Is Hell Eternal?

Bill Wiese, The Man Who Went To Hell

While many try to argue away this point, the Bible clearly states that yes, hell is eternal and those who would attempt to teach or promote otherwise will be gravely mistaken. If we do not believe in an eternal hell, then we call Jesus a liar because He spoke of hell in forty-six separate verses.

Does Hell Really Exist?

Before we address whether hell is eternal or not, how do we even know hell really exists? If we do not believe in an eternal hell, then we call Jesus a liar. He spoke of hell in forty-six separate verses. He used the word “Hades” four times, which is the current hell where the rich man is in Luke 16 (Matt. 11:23; Matt. 16:18; Luke 10:15; Luke 16:23). Jesus used the word “Gehenna” eleven times (Matt. 5:22, 29, 30; Matt. 10:28; Matt. 18:9; Matt. 23:15; Matt. 23:33; Mark 9:43, 45,47; Luke 12:5). Gehenna refers to the future lake of fire mentioned in Rev. 20:12-15, Rev. 14:9-10 and Rev. 21:8. James used the word Gehenna once in James 3:6. Gehenna is the Greek word for the Hebrew term “Valley of Hinnom,” which came to mean “hell” along with Topheth.

Sheol is the Hebrew word for the current hell, which is synonymous with Hades – the Greek word. Some say that Sheol only means “the grave.” That is incorrect. “Sheol was below the surface of the earth (Ez. 31:15, 17; Ps. 86:13). Hades…is therefore the New Testament equivalent of Sheol” (New Bible Dictionary, pg. 1092). “Sheol itself is a broad term that, depending on the context, may signify the abode of both the righteous dead and the ungodly dead” (Holman’s Bible Dictionary, pg. 1483). “The New Testament term used to describe the afterlife is Hades and is equivalent to the Hebrew term Sheol” (The Moody Handbook of Theology, pg. 393). The actual word for grave is “qeber”- a burial site…Gen. 23:4” (Hell Under Fire, pg. 44). This word is also referenced in these verses, which clearly refer to an individual grave site (1 Kings 13:30; 2 Samuel 3:32; 2 Chronicles 34:28; Num. 19:16 and Job 5:26). When you read the Old Testament verses below, it is obvious that wherever the word hell is used it is actually the word Sheol according to Strong’s Concordance. The New Testament verses use the word Hades or Gehenna. You can clearly see from the context that these verses are not simply referring to an individual burial site. One such verse is Isaiah 14:12-15 where Lucifer is being cast down to hell (Sheol). Additional verses are Num. 16:33; Job 17:16; Prov. 23:14 and Ps. 9:17. According to Vines Expository Dictionary, each of these verses, where the word “hell” or “pit” is used, is the Hebrew word “Sheol.”

Mark 9:47, “And 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…”
Matthew 11:23, “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell.”
Luke 12:4-5, “Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell.” Jesus’ statement is clear that there is something which lies ahead, which is worse than dying physically! Jesus said to Judas, “It had been good for that man if he had not been born.”
Luke 16:23, “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”
Matthew 13:41-42, “The angels shall gather…them which do iniquity; and cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” How can one gnash his teeth if he doesn’t exist, or if there is no hell? Ps. 26: 9 says, “Gather not my soul with sinners.” Where are they gathered to?
Matthew 23:15, “…ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”
Matthew 25:46, “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” The word for everlasting and eternal are the same word, “aionios.” Just as Heaven is a location, and everlasting, so is hell.
Revelation 20:13-15, “…and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged…And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” They still existed in Hades and were then judged. What would be the need to judge someone if there was no hell or no existence after?
Revelation 14:10-11, “…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 for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night.” Where are they being tormented if there is no hell?
Revelation 21:8, “All unbelievers shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.”
Matthew 18:6, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” In other words, Jesus is warning that there is something coming after that is worse than drowning!“

What Is The Truth About Hell?

