Eternal Death: The miserable fate of the wicked in hell
(Matthew 25:46; Mark 3:29; Hebrews 6:2)
(2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 18:8; 25:41; Jude 1:7) The Scripture as clearly teaches the
unending duration of the penal sufferings of the lost as the
"everlasting life," the "eternal life" of the righteous. The same
Greek words in the New Testament (aion, aionios, aidios) are used to
express1. the eternal existence of God
(1 Timothy 1:17; Romans 1:20; 16:26)
2. of Christ
(Revelation 1:18)
3. of the Holy Ghost
(Hebrews 9:14)
4. The eternal duration of the sufferings of the lost
(Matthew 25:46; Jude 1:6)
Their condition after casting off the mortal body is spoken of in
these expressive words: "Fire that shall not be quenched"
(Mark 9:45,46)
"fire unquenchable"
(Luke 3:17) "the worm that never dies," the
"bottomless pit"
(Revelation 9:1) "the smoke of their torment ascending up
for ever and ever"
(Revelation 14:10,11) The idea that the "second death"
(Revelation 20:14) is in the case of the wicked their absolute destruction,
their annihilation, has not the slightest support from Scripture,
which always represents their future as one of conscious suffering
enduring for ever. The supposition that God will ultimately secure the
repentance and restoration of all sinners is equally unscriptural.
There is not the slightest trace in all the Scriptures of any such
restoration. Sufferings of themselves have no tendency to purify the
soul from sin or impart spiritual life. The atoning death of Christ
and the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit are the only means of
divine appointment for bringing men to repentance. Now in the case of
them that perish these means have been rejected, and "there remaineth
no more sacrifice for sins"
(Hebrews 10:26,27)
