Dear Rev. M. Rodimer,
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Originally Posted by Rev. M. Rodimer
The Bible says they will be judged according to their works. It doesn't say anything about being punished uniquely according to their sins, Pastor. Are you sure you aren't "interpreting" a bit here?
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There is nothing to interpret. The Bible is always very clear. Also there is more scripture than just
Revelation 20:13 that makes clear that there are different levels of punishment for different types of sinners.
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." (Matthew 23:14)
"My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." (James 3:1)
"And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee." (Matthew 11:23-24)
"The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." (Luke 12:46-48)
"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." (2nd Peter 2:20-21)
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How exactly would an "ironic punishment" add to being cast for all eternity into a vast Lake of Fire where you will burn forever, writhing in agony, with no chance of escape?
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I don't think the Bible mentions these punishments to be ironic. But I think it is great that God in his infinite goodness reminds those sinners for all eternity why exactly they are tortured. Don't you agree it is better to suffer and to know why than to suffer and not to know why?
Yours in Christ,
Pastor J.C. Manning, M.D., Ph.D.