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Luke 12:35-48
Luke records some teachings of Jesus that
parallel what He taught during the final week before the crucifixion. It
might be that Jesus taught the same information on more than one occasion,
or that Luke simply records the same information but without any
chronological context as does Matthew. One such example is found at Luke
12:42-48, which is also recorded at Matthew 24:45-51. However, within the
same context as what is given by the other Synoptics (The Synoptic gospels
are Matthew, Mark and Luke), Luke often adds additional teachings not
included by those others. We see this in the Parable of the Watchful
Servants, which is found at Luke 12:35-41. But even though this parable is
not recorded by Matthew or Mark, it directly correlates with the other
parables of the second coming found in each of the synoptics.
Luke 12:35
"Be dressed in readiness, and {keep} your lamps alight.
This is addressed to those who will be living between Christ's departure
from this earth (ascension) and His second coming.
But it is focussed on those who will be alive at the specific time of
Christ's return, and not the last judgment.
The issue is preparation through salvation relationship with God, which is
acquired through trust in Jesus as the Messiah/Savior. Those who are thus
prepared will be rescued from the affliction of those who are persecuting
them, just as Paul taught at 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10.
Luke 12:36
And be like men who are waiting for their master
when he returns from the wedding feast,
so that they may immediately open {the door} to him
when he comes and knocks.
The servants are members of the human race. It pictures mankind in general.
Every person is responsible for the two mandates from God.
Ec. 12:13, Reverance God and keep his commandments.
Reverence for God is the primary mandate. And true reverence refers to
accepting His policy for salvation.
The two go hand in hand.
And that's Belief and trust in the Messianic promise.
The secondary mandate refers to how a believer is to live after salvation.
Basically, His commandments comprise the moral standards that God designed
for all people and instilled in the soul of everyone.
Ec. 7:29, God created people morally upright.
Rom. 2:14-15
For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the
requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to
themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their
hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing
or else defending them.
These moral standards are to be taught and amplified through family and
society in order to promote freedom and stability even among unbelievers.
For the believer after salvation, Paul gave a brief summary at Rom. 13:8-10.
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his
neighbor has fulfilled the Law.
For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall
not steal, You shall not covet,”
and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the
Law.
This is the subject of all of Christ's teachings as detailed in the sermon
on the mount that is recorded at Mat 5-7.
It is summarized at Mat. 6:33 and includes the proclamation of the gospel.
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Those who are waiting for the master are ones who have followed the first
mandate and in reverence to God have accepted His policy for a salvation
relationship with Him.
They have trusted in Christ as Savior. THEY ARE READY.
The wedding feast is simply a part of the parable and has no spiritual
correlation with the wedding of the church to Christ. Remember that a
parable relates a normal situation in life in order to communicate one or
two basic spiritual truths, and one should not take every detail of the
parable and try to find a spiritual counterpart with some aspect of revealed
truth. The return of the master from the wedding feast communicates the
second coming of Christ, which is viewed here as being unexpected and
without warning. That unexpectedness is explained at verse 40 as having no
knowledge of the day, but does not preclude knowing the general season of
the Master's return. Matthew records it at verse 24:50, as not knowing
either the day OR the hour.
Luke 12:37
Happy are those servants whom the master shall find
on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you,
that he will gird himself {to serve,} and have them recline
{at the table,} and will come up and wait on them.
Those of humanity who have trusted in Christ will be honored by Him. The
language of mutual fellowship suggests the gathering of these believers to
Himself when He comes in the clouds of the sky (Matthew 24:31; 1
Thessalonians 4:14-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1).
Luke 12:38
Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds {them}
so, blessed are those {servants.}
Both Matthew (Matthew 14:25) and Mark (Mark 13:35), divide the night hours
into four watches, using the Roman system of measurement, and there is no
reason to think that Luke would use the Jewish system, which divides those
hours into three watches. The second watch thus, refers to the hours of 9 PM
to 12 AM, and the third watch, from 12 AM to 3 AM.
No one should claim from this that Jesus will return at night because what
is night in one part of the world is day in another part. It is simply used
to indicate what has already been stated as unexpectedness.
At Luke 12:39, Jesus gave another parabolic example for being prepared for
His return.
And be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour
the thief was coming,
he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
This reference to moral responsibility to one's home and household, gives
divine support for the right of self defense in a burglar situation. It is
not consistent for Jesus to use such an illustration if He did not approve
of the moral principle that the illustration revolves around.
