Question
43: What shall be done to the wicked at death?
Answer:
The souls of the wicked shall at death, be cast into the torments of hell, and
their bodies lie in their graves till the resurrection and judgment of the
great day.
Introduction
This proved to be a catechism not
to get excited about. It is quite
humbling to know that the only difference between the wicked and the redeemed
is God’s wonderful grace and mercy. We
cannot look at the wicked with any since of disdain or self-righteous
pride. We must be diligent with the
gospel and warning those who listen of impending judgment. Note that this week’s catechism and next
week’s concerning the judgment itself use some of the same scripture. We will reserve the Revelation passage for
next week.
Day
1: Cast Into the Torments of Hell Part I
Luke 16:22-24
Jesus is giving a series of
parables recorded here in Luke primarily directed at the Scribes and Pharisees
who doubted Jesus’ authority and resented the “sinners” who were attracted to
His teachings. This parable of the rich
man and Lazarus appears to be attached to verses 14-17 in which Jesus rebukes
the Pharisees in response to them snubbing Him and His teaching. He primarily points to their love of money
and their outward display self-righteousness.
The rich man in the parable was
just the type of person that Jesus was speaking of in verses 14-17. He had the best of clothes that all could see
and had a luxurious lifestyle (verse 19).
But there was this beggar Lazarus who was full of sores that the dogs
licked (dogs considered the lowest of animals to the Jews next to pigs,
reference Matthew 7:6) and sat at the rich man’s gate just hoping for some
crumbs to fall off of his table (verses 20-21).
In verses 22-23, we see that they
both died. The beggar in “Abraham’s
bosom” and the rich man in “torments.”
Now Jesus is not teaching that the poor are redeemed and the rich
condemned, although He did point out in Luke 18:25 that it is very difficult
for a rich man to enter into the kingdom.
The point is that the rich man had opportunity to demonstrate true
righteousness by taking in the beggar.
Instead, he chose to hedonistically enjoy all of his riches himself.
Further, the point is driven home
in the fact that the poor man gets a seat in the banquet room of heaven right
next to Abraham himself (Abraham’s bosom) the beloved Father of the Jews. The Scribes and Pharisees (along with most
Jews) associated riches with God’s blessing and poverty with God’s
judgment. Jesus was establishing a
different paradigm by proving that God’s judgment is of the heart (Matthew
15:18-20). I am sure that they would be
taken aback that the sore covered beggar would get the most prominent place in
heaven that a Jew could imagine. Riches
on earth amount to nothing. Only riches
stored in heaven can be claimed for “where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
Discuss the following with your
family:
1.
Have a discussion with your children
concerning who the wicked truly are.
They get the impression often that the wicked are what society deems as
most reprehensible: murderers, thieves, and the like. But even a benevolent, successful, law
abiding citizen can go to Hell, if he has not placed his faith in Christ Jesus.
2.
You may want to introduce this
discussion by asking your children to name wicked people. They will inevitably give the above answers,
but you can add to the list dads, moms, teachers, church members, etc. Also, do not forget that there will be
beggars, thieves, tax collectors, and prostitutes in heaven. We cannot judge by outward appearances or by
someone’s background. The question is
have they placed their faith in the redemption of Christ Jesus.
Day
2: Cast Into the Torments of Hell Part II
Luke 16:22-24
We continue today with the
parable of the rich man and Lazarus. We
will look more specifically of the torments that the wicked will suffer.
Of the wicked at death, the first
thing that we see is that their bodies rest in the grave (verse 22), which will
be the topic of Day 3’s lesson.
Secondly, we see that his eternal soul immediately goes to a place
called Hades (verse 23). We deduct that
it was immediate since his five brothers are still living (verse 28). Further, we can deduct from verse 26 that it
is either heaven or Hades with the only thing in between is this great gulf of
which there is no passing. Either God’s
mercy is realized during one’s life or not at all. The rich man knows that his goose is already
cooked and therefore does not plead with Father Abraham to pray him out of
purgatory nor is there any reference to any other place where the wicked could
get another chance.
Hades in the New Testament is
similar to Sheol of the Old, however, Sheol was the abode of the dead
regardless of one’s righteousness (Psalm 16:10). Jesus in the New Testament divides the abode
of the dead into
The wicked like the righteous do
not soul sleep awaiting judgment, rather, judgment begins already in
torments. Torments is basanos in the Greek originating in a
method of testing metals with fire, but later used to speak of torture geared
at making one to tell the truth. Thus,
torments is a conscience condition of relentless pain, regret, and desperation
of the soul of the wicked. We see here
some of the characteristics of this torment.
Part of the torment is that the
wicked can see what they missed by their refusal to believe (verse 23). What they missed is a long way off, but still
in view. No matter how close the wicked
become to believing in this life,
Secondly, we see that there is no
comfort or mercy in Hades. The rich man
is very reasonable in his request. He
only wants a drop of water from the finger of Lazarus to temporarily cool his
“spiritual” tongue (verse 24). Note that
the worded for torment is different here than in verse 23. Here it is given as odunaoto meaning to cause intense pain, to be in anguish, to be
tormented ironically, the rich man himself turns into a beggar that receives
back what he gave in his lifetime.
