See Edwards, David L., and John R. W. Stott. Evangelical Essentials: A Liberal-evangelical Dialogue. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1989. 312-329. Wenham, John William. The Goodness of God. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1974. Chapter 2.
I don’t take the subject of hell lightly. This is one of the most difficult doctrines of Christianity to consider. If you’re new to this concept, I suggest you read my earlier article titled, “Is Hell Divine Overkill?” This helps to defend and explain the doctrine of hell. However, if you’ve already read that, I hope this article will help you to discern what the Bible teaches on this subject. Some interpreters argue that the judgment of hell is actually the destruction of the soul. The unsaved dead do not exist in eternity. Instead, they are judged by having their souls annihilated or destroyed.
RESPONSE: In Matthew 25:46, Jesus contrasts eternal life with eternal punishment. If he meant extinction, why didn’t he contrast eternal life with eternal death? It appears that believers will enjoy life for eternity in the same way that unbelievers will suffer punishment for eternity.
RESPONSE: The rest of the verse in Revelation 14:11 reads: “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image…” This implies that those in hell will be conscious and alive.
RESPONSE: Actually, in biblical thought, it isn’t the soul that is eternal in the afterlife; it is the resurrected body that is eternal (1 Cor. 15:53). Moreover, the rich man was in conscious torment in Hades (Lk. 16:22-28). Jesus said that people would be “weeping” and “gnashing” their teeth in hell (Mt. 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30). Without a conscious person, it would be impossible to pay a “penalty of eternal destruction” (2 Thess. 1:9).
Finally, in his article refuting annihilationism, Robert Peterson claims that there are really only four major books written on the subject of annihilationism. It is not a popular view. Furthermore, in Revelation 17:8 and 11, we find that it is predicted that there will be “destruction” for the Beast. In Revelation 20:10, we find that this “destruction” is actualized by the Beast and the False Prophet (both humans) being “tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Archer points out that the Greek used in Revelation 20:10 (“they will be tormented day and night forever and ever”) is the same used of the Lord Jesus in Revelation 1:17-18 (“I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore”). In each case, the life of Jesus and the judgment of God’s enemies are said to be eternal (eis tous aionas ton aionon).
Destruction is not non-existence; it is conscious existence. Speaking about Judas, Jesus said, “It would have been good for that man if he had not been born” (Mt. 26:24). If Judas eventually went to heaven in the end, then it would have been good for him to be born. In Matthew 25, Jesus says that we are sent away to hell to the place where Satan is punished. Since we know that Satan will endure eternal conscious torment, it seems that unbelievers will as well.
See Edwards, David L., and John R. W. Stott. Evangelical Essentials: A Liberal-evangelical Dialogue. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1989. 312-329. Wenham, John William. The Goodness of God. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1974. Chapter 2.
Robert Peterson “A Traditionalist Response to John Stott’s Arguments for Annihilationism” JETS 37/4 (December 1994) 553-568.
Archer, Gleason L., and Kenneth S. Kantzer. Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1982. See comments on Colossians 1:20.
James earned a Master’s degree in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, graduating magna cum laude. He is the founder of Evidence Unseen and the author of several books. James enjoys serving as a pastor at Dwell Community Church in Columbus, Ohio, where he lives with his wife and their two sons.