Revelation 20:12

Along with His revelation in nature, God provided another form of general revelation: the law written upon men’s hearts:

For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them ) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. (Rom. Rom. 2:12-16) [emphasis added]

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness . . . And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting . . . knowing the righteous judgment of God that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Rom. Rom. 1:18, Rom. 1:28-32) [emphasis added]

Blind to these realities, they are convinced they will gain “heaven” by their works. And so God has promised to judge them by their works:

Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors; give them according to the work of their hands; render to them what they deserve. (Ps. Ps. 28:4)

Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; for You render to each one according to his work. (Ps. Ps. 62:12)

If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds? (Pr. Pr. 24:12)

For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecc. Ecc. 12:14)

I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. (Jer. Jer. 17:10 cf. Jer. Jer. 32:19)

For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. (Mtt. Mat. 16:27)

I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. (Rev. Rev. 2:23+)

And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (Rev. Rev. 22:12+)

The unregenerate man can, through common grace, love his family and he may be a good citizen. He may give a million dollars to build a hospital. . . If a drunkard, he may abstain from drink for utilitarian purposes, but he cannot do it out of love for God. All of his common virtues or good works have a fatal defect in that his motives which prompt them are not to glorify God,— a defect so vital that it throws any element of goodness as to man wholly into the shade.⁴

It should be noted that while there are varying degrees of punishment in hell, everyone there will suffer intolerable, indescribable misery and torment. All sinners in hell will be utterly separated from God and all that comes from His goodness. Thus, they will be miserable, but not equally miserable.⁵

Notes

¹ John F. Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1966), 216.

² Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of Messiah, rev ed. (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2003), 522.

³ “As the term general revelation is historically and universally employed in evangelical theology, the term general is intended to characterize not the character of revelation under discussion, but the audience to whom that revelation is available. . . It is general in its scope; that is, it reaches to all people.”—John F. MacArthur and Wayne A. Mack, Introduction to Biblical Counseling (Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1994), 76.

⁴ Loraine Boettner, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1932), 98.

⁵ John MacArthur, Revelation 12-22 : The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 2000), Rev. 20:12.