This parable further illustrates the need and benefit of preparation for
Christ's return.
It is quite interesting that all throughout the teachings of Jesus, He often
gave us various moral guidelines that are designed to promote human freedom
and security.
He did that here and earlier at Luke 11:21.
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are
secure. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him,
that man takes away his armor on which he had relied and distributes his
plunder.
Now, although physical self defense in situations of personal and family
safety is fully supported in the Bible and condoned by God, the use of
physical force when persecuted for your faith is not supported.
See Topic: Self defense
Luke 12:40
You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming
at an hour that you do not expect.
Once again, this is addressed to all members of the human race and exhorts
preparation for Christ's return. Being ready refers to having a salvation
relationship with God through personal trust in Jesus as one's Savior.
And those who are not ready will symbolically be at the mercy of the thief.
Just as Paul taught at 1Thes. 5:2-3.
For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just
like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then
sudden ruin will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and
they will not escape.
Luke 12:41
And Peter said, "Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone
{else} as well?"
Peter recognizes the general application of Jesus' teaching here, so asks
for clarification. Does this exhortation apply to all people or just to the
disciples? Jesus answers this by giving another parable (Verses 42-46), in
which it is clearly stated that the consequence for not being prepared is
total rejection and dismissal to the place of the unfaithful.
This parable is also mentioned at Matthew 24:45-51, but Luke adds some
factors that amplify the spiritual truths illustrated. The main spiritual
lesson of this parable is that at the return of Jesus, there will be some
who are prepared and some who are not. There will be some who are accepted
and some who are rejected.
It also presents two categories of those who are rejected.
At Christ's return there will be the initial experiential judgment of simply
being left behind. All of these - both categories - will express the fear
and sadness that is symbolically portrayed at the 6th seal. Rev. 6:15-17,
"hide us from the wrath."
1Thes. 5:2-3, "For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is
coming just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and
safety!” then sudden ruin will come upon them like labor pains upon a
pregnant woman, and they will not escape."
That sudden ruin will start with the DOL wrath of God through the trumpet
judgments of Rev. 8-9.
This is represented by scourging, and after that, an existence in the place
of the unbeliever for all eternity.
That is IF this person remains an unbeliever during the time period between
his "scourging" and Armageddon.
The other servant represents the unbeliever who did not hear the gospel.
But according to Romans 1:18ff, such a one is still without excuse and will
also be rejected.
Both will appear before the last judgment and end up in the lake of fire.
The ultimate destiny is represented by the phrase, "assign to them a place
with the unbelievers where there is no difference in location or experience.
There are some who think that this parable should be applied to believers
only, and that the faithful servant is the believer in fellowship, and the
unfaithful servant, the believer out of fellowship. The obvious focus in
this parable is rejection of the unfaithful servant when Jesus returns. The
believer, no matter whether he is in or out of fellowship with God will be
gathered unto the Lord at His return, and the language of total rejection
that occurs in this parable, cannot refer to any believer at that time. Part
of the total rejection language in this parable is an assignment to the
place of the hypocrite (Matthew 24:51) and the unfaithful (Luke 12:46), and
the placement of the believer anywhere but "My Father's house (John
14:1-3)," at Christ's return is contrary to Scripture.
To summarize the doctrine of salvation security. It is impossible for a
person who has been saved by God and is being held in God's grasp to ever
lose his salvation. The unprepared servant here is clearly one who has not
trusted in Jesus as the Messiah/Savior, has no relationship with God, and
will be totally rejected at the return of Jesus for His elect.
See Topic: Salvation security
and
Partial rapture theory
Luke 12:42
And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his
master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the
proper time?
The illustration pictures mankind in general, all of whom have creature
responsibility to the Creator and are accountable to Him first, for the
first mandate.
The servant who is faithful is one who has reverence for God and has
accepted His policy for a salvation relationship with Him. He has trusted in
Jesus Christ as the Messiah/Savior.
Luke 12:43-44, Here we are shown the first scenario.
Happy is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I
say to you, that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
The language in the parable is symbolic of what happens when Jesus returns.
It refers to the blessing of being with Christ, and should not be taken as
some kind of literal assignment of responsibility either in the earthly
kingdom or in heaven. When Jesus returns, all who have trusted in Him will
be gathered out of the earth, taken to heaven, and enter into eternal peace
and joy.
