- Firstly, where did this teaching about eternal torment come from?
“However, it was Tertullian of Carthage (d. c. A.D. 240) who gave the great impetus to this emphasis [the immortal soul], tying in with it the dogma of the endless torment of the lost. Then finally came Augustine of Hippo (d. A.D. 430), whose great influence brought about the general acceptance by the church at large of the belief in the deathlessness of all souls, and also its fiery corollary of the endless existence and Eternal Torment of the reprobate. “
Answer: The teaching is based on the belief that man has an immortal soul, a doctrine based in pagan Greek philosophy. Church leaders adopted this doctrine in the early centuries and later asserted that the punishment of the wicked must also be eternal since the soul is immortal. Though it became the predominant view for over 1,000 years, it does NOT come from the Bible.*
Further Reading: The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers by LeRoy E. Froom, vol. 1, 929.1
- So what does the Bible say will happen?
Answer: The Scriptures tell us that the following things will happen to the wicked:
1. They will be judged by righteous in Heaven during the 1,000 years. The wicked will not be alive during this time.
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them…and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished…” (Revelation 20:4-5)
2. They will receive their judgment on the Earth at the end of the 1,000 years. Even Satan and his angels will be destroyed.
“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth…to gather them together to battle…And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” (Revelation 20:7-9)
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” (Hebrews 2:14)
“Know ye not that we shall judge angels?…” (1 Corinthians 6:3)
Further Reading: Psalms 1:4-6; Malachi 4:1,3
- Will the wicked be punished for eternity?
“…they were judged every man according to their works.” (Revelation 20:13)
Answer: NO. The wicked will only be punished according to their works. Those whose records of sin are small will suffer the least and those with greater records will suffer longer. After this is done, the wicked will die. From this second death, there is no resurrection. Their death is eternal.
It is the effect of this judgment that is eternal, not its duration.**
Further Reading: John 3:16, Malachi 4:1,3; Obadiah 1:15-16
It is also important to note that God will take NO pleasure destroying the wicked. It’s an act that is completely strange to to Him. This eternal loss of His children will cause Him great suffering.
Further Reading: Isaiah 28:21; Ezekiel 33:11; Luke 15:10, 19:41
- What will happen after the judgment of the wicked is over?
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” (Isaiah 65:17)
Answer: The Lord will create a new earth and the righteous will dwell in it forever. Peace will reign over all creation and sin and its works (death, pain, suffering, etc.) will never afflict the world again.
Further Reading: Nahum 1:9; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 21:1,4, 22:3-5
* In earlier Bible studies, we learned that man does not have an immortal soul. If this is true, then his punishment cannot be eternal. Check out our Bible studies on Death and the Resurrection to learn more.
**A lot of confusion and resistance on this topic comes from Bible texts that talk about hell, everlasting fire, etc. Our study on these passages will clear this up for you.
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