Hell is real
Hell is eternal
God does not send people to hell
The reality of hell does not diminish God’s love
The teaching of Christ is the strongest biblical support for hell
Eternal punishment is a foundational biblical doctrine (Heb. 6:2)

There is a belief that those who die apart from saving faith in Jesus Christ will cease to exist or be destroyed after death (annihilationism). This false teaching has come about because many people cannot accept the fact that God would allow a person to suffer in hell for all eternity. Let’s take a look at a few verses in the Bible where Jesus describes hell. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus said, “Depart from me, ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” He’s telling us that people are going to go to the same place where the devil is going and we know that the devil is going to be tormented for all eternity. Most people don’t argue with that, because in Revelation 20:10 it says that Satan and his demons will be cast into the lake of fire and will be tormented with fire and brimstone forever and ever, day and night. This verse shows us that people are going to go to the same place as the Devil. Matthew 13:49-50: “So shall it be at the end of the world: 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.” Luke 16:23-25: “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments… I am in torment in these flames.”…

What Is Eternal Damnation?

Revelation 14:11, “And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night.”

The definition of the word aion, the Greek word used for “forever,” is, “eternity, age, time period.” If aion does not mean forever, and only a limited time period as some claim, then we can look at some other verses that use the same word and observe their meaning.

Revelation 11:15, “… Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
Revelation 10:6, “… swore by Him who lives forever and ever…” (see also Revelation 1:6; 4:9; 5:14; 15:7)
Revelation 20:10, “… lake of fire… day and night forever and ever.”
Revelation 22:1–5, “… throne of God… they shall reign forever and ever.”
Psalm 125:1, “… Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abides forever.”

You can see that forever and ever is used in these verses in regard to the “throne,” “Mount Zion,” “Him who lives,” and by “Christ” Himself. If it doesn’t mean “forever,” then nothing else is “forever.” This is clearly not the case.

In Matthew 25:46 Jesus said, “eternal punishment.” Even the word “punishment” denotes an existence. How can one be punished if they do not exist?

Revelation 20:12-15 explains that death and hell (it uses the word Hades, the current hell) deliver up the dead that are in them. This shows that there are people currently in hell, they are all judged, and then they are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). Why would there be people in hell awaiting judgment if they are just going to be annihilated?

Are The Fires Of Hell Eternal?

In 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9, the words everlasting destruction come into question. This is what it says: “In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” You have to exist to be from His presence.

Destruction never means annihilation. It means loss of well being, or ruin as far as the purpose of existence is concerned. The word translated “everlasting” or “eternal” (aionios) is used seventy times in the New Testament. Three times it may mean “ages of limited duration” (Rom. 16:25; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2). The other times it means eternal or endless. It is used in Romans 16:26 to describe the unending existence of God. —Believer’s Bible Commentary

In Luke 16, the rich man wanted a drop of water to cool his tongue. If the fire had burned him up or destroyed him, then why was he being tormented in the flame? How did he still exist?
Matthew 18:8, “…to be cast into everlasting fire.” (Why have everlasting fire?).
Mark 9:43, “…to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.” (A fire that is not quenched is a fire that never goes out).
Jude 7, “…suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
Isaiah 33:14, “…who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings.” (How is one burned “everlasting” if they do not exist?).
Job 15:30, “He shall not depart out of darkness…” (That statement presupposes their existence).
Psalm 49:19, “they shall never see light.” (If one was burned up, how could they still exist to never see light?).
Ezekiel 32:21, “the strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell.” (One must still exist to speak).

In Revelation 21:8 it states, “all liars…shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone…” Notice that it is the lake, which is burning with fire, and not a person’s mind metaphorically burning with tormenting thoughts, as some say.

John Wesley said, “Indeed, if there is any fire, it is unquestionably material. For what is immaterial fire?…Does not our Lord speak of it as if it were real fire? No one can deny or doubt this…Does He design to freight His poor creatures? What! With scarecrows? With vain shadows of things that have no being? O let not anyone think so! Do not impute such folly to the Most High!”

Rejecting the TRUTH about an Eternal Hell invites:

Unbelief in the authority of God’s Word
Confusion, lies, and deception
A compromised, disobedient lifestyle with no consequences
A rejection of God’s justice, judgment, and holiness
A lack of the reverential fear of the Lord
A lack of urgency to repent of sin and to evangelize the world