The faithful ONES all get the same reward.
At Luke 12:45, we are shown another scenario.
But if that servant says in his heart,
"My master will be a long time in coming,"
and begins to beat the servants, {both} men and women,
and to eat and drink and get drunk;
This refers to a person, who in creature arrogance, ignores the first
mandate: the mandate of the everlasting gospel. Reverence God, give Him
glory and worship Him.
But instead, lives in the self-centeredness of his sin nature, indulging his
pleasure lusts and oppressing others.
Just as Paul described at Eph. 2:3. Unbelievers in general live in the lusts
of the flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and are by
nature children of wrath.
This is the wrath that Jesus proclaimed at John 3:36
The one who believes in the Son has everlasting life; but the one who does
not obey the Son so as to trust in Him,
will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
The unbeliever does not pay attention to the warnings from God's word.
In his heart he rejects the declaration that God is coming and uses human
viewpoint rationale, such as at 2 Peter 3:3-4.
Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with {their}
mocking, following after their own lusts,
and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For {ever} since the
fathers fell asleep,
all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."
And of course, these will all be caught off guard - unprepared - and again,
symbolically be at the mercy of the thief.
At verse 46a and Mat. 24:50, we see the symbolism for the coming of the
Lord.
The master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect, and at
an hour he does not know.
Once again we see the unknown factor that places the urgency on preparation.
This parable further states what Jesus taught at Mat. 24:36, of that day and
hour no one knows
not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
By the way, there is often misunderstanding about this statement by Jesus.
It is at the time of speaking - in the sphere of His human limitations -
that Jesus did not know the timing of His return.
Later, after the resurrection, He will have full awareness of every detail
of the plan of the Godhead.
See topic: Hypostatic union
Now - in connection with this, it is important for us to keep in mind, and I
repeat it for emphasis -
We can know the SEASON.
As Jesus said, when you see these things, these events of the tribulation,
know that He is near;
and that your redemption is at hand, that is, the resurrecton phase of the
kingdom of God is near.
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS
When Jesus comes back to this earth at the Day of the Lord, He will come as
a thief in the night (1 Thes. 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. 3:3; 16:15),
unexpectedly (suddenly) and without warning to the unbelieving world (1 Thes.
5:3; Luke 21:34). For that matter, it is even possible for believers to be
unprepared through carnality and be caught of guard (1 Thes. 5:4-11; Luke
21:34-36). However, all believers will be taken out, and only the
unbelievers will remain to undergo the Day of the Lord judgments, and
ultimately end up in the lake of fire unless they change their mind and
believe in Christ during the period between the rapture and Armageddon. Paul
mentions both aspects of judgment at 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9. At verse 6,
"repay with affliction" refers to the Day of the Lord judgments (the wrath
of God) administered to the unbelievers on the earth. At verse 9, "the
penalty of eternal ruin," refers to the last judgment which assigns the
unbelievers to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). When Jesus returns
the unbeliever will be rejected by Him and remain on the earth. This
rejection is communicated in the parable by the phrase, cut him in pieces.
At Luke 12:46 and Mat. 24:51 the judgment on the unbeliever is shown to be
two-fold.
"and will cut him in pieces,
and assign him a place with the unbelievers."
First: he will cut him in pieces.
This is a difficult statement. The Greek MEANS to cut something into two
parts, however, based on context here, it seems to be idiomatic for
scourging. Cut into two pieces would imply physical death, and if that were
the case, then for this servant (in this normal human context), the fact
that he would then be assigned to the place of the unbeliever (hypocrite at
Matthew 24:51), would be quite meaningless. In addition, in the Luke
passage, the fact that we have this category of disobedient servant divided
into two types, who each receive different lashes from the whip, would
indicate that the idea of "cut him in pieces" refers to a scourging rather
than physical death. We do not have 3 different categories of faithless
humanity here. We have only two and both will be "cut in pieces" when the
master returns. However, if upon or after being cut in pieces, they are then
assigned LASHES based on their respective awareness of God's demands upon
them, then the idea of death associated with "cut in pieces," is not valid.
Thus, it seems more reasonable that the term refers to the idea of scourging
that really CUTS into the skin and peels it away from the body.
