The Second Coming – Fundamental Belief 25
The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the church, the grand climax of the gospel. The Saviour’s coming will be literal, personal, visible, and worldwide. When He returns, the righteous dead will be resurrected, and together with the righteous living will be glorified and taken to heaven, but the unrighteous will die. The almost complete fulfillment of most lines of prophecy, together with the present condition of the world, indicates that Christ’s coming is imminent. The time of that event has not been revealed, and we are therefore exhorted to be ready at all times. (Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Matt. 24:14; Rev. 1:7; Matt. 24:43,44; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 14:14-20; Rev. 19:11-21; Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 Thess. 5:1-6.)
The phrase \"unrighteous will die\" implies in my view that there is no eternal punishment. Revelation 20 would seem to indicate more dire consequences for the failure to follow Christ. What is the basis of the SDA belief?
NIV:
Revelation 20:13
The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.
Revelation 20:14
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
Paul Vernon,? I do not see a specific phrase, "unrighteous will die " in Revelation 20. Eternal death is one of two possibilities. The other is Eternal life. If there is a question regarding Righteousness I would study the faith chapters and others rather than Revelation. Ephesians 2:8 and Romans 7. Jesus is the only source of our righteousness. Using symbolic metaphors in Revelation, is not helpful in determining ones destiny as I see it. God is not willing that any should parish. 2peter 3:9
One more comment regarding eternal punishment. We believe that when those that face final punishment, is not forever. Those that die will be consumed with nothing left to cause anguish and pain for ever. There is nothing left. No trace.