Three Final Destinies, But Two Final Conditions
Many confuse man’s final destiny with man’s final condition. The Bible teaches that there are only two final conditions for man—to be blessed of God with Christ, or to be under the damnation of God in hell (the lake of fire). But the Bible also teaches that there are three distinct destinies, or places, in which men will spend eternity—each are said to be prepared of the Lord.
Heaven
At the moment of the Rapture the saints from Old and New Testament times will be glorified together and will be called away to “the Father’s house” in heaven (John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)). The saints who have died, and are presently disembodied in the separate state, are not in “the Father’s house” now. The Father’s house is not an intermediate state, but the final and eternal abode of the glorified saints. The Father’s house is more than glory; it is where the Father’s heart is displayed and He Himself is known in glory. Though the glorified saints will not see the Father (for “God is a spirit”—John 4:2424God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)), they will enjoy His presence and know His heart of love in its fullness. The believer can enjoy the love and presence of the Father now by the Spirit (John 14:21, 2321He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)
23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23)), but then it will be in its fullness.
There will be a happy reunion of the saints who have been separated by death. It appears that they will recognize one another in that day as Peter, James, and John recognized Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration, even though they had not previously met them (Luke 9:28-3628And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. 30And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. 32But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. 33And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. 34While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. 35And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. 36And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. (Luke 9:28‑36)).
The glorification of the sons of God will occur at the Rapture (Rom. 8:1717And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)), but the manifestation of the sons of God will take place at the Appearing of Christ (Rom. 8:1919For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19)). When the Lord comes out of heaven at His Appearing, He will bring His glorified saints with Him, and they will be manifested as such before the world. The Apostle John said, “Beloved, now are we the sons [children] of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him” (1 John 3:22Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)). In that day, “He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe” (2 Thess. 1:1010When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thessalonians 1:10)).
The heavenly saints will live and reign with Christ over the earth in the Millennium (Psa. 103:1919The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. (Psalm 103:19); Dan. 7:22, 2722Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. (Daniel 7:22)
27And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (Daniel 7:27); Rev. 20:44And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)). Following that 1000-year reign of Christ, the heavenly saints will live with Him for eternity in the “new heavens” that God will have prepared (2 Peter 3:1313Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)). This is their eternal destiny.
Earth
After the Lord has called His heavenly saints into the Father’s house (at the Rapture), He will begin a work on earth to save a remnant of Israel and a great multitude of Gentiles who will have their portion on earth during the Millennium (Rev. 7). These are God’s earthly saints who will have an earthly inheritance and an earthly destiny (Psa. 37:99For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. (Psalm 37:9)). They will live and reign with Christ on earth in the Millennium.
After the Millennium has run its course, these earthly saints will be glorified and transported to “a new earth” where they will live for eternity in fellowship with the Lord (2 Peter 3:1313Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)). This is their eternal destiny.
Hell
“Hell” is the final and eternal abode of the lost. God had no intention that any human being should ever end up in Hell. It was prepared for “the devil and his angels,” but sad to say, many human beings will have their end there because they refused every gesture of God’s grace toward them.
“Hell” is the English word for the Greek word “Ghenna.” “Ghenna” refers to the valley of Hinnom, which is a valley outside of Jerusalem (in the south) to which the dung gate led. It was the site where the inhabitants of the city burned their refuse. There was a fire there called “Topheth,” or “Tophet,” for that purpose; it burned constantly, day and night (2 Kings 23:1010And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech. (2 Kings 23:10); Isa. 30:3333For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it. (Isaiah 30:33); Jer. 7:31-3231And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart. 32Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place. (Jeremiah 7:31‑32)). Since the fire in the valley of Hinnom never went out, it was an apt figure for the eternality of hell.
The Lord was the first to reveal the truth of the final state of the lost. He is the only One in the Bible who ever used the word “Ghenna,” except for his brother James, who used it only once (James 3:66And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. (James 3:6)). As mentioned, “Ghenna” is usually translated “Hell,” but on a couple of occasions (in the KJV) it is translated “hell-fire,” which is quite fitting, because “fire” in Scripture is a figure of judgment.
As stated earlier, the KJV incorrectly translates the Greek word “Hades” as “Hell,” and it has caused some confusion. We are thankful to say that the KJV correctly translates the Greek word “Ghenna” as “Hell,” or as “Hell-fire.” This can be seen in the following passages: Matthew 5:22, 29, 30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 3322But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. (Matthew 5:22)
29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. (Matthew 5:29‑30)
28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)
9And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. (Matthew 18:9)
15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. (Matthew 23:15)
33Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matthew 23:33); Mark 9:43, 45, 4743And 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)
47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: (Mark 9:47); Luke 12:55But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Luke 12:5); James 3:66And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. (James 3:6). (All other places where “Hell” appears in the KJV are incorrect, and should be translated “Hades.”)
