God’s Word Interprets God’s Word

The scriptures say … “ In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established” 2 Corinthians 13:1

Deuteronomy 19:15

One witness shall not rise against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin which he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses a thing shall be established.

2 Peter 1:20-22

knowing this first, that every prophecy of Scripture did not come into being of its own interpretation;

for prophecy was not at any time borne by the will of man, but having been borne along by the Holy Spirit, holy men of God spoke.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living, and powerfully working, and sharper than every two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of both soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge of the thoughts and intentions of the heart;

Is Eternal Conscious Torment biblical or is Annihilation ( final disposition of the Reprobate-ceases to exist) ?

Jesus was clear; annihilation is not the final sentence on the reprobate; since there is no difference in the final outcome between never being born or being put out of existence.

Jesus made it clear that it would be better for Judas, His betrayer, to have never been born when considering the true biblical judgement or punishment for the reprobate. The biblical punishment is much more than going out of existence and is for everlasting.

What does the scripture say about Annihilation versus Eternal conscious torment?

Question– If you cease to exist does it equate to never being born?

In both cases, it is as if you never existed. I would say in both cases the result is the same.

Jesus made a comparative statement that can be used to disintegrate the idea that God’s punishment for the reprobate is annihilation

Mark 14:21 ( ESV)

For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Mark 14:21 ( LITV) 1993 Jay P Green

Truly the Son of man goes as it has been written concerning Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It were good for him if that man had never been born.

Matthew 26:24 (LITV)

Indeed, the Son of man goes, as it has been written about Him. But woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed. It were good for him if that man was never born.

Matthew 26:24 ( ESV)

The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Conclusion– If annihilation was true, then Judas’s punishment would be equal and would not be worse to never being born as Jesus alluded; Ceasing to exist is no different than never being born.

Annihilation is not true!

Please notice below the following supportive scriptures for Eternal Conscious Torment.

Matthew 25:46

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.

Daniel 12:2

And many of those sleeping in the earth’s dust shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to reproaches and to everlasting abhorrence.

Comment– Jesus paid and covered the sins through His substitutionary work, (His atoning shed blood 🩸 and perfect life lived that no one but Him can live) for His people, The Elect, The Children of Promise. The unconditionally chosen according to purpose and the counsel of His will.

These people that come to Jesus believing into His work and person are all the father gives to Jesus to be saved who are taken from from every nation, tribe, language and people to Him to be saved. God is not

John 6:37-39, Revelation 5:9,7:9

God through Jesus Christ removes His Peoples’s sin and does not remember their sins any more. Psalms 103:12, Jeremiah 31:34, Isaiah 43:25, Hebrews 8:12

Does the reprobate ever have their past sins covered and not remembered?

No, God, being eternal, must see their past sins forever or for eternity.

Jesus, the only viable satisfaction did not cover the sins of the Reprobate.

Therefore, He must punish the Reprobate forever.

Luke 18:13

And standing at a distance, the tax collector would not even lift up his eyes to Heaven, but smote on his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, the sinner!

Comment

The new God given heart to the Tax Collector through the gift of the Holy Spirit changed his thoughts about his sinning against God. He submitted to the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ asking for mercy who will have mercy on whom He wills. The Tax Collector was one He had mercy on. Romans 9

You should change your mind and understand that nothing you do can please God when you don’t know your righteousness is filthy and falls short of the glory of God and the necessary righteousness to satisfy God’s justice, holy, and perfectly righteous character. Romans 7:5 Romans 3:10-12, Romans 6:23, Isaiah 64:6, Acts 17:30, John 6:47, Hebrews 11:6

Only God is good. Mark 10:18 Without His spirit John 3:8 dwelling in you generating faith Ephesians 2:8-10 that salvation is conditioned solely and only on the atoning shed blood of Jesus Christ and His imputed righteousness (charged to your account), you are still lost and dead in your sins. You are still seeking to establish your own righteousness to earn your own salvation which will never save you. Romans 10:1-4, Revelation 20:10-15

