Hi Greg,
I know there are a few places here that discuss and talk about eonian punishment. I know that Mr. Smith has spoken about it on several occasions, and written about it as well. My query is this … what does this punishment include, or what exactly is it? After judgement if that's where you go then you can go to punishment, where you are cast into outer darkness, and there is weeping, and gnashing of teeth, but what are the punishments?
So it's those that come up in resurrection to condemnation/judgment that you are asking about.
John 5:28 Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice,
v. 29 and shall come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil to the resurrection of condemnation.
Well we see in Scripture that those that come up in condemnation, in the second resurrection will go into the Lake of fire.
Rev 20:14 And death and the unseen were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death-the lake of fire.
v. 15 And if anyone was not found written in the scroll of life, he was cast into the lake of fire."
So these people resurrected are in the lake of fire, which we know is Christ and the elect and where is that? When Jesus Christ returns, He comes "down out of heaven" to take over rule of this earth/world, the way of the world will be dramatically changed, it will become a "new earth."
Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
v. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.
The elect will have met Christ in the air and return and rule with Him. So you have all the condemned people resurrected back on earth... now what?
1Co 3:13 each one's work shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's work as to what kind it is.
v. 14 If anyone's work which he built remains, he shall receive a reward.
v. 15 If anyone's work shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved, yet so as by fire.
This "fire" (Christ and the elect) is what will judge them, there will be an army of the elect to enforce Christ rule. They will have been resurrected in power and glory and will be ever present (won't need sleep, won't get tired) and there will be no crime from the wicked people. They people on earth will not be able to hide or sneak around and do wickedness, Christ and the elect will see all, nothing will escape their eyes.
Isa 30:20 And Jehovah gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction; yet your teachers shall not be removed into a corner any more, but your eyes shall see your teachers.
Also there will be a rather great force of people raised physical in the second resurrection, I would think they would be given positions to serve and help Christ immediately to keep order. Think about all the righteous people from the OT (Heb 11), they will not be in the first resurrection, but are already servants of God's. Of course they were carnal when they died, but I believe they will quickly serve and obey God in this new world.
The daily living and correction and purging is how the people will be judged. There will be hard core criminals that will be raised up, people who have learned habitual wickedness for years in their past life. I would think they would need to be dealt with more harshly "many stripes," but they will do no harm under Christ's rule. Christ is now preparing the army He will need and He will have enough to rule with power and authority.
Rev 14:6 And I saw another messenger flying in mid-heaven, having good news age-during to proclaim to those dwelling upon the earth, and to every nation, and tribe, and tongue, and people,
v. 7 saying in a great voice, `Fear ye God, and give to Him glory, because come did the hour of His judgment, and bow ye before Him who did make the heaven, and the land, and sea, and fountains of waters.'
v. 8 And another messenger did follow, saying, `Fall, fall, did Babylon, the great city, because of the wine of the wrath of her whoredom she hath given to all nations to drink.'
Don't forget there is the whole host of angels that serve God as well. I guess it is hard to imagine how much this world will transformed under Christ's rule. But the main objective will be to teach the world truth and righteousness.
Isa 26:9 With my soul I desired You in the night; yea, with my spirit within me I will seek You early; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.
mercy, peace and love
Kat