A Refutation of Millennial Exclusion Theology by Middletown Bible Church

[bearbear]

Originally Posted by Raptor

1) "weeping and gnashing of teeth" is NOT a place. It´s just a description of an emotional state of deep regret and sorrow. It can be applied to many different situations. You cannot make the lake of fire synonymous to W&GoT. A teenager can disobey his dad, take the car out on Saturday, get a ticket for DWI and be grounded for 3 months. He goes to his room and weeps and gnashes his teeth. Did he go to hell? NO.

But would a loving Dad ever cut his son into two pieces to discipline him like the master did to the wicked servant in Matthew 24:51? "And will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." And also his portion is with the hypocrites (the Pharisees who were white washed tombs) who are destined for the lake of fire.

Do you have any scriptural evidence to support your claim that "weeping and gnashing" of teeth can be a result of a temporary period of discipline?

Here are some verse references and corresponding notes to show why "weeping and gnashing of teeth" is a result of eternal wrath where there is no hope and not a temporary period of punishment where hope is still present.

Matthew 8:12
"But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

The "sons of the kingdom" refers to individuals who presumptively belonged to God's people (e.g., unbelieving Israelites) but rejected Christ. The context contrasts faith in Christ with unbelief, particularly the centurion's faith in Matthew 8:10. True entrance into God’s kingdom comes through faith in Christ, not mere association or lineage (John 8:24, "Unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.")

Matthew 13:42
"And will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

I think we both agree on this. This verse is part of the parable of the wheat and tares, where tares (false believers or the unsaved) are separated from the wheat (true believers) at the end of the age. The "furnace of fire" explicitly refers to eternal judgment, not temporary discipline.

Matthew 13:50
"And cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Same as above but for bad fish instead of tares.

Matthew 22:12-13
He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. "Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’"

The man without a wedding garment represents someone who did not prepare by having saving faith which includes repenting (Mark 1:15, Luke 13:3). The wedding garment symbolizes righteousness given through faith (Revelation 19:8, Isaiah 61:10). It is also synonymous with the robes that the father gave the prodigal son who repented (Luke 15:22).

Matthew 24:51
"And will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

This verse speaks of an unfaithful servant who is identified with "hypocrites," a term often used for those who are not truly saved such as the Pharisees (Matt 23:27-28). The severe punishment of being "cut in two" and the portion with hypocrites implies wrath. Temporary discipline would not involve the severity of this imagery.

Matthew 25:30
"And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

The unprofitable servant thought his master was harsh and cruel (Matthew 25:24), which demonstrates that he truly did not know the master. Eternal life is defined as knowing Jesus Christ (John 17:3), so by not knowing Him, the servant did not possess eternal life. Jesus describes Himself as gentle and humble in heart, declaring that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, and that only in Him can we find true rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30). This contrast shows that the servant’s view of the master was fundamentally incompatible with the nature of Jesus.

Luke 13:27-28
“But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out."

This passage is part of Jesus' response to a question about salvation in Luke 13:23, where someone asked, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” This makes it clear that the context of Jesus’ teaching is directly related to the issue of salvation, not the loss of rewards.