These cases are the Sodomites “set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire ” Jude 7 and the rich man lifting up his eyes in torment Luke 16:19-31. There are just two of these cases which may be cited to prove that some of the wicked dead are now in torment and from these, if at all, the torment of the wicked dead in general must be deduced. There being no general statement in the Bible representing the wicked dead as now in torment, and no instance in which the living wicked are threatened with consignment to the furnace of fire till after the Judgment, we now search out the particular cases which may be thought to teach such a fact. Even the warning of Jesus, in Matthew 10:28, which is thought to contain the strongest proof of the soul’s immortality that can be found in all the Bible, says not one word concerning the suffering of the soul in hades, the place of the dead, but relates wholly to what shall be inflicted upon “both soul and body in gehenna” (the Greek word here rendered hell), the place of punishment for the resurrected wicked. Nor is there any instance in the Bible where men are threatened that they shall, if wicked, enter an abode of misery at death. There is no statement in the Bible relating to the wicked dead in general, where they are in any way represented as in a state or place of torment. Which of these two answers is the true and proper one? RMLA 1.2ġ. This answer is believed by many candid Bible students to be the harmonious teaching of the Scriptures on this subject. They are now sleeping in the dust of the earth, awaiting the resurrection to damnation. This is the answer of the so-called orthodox creeds. They are now suffering the torments of the damned. To this question two answers are returned: 1. What is the condition of this innumerable multitude of impenitent dead? Where are they? and what now is their real state? RMLA 1.1

This vast throng of sinful men for long ages have been pouring through the gates of death, and its dark portals hide them from our further view. Such has ever been the fact with our fallen race.

For the greater part of mankind live in neglect of the great duties of religion, if not in open contempt of its most solemn commands. ARE the wicked dead now being punished? This is a question of awful solemnity, and should not be treated as a matter of speculation and idle curiosity.

Bible story about rich man and lazarus