Verse 15
The names of the wicked will be absent from the book of life. This will confirm their eternal fate (cf. Revelation 14:11).
"When taken seriously, this final note evaporates all theories of universalism or apocatastasis [restoration] . . ." [Note: Johnson, p. 590. Cf. Robertson, 6:465; and Ladd, p. 258. See Berkouwer, pp. 387-423, for a very good discussion of eternal punishment.]
Eternal punishment is a doctrine that is becoming increasingly unpopular in our day. Notice that Jesus Christ, the Judge, spoke very plainly when He affirmed it (Revelation 20:14-15; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 14:10; Matthew 18:8; Matthew 23:15; Matthew 23:33; Matthew 25:41; Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:46). [Note: See David J. MacLeod, "The Sixth ’Last Thing’: The Last Judgment and the End of the World (Revelation 20:11-15)," Bibliotheca Sacra 157:627 (July-September 2000):315-30.]
"If we once saw sin as God sees it, we would understand why a place such as hell exists." [Note: Wiersbe, 2:621.]
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