The immediate problem with this is that we have no other place where the
term is used in our literature (except at Exodus 29:17 in the LXX), and it
is used quite consistently in secular literature for the practice of using
sword or saw to cut someone in half. But I think that the context is
stronger and I will interpret the phrase, "cut him in pieces," as the idea
of a serious scourging.
This is what happens.
The master returns.
There are two types of unfaithful servant.
Both will be cut in pieces; that is both will be scourged.
One will receive many lashes and one will receive less.
Then after being scourged, both servants will be kicked out and sent to the
place for the unbelievers.
But at this point Jesus leaves the symbolism of the parable and speaks
directly to the everlasting judgment for all unbelievers.
The word apistos can be translated as unfaithful ones or unbelievers.
But in this context the word specifically refers to the unbelievers.
Actually, according to Matthew, Jesus used the word, hypocrites to refer to
the religious unbelievers of Israel who claimed to be the representatives of
Moses and of God, but who rejected the true spirit of the law and of God's
love.
It refers to someone who claims to have some kind of relationship with God
or A god, but who doesn't trust in the Messianic promise. This one might or
might not live contrary to the moral mandate.
Luke, through the Spirit, properly interprets it to mean the unbelievers who
do not reverence God and do not believe in the Messianic promise.
At Mat. 24:51 Jesus used the phrase, There will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.
This phrase only occurs 7 times in the Bible and always in connection with
the final disposition of the wicked when cast into the gehenna of fire.
This image simply communicates the extreme sorrow, anger and frustration of
the person's experience in this place of judgment. It is described at Rev.
14:11, and the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they
have no rest perpetually (day and night).
And in the actual experience of this last judgment there is no basis for
finding differences or degrees in the torment.
So in this parable, the judgment on the unbelievers is FIRST a statement of
rejection at Christ's return.
At the second coming all unbelievers will be left behind on the earth to
experience the judgments from God's end-times wrath.
After being rejected by Jesus at His return, the unbeliever is assigned to
the place of the unfaithful hypocrite, (Matthew). He does not go immediately
to that place, but is simply assigned to it. The final placement in the lake
of fire will not occur until the last judgment.
In verses 47-48, we have an amplification of the punishment of being "cut in
pieces" (scourging) based on personal knowledge of one's responsibility to
God.
This passage has been used to teach that there are degrees of punishment in
hell, and on the surface, this seems to suggest that.
However, the key is to recognize that the PRIMARY theme or lesson of this
parable is that of acceptance or rejection by the Messiah at the Day of the
Lord, and that eternal destiny is not even in view.
Even though there are two different sets of lashes given at the time of
Christ's return, there is only ONE ultimate destiny that is assigned to
both. They both go to the place of the unbeliever where there is weeping and
gnashing of teeth.
At the same time, we must recognize the significance of these two very clear
distinctions in punishment, that cannot be dismissed from the parable as an
insignificant embellishment.
What then is the significance of two degrees of scourging in the parable?
We cannot advance much upon being rejected and left behind at the rapture.
What then would be the significance of more lashes vs. fewer?
There will in fact, be two types of unbeliever left behind at the day of the
Lord return of Jesus. (1) The one who was aware of what God expected of him,
and (2) the one who did not know what God expected of him.
Luke 12:47
"And that servant who knew his master's will
and did not get ready or act in accord with his will,
shall receive many lashes,
This clearly indicates the administration of a more severe punishment upon
the one who is blatantly rebellious against God. But these different degrees
of punishment take place at the return of the Lord rather than at some time
subsequent to that return.
The puzzle is, that one cannot advance much upon being left behind at the
rapture. What then would be the significance of more lashes vs. fewer
lashes?
The reason for this difference is stated at verse 48b as the principle of
greater accountability. That is, the person who knows more of God's will for
their life, is more accountable to God for failure, than is the one who
knows less. I suggest that in this parable, the principle revolves around
the gospel message. The doctrine of evangelism teaches that God reveals
himself through the physical creation so that people can become aware of His
existence; His eternal power and divinity (Romans 1:19-20).
This can be called, the point of God conciousness. That is, the point at
which someone becomes aware of the existance of God.
This is God's way to prepare everyone to follow the primary mandate.
See Topic: God Consciousness
The one who accepts this NATURAL revelation about God and begins to seek for
Him will be given the specific gospel information about the Messiah's
salvation provision. John 7:17.
“If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether
it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.
