The Eternality of Hell

24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh (KJV)

At least five and a half billion people will die in the Tribulation. Many of them who assaulted Jerusalem in the last stages of the Campaign of Armageddon will die and their bodies will lie on the ground decaying around Jerusalem. The dead bodies of the enemies of God will lay and rot.

For their worm shall not die. This image is evidently taken from the condition of unburied bodies, and especially on a battlefield. The Hebrew word (tolah) properly refers to the worms which are generated in such corrupting bodies. These are worms that are produced in putrid substances, like the larva of flies which feed on rotting flesh. The fire of this passage is referred to by the Lord Jesus regarding future eternal punishment as He discusses taking drastic measures to stop sinning. Here is the fearful image which He employs to denote the final suffering of the wicked in hell that shall not consume them but they shall burn perpetually when He said “neither shall their fire be quenched”

45 And 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: 46 where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 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: 48 where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched (KJV).

Again, He says that it is God to whom we must fear Who has the power to cast us into Hell.

5 But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him (KJV).

This image (neither shall their fire be quenched ) is taken as an example from the fires which were kindled, in the valley of Hinnom, to consume putrid and decaying substances. This is a real-world example of what the Lake of Fire will be like. That was a valley on the south side of Jerusalem, into which the filthy refuse of the city was thrown. It was also the place where, formerly, an image made of brass was made to honor the pagan god Moloch. This is where children were offered in sacrifice (II Kings 16:3; II Chronicles 28:3). This place was subsequently regarded as a place of peculiar abomination by the Jews.

The filth of the city was thrown there, and it became extremely offensive. It was basically a burning garbage dump. The air was polluted and filled with plague-like diseases. The sight was terrible and in order to dispose of the garbage, it was necessary to keep fires continually burning. The extreme loathsomeness of the place, the filth and putrefaction, the corruption of the atmosphere, and the lurid fires blazing by day and by night, made it subsequently one of the most appalling and loathsome objects with which a Jew was acquainted. It was called the Gehenna of fire and was the image which the Lord Jesus often used to denote the future punishment of the wicked. Therefore, it is important to realize there is no annihilation of the soul after death. We will all experience eternal consciousness whether in Heaven or Hell.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation (KJV).

In that deep and loathsome valley, it seems to have been the common expectation of the Jews that some great battle would be fought which would establish the supremacy of their nation over all others. We know this as the Tribulation (Revelation 6–19). Somewhat more clearly the Chaldee Paraphrase renders the passage:

‘They shall go forth, and shall look upon the dead bodies of the sinners who have rebelled against my word; because their souls shall not die, and their fire shall not be extinguished; and the wicked shall be judged in Gehenna, until the righteous shall say, We have seen enough'

All nations shall come to Zion, bringing Israel an offering to the Lord. The pious and happy worshippers of God shall see the punishment which He will execute on His and their foes, and all shall see them finally destroyed. New priests will be taken into service, and a universal service of “all flesh” will be celebrated in Jerusalem “new moon after new moon, and sabbath after sabbath”.

The celebrants shall also gaze at the corpses of the condemned—whose enduring doom shall be a sign of the fate “of the men who rebelled against Me”. The visibility of their corpses will only be part of their fate. This view of them laying there will remind all who know the Lord that their spirits have entered the first phase of eternal torment in Hell. Later they will receive their final fate which is to be cast into the Lake of Fire, Gehenna (Matthew 10:28, 25:41, 25:46; Revelation 20:10,14,15, 21:8).

Israel will be as enduring as the new heavens and the new earth. All mankind (i.e., people from all nations) will worship the Lord, bowing down before Him. As Isaiah had frequently written, these righteous ones will contrast greatly with those who rebelled against the Lord. They will suffer eternal torment (Mark 9:48). This awesome way in which the majestic Book of Isaiah concludes points to the need for unrepentant people to turn to the Lord, the only God, the Holy One of Israel, and profess faith in the death and resurrection of His Messiah (Acts 4:12).

The fact that everyone who has ever lived on this earth will live forever when we are released from these bodies is found first in the Old Testament. There are at least sixteen (16) specific evidences for the Doctrine of Immortality in the Bible. We see at the death of Abraham he is said to have been gathered to his people. This does not mean that he was buried with others of his family because they were back in Mesopotamia. This refers to his joining others who died before him. The same was said of Ishmael (Genesis 25:17), Isaac (Genesis 35:29) and Jacob (Genesis 49:33). Following are some examples of these.

8Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people (ASV, 1901).

Enoch was raptured and went to eternity to live. This is affirmed in Genesis 5:24 and Hebrews 11:5). Job too made an affirmation that he realized that after death he would be raised again without his body to see the Lord.

25 But as for me I know that my Redeemer lives, And at last he will stand up upon the earth: 26And after my skin, even this body, is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God; (ASV, 1901).

Job knew for certain that even though his body will eventually decay and die, nevertheless, he will see God without from his body in immortality.

Immortality is simply the eternal continuous and conscious existence of the soul after the death of the body. Within the Bible, the term immortality is usually used of the body only. However, theology proper uses the term as applied to both the body and the soul. For our purposes here we will focus on the continuous consciousness of the soul-spirit or the immaterial part of the human after the body ceases to live.

