The end of God's appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of His mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of His justice, in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fullness of joy and refreshing, which shall come from the presence of the Lord: but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.
God's purpose in all that he does is the manifestation of his glory. The salvation of his people redounds to the glory of his grace and mercy (Ephesians 1:14). Likewise, the exercise of his holy justice is glorious, for God will be seen to be pure and holy, before whose eyes sin cannot parade itself. And so the wicked will go into eternal damnation.
The Confession knows only two eternal destinies, and the destiny of the wicked is one of torments and "everlasting destruction." They are not annihilated, but suffer destruction eternally. To our limited minds by our limited experience a finite thing cannot be destroyed forever--at some point its destruction must be complete. But this is not what we are told happens to the wicked, and all the more cause for fear and trembling to contemplate such a fate!
Tomorrow: The timing of the last day hidden.
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