Torrey's Topical Textbook

"Concerning Redemption, Eschatology, Heaven and Hell"

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Matthew Henry Commentary -
Easton's Bible Dictionary - Nave's Topical Bible - Torrey's Topical Textbook

Concerning Redemption, Eschatology, Heaven and Hell

  • IV. Concerning Redemption.
  • G. Eschatology.
  • 4. Heaven and Hell.
  • a. New Testament usage of the words. "Heaven" used chiefly in three senses:--
  • 1. The upper air where the birds fly. Mt 8:20; 24:30
  • 2. The region in which the stars reside. Ac 7:42; Heb 11:12
  • 3. The abode of Christ's human nature, the scene of the special manifestation of divine glory, and of the eternal blessedness of the saints. Heb 9:24; 1Pe 3:22. Sometimes called the "third heaven." 2Co 12:2. The phrases "new heaven" and "new earth," in contrast with "first heaven" and "first earth," refer to some unexplained change by which God will revolutionise our portion of the physical universe, cleansing it from the stain of sin and qualifying it to be the abode of blessedness.
  • b. Terms used to designate the future blessedness of the saints.
  • 1. Literal terms:--
  • Life, eternal life. Mt 7:14; 19:16,29; 25:46
  • Glory, the glory of God, an eternal weight of glory. Ro 2:7,10; 5:2; 2Co 4:17
  • Peace. Ro 2:10
  • Salvation, and eternal salvation. Heb 5:7
  • 2. Figurative terms:--
  • Paradise. Lu 23:43; 2Co 12:4; Re 2:7
  • Heavenly Jerusalem. Ga 4:26; Re 3:12
  • Kingdom of heaven, heavenly kingdom, eternal kingdom, kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. Mt 25:34; 2Ti 4:18; 2Pe 1:11
  • Eternal inheritance. 1Pe 1:4; Heb 9:15
  • The blessed are said to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; to be in Abraham's bosom ( Mt 8:11); to reign with Christ ( 12); to enjoy a Sabbath of rest. Heb 4:10,11
  • c. Heaven as a place
  • The Scriptures represent heaven as a definite place as well as a state of blessedness. Joh 17:24; 2Co 5:6-10; Re 5:6
  • d. Wherein does the blessedness of heaven consist as far as revealed?
  • 1. In perfect deliverance from sin and all its evil consequences, physical, moral, and social.
  • Re 7:16,17; 21:4,27
  • 2. In the perfection of our nature. 1Co 13:9-12; 15:45-49; 1Jo 3:2
  • 3. In the sight of our Redeemer, communion with His person, and fellowship in all His glory and blessedness, and through Him with saints and angels. Joh 17:24; 1Jo 1:3; Re 3:21; 21:3-5
  • 4. In that "beatific vision of God" which, consisting in the ever increasingly clear discovery of the divine excellence lovingly apprehended, transforms the soul into the same image, from glory to glory. Mt 5:8; 2Co 3:18
  • e. The principal terms, literal and figurative, which are applied in Scripture to the future condition of the reprobate.
  • As a _place_ it is literally designated by Gehenna ( Mt 5:22, 29,30), and by the phrase "place of torment." Lu 16:28
  • . As a _condition_ of suffering, it is literally designated by the phrases "wrath of God" ( Ro 2:5) and "second death." Mt 25:41
  • "Hell, where their worm dies not and the fire is not quenched." Mr 9:48
  • "The lake which burns with fire and brimstone." Re 21:8
  • "The pit of the abyss." Re 9:2
  • The dreadful nature of this abode of the wicked is implied in such expressions as "outer darkness," the place where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth" ( Mt 8:12; 22:13)); "I am in anguish in this flame"; ( Lu 16:24);"unquenchable fire" ( Lu 3:17); "Furnace of fire" ( Mt 13:42|); ; "blackness of darkness" ( Jude 1:13); torment "with fire and brimstone" ( Re 14:10); "the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever." Re 14:11
  • f. The teaching of the Scriptures as to the nature of future punishments.
  • 1. These sufferings will consist--
  • a. In the loss of all good.
  • b. In all the natural consequences of unrestrained sin, judicial abandonment, utter alienation from God, and the society of the lost. 2Th 1:9
  • c. In the positive infliction of torment, God's wrath abiding upon those who do not believe. Joh 3:36
  • 2. The Scriptures also establish the facts that these sufferings must be--
  • a. Dreadful in degree.
  • b. Endless in duration.
  • c. Proportioned to the deserts of the subject. Mt 10:15; Lu 12:47,48

    • "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16