Dear Mark,
The context of the scripture in Matt 25 is the judgment of the nations when Christ returns. The "works" are directly related to the seven year period that includes the three and a half year tribulation of Israel. Therefore, these nations are those wicked nations who not only will be enemies of the Jews, but will worship the beast and believe a lie rather than the truth.
Comparing scripture with scripture, these are described in 2Thess: 2-12
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9-12 [b]Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in THEM THAT PERISH; BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness[/b].
Those who are not in Christ, i.e. unbelievers, those who love a lie, the wicked, etc. will perish. We are clearly told this in many, many verses. In the same time frame in Matt 24, the overcomers from the tribulation will have eternal life. (Rev 20:4,5)
"everlasting punishment" or "damnation" is simply death. The word "damnation" in John 5:29 is the same word as that found in John 5:22. The word is "krisis" or "judgment". Christ makes a judgment or decision that results in EITHER life or death. Other than Satan who will be cast in the bottomless pit for a thousand years(Rev 20:1-3), there is no record of any man who will be tormented forever. The fate of the wicked and unbelieving is death. They "have not life".
1Cor 15:17,18
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they ALSO which are fallen asleep in Christ are PERISHED.
There is extensive scriptural proof that the wicked and unbelieving have no hope of eternal life.
Lynn
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