Zorah and Eshtaol. On the crest of a rocky knoll, under the village, is a
long tunnel, which may be the “cleft” in which Samson hid.
(2.) A city of Judah, fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:6). It was
near Bethlehem and Tekoah, and some distance apparently to the north of
(1). It seems to have been in the district called Nephtoah (or Netophah),
where were the sources of the water from which Solomon’s gardens and
pleasure-grounds and pools, as well as Bethlehem and the temple, were
supplied. It is now ‘Ain ‘Atan, at the head of the Wady Urtas, a fountain
sending forth a copious supply of pure water.
- ETERNAL DEATH The miserable fate of the wicked in hell (Matthew
25:46; Mark 3:29; Hebrews 6:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 18:8;
25:41; Jude 1:7). The Scripture as clearly teaches the unending duration of
the penal sufferings of the lost as the “everlasting life,” the “eternal life” of
the righteous. The same Greek words in the New Testament (aion, aionios,
aidios) are used to express (1) the eternal existence of God (1 Timothy
1:17; Romans 1:20; 16:26); (2) of Christ (Revelation 1:18); (3) of the Holy
Ghost (Hebrews 9:14); and (4) the eternal duration of the sufferings of the
lost (Matthew 25:46; Jude 1:6).
Their condition after casting off the mortal body is spoken of in these
expressive words: “Fire that shall not be quenched” (Mark 9:45, 46), “fire
unquenchable” (Luke 3:17), “the worm that never dies,” the “bottomless
pit” (Revelation 9:1), “the smoke of their torment ascending up for ever
and ever” (Revelation 14:10, 11).
The idea that the “second death” (Revelation 20:14) is in the case of the
wicked their absolute destruction, their annihilation, has not the slightest
support from Scripture, which always represents their future as one of
conscious suffering enduring for ever.
The supposition that God will ultimately secure the repentance and
restoration of all sinners is equally unscriptural. There is not the slightest
trace in all the Scriptures of any such restoration. Sufferings of themselves
have no tendency to purify the soul from sin or impart spiritual life. The
atoning death of Christ and the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit are
the only means of divine appointment for bringing men to repentance.
Now in the case of them that perish these means have been rejected, and
“there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26, 27).