Question:
Actually I have 2 questions, why would Paul list and detail immortality as an exclusive reward for the righteous if both the wicked and righteous will receive immortality? Also, if the souls of the wicked go to hell in their torment and these souls can feel hear see and communicate, what is the purpose of God resurrecting the bodies of the wicked?
Answer:
The word immortal is defined as “exempt from death.” (Merriam Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary). Notice the Scriptures verses that use the word immortality.
Romans 2:7-9 says, “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and IMMORTALITY, ETERNAL LIFE: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.”
I Corinthians 15:53,54 says, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on IMMORTALITY, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.”
II Timothy 1:10 says, “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath ABOLISHED DEATH, and hath brought LIFE AND IMMORTALITY TO LIGHT through the gospel.”
Although both the saved and the lost do not cease to exist at death, their end is exactly opposite from each other. The lost is not referred to as having immortality, because, as you can see from the definition above, and from the biblical usage of the word, that that word refers to life. The lost person does not experience eternal life, but eternal death.
Notice the following Scripture that talks about the second death. Revelation 2:11 says, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be HURT OF THE SECOND DEATH.” Revelation 20:6 says, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: ON SUCH THE SECOND DEATH HATH NO POWER, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:13,14 says, “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And DEATH AND HELL WERE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH.” Revelation 21:8 says, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have THEIR PART IN THE LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH.”
Your question, “if the souls of the wicked go to hell in their torment and these souls can feel hear see and communicate, what is the purpose of God resurrecting the bodies of the wicked?”, is answered by the above verses talking about the second death. The lost do not have eternal life, but eternal death. We who are saved will receive bodies that will never experience pain and death. Revelation 21:4 says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” But the lost will have their physical bodies resurrected to then receive the exact torment that they deserve, and will thus experience an eternal death in the lake of fire. They are not said to receive immortality, but the second death. Their physical bodies died once upon earth, and those bodies will be resurrected to experience a second death, an eternal death forever in the lake of fire.
Have you repented of your sins and placed your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? To reject Him, is to choose eternal torment.