An Examination of the Scripture Testimony

OBJECTIONS ANSWERED

a. The smoke of their torment. An objection is urged against the view that we have been advocating of utter destruction to the wicked, from Revelation 14:11. Speaking of those that should worship the beast, John says, “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever.” There is no necessity of claiming from this text, that the wicked are to suffer eternal misery. This text speaks of torment in the presence of the Lamb, (the Lord,) but the wicked are to be punished with destruction from his presence. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. And according to Psalm 37:20, “They shall consume, into smoke shall they consume away.” While the flames of the fires of hell (gehenna,) are preying upon them; they will be tormented in the flame of fire and brimstone. When the torment ceases they perish, are decomposed; their ashes remain on the earth, and the smoke of their torment (of the flames that tormented them) ascendeth up for ever and ever. All that this text can be made to prove is an eternal decomposition of the wicked. The smoke of their torments ascends up for ever, showing conclusively that they are utterly consumed. MPC 176.3

b. Eternal Fire.—An objection is urged from the testimony of Jude 7, They “are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” The text does not say eternally suffering the vengeance of fire. If it did we might claim it as proof of eternal misery. Sodom and Gomorrah are set forth as an example to those who shall live ungodly. Is there any testimony that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are now suffering, or that they are to suffer eternal misery? How were they overthrown? See 2 Peter 2:6, “Turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes.” But, says the objector, they suffered the vengeance of eternal fire. The element which is to destroy the wicked is without doubt an eternal element, like that which overthrew Sodom, but that is not proof sufficient to show that the wicked will eternally be in the fire.— God has said in positive language, [Psalm 37:10,] “Yet a little while and the wicked shalt not be.” If you say, shall not be on the earth it does not help the case at all, for the earth is the place where they are to be recompensed. We may learn from the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah that the wicked will be burned up. God does not require us to take them as an example of eternal misery without proof that they suffered the same. MPC 177.1

c. Tormented day and night for ever and ever.—It is said it must be that the wicked are to suffer endless misery, according to John’s testimony, Revelation 20:10, “And the Devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” This can prove nothing in regard to the punishment of the wicked; for it is merely spoken of the Devil. Do the Scriptures teach that the Devil is to have eternal misery? Says Isaiah, [Chap 1:31] “And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it (margin—his work) as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them,” The strong, or strong man, we have shown upon another page, signifies the Devil. MPC 178.1

Paul testifies, [Hebrews 2:14,] “Through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil.” The words forever and ever in the original are eis tous aionas ton aionon. Aionas, and aionon are derived from aion on which Greenfield says, “Duration, finite or infinite: unlimited duration, eternity: a period of duration, past or future, time, age, lifetime; the world, universe.” From this we may learn that the term for ever and ever, does not in all cases signify eternal duration. Dr. Adam Clarke, in commenting on the words for ever and ever, gave us a rule to be guided by in ascertaining its extent of duration when applied to objects. It is this: that it signifies only, as long as a thing, considering the surrounding circumstances, can exist. God has promised to his saints, that they shall be clothed with immortality. Of course the term forever applied to them would cover their age, or lifetime, which is to be eternal; but it would not follow from this, that when the term was applied to wicked men and devils, they must exist to all eternity. MPC 178.2

As we have already shown, God declares that they shall die. The circumstances which surround them are, they are raised corruptible and have to the sentence of death and destruction resting upon them. So, according to the above rule, for ever when applied to them would cover the period of their existence only. So as the text in Revelation 20:10 teaches, the Devil is to be tormented in the lake of fire and brimstone while he exists; but this is to be by no means eternal; for we have already shown that the Scriptures teach that he shall cease to exist. MPC 179.1

d. Where their worm dieth not. Mark 9:44. “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Here, says the objector, is something spoken of that is not to be destroyed with the destruction of the body: their worm. This scene is to be in gehenna, originally a valley south of 1 Jerusalem in which fires were kept constantly burning. The filth of Jerusalem, and dead bodies of malefactors were cast into those fires. Whatever might escape the ravages of the flames and fell outside of the fire, was consumed by worms. Those who whom Christ was discoursing understood perfectly the meaning of the term, gehenna, and never could get the idea of eternal misery from it. Christ did not teach them that the wicked were eternally to be preserved in the valley of Hinnom; (gehenna;) but as we have already quoted, [Matthew 10:28,] he says, “But rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Gehenna.) Then they are cast into gehenna for destruction. For further testimony on gehenna, see appendix. MPC 179.2

This testimony of Christ, recorded by Mark, is in accordance with the testimony of Isaiah 66:24. “And they (the saints) shall go forth, and look upon, the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.” Says David, [Psalm 37:34.] “When the wicked are CUT OFF, thou shalt see it.” As the saints can dwell in devouring fire, they may, as the prophet says, go forth and look upon those that have transgressed against God, and see the devouring fire consuming them into smoke, and the worms (not dying under the effect of the flames devouring their bodies.) MPC 180.1

What an awful sight to behold, perhaps a companion or a father in those flames consuming away going out of existence for ever. Truly, as the Prophet says, “They shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.” This scene described by the Prophet is to be fulfilled upon the earth. Proverbs 11:31. “The righteous shall be recompensed in the earth, much more the wicked and sinner.” Can we believe consistently that the plains of the new earth are to be occupied with such an abhorring scene eternally? MPC 180.2

Says Isaiah, speaking of the new earth [Chap 11:9,] “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” MPC 181.1

The fact that the worm does not die, and that the fire is not quenched, instead of proving eternal misery to the wicked, proves that “they shall be utterly consumed.” MPC 181.2