Will Those Condemned to Hell See Jesus Again?

You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?  (Matt 23:33)

Jesus, in this "woe" passage, all but condemns the scribes and Pharisees, listing their sins and hypocrisies.  In spite of Jesus great desire to gather them to himself, they were "unwilling." (v. 37).

However, there is an interesting sequel:

For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Matt 23:39)

Here, plainly, Jesus speaks of the scribes and Pharisees seeing Jesus again.  "Fine," you say, "that's just the judgment."  Oh, really?  Do those who are going to eternal judgment bless and honor the one who is becoming King?  This is the same announcement that the followers of Jesus gave back in Matt 21 on Palm Sunday (v. 9).  Could this be the confession of those who have endured a judgment and are finally returning to the Lord at some later time (perhaps post "hell?").  Consider setting aside traditional views of the Pharisees end and test the scripture. 

And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers
until he should repay all that was owed him.
(Matt 18:34 Jesus' parable of a king wishing to settle accounts with his slaves, emphasis mine)

Why, if Jesus was illustrating end time judgment, did he give an end to the servants torture?  Will there be a time when the Pharisees will have paid back "all that was owed" to the king?  Will they see Jesus again and bless Him?

so that at the name of Jesus Every knee will bow of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:10-11)

Faithful Plans of the Lord

O Lord, You are my God;
I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name;
For You have worked wonders,
Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.
(Isaiah 25:1 NASB)

Consider what the Lord will do:

The Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain;
a banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow and refined, aged wine. (Isaiah 25:6)

 The Lord wants to break bread with "all peoples"--draw close to them, fellowship with them.  A meal with God is a powerful convenantal venture. God (through the 3 visitors) had a meal with Abraham when he promised him a son.  He had a meal with the elders of Israel on the Holy Mountain before Moses ascended to receive the commandments.  And so on.

And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples,
Even the veil which is stretched over all nations. (Isaiah 25:7)

The Lord is going to remove the veil, the blindness of all peoples, all nations.  What a wonderful benefit!  There are so many things even we followers of Jesus don't see.  I'm sure you have as many questions as I do!

He will swallow up death for all time,
And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces,
And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth;
For the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 25:8)

No more death, no more tears.  This unimaginable prospect is a promise of God!  No tears and no death will be a reality for all.  Those suffering and those living at peace will share this promise.

Consider that one of those "wonders," one of those "plans," is the final redemption of all. 

Now that would be a wonder!

Mr 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel (good news) to every creature.

Lu 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Example of todays version of the Good News...or Does this pass the Good News test?

“Your grandma is going to hell forever but you’re not cause you trusted in Jesus.”
... I would call this a good news FAIL.

“You are definitely going to heaven when you die… but unless your children trust Jesus, I’m sorry but they will never get to heaven, but in fact they will be tormented day and night endlessly.”
…good news FAIL.

“Your wife is going to make it to heaven, but unless you trust Jesus and truly believe, you’re going to hell forever.” It’s up to you… Jesus died for you…” ...
Good News FAIL.


HOW ABOUT SOME REAL GOOD NEWS:

1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

1Jo 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Ro 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

1Ch 16:34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good;
for his mercy endureth for ever.

Ps 118:4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Joh 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Re 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Good news??? Pass!