Will wicked humanity go to a place of fiery torment? Will they die the Second Death at Armageddon with no hope of a resurrection? What do the Scriptures tell us?
“Then He began to reprimand the cities where most of His mighty works were done, because they did not repent: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the Day of Judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who is exalted toward heaven, will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the Day of Judgment than for you.” – Matthew 11:20-24:
“The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And now one greater than Jonah is here.” – Luke 11:32
According to Matthew 11:20-24 and Luke 11:32, if Jesus had visited the people of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, they would have repented, and Sodom would not have faced destruction. Is it just that God did not send a prophet to Sodom? He did send Jonah to Nineveh, and they repented. How can hell (Greek: hades, the grave) be more bearable for Sodom than for the sinners in Israel? These are tough questions, but we need to keep two things in mind: First, like all humans, the people of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom were already doomed to death due to Adam’s sin. Their judgment for eternal life will happen in the kingdom. Second, everyone is accountable for the knowledge they have about God. Jesus was informing the Jews that since they had the benefit of the Law, the prophets, and a relationship with God, they bore a greater responsibility to acknowledge him as God’s son and the Messiah.
“Your sisters, Sodom and her daughters and Samaria and her daughters, shall return to their former state, and you and your daughters shall return to your former state. Then you shall remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, your elder and your younger. And I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant. Thus I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” – Ezekiel 16:55,61,62:
Even wicked people will be raised from the dead, return to their former state and have an opportunity for everlasting life. That’s what the Scriptures say!
“The sons also of those who afflicted (Jerusalem) you shall come bowing before you, and all those who despised you shall bow themselves down at the soles of your feet; and they shall call you, The City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.” – Isaiah 60:14
Clearly this verse has a future kingdom application after the nation of Israel recognizes and accepts Christ as the Messiah.
“And I will pour out on the house of David and over those dwelling in Jerusalem a spirit of favor and supplication so that they look to Me, whom they have pierced through. And they will mourn over him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly over him as a firstborn.” – Zechariah 12:10
“Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.” – Revelation 3:9
Those who had been wicked in this life will come to honor those in authority in God’s future kingdom on earth. Those faithful Christians who have been glorified to heaven will be earth’s judges, priests and kings under their head and master Jesus. In this future kingdom, those here on earth—the people who did not follow Jesus during this present life, including the wicked and non-Christians—will have the opportunity at that time to repent from their former evil to choose to serve and obey God and Jesus.