Is the God of the Bible a Tyrant to Send People to the Lake of Fire Eternally?
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How can the God of the Bible be just to condemn people to eternal fire for sin committed over the course of one life? Many claim He could not be just for this reason. But is there more to consider here? Yes.
Consider then:
Don’t underestimate the significance of what happened in the Garden of Eden. Man lost fellowship with God and was kicked out of the garden due to one choice to refuse God’s authority and go his own way. This one act carried such severe consequences that it set the creation itself on a course of death which brought with it pain, sickness, and suffering.
We know that it is exceedingly evil for a mere human being to declare him or herself to be God. That is as evil as anything can be.
Those that can justly be called tyrants practically do set themselves in the place of God. Ruling over others based on one’s whims, and not rather upon righteous principles, is the essence of tyranny.
God’s reign over humanity on the other hand is inherently based upon that which is right, true, good, etc. This makes the God of the Bible’s reign over mankind the very opposite of tyranny.
We all admit, at least implicitly, even though some won’t admit it with their lips, how proper God’s reign is and how appropriate His condemnation is when we recognize how humans playing God is so utterly wrong and evil.
Consider with that how every sinner who chooses to go their own way, and not rather worship the true God in subjection to His commandments, is in some measure guilty of playing God by denying the true God’s right to reign over them.
The Bible speaks of God being jealous for His own name. He would be corrupt to not be jealous for His own name because of the excellent attributes which His name inherently represents and stands for. He would thus be corrupt to not punish opposition to Himself with utter, unspeakable severity.
On the other hand, when mere humans who are not God and cannot rightfully claim the power, authority, and perfect moral excellence which the true God has are jealous for their own name, or if they in any way resist God’s right to have His name glorified in them, they are opposing the true God and siding with the devil.
Jesus made it clear that the eternal lake of fire was created for the devil and his angels. He also made it clear that humans who oppose God’s authority and don’t live in accordance with the light of truth, even when doing so causes inconvenience and suffering for them, will be cast into the everlasting fire with the devil and his angels.
It is also worth noting that the consequences of sin run exceedingly deep. The practice of sin has effects on others which we cannot comprehend, and which God alone knows the extent of. The world has become as wicked as it is through the evil choices which people have made. And judging by humanity now, it is reasonable to conclude that from the beginning those who have made evil choices told themselves that what they were doing wasn’t that serious and that they weren’t really doing much harm by their sin. The harmful and corrupting effects of sin are potentially endless.
We see throughout the Bible that God consistently regarded the sins of people in the Bible to be much more severe compared to how they were regarded by those who committed them. It is no wonder that Proverbs 14:9 states “Fools make a mock at sin.”
The top priorities which Jesus mentioned in the “Our Father” prayer actually implicitly demonstrate the fitting condemnation of those who don’t continually account that they owe their existence to the God of heaven, don’t continually seek the glory of His name, and don’t continually live in accordance with His rightful, sovereign claim on their life by being subject to His commandments.
Jesus did not speak in vain when He spoke about a narrow gate that must be entered and a constricted, narrow way that must be followed in order to inherit eternal life; and when He spoke of a broad gate and a broad way which leads to destruction. He did not warn in vain of the need to be so severe in parting from sin in order to avoid the eternal fire of hell that He would liken this parting to plucking out an eye or cutting off a hand or a foot.
Following Christ’s prescription for righteousness is often hard, but it is never unreasonable. Not embracing the Bible’s warnings about an eternal lake of fire for those who don’t follow Christ’s prescription for righteousness is negating what Christ has said and done.
Revelation 7:13-15: “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.”
Jesus Christ, incarnate as a man, spoke frequently of the reality of the eternal fire of hell and its appropriateness for those who continue in sin and despise the terms of His offer of mercy. Obtaining His mercy requires that we properly recognize His rightful authority over us, break from our sins, and live in subjection to His Word. He sees the whole picture and He thus knows what man cannot fully comprehend. And He is the One who suffered untold agony on the cross as an offering for sin in order to redeem sinners from their sins and reconcile them to the Father through Himself. He is the very one who will judge mankind and sentence the unrepentant to the eternal lake of fire. You don’t know better than He does.
Aaron’s email is: [email protected]