This person will be held accountable for accepting or rejecting God's
primary mandate; the specific gospel message of "believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ and you shall be saved" (Acts 16:31). However, if at the point of God
consciousness, a person rejects the NATURAL revelation about God as seen in
the physical universe, then God will have no obligation to give to that
person the specifics of the gospel message. This person will be held
accountable for his rejection.
According to Rom. 1:20, he is without excuse so this one will still be
judged as an unbeliever.
This revelation about God from the created universe is the MUCH that is
given to everyone.
The issue of God-conciousness is not a MAYBE situation. This will happen for
everyone who is not hindered by a mental disability. Such as these will not
be held accountable.
But anyone who rejected the Messianic promise as it was revealed in the OT -
and
anyone who rejects the gospel of salvation as it has been revealed in the NT
-
All these will appear at the great white throne judgment for a formal
judicial rebuke of their unbelief.
And all will be sent to the lake of fire.
Luke 12:48b, And from everyone who has been given much shall much be
required;
and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
These statements explain further what He just said about the two types of
unbeliever.
The one who has not heard the gospel has been given much.
He has been given the abundance of divine revelation provided through the
created universe.
And he is responsible for the proper response to that truth.
And so, as an unbeliever, at the return of Jesus, such a one will still be
rejected.
He is portrayed as one who will receive fewer lashes.
And the one who has heard the gospel is responsible for that truth that was
specifically entrusted to him.
Such a one as this will also be rejected at the return of Jesus. He is
portrayed as receiving more lashes.
But BOTH will then be assigned to the ultimate destiny of the unbeliever in
the lake of fire.
The issue of more vs less lashes is pertinent ONLY within the context of the
human illustration.
In the human context, the master will punish his servants differently. But
at the return of Jesus, there will be no difference.
There will indeed be two types of unbeliever alive on the earth at that
time.
Both will be left behind. And ultimately, both will be cast into the lake of
fire.
Now, while Jesus was here on earth He made a special point in condemning the
unbelieving Jews of His generation.
He did this in two ways.
First, quite often He directly accused the religious leaders and those who
followed them as at Mat. 23.
And at other times, Jesus used hyperbole to shame the unbelievers who
rejected him.
In two different ways, Jesus compared the unbelieving Jews who lived during
His time, with the unbelievers of several different time periods.
FIRST, There is the more tolerable factor. Mat. 11:20-24.
SECONDLY, There is the witness factor. Luke 11:29-32.
I view both of these remarks by Jesus as hyperbole to give a strong rebuke
to the unbelieving Jews.
The comparison that He makes would be a very shameful thing to these
religious people who consider themselves to be favored by God more than any
others.
Sure, this interpretation might not be acceptable to some. There are still
many people who think that there will be degrees of punishment in hell. I
affirm that such an idea is not consistent with the absolute justice of God.
Here, all I can do is present my reasons and let each one evaluate.
In trying to interpret these two statements by Jesus, there are some
absolute factors that need to be established.
1. All the unbelievers of the past are in Hades - in torment - and are fully
aware of their status of judgment.
2. When the unbelievers of Christ's generation die, they too will go into
Hades and be fully aware of their judgment.
3. All unbelievers who die in the future will go into Hades.
3. After the earthly Davidic kingdom the final great white throne judgment
will occur. Rev. 20:11-16.
4. All unbelievers will be raised up and stand before the Lord.
5. At that time there will be a formal,judicial declaration of every
unbeliever's equal status.
6. Their will not be any COMPARISON of attitudes and actions of people who
are there and the pain of any comparisons will not be different for
different generations or categories of people.
7. There is no indication in any other passage that suggests witnesses will
appear at the last judgment.
8. Then all will be thrown into the lake of fire.
9. A person does not go to the lake of fire because of sins.
A person goes to the lake of fire because of the one sin of rejecting Jesus
as Savior.
A person's works do not determine whether they go to the lake of fire or
not.
At the great white throne two sets of books will be opened.
The book of works. This is opened to show that no matter how many or what
quality of good a person has done in his life they all come short of
Christ's righteousness.
Eph. 2:8-9, we are saved not on the basis of works. But we are saved by the
ONE work of faith in Christ.
John 6:28-29
Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish
the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe
in Him whom He has sent.”
Isaiah 64:6 declares, All our righteous deeds are as a filthy rag in His
sight.
The only righteousness that counts is God's.
That's why when a peson trusts in Jesus, the righteousness of God is
assigned to that perons. 2Cor. 5:21.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him.
