Hello everyone long time no post for me,
I know punishment isn't the exact/right word (chastisement/judgments is better but you get my drift) but i was wondering if anyone else has seen or have been shown by God (even if just little bits here and there) also what will be the punishment/chastisement of the wicked. Ray in one of his video lectures posed this question (i think his words was "has any one of you also seen the punishment of the wicked?"). I think Ray said this talking in response to John Hagees' analogy of how long eternity in hell is (if you were to take a napkin and rub the Rocky Mountains down to a flat level that is just the beginning of your eternity in hell-- Ray quoting Hagee).
Well, not going into any details, I one day several months ago asked God to show me what this "punishment/chastisement" is and it scared the hell out of me (pun intended). I was shook to my core and cried and had to go for a walk (actually this happened twice). It literally brought me to tears and the fear was overwhelming. After further pleading with God I wanted Him to show me the positive side because at first what He showed me was extremely scary but when you know the what plan God has for the human race, you start understanding the purpose and actually see the Love of God.
As I read more and more the scriptures I am being shown more, but there is one place in Isa 28 particularly verse 19 (actually reading all of chapters 28-30 gives me more insight) that really stood out when i first asked God to show me maybe some of what Ray was talking about.
The NIV version I like because its easier for me to understand compared to other translations. Here is the passage....
Isa 28:14 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem. 15 You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death, with the grave we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place." 16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. 17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place. 18 Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the grave will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be beaten down by it. 19 As often as it comes it will carry you away; morning after morning, by day and by night, it will sweep through." The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror. 20 The bed is too short to stretch out on, the blanket too narrow to wrap around you. 21 The LORD will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim, he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon-- to do his work, his strange work, and perform his task, his alien task. 22 Now stop your mocking, or your chains will become heavier; the Lord, the LORD Almighty, has told me of the destruction decreed against the whole land. 23 Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say.
The part i put in bold and underlined.....it still shakes me to the core and it still does bring sheer terror at first thought. But anyway, witnessing this verse with many, many other verses throughout the Word, I believe God is showing me what i prayed for. For instance, (and it makes me think of those in whatever religion) those who believe in a ETERNAL/EVERLASTING hell and they may or may not be open about it (but we know they are) sickly wishing/hoping someone goes to the hell they believe in.
And so the scriptures that say stuff like treat others how you want to be treated, reap what you sow, as you judge you will be judged etc etc I begin to see how their judgment may be. No its not in their sick way of thinking but mostly in how they view eternal and how it will seem to them when God will purge such thoughts from their hearts and minds---it will seem like an eternity of suffering.
I was just wondering if any of you guys also have been shown some bits and pieces. I'm not asking for details because that may very well break our forum rules.
In Jesus,
Anthony
ps---when i think about Hagees' analogy and eternal/everlasting and how every many will judged for all their thoughts and actions and then think on scriptures like...
Mark 4:24 NIV
"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more.
its no wonder It says its a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Especially since He is a just God.