Bible Study Seattle

The Law of Moses is a curious thing.  There’s no jail.  Except in the case of accidental murder, where the accused are to seek asylum in one of the six cities of refuge (asylum not being the same as prison).  There were only two courses of action: restitution or death.  Also note that there was no torture.  God is not a god of torture, Satan is.

Thus it is in the judgment.  God wishes that all should come to a knowledge of the truth.  He is not happy at the death of the wicked.  But He will not suffer evil forever, hence the ultimate penalty is second death.  Not torture.  First death (the death we all experience) is described in the Bible as sleep, from which everyone will awake in the first and second resurrections.

Judgment consists of a trial and a verdict.  Most people today have the incorrect assumption that this life is all there is.  Not so.  There’s a second life where all will learn righteousness (unless they refuse).  God gives everyone ample time to reform; up to a thousand years.  All of us will have the opportunity to repent of our sins and to forgive our enemies in the Millennial reign of Christ.  We must do this if we are to eat from the trees of life in the great City and live eternally.