Abraham shows no mercy. It is too
late (Hebrews 9:27). Similarly, we see
that there is no comfort from this torment; it is constant and
never-ending. Only comfort (Greek = parakaleo meaning to call to one’s side,
to encourage, strengthen) is reserved for the righteous (verse 25).
Thirdly, we see that part of the
torment is that he realizes that the loved ones that he has left behind are in
danger of being doomed themselves, as well, and he can do nothing about it
(verses 27-28). I take it also that his
brothers’ entrance into Hades will provide no companionship for the rich
man. Notice he does not “beg” Father
Abraham for them to join him, so that they could “bust Hell wide open.” To see your loved ones come after you and generations
of descendants will add severely to the torment.
Last of all, we see the regret of
knowing that all that Moses and the prophets had said was true and that
opportunity was missed (29-30). They
warned of judgment and preached repentance, but it fell upon death ears. It appears that the eyes of the wicked are
opened to the truth of God’s word in Hades.
Of course, the ultimate regret is that the Messiah came and they missed
Him, even when He rose from the dead (verse 31). The cry resounds from the pits of Hell, but
falls on deaf ears: “It is true, it is all true, why did I not head the call?”
Discuss the following with your
family:
1.
This lesson stresses the culpability of
man in his own condemnation (Romans 1:20-23, even extending in to Chapter 2). This passage in Romans may help answer any
questions your children may have concerning the question, “why does a loving
God send people to Hell?”
2.
We must point out our children’s own
wickedness and the fact that their only hope is by having faith in Christ Jesus
as Lord and Savior. As we have learned
recently, it is best to teach to their hearts by showing them that we are
ultimately wicked too, but are redeemed solely by the grace of God.
Day
3: Bodies Lying in Their
Daniel 12:2, John 5:29
With their souls in torments
Hades, the bodies of the wicked will rest in their graves, as did the rich man
in Luke 16:22. This really is the only
event that is the same for the righteous and the wicked. This is what we see in John 5:28-29 where all
who are in their graves will hear the voice of Christ in verse 28. In verse 29, we see that this “all” is the
good and the evil who are both resurrected.
It is the body that is corrupt and must die (Genesis 6:11-12). Infirmities and calamities that lead to death
make no distinction to the wicked and the righteous. Nor do the bacteria and worms make any
distinction to the righteous and wicked to complete the corruption of the body
in the grave (Job 19:26).
Our passage in Daniel chapter 2 leads
us to a discussion of some end times prophecy.
Back in chapter 11 (verse 36), Daniel is describing his vision of the
coming of the Antichrist. He is
described as one who will “speak blasphemies against the God of gods” and will
prosper according to his desires (verse 36).
He will regard no god and will be celibate and possibly homosexual
(verse 37). There will be some “foreign
god” of power that he will exalt unlike any ruler before him (verses
38-39). In verses 40-41, we see that he
will be attacked by an enemy of the South (northern Africa) and he will prevail
even entering
In Chapter 12, verse 1, Daniel speaks
of the time that the Lord returns. It
appears that this is the same archangel Michael who announces the coming of
Christ and the resurrection of the dead
(Revelation 11:15-19). He then
speaks of a time of trouble or tribulation specifically for the nation of
In verse 2, we see that the
resurrection of all dead is certain. I
said earlier that the only similarity between the wicked and righteous at the
resurrection is the death of the body.
You may say, “are not they both resurrected the same as well?” Of course, the question is answered here as
no. There will be two separate and
distinct types of resurrection (compare Revelation 20:5-6 to 20:13-14). One is the resurrection of the righteous as
we saw last week. These will rise to
everlasting life and will “shine…like the stars forever and ever.”
However, all others whose names are not written in the book
(Revelation 20:15) shall awake (quwts
koots) to “shame and everlasting contempt.”
Shame is cherpah (kher-paw) in
Hebrew meaning reproach and scorn.
Unlike the redeemed of whom Christ bore their shame, the wicked have to
bear the shame of their sin upon themselves.
Contempt is dera'own
(day-raw-one') in the Hebrew meaning aversion and abhorrence. These are the strongest terms describing a
final judgement repugnance and complete rejection (Matthew 25:41, Luke
13:27-28). The sentence is for
eternity. Everlasting is given as olam (o-lawm') meaning forever, always,
perpetual, continuous, an existence unending, future, eternity.
Thus, the soul of the wicked will be tormented in Hades and
the body of the wicked will rest in the grave until the resurrection of the
dead and the following judgment. Next
week we will look further at the resurrection of the dead unto judgement.
Discuss the following with your
family:
1.
For more on the Antichrist or the
beast, look to these passages in Revelation: 13:1-10, chapter 17, 19:17-21.
Scripture:
Luke 16:22-4; Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:11- 15.