Topical Bible: Truth of God: Punishment of Evil People

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The concept of divine justice and the punishment of evil is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. The Scriptures affirm that God, in His holiness and righteousness, will ultimately judge and punish those who commit evil. This entry explores the biblical basis for the punishment of evil people, drawing from various passages that illustrate God's justice.

Old Testament Foundations

The Old Testament lays a foundational understanding of God's justice and His response to evil. In Genesis 6:5-7, the Lord observes the wickedness of humanity and decides to bring a flood to cleanse the earth: "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him in His heart. So the LORD said, 'I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.'"

The Law given to Israel also reflects God's justice. Deuteronomy 28 outlines blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, emphasizing that turning away from God leads to severe consequences. Deuteronomy 28:15 states, "But if you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you."

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets frequently warned of God's impending judgment on evil nations and individuals. Isaiah 13:11 declares, "I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity; I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless." Similarly, Ezekiel 18:30 calls for repentance, warning of the consequences of sin: "Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your offenses, so that sin will not be your downfall."

New Testament Affirmation

The New Testament continues to affirm the truth of God's punishment of evil. Jesus Himself speaks of the final judgment in Matthew 25:31-46, where He separates the righteous from the wicked, rewarding the former and condemning the latter. In Matthew 25:46, He states, "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

The Apostle Paul also addresses this theme in Romans 2:5-6: "But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. God 'will repay each one according to his deeds.'" This passage underscores the certainty of divine retribution for those who persist in evil.

The Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation vividly portrays the ultimate punishment of evil. Revelation 20:11-15 describes the Great White Throne Judgment, where the dead are judged according to their deeds, and those not found in the Book of Life are cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15 states, "And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

Conclusion

The Bible consistently teaches that God, in His perfect justice, will punish evil. This truth serves as both a warning and a call to repentance, urging individuals to turn from wickedness and seek righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.

Nave's Topical Index

Revelation 16:7
And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Epistle Lxvii. To the Clergy and People Abiding in Spain ...
... errors and lies, and continue in the truth of God ... who, although they knew the judgment
of God, did not ... they are worthy of death, and come into punishment who do ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lxvii to the clergy.htm

A Doomed People
... In the barren tree they might read both their sin and its punishment. ... From them the
truth is hidden ... And every evidence of the grace of God, every ray of divine ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 64 a doomed people.htm

It is a Ground for Thanksgiving that During the Last Three or Four ...
... they received not the love of the Truth, that they ... The chief reason why God suffers
the Man of Sin ... awful course, is in order to inflict punishment upon guilty ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/it is a ground for.htm

Strange Fire
... for the purpose of enforcing the truth of God's ... have seemed to indicate their murmuring
at God's judgments, and ... in the sin while they lamented its punishment. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/strange fire.htm

On the Righteousness and Efficacy of the Providence of God ...
... This truth we will demonstrate at greater length, when we treat upon the efficacy
of ... 1.) The Punishment of sin is an act of the Providence of God, by which ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 9 on the righteousness.htm

"But we are all as an Unclean Thing, and all Our Righteousnesses ...
... There is no punishment so evil, that God will not ... to him: contradicteth his will,
debaseth his authority, despiseth his sovereignty, upendeth his truth. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xv but we are.htm

Inconsideration Deplored. Rev. Joshua Priestley.
... benefit would the realization of this truth be, both ... made of the righteousness of
God in condemning ... bestowed"His forbearance to inflict punishment, and the ...
/.../inconsideration deplored rev joshua priestley.htm

God's People Delivered.
... those wicked men." In the sin and punishment of those ... swells the awful, despairing
wail, "He is the Son of God! ... In the lives of all who reject truth, there are ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /40 gods people delivered.htm

A Work of Reform.
... will so conflict with the law of God that whosoever ... the divine precepts must brave
reproach and punishment as an ... what is the duty of the messenger of truth? ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /26 a work of reform.htm

God's People Delivered
... destroy those wicked men." In the sin and punishment of those ... the awful, despairing
wail, "He is the Son of God! ... In the lives of all who reject truth there are ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 40 gods people delivered.htm