Topical Bible: The Death of the Wicked: Frequently Marked by Terror

Bible > Topical > The Death of the Wicked

◄ The Death of the Wicked: Frequently Marked by Terror ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The theme of the death of the wicked being marked by terror is a recurring motif in the Bible, illustrating the stark contrast between the end of the righteous and the end of the wicked. This concept is rooted in the belief that a life lived in opposition to God's commandments and righteousness results in a fearful and dreadful demise.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs 10:24 · "What the wicked dread will overtake them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted." This verse highlights the inherent fear that accompanies the wicked, suggesting that their deepest fears will come to fruition at the time of their death.

2. Job 18:5-14 · In this passage, Bildad the Shuhite describes the fate of the wicked: "Indeed, the light of the wicked is extinguished; the flame of his fire does not glow. The light in his tent grows dark, and the lamp beside him goes out... Terrors frighten him on every side and harass his every step." The imagery used here paints a vivid picture of the darkness and terror that envelop the wicked at their end.

3. Psalm 73:18-19 · "Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin. How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!" The psalmist Asaph reflects on the ultimate fate of the wicked, emphasizing the sudden and terrifying nature of their downfall.

4. Isaiah 57:20-21 · "But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and muck. 'There is no peace,' says my God, 'for the wicked.'" This passage underscores the perpetual unrest and turmoil that characterize the lives and deaths of the wicked, devoid of peace and marked by chaos.

5. Luke 16:22-23 · In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus describes the rich man's death: "The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side." The rich man's experience in death is one of torment and terror, a direct consequence of his earthly life of self-indulgence and neglect of righteousness.

Theological Implications:

The terror associated with the death of the wicked serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of living a life contrary to God's will. It reflects the justice of God, who holds individuals accountable for their actions. The fear and dread that accompany the wicked in death are not arbitrary but are the natural outcome of a life lived in rebellion against divine law.

The Bible consistently contrasts the end of the wicked with that of the righteous, who are promised peace and eternal life. This dichotomy serves as both a warning and an encouragement, urging individuals to pursue righteousness and align their lives with God's commandments to avoid the terror that marks the death of the wicked.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 18:11-15
Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 27:19-21
The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he opens his eyes, and he is not.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 73:19
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Of the Wonders Effected by the Power of the Cross, and of Demons.
... For those most wicked spirits, when they are adjured ... true God, by which alone eternal
death can be ... with which the early Christians frequently marked themselves. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xxvii of the wonders effected.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... I fear to as bad, nay, worse than was that death of the ... lies to be true.6. They also
swear frequently to get ... But, pray, show me now how wicked cursing is to be ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

Period I: the Imperial State Church of the Undivided Empire, or ...
... cultivation of the fields, because it frequently happens that no ... for the destruction
of sin and death; begotten of ... to all, freedom to sin be denied the wicked. ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period i the imperial state.htm

The Genuine Acts of Peter.
... of mind when in peril of death, on a ... instantly claimed by the executioner, these
wicked purchasers, or ... and when they repeated this frequently, the minister of ...
/.../peter/the writings of peter of alexandria/the genuine acts of peter.htm

The Monk Nilus.
... to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one, as ... Nilus was frequently visited
by men of all ranks, the ... Will you pass sentence of death against the whole of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/light in the dark places/the monk nilus.htm

Saurin -- Paul Before Felix and Drusilla
... concerning the state of souls after death, apprized that ... them without alarm, having
so frequently heard them ... unto him, "Thou profane and wicked prince, remove ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/saurin paul before felix.htm

Paul Before Felix.
... of the Jews to put him to death, when he ... deterred by the thought, that so wicked
a man ... emotions, which seemed to prognosticate conversion, frequently pass away ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxvii paul before felix.htm

The Persecutions of the Church.
... there is a fire reserved for the wicked, whereof you ... it was now engaged in a death
struggle; and ... It has been frequently stated that the Diocletian persecution ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter ii the persecutions of.htm

The First vision "On Earth"
... He will give them that are wicked to the ... it shall die." The word "soul" is frequently
used of ... for the period immediately following the Lord's death was marked ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the first vision on earth.htm

Paul Before Festus and Agrippa.
... conscience, which sometimes arrests the wicked man in ... from local circumstances, which
frequently obstruct the ... prison, consented to their death, scourged them ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxviii paul before festus.htm