Topical Bible: Hell: The Society of the Wicked Leads To

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Hell, as depicted in the Bible, is often understood as a place of eternal separation from God, reserved for those who have rejected His ways and persisted in wickedness. The concept of hell is intricately linked with the society of the wicked, illustrating the ultimate consequence of a life lived in opposition to God's righteousness.

Biblical Descriptions of Hell

The Bible provides vivid imagery and descriptions of hell, emphasizing its nature as a place of torment and punishment. In the New Testament, Jesus frequently speaks of hell using the term "Gehenna," a reference to the Valley of Hinnom, a place outside Jerusalem associated with idolatry and child sacrifice (Matthew 5:22, 29-30; Mark 9:43-48). This imagery underscores the severity of hell as a destination for the wicked.

In Revelation, hell is described as a "lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14-15), symbolizing eternal destruction and separation from the presence of God. The apostle Paul also alludes to the fate of the wicked, stating that they "will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might" (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

The Society of the Wicked

The Bible consistently warns against the influence and companionship of the wicked, highlighting the danger of being led astray by those who reject God's commandments. The Psalms and Proverbs frequently contrast the paths of the righteous and the wicked, emphasizing the ultimate ruin that awaits those who choose the latter.

Psalm 1:1-6 illustrates this dichotomy, stating, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor set foot on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of mockers." The psalmist warns that the wicked "are like chaff that the wind blows away," and "the way of the wicked will perish."

Proverbs 4:14-19 further advises, "Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and go on your way." The passage describes the path of the wicked as one of darkness, where they "do not know what makes them stumble."

Consequences of Wickedness

The New Testament reinforces the Old Testament's warnings about the company of the wicked. The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15:33 , cautions, "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" This admonition reflects the broader biblical theme that association with the wicked can lead to moral and spiritual decay.

The ultimate consequence of persisting in wickedness is eternal separation from God, as depicted in the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46 . Jesus describes the final judgment, where the wicked "will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

The Call to Righteousness

Throughout Scripture, there is a consistent call to pursue righteousness and avoid the society of the wicked. Believers are urged to live lives that reflect God's holiness and to seek fellowship with those who encourage spiritual growth and obedience to God's Word.

In Ephesians 5:11 , Paul exhorts, "Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." This call to separate from wickedness is echoed in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 , where believers are instructed not to be "unequally yoked with unbelievers" and to "come out from among them and be separate."

The Bible's portrayal of hell and the society of the wicked serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's ways. It underscores the importance of choosing righteousness and aligning oneself with those who seek to honor God in all aspects of life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Proverbs 5:5
Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Proverbs 9:18
But he knows not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Eternal Punishment of the Wicked Reconciled with the Goodness ...
... the never-ending torments of the wicked in another ... glories of heaven, nor the terrors
of hell, may be ... the exigencies and uphold the interests of human society. ...
/.../chapter iv the eternal punishment.htm

A Description of Heart-Purity
... Shall we account them pure whose conversation is not in heaven (Philippians
3:20), but rather in hell? ... Beware of the society of the wicked. ...
/.../16 a description of heart-purity.htm

A Few Sighs from Hell;
... he saith the godly are 'carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom'; and that the
wicked are nothing ... O miserable society! Here comes death and hell unto thee. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a few sighs from hell.htm

Ninth Commandment
... lies into white lies and black lies, society lies, business ... of life: but violence
covereth the mouth of the wicked. . ... of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/ninth commandment.htm

A Wise Minister Will be Successful.
... sinner away from God and lead him down to hell. ... his grave, in the present state of
society, are calculated ... not mean that they are always more wicked than the ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture xi a wise minister.htm

Tenth Commandment
... face was set toward God, but he backed into hell. ... was what led Achan up to the wicked
deed that ... Covetous of rank and position in society, parents barter sons ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/tenth commandment.htm

The Need and Nature of Conversion
... of pardon to the sinner who forsakes his wicked way, and ... wilt keep thy sins, thou
shalt go to hell; but if ... that it would be highly dangerous to society if men ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 48 1902/the need and nature of.htm

Blessed Prosperity Meditations on the First Psalm.
... does far more harm than that of the openly wicked. ... in Thy sight." Doubtless the legions
of hell rejoiced when ... desire to, avoid the counsel, the society, or the ...
/.../taylor/a ribband of blue/blessed prosperity meditations on the.htm

A Prophet's Woes
... Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth ... Which justify the wicked
for reward, and take away the ... In an agricultural society like that of Judah ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/a prophets woes.htm

Sowing and Reaping
... Hell broke loose ... Woe unto the wicked! ... who dissipates every care and fills every hour
among the frivolities and fascinations of her volatile society,"she leads ...
/.../moody/sowing and reaping/chapter i sowing and reaping.htm