DEATH, THE INTERMEDIATE STATE, THE RESURRECTION AND THE FINAL DESTINY — page 19

Eternal Punishment

Some think that “eternal destruction” (2 Thess. 1:9 – ARA) means that people are consumed by the fire of God's judgment, and that they will cease to exist after that. 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 concluded on the basis of feeling and human reason. However, we must let the Holy Word of God settle the matter. It indicates that “eternal destruction” does not have to do with the loss of being, but with the loss of well-being.

It is clear in Job 30:24 that the lost still exist after they die. It says that there is still “crying out” even after they have been destroyed.

Revelation 19:20 tells us that the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the lake of fire. Then, in chapter 20, we are told that the devil is put into the bottomless pit during the Millennium and then released. And after a brief rebellion, we read: “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where are the beast and the false prophet; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev. 20:10). Note: the beast and the false prophet were still there in the lake of fire after Christ's thousand-year reign! They did not cease to exist.

The Lord Jesus said: “Whoever does not believe in the Son will not see life; but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). “remains” is a continuous thing. If the wrath of God remains on the unbeliever, there must be the existence of the unbeliever for it to remain on him.

Again, it says in Revelation 14:11, “the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever”. Torment means a condition that requires the person to be alive to endure it. You cannot torment what does not exist.

The Lord also said: “their worm does not die” (Mark 9:48). This indicates that the torments of a guilty conscience will not die in the lost under eternal punishment.

Several Scriptures tell us that the fire of God's judgment “will never be put out” (Matt. 3:12; Mark 9:43, 45; Luke 3:17). What need would there be for the fire to continue if those who will be thrown there were annihilated immediately?

Some tell us that death itself is the judgment. But Scripture says: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this (death) the judgment [judgment – JND]” (Heb. 9:27). If “after” death comes the judgment, how could death be the judgment?

In Scripture, the word “destroy” does not mean to annihilate something – the end of its existence. The word is “apollumi” in Greek and is used by the Lord, the Good Shepherd, finding His “lost” sheep. He said: “Rejoice with Me, for I have found My lost sheep (apollumi)” (Luke 15:6). Could the Lord have found something that ceased to exist?

Did we not exist before we were chosen and saved by the Lord? The apostle Paul uses the same word, saying: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in those who are lost (apollumi)” (2 Cor. 4:3 – JND). Could we say that the unbelieving sinners of this world ceased to exist while they are still alive and moving on the earth?

Even in our common language, “destruction” does not mean the end of existence. For example, if you took an axe and destroyed a beautiful table, there would be as much material piled in a useless heap on the floor as when it existed as a beautiful and useful table. Once 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. 43:21; Rev. 4:11). If he enters into “eternal destruction” (ARA), he can no longer, through salvation, be fit for the purpose for which he was created. It is called “eternal” destruction because there is no recovery from that condition; it is eternal (Mark 3:29).