2 Corinthians 5:21

²¹ For He made the One who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Jeremiah 23:6 Isaiah 45:24 Ephesians 2:1-10

The Reprobate’s sins are never covered by the Lamb of God that takes away the sin the world (meaning Jew and Gentile) taken from every nation, even tribe, language and people without distinction because God is not a respecter of faces, John 1:29, Revelation 13:8

You must change your mind and quit seeking to establish your own righteousness to gain your own salvation and submit to the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ received by God given and worked faith. Mark 1:15

Jesus said in John 6:47 that anyone presently believing into Him has everlasting life

John 6:47

Truly, truly, I say to you, the one believing into Me has everlasting life.

Matthew 19:17 Romans 1,2,3 Isaiah 64:6 Romans 8:8-9, John 3:3,5,8, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Romans 4:3-8, Acts 10:34, Acts 20:28, Acts 13:48

The natural man is without God’s spirit because of Adam’s imputed sin to his descendants. Spiritual things are foolishness to him such as the needed effectual work of the Cross of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 2:14, John 10:26, John 8:44, 1 John 2:15-16

You must believe scripture that God promises Matthew 1:21-23 to save His children of Promise, Romans 9:8,11 The unconditional elect, unconditionally chosen( from every nation, tribe, language and people) Revelation 5:9,7:9 from their sins conditioned solely on the atoning shed blood of Jesus Christ Hebrews 9:22 and His imputed righteousness ( charged to your account) alone Romans 4:3-8 Isaiah 53 received by God given and worked faith John 6:29 in this Gospel of Jesus Christ; faith and knowledge that will be received sometime between conception and death . John 14:6, John 8:36 Luke 1:41, John 6:35-65, 2 Corinthians 4:6

This belief is a gift of God. Ephesians 2:8-10 Although, God commands all in Acts 17:30 to repent and believe the Gospel. Do not harden your heart!! Hebrews 3:8

In the above verse Luke 18:13 we see the tax collector with a repentant heart granted by God. 2 Timothy 2:25

He was so distraught over his sinning against God, he was pounding his chest asking for God’s mercy as “The Sinner” not just a sinner.Romans 9:15,18,16

In contrast, in verses Romans 10:1-4 we see just the opposite. We see self righteous sinners seeking to establish their own righteousness for their salvation based on their own menstrual cloth righteousness while failing to submit to the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. They were ignorant because God had not shined the illumination of the Knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 64:6. Romans 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11

Romans 10:1-4

Brothers, truly my heart’s pleasure and supplication to God on behalf of Israel is for it to be saved.

For I testify to them that they have zeal to God, but not according to knowledge.

For being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to the righteousness of God.

For Christ is the end of law for righteousness to everyone that believes.

Comment

The Apostle Paul was praying to God for the salvation of his kinsmen according to the flesh and not according to the spirit. Those in dwelt with the Holy Spirit are already saved and are The Apostle’s brethren after the spirit unto belief of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:8-9, 2 Corinthians 4:6, John 3:3,5,8, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Philippians 1:6,2:13, Acts 20:28, Acts 13:48, Philippians 3 Romans 7:5-6, 2 Corinthians 5:21

His kinsmen after the flesh were unsaved and The apostle Paul was once like them trying to establish his own righteousness until God opened His eyes to the knowledge of the truth.

He knew God was sovereign and in control of salvation and all things. He was once like them until God through Jesus Christ converted him through the gift of the Holy Spirit; generating faith.

All The Father Gives To Jesus Will Come To Him and None Will Be Lost

John 6:37-39

All that the Father gives to Me shall come to Me, and the one coming to Me I will in no way cast out.

For I have come down out of Heaven, not that I should do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

And this is the will of the Father sending Me, that of all that He has given Me, I shall not lose any of it, but shall raise it up in the last day.

Highlights, italics added for emphasis

LITV Literal Translation Jay P Green

ESV translation where noted