We have now examined all the more prominent passages which are urged in favor of the eternal suffering of the lost. Though others may by some be brought forward to prove this doctrine, we may safely take the position that if it is not proved by those we have examined, it cannot be proved by any in all the Bible; for these use the strongest terms and are most explicit in their nature. And of these how many are there? Five in all. Those who have never before examined this subject, will perhaps be surprised to learn how small is the number of such texts. And should they take into the account every text which is thought to have even the slightest semblance of proving the immortality of the lost, it would not be calculated to abate that surprise to any great degree. It now remains that we examine those texts, more in number, and more explicit in statement, which prove that the wicked shall be at last as though they had not been. CHAPTER XXXII. THE END OF THEM THAT OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL. “What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Pet. 4:17. By this direct interrogation inspiration calls us face to face to the great question of the final destiny of the lost, not to leave us at last in perplexity and doubt, but to give us full information in reference thereto. By the foregoing examination of themes which have a bearing upon this question, we have been brought to a place where the way is all clear to listen unbiased to the direct testimony of the Bible on the point now before us. No immortality is anywhere affirmed of the soul, no eternal misery is anywhere threatened against the lost. What then is to be their fate? It is abundantly affirmed that they shall die. The inquiry into the nature of the death threatened Adam, in chapter xxv., brought very clearly to view the fact that the penalty pronounced upon his sin reduced back to the dust the entire being, leaving no part conscious and active in the intermediate state. And the same penalty stands against sin now as at the beginning. For our personal sins, death is now threatened against us, as it was against him. This is the second death; and those who fall under this will be reduced to the same condition as that into which Adam was brought by death, with no promise nor possibility of ever being released therefrom. Eze. 18:26: “When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth _in_ them; _for_ his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.”