Bible Commentaries

Token of the righteous judgment of God; that is, an indication that there is a righteous judgment to come

Everlasting destruction. The word destruction is perhaps still more decisive even than such terms as eternal and everlasting, in reference to the perpetuity of the moral ruin in which the impenitent soul will be involved. If the permanent and final loss of virtue and happiness can be indicated by any language whatever, it would seem that such phraseology as "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord" is the language fitted to express it. We must not, however, in looking forward to the future condition of the condemned, conceive of them as simply suffering through eternity the punishment due for the sins of this life; but, on the other hand, as continuing to sin, and consequently continuing to suffer. The misery of the soul in a future world is the consequence of its impenitence in this; but it is nowhere in the Scriptures said to be the penalty for that sin exclusively. The doctrine of the gospel is simply this,--that a change of the heart and character, which becomes almost out of the question after the lapse of many years of sin in this life, becomes wholly out of the question after death has terminated probation; and then, when there is no longer any hope of holiness, there can be none of happiness or peace. In the great and, almost insuperable difficulties in the way of moral transformation late in life, which we all witness in this world, we have indications by which the truth of this doctrine is strongly confirmed.