Hebrews 10:27

But a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.

This verse sharply focuses on the fearful and inevitable result of rejecting the sacrifice for man's sins (available in the vicarious death of Jesus Christ), that result being the judgment with its eternal fires of punishment awaiting the wicked. No wonder that such a terrible fate should be called a "fearful expectation." The word "devour" has the interesting connotation of "eating up" offenders! This is a subject people do not like to dwell upon; and some present-day Christians seem very sensitive to the plain teachings of the word of God on such a thing as "fire" for the wicked; but the burden of scriptural emphasis on this subject is far too great to be ignored or cast aside. Fire destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24); Korah and his company were consumed by fire (Numbers 16:35); and it was by fire that God answered the prayers of Elijah (1 Kings 18:38). Strangely, God himself is described a moment later in this epistle as a "consuming fire"! (Hebrews 10:27); Christ will appear the second time "in flaming fire" (2 Thessalonians 1:8); and Peter consigned the entire present world to destruction by fire, contrasting it sharply with the first destruction of the world by the flood in Noah's day (2 Peter 3:14-18). John the Baptist did not hesitate to speak of the chaff which was to be burned up "with unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:10), and even our Saviour made frequent mention of it (Matthew 25:41). Nor can there be any relief from the severity of such thoughts by construing them all as mere figures of speech; for just what, can it be supposed, is so terrible as to demand such a figure as "fire"? Many of the statements regarding eternal punishment seem to demand some degree of metaphorical interpretation, as for example in the combination of such terms as "outer darkness" and "fire and brimstone" in descriptions of eternal punishment; but the soul hardly dares to contemplate a fate that would require so terrible a representation of it. The utter horror of such a destiny seems to be in the mind of the author here who speaks of "fearful expectation." A guilty conscience to feel and a wrathful God to fear combine to remove every thought of tranquillity from the mind of the wicked.

The adversaries mentioned here are a grim reminder of the struggles identified with man's probation. Paul knew the meaning of "many adversaries" (1 Corinthians 16:9); and every wayfarer on the road to eternity is often made aware of those elemental antagonisms that rise on every hand, and from most unexpected sources, to harass, to discourage, and to prevent if possible the attainment of eternal life.