“Hell” (Ghenna) and “the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:14-1514And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14‑15)) are the same place. It is the final abode of the lost. “The lake of fire” is a symbolic expression indicating eternal judgment. A “lake” is a place of confinement; water flows into it from rivers and creeks and is contained there. “Fire,” as we said, is a figure of judgment. Hence, “the lake of fire” is a place of confinement under the judgment of God.
Untold harm has been done by preachers enlarging on the terms used in Scripture to describe eternal punishment in a literal sense. It leads to many contradictions. For instance, if the “fire” were literal, then the bodies of the lost cast into the lake of fire would burn up and be gone. A person would not be in Hell forever. Another description of this final destiny of the lost is “outer darkness” (Matt. 22:1313Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:13)). But this description, if taken literally, contradicts the first one. Fire, as we all know, produces light, which means that there wouldn’t be darkness there after all! Moreover, we are told that the lost will be “bound hand and foot” and cast into Hell where they will be “weeping and gnashing” their teeth (Matt. 22:1313Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:13)). If the fire were a literal thing it would burn off their fetters and they would be loose. And how could they weep and gnash their teeth if their bodies were burnt up?
The answer, of course, is that all such terms are symbolic. We have already explained the (symbolic) meaning of a “lake” and a “fire,” so we’ll pass on to some of the other figures. “Outer darkness” signifies extreme aloneness. Every individual in Hell will never see another person again! People talk about having plenty of friends there, but there is no truth to it. Being “bound” indicates that the person will not be free to do his own will. On earth they lived to do their own will in independence of God; in Hell that liberty will be taken away forever. There will be “weeping,” which indicates self-pity. And there will also be “gnashing of teeth,” which is the casting of insults and cursing back at God (Matt. 8:12; 13:42, 50; 24:51; 25:3012But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 8:12)
42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:42)
50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:50)
51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:51)
30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:30)). Compare Acts 7:5454When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. (Acts 7:54) and Revelation 16:10-1110And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. (Revelation 16:10‑11).
The Difference Between the Prison in Hades and Hell
“Hades” is a temporary condition of disembodied spirits and souls; whereas “Hell” (Ghenna) is an eternal place for the lost—where the whole person is cast, including the body. One is a condition and the other is a place. “Hades” affects the spirit and the soul only, whereas “Hell” affects the whole person—spirit, soul, and body. The Lord said, “ ... that thy whole body should be cast into hell” (Matt. 5:2929And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. (Matthew 5:29)). The body does not go into “Hades,” but it does go into “Hell.” See also Matthew 18:99And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. (Matthew 18:9).
An illustration has been used to show the difference between the temporary condition of the lost in “Hades” and the final condition of the lost in “Hell” (the lake of fire). Suppose a person is found breaking the law, and upon being apprehended he is put in the county jail, which is a temporary place of confinement. He remains there until his court date, at which time he is brought before a judge in the court of law and is sentenced for his wrongdoing. He is then transferred to the state penitentiary where he serves his term. The county jail might represent the prison in “Hades,” and the state penitentiary, “Hell.” Of course, in the case of “Hell” a person never finishes serving his sentence.
The Judgment of the Living and the Dead
Contrary to the thinking of many, there is nobody in “Hell” (the lake of fire) today. There are two groups of wicked people who will be cast into Hell at two different times.
The first group will be cast there at the Appearing of Christ. At that moment, the Lord will dispatch His angels and they will go out over His kingdom (the sphere on earth where Christ’s name has been professed—i.e. Christendom) and cast the wicked into the lake of fire. The Lord said, “The Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:41-4241The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:41‑42)). He also said, “So shall it be at the end of the world [age]: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:49-5049So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:49‑50)). Matthew 24:40-4140Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Matthew 24:40‑41) adds, “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”
Those who will be dealt with at that time are the most responsible people on the face of the earth. They have heard the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:2424But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)) and either professed to be believers, but were not, or they have been outright rejecters of it. They have enjoyed, more or less, the benefits and privileges that Christianity has brought into this world but have never received Christ as their personal Saviour. They will not come before “the great white throne” (Rev. 20:11-1511And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And 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. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15)) at the end of time to be judged because there is no need for it. They have come face to face, so to speak, with the Judge Himself, and have been caught red-handed at His appearing. He will assign them straight to Hell on the spot. This judgment is called the judgment of “the quick [living]” (2 Tim. 4:1; 11I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2 Timothy 4:1)
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, (2 Timothy 1:1) Peter 4:5), because it is a judgment of living persons. These people will not die; they will be cast alive into the lake of fire!
