Eternal regret—the never-ending knowledge that they are in this doom because they rejected a pardon already paid for—is what will make the doom of the wicked so awful.
Les Feldick teaches that the lake of fire is indeed horrendous and physically tormenting, but the constant regret that they are there and didn't have to be will be 'part and parcel' of the torment. He emphasizes that every human being's sins were already atoned for at the cross, so the lost will forever realize they rejected a pardon that was fully accomplished.
2 Corinthians 5:19 — This verse is the basis of Les's point that God does not impute trespasses, so the lost are condemned for unbelief, not for their sins.
Revelation 20:10 — Reveals the everlasting conscious torment that makes the eternal state of the wicked so awful.
The Bible plainly warns of eternal conscious suffering. Revelation 14:11 says, "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." Revelation 20:10 describes the final doom as being "tormented day and night for ever and ever." Thus Scripture teaches that the punishment of the lost is unending and consciously experienced. At the same time, God's Word reveals a provision of grace. Second Corinthians 5:19 says, "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." So even while the Bible speaks of unending punishment, it also reveals that God had already provided a basis for not counting men's trespasses against them.
Les Feldick says the awfulness of eternal doom will be driven above all by eternal regret. He acknowledges the lake of fire will be horrendous and bodily tormenting, but he adds: "I think that's going to be part and parcel of the torment of that eternal doom, is that there will be that constant regret that they're there and they didn't have to be" (Clip 4). He repeatedly teaches that every human being's sins were atoned for at the cross and that God has reconciled the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses. The only thing that will send a person to eternal doom is refusing to believe and rejecting the pardon. As Les says, "That lost humanity is going to their eternal doom for only one reason. They refuse to believe that everything is already done" (Clip 7).
Scripture describes the lake of fire as a place where the wicked "shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Revelation 20:10), and Revelation 14:11 says "the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever." Les calls it "a place of torment forever and ever bodily, bodily, with all the senses and with all of the feelings." He says it is horrendous and awful, but he quickly adds that God made it possible for every human being to escape it through the finished work of the cross.
Les teaches that every human being has already been pardoned because of the cross. The pardon is accomplished; the only reason people do not receive it is because they will not appropriate it by faith. Rejection of the pardon is unbelief, and that is what actually sends people to eternal doom. He describes this as especially sad because they could have escaped "if they had just simply believed it."
Les says "part and parcel" of the torment will be constant regret—the ongoing realization that they are there and did not have to be. He compares the door of salvation to being at ground level, right in front of every human being, not on an inaccessible cliff or across a raging river. He contrasts a brief lifetime of "living it up" with facing an eternity of regret and separation from the Creator, and he calls it heartbreaking that people reject something so easy.
The wicked will realize their sins were not the issue, because their sins had already been paid for and atoned for at the cross. Les says they are not going to the lake of fire because of drunkenness, adultery, gambling, or other sins; they are going because of unbelief. He says the only sin that puts a person into eternal doom is rejecting the Gospel, since the sin debt has already been paid in full.
Believe Christ Has Done It All
Les shows that salvation is not the result of doing a list of works but simply believing that Christ finished the work of the cross—so the lost are doomed only because they refuse the finished work.
Eternal Torment Is Real
Les describes the lake of fire as conscious bodily torment forever, yet emphasizes that God made it possible for every human being to escape and that the lost will realize they chose it.
Rejecting the Pardon
Les identifies the cause of the lake of fire as rejection of the pardon; the eternal regret is knowing they could have escaped by believing.
Sins Already Paid For
Les says even the vilest person's sins are already atoned for, so the only sin that puts someone into eternal doom is rejection of the Gospel.
The Constant Regret
Les makes the central point: part of the torment will be constant regret that they are there and did not have to be.
Pardon Accomplished
Les teaches that every human being who has ever lived has been pardoned by the cross, but they will not receive it because they will not appropriate it by faith.
An Eternity of Regret
Les contrasts a brief lifetime of 'living it up' with facing an eternity of regret and separation from the Creator—an irrational rejection of an easy salvation.
Only Unbelief Sends People There
Les wants to be remembered for this: lost humanity goes to eternal doom for only one reason—they refuse to believe everything is already done.
2 Corinthians 5:19: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Les points to this verse to show that lost people will not be condemned for their sins, since those sins were not imputed.
Revelation 14:11: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Demonstrates that the punishment of the lost is unending and consciously experienced.
Revelation 20:10: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The lake of fire, the final doom, is described as continuous day-and-night torment forever.
John 3:18: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
This ties condemnation directly to unbelief, matching Les's insistence that unbelief is the one issue.
According to Les Feldick, no. Their sins were already atoned for and paid for at the cross. People go to the lake of fire because of unbelief—because they rejected the pardon that was already accomplished for them.
Les says the worst part will be the constant, unending regret of knowing they are there and did not have to be. They rejected a pardon that could have let them escape.
Yes. Les teaches that God, through the finished work of the cross, has made it possible for every human being to escape eternal doom. The only requirement is believing the Gospel and drawing on the finished work by faith.
Watch the Teaching: What Does "Only Begotten Son of God" Really Mean?