Related to this is what Jesus taught at Mat. 12:24-37
But I tell you that for every useless word that people speak, they will give
an account of it on the day of judgment. For by your words you will be
justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Now let me assure you, such as I am, that no unbeliever is going to give an
explanation for every thing they said or did at the last judgment.
And likewise no believer is going to give an explanation for everything they
said or did at the reward seat.
See Topic: Reward seat of Christ
Briefly, considering the entire context, the "every useless word" is that
which demonstrates one's rejection of Jesus.
He will be held accountable for rejection of Jesus. He will render payment
for that rejection.
And of course the payment that will be made is eternal separation from God
in the lake of fire.
At Mat. 12.37, For by your words you will be justified, and by your words
you will be condemned.”
What a person SAYS, which of course is what they believe - about the person
and work of Jesus - will determine whether they have been justified - that
is - made righteous.
According to Rom. 10:10, for with the heart a person believes, resulting in
righteousness,
and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
And likewise the words that indicate rejection of Jesus result in
condemnation.
Also at the last judgment the book of life will be opened.
This will show that the person never believed in Jesus, which of course, is
the only factor that counts.
John 3:18, The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not
believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of
the only Son of God.
Concerning the book of life
A. Believers are in the book from the foundation of the world. Rev. 17:8;
Ps. 69:28; Phil. 4:3
B. Believers are not erased: Rev. 3:5
C. Unbelievers are blotted out. Ps. 69:28
D. Dead unbelievers are not in the book. Rev. 20:15
E. And everyone whose name is not in the book of life will be cast into the
lake of fire.
So, whether any unbeliever is in Hades, or later will appear at the formal
great white throne -
The judgment declared upon them is the same for all.
And the final factor for every person is whether they are in the book of
life or not.
In addition, the description of the unbeliever's final destiny does not
allow for any degrees of punishment.
Rev. 14:9-11 does not allow for degrees of punishment.
Equal anger from God and equal torment.
“If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his
forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of
God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be
tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in
the presence of the Lamb.
And Paul's description at 2Thes. 1:9 indicates equal judgment. These people
will pay the penalty of eternal ruin,
away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.
Now concerning the more tolerant factor.
Mat. 11:20-24.
"Then He began to reproach the cities in which most of His miracles were
done, because they did not repent.
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had
occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented
long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Nevertheless I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in
{the} day of judgment, than for you.
And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall
descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred
in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I say to you that
it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in {the} day of judgment,
than for you.
There are no degrees of judgment or of punishment.
There are no degrees of what must be tolerated. It is equal condemnation to
all unbelievers.
This is hyperbole directed to the religious Jews as a whole. Individuals are
not in view.
But it functions as a severe rebuke to the hearers for their unbelief.
Only three cities are mentioned and that also should tell us that Jesus is
using hyperbole to shame the hearers.
The mention of miracles refers to the visible manifestation of Jesus as the
Messiah and indicates that greater revelation was given to Christ's
generation than to the former generations mentioned.
However, lesser revelation does not mean inadequate revelation.
People of the past received sufficient gospel information to enter into a
salvation relationship with God.
The people mentioned as "they would have repented," is hyperbole to shame
the Christ rejectors of His generation.
All unbelievers of every generation will be held accountable for their
unbelief and all will be assigned to the lake of fire.
Now concerning the witness factor.
Luke 11:29-32.
Now as the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a
wicked generation; it demands a sign, and so no sign will be given to it
except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the
judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to
listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon
is here.
The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and
condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold,
something greater than Jonah is here.
I believe that this also is hyperbole.
Again, the words of Jesus function as a severe rebuke upon the hearers for
their unbelief.
First, there is no other passage that even hints there will be witnesses
called at the last judgment.
Second, there is no NEED for witnesses to be called because ALL are equally
guilty and equally judged.
Third: Notice that this is NOT an individual idea.
This is a generational issue; a national and ethnic issue - as Jesus
clarified at other times
as at Mat 23.36, all these things will come upon this generation.
And Luke 19.44, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.
At the last judgment each unbeliever will appear before the great white
throne and be individually indicted and sent to the lake.
There will not be any generational, national, or etnic factors involved.
Luke 12:46
He will be assigned a place with the unbeliever.
And if anyone's name was not in the book of life, he will be cast into the
lake of fire. Rev. 20:15
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