Another evidence for the Doctrine of Immortality is based upon the Doctrine of Resurrection. The very act of resurrection implies immortality. We are raised to live forever. In the Old Testament the doctrine is found in Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2-3; and Hosea 13:14. In the New Testament it is clearly expressed in John 5:25-29 and Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15. This then according to Scripture, demonstrates that the immaterial part of man is viewed as being with God upon death and is conscious. There are examples of this truth in both testaments. The Old Testament expresses this doctrine in at least the following three verses.

15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness (ASV, 1901).

Here David expressed a real faith that the soul will still be conscious in the fellowship with God even after death. This is also taught in the following verse:

23Nevertheless I [am] continually with thee: thou hast holden [me] by my right hand 24Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me [to] glory. 25Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? and [there is] none upon earth [that] I desire beside thee (ASV, 1901).

In this Psalm, the author Asaph expressed a real faith in immortality. Even upon his death he saw himself as being with God and conscious.

7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it (ASV, 1901).

Here Solomon expresses the truth that the body returns to the earth to be decayed and finally become dust, but the spirit goes to be with God our creator. Finally, David expected to be able to join his dead son with whom he conceived with Bathsheba after his own death.

23But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me (ASV, 1901).

The Lord also gives us evidence of the consciousness of our souls in at least two places. Earlier in this book of Isaiah, we are given an example of this in chapter 14

9Sheol from beneath is moved for thee to meet [thee] at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, [even] all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.10All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? 11Thy pomp is brought down to the Sheol, [and] the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee (ASV, 1901).

Among the very first casualties of the final destruction of Babylon will be the King of Babylon who is Antichrist himself. He is the second person of the unholy trinity. The devil, antichrist, and false prophet are in this trinity. He ruled the one-world government with imperialistic power given to him by Satan and will speak blasphemous words against the true Son of God, the counterfeit son will be powerless before the True Son. Because of the rule in anger and suppression that will be unrestrained the earth’s remaining saved people will rejoice into singing.

As the Antichrist’s spirit arrives in Hell awaiting his final destination of the Lake of Fire the former great government, occultic, and economic leaders of the earth who preceded him will quickly rise up off their thrones in utter shock that he, too, has entered the abode of Hell. It will be that all the pomp of his worldwide reign will now suffer the demise of Hell demonstrating what the Lord Jesus has said. Therefore, in this passage, the soul of the king of Babylon enters into the Hell section of Sheol itself, and all the souls that preceded him in Hell suddenly rise in astonishment as they see this one also entering the domains of Hell. They are able to ask questions and carry on a conversation. These dead souls are conscious. The same observation is found in the story Jesus told of the rich man and Lazarus.

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead (KJV).

Lazarus, Abraham, and the rich man all were in the place of the dead. They were fully conscious and were able to communicate with each other. The rich man was in eternal punishment and Abraham made it quite clear that there was no way for him to come where Abraham and Lazarus were in Paradise. Not only does this demonstrate again that after our bodies fail our souls, that is, the immaterial part of us lives forever, but we see that the decisions on earth for Jesus or not have eternal consequences. Interestingly God has planted this awareness of eternity in each of us. So all are without excuse.

The word “heart” is frequently used in Scripture as one of the facets of the immaterial part of mankind. So contained in our “heart” (the immaterial part of man) is the element of immortality (eternity). God set it in our hearts! Paul also assured us of this when he said the pains and suffering now will be worth it when we see the glory that the Lord has for us!

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (KJV).

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you (KJV).

Paul is faced with the imminence of physical death. He was in the Mamertine prison awaiting execution but that gave him hope of future joy, knowing that upon separation of the body he would be going into a conscious continuous fellowship with the Lord. If he was not going to have a full continuous existence after death, he could not say it was better to be with the Lord Jesus after his death.

We must be aware that our residence in these bodies is only temporary. According to Philippians 3:20 which states:

20For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (ASV, 1901):

The believer’s citizenship is in heaven. The fact that immortality is true is the awareness that believers are in temporary residences in this life. Our citizenship is in heaven. This means that whatever trials and tribulations we encounter in this life we do not need to despair to the point of depression. We can say; this too will pass for I am only passing through here, my citizenship is in heaven!

Because of all of this we should have the proper motivation for living righteous lives. We should be led by the Spirit and be on the sanctified track always growing more Christ-like throughout our lives. A person who does not have this hope struggles to make the best of this life. They will try to make their lives increasingly better moving to higher standards of living.

The more literally we take the Bible, the more fundamental our theology becomes. The less literally we take the Bible, the more liberal our theology becomes.

Hey, I’ve dealt with this topic too, as many have. i dealt with the worm and the fire somewhat differently (here: https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1736726/posts ).

But the reason I’m posting is instead to be of help on a specific point.

The antichrist and false prophet are immediately cast alone into the Lake of Fire per the Revelation, with no time in Sheol. Subsequently after a long time and after the judgment they are joined by the rest of the lost and the text certainly seems to indicate that those two are still existing there.

