose to hope in one as being true and reject the other:
Belief:And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? John 11:26
Unbelief: And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: Genesis 3:4
Belief: She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
John 11:27
Unbelief: Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Genesis 3:1
However in order for the hope to develop into faith, one must believe all things in order to discern the substance upon which the hope can begins to develop into faith. Thus betrayal would be more indictave of a lack of faith seeing that those who engage in its practice reject the gospel of the faith.
Belief: And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Rev 21:27
Unbelief: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Since believing is a measure of faith, it really doesn't matter if the hope is expressed as belief or unbelief, they both are equal expressions of the hope. Whether one believes something is true or whether someone believes it is not true does not require the believer to consider any external factors in the formulation of what they believe.
Consider these two examples, the believer will choose to hope in one as being true and reject the other:
Belief:And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? John 11:26
Unbelief: And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: Genesis 3:4
Belief: She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
John 11:27
Unbelief: Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Genesis 3:1
However in order for the hope to develop into faith, one must believe all things in order to discern the substance upon which the hope can begins to develop into faith. Thus betrayal would be more indictave of a lack of faith seeing that those who engage in its practice reject the gospel of the faith.
Belief: And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Rev 21:27
Unbelief: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.