“sobbing and gnashing of teeth.” The mention of sobbing and gnashing of teeth occurs seven times in the Bible (Matt. 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28). All of these occurrences are in the Gospels. There is only one future Messianic Kingdom, and it fills the whole earth. The unsaved are not part of that Kingdom but are thrown into the Lake of Fire where there is sobbing and gnashing of teeth (Rev. 20:13-15). People in the Lake of Fire will suffer in proportion to their sin before they burn up and are annihilated.

[For a more complete explanation of the sobbing and gnashing of teeth, see commentary on Matt. 8:12. For more information on suffering in the Lake of Fire in proportion to one’s sin, see commentary on Rom. 2:5. For more information on annihilation in the Lake of Fire, see Appendix 5, “Annihilation in the Lake of Fire.”]