Now, that point (when they enter the LoF) aside I would suggest that the mention that they still exist there bodily greatly supports the point you are trying to make, for if those two still exist then, then no amount of time can destroy their bodies and existences (seems too much to say “lives” for that will not be life) and by extension that would apply to all the finally lost.

We have our chance for redemption here on earth.

It’s not true that God doesn’t offer us an out.

You misrepresent God.

Also, hell was never created for man, but rather the devil and the angels that rebelled against Him. God never intended man to go there. He created mankind for fellowship with Him in perfect harmony.

You can’t blame God for the bad decisions people make.

The ailment of humanity is not that we are immoral but that we are not holy.

In Christ there is a remedy to have holiness imputed to you ... yet it is one that many people have viewed as being a bit dodgy because they do not understand how things like substitutionary atonement and imputation of righteousness work ... and while many accept it works that’s not the same as them understanding HOW it works.

Remember that we are told we need to somehow be like small children to enter the Kingdom? I submit to you that the relevant trait of small children is that they trust their parents.

Imagine a conversation between a human and the Lord where the human is totally flummoxed about how this salvation thing works. To every point or protest the Father can respond that His Son took care of it all ultimately on the cross and by resurrection and that He is coming back ... and to this add that it works because He says it works, always concluding “Do you trust me?”

His children ultimately will trust Him, even though we no more know how things really, really work (the foolishness of God is greater than the wisdom of men) no matter how many pages of theology we can cite.

The lost, by contrast, ultimately will not trust Him.

The Father put the proverbial cookies on a bottom shelf, you see, because while we may think we are wise we are all really crumb crunchers with tiny short lives that pass away like shadows in the day of the Lord.

So does someone trust the Lord or do they trust something in the world instead?

For those who never appropriate this salvation though they had the opportunity to do so, who never have Christ’s holiness imputed to them, wrath is, I would argue, nothing more than a response to what the lost are rather than what they had done. Revelation seems to indicate this for while “books” are opened it is only if your name is or is not in the Lamb’s Book of Life really matters.

About Laodicea ... from what I’ve been told the town was apparently by a river that was downstream of a convergence of two channels, one a cold clear mountain stream and the other fed by hot sulphur springs ... which when combined became a noxious tepid mess that people were loathe to drink so they had their water brought in by aqueduct.

Christ was telling them they tasted like the local water. They were neither cool and refreshing nor warm and therapeutic.

“The ailment of humanity is not that we are immoral” ?

Well I do believe the Bible is clear that we are inherently immoral and are
saved by grace through our Faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 7
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the
law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law
of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the
body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

The “joke” is that at the end of the day, that is what he’s saying. Some modern Christian denominations have picked up on a very popular marketing ploy: Create a need and then fill it.

i.e. you are going to a “death” of unending torture, but we have a solution. But many don’t buy that line, and either choose to follow him out of love, or choose to be their own god.

The latter learn what is meant by the phrase “...fear Him that can destroy both body AND soul...” First, you body dies in the first death, as does everyones. And then your personality - you - die in the second death.

the bible, in the new testament, explains that one goes to eternal life, and the other is destroyed forever. Again, it’s not about heaven and hell. It’s about life vs death.

Matthew 25:46 46”Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD.

John 3:16 16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 17:3 3Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Great post. I agree with everything said there. I especially liked this statement in context: “ I would argue, nothing more than a response to what the lost are rather than what they had done.”

Soimething I love to tell people is that if they think they are not being very good lately and need to start doing better if they expect to get to heaven, they are doing it wrong.

I became convinced about 13 years ago, from a link in the OP of a thread right here on FR. It was pretty easy, though, because the whole “turn or burn” message was one I always had a problem with. I “believed” it, but in a, “I wish I was wrong about this” sort of way. But I had never actually studied it deeply. Once I did, the change was a piece of cake.

I say this with the utmost seriousness: I’d now accept universalism before I’d accept ECT. But this gets into my confusion about what is REALLY meant by “eternal life” in the various passages in the bible that are translated such in english. I suspect we have many more “ages” ahead of us, and the earth and heavens have experienced many, many ages before Genesis 1:2 takes place.

i.e. the entire scope of the bible only addresses, for us puny humans, a small snapshot in both the past and future history of physical creation.

The fruit was of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or what we might term being moral creatures. Being moral is an “ought to do” for men, but being moral does not fix the problem of sin.

Before the fall our parents were created as holy beings, after the fall they and we are merely moral. I really look at the rest of Scripture and “His story” (history) as the Lord moving deliberately by steps to correct the problem and each step of the way it has been faith in His promises (from the very first promise concerning the seed of the woman till the promise at last stood among us and then said He was coming back, which He is).

BTW, on the current state of the “culture” I think Evan Sayet was on to something when he speaks of people wanting to vomit up the apple. There is much magical thinking roundabout (that denies Christ, I might add) that holds that all we have to do is cease trying to be moral and whatever it is that we have been and then as if by magic a perfect society will just appear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDb3sTwD_vA

The video deals with something less important than sharing the Gospel but it may help show why so many resent the Gospel, for though they may have zeal it is too often for a worldly socio-economic and political “salvation”, one which doesn’t require any of that repentance and holiness guff.

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