The second group of people who will be cast into “Hell” (the lake of fire) are the dead—those who are in the “prison” in the intermediate state. As mentioned earlier, all who have died in their sins down through the long range of time will be resurrected at the end of the 1000-year reign of Christ (the Millennium). This is the second resurrection. They will stand before the Lord at “the great white throne” to be sentenced for their eternal punishment (Rev. 20:11-15; 21:811And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And 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. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15)
8But 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. (Revelation 21:8)). Being resurrected, they will stand there alive, and will be cast alive into “the lake of fire.” In fact, every person who is cast into Hell will go there alive. Their bodies will be constituted to last through eternal ages and will exist in “the second death” forever. What a solemn thing!
Eternal Punishment
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 that they will cease to exist thereafter. This false doctrine is called Annihilationism. Our experience with those who deny eternal punishment is that they make little or no appeal to Scripture, and much is made of human sentiment and reason. However, we must let God’s holy Word settle the question. It indicates that “everlasting destruction” has not to do with the loss of being, but with the loss of well-being.
It is clear from Job 30:2424Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction. (Job 30:24) that the lost still exist after they die. It says that they “cry” out 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)). Notice: 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.
The Lord Jesus said, “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)). “Abideth,” is an on-going thing. If the wrath of God abides on the unbeliever, there must be the existence of the unbeliever for it to abide on him.
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.
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?
In Scripture, the word “destroy” does not mean to annihilate something—the cessation of its existence. The word is “Apollumi” in the Greek, and is used for the Lord, the Good Shepherd, finding His “lost” sheep. He said, “Rejoice with Me; for I have found My sheep which was lost (Apollumi)” (Luke 15:66And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. (Luke 15:6)). Could the Lord have found something that had ceased to exist?
Did we not exist before we were picked up and saved by the Lord? The Apostle Paul uses the same word, saying, “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost (Apollumi)” (2 Cor. 4:33But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (2 Corinthians 4:3)). Could we say that the unbelieving sinners of this world have ceased to exist when they are still alive and moving around on earth?
Even in our ordinary language, “destruction” doesn’t mean the cessation of existence. For instance, if you took an axe and destroyed a beautiful table, there would be just as much material lying in a useless heap on the floor as when it sat as a beautiful, useful table. Once it has been destroyed, it is no longer useful for the purpose for which it was made. 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. It is called “everlasting” destruction because there is no recovery from that condition; it is eternal (Mark 3:2929But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: (Mark 3:29)).
The Judge of All the Earth Shall Do Right
There won’t be any children or mentally handicapped people who did not reach an age of accountable responsibility in Hell (Deut. 1:3939Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it. (Deuteronomy 1:39); Jonah 4:1111And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? (Jonah 4:11)). God is faithful and just, and will not allow any of those “little ones” to perish in a lost eternity (Matt. 18:10-1410Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:10‑14)). They will be accounted for under the shelter of the blood of Christ, even though they were not able to intelligently appreciate it. Regarding such persons, we can take comfort in the Word of God which says, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:2525That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25)) The people who do end up in a lost eternity are responsible human beings who have had plenty of opportunity to believe the testimony that God has given to them of Himself, but they have willfully and consciously refused it.
Nor will there be anyone in Hell (the lake of fire) repenting of their sins and genuinely sorry about what they have done in their lives. Man’s heart will not be altered by a change of circumstances. Men who hate the gospel now will hate it then. As mentioned, there will be “weeping,” but it will only be in self-pity. There will also be “gnashing of teeth,” but it will only be the venting of their anger at God, casting insults and curses at Him.
This shows that pain and suffering do not lead a person to repentance. Scripture says that it is “the goodness of God” that leads to repentance (Rom. 2:44Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Romans 2:4)), and there will not be any goodness from God shown to those in Hell. Apart from the new birth, men’s hearts will not change. The Lord said, “That which is flesh is flesh,” meaning that the fallen sin-nature in man cannot be changed, whether by culture, or by education, or by suffering (John 3:66That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6)). This is the reason as to why man needs a new nature, which is communicated to him when he is born again.
Furthermore, those in Hell will no longer be loved of God! The Lord said of Jacob (a believer) and Esau (an unbeliever), “I loved Jacob and I hated Esau” (Mal. 1:2-32I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob, 3And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. (Malachi 1:2‑3)). This was not said in their lifetime, but long after these two men had passed off the scene. God loves all men while they are here on earth (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)), but if they have refused His grace and testimony and have died in their sins, He ceases to love them. God once loved Esau, but he died as a rejecter of God, and is now no longer loved by Him. What a solemn thing; no one in hell will be able to say (truthfully) that they were not loved by God!
The Final Abode of the Wicked Angels