Eternal Damnation

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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This refers to the judgment that belongs to those who are eternally lost (Matt. 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46)). They will exist in Hell eternally where they will pay the price for their sins. (See Hell.)
Some think that “everlasting destruction” (2 Thess. 1:99Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:9); Phil. 3:1919Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) (Philippians 3:19); Matt. 7:1313Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (Matthew 7:13); 2 Peter 2:1, 12; 3:161But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)
12But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; (2 Peter 2:12)
16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:16), etc.) means that people are consumed by the fire of God’s judgment, and thus they cease to exist. This false doctrine is called Annihilationism. God’s Word indicates that “everlasting destruction” has not to do with the loss of a person’s being, but the loss of his eternal well-being.
It is clear from Job 14:2222But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn. (Job 14:22) and Job 30:2424Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction. (Job 30:24) that unbelievers still exist after they die. It says that they “cry” out and “mourn” even after they have been destroyed. Revelation 19:2020And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20) tells us that the Beast and the false prophet were cast alive into the lake of fire. Then, in chapter 20 we are told that the devil is put into the bottomless pit for the duration of the Millennium, and then let loose. And after a brief rebellion we read, “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” (Rev. 20:1010And 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. (Revelation 20:10)). Note: the Beast and the false prophet were still there in the lake of fire after the thousand-year reign of Christ! They didn’t cease to exist. Again, it says in Revelation 14:1111And 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 14:11), “And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day or night.” Torment is a condition that requires a person existing to endure it. You cannot torment what does not exist. The Lord also said, “Their worm dieth not” (Mark 9:4848Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:48)). This indicates that the torments of a guilty conscience will not die in the lost under eternal punishment. Moreover, a number of Scriptures tell us that the fire of God’s judgment “never shall be quenched” (Matt. 3:1212Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:12); Mark 9:43, 4543And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (Mark 9:43)
45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (Mark 9:45); Luke 3:1717Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. (Luke 3:17)). What need would there be for it to continue if those who are cast there are annihilated immediately? Some tell us that death itself is the judgment. But Scripture says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this (death) the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). If “after” death is the judgment, how could death be the judgment?
Even in ordinary language “destruction” doesn’t mean the cessation of existence. For instance, if we took an axe and chopped a beautiful wooden table into pieces, we could be accused of destroying the table. Yet there would be just as much material lying in a useless heap on the floor as when it sat as a beautiful table. Once it has been destroyed, it can be no longer used for the purpose for which it was made—but the material out of which it was constructed still exists. It is the same with the destruction of human beings. Man was made for the glory of God (Isa. 43:2121This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise. (Isaiah 43:21); Rev. 4:1111Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11)); if he goes into “everlasting destruction,” he can no longer be fitted through salvation for the purpose for which he was created.