What is…
eternal death

also known as: the second death, eternal separation from God, eternal judgment, eternal punishment, eternal wrath, eternal destruction, eternal fire

Introduction

When you die, you do NOT just wink out of existence. You will continue to consciously exist.

• Are human souls immortal? Answer

Eternal death is the miserable fate of the wicked in Hell.

[they are] …guilty of an eternal sin… —Mark 3:29 NASB

[they face]…eternal judgment… —Hebrews 6:2 NASB

These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power —2 Thess. 1:9 NASB

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. —Matthew 25:46 NASB

…He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels —Matthew 25:41 NASB

…cast into the eternal fire —Matthew 18:8 NASB

…punishment of eternal fire… —Jude 1:7 NASB

Unending

Scripture clearly teaches the unending duration of the penal sufferings of the lost; it is “everlasting,” “eternal.” The same Greek words in the New Testament (aion, aionios, aidios) are used to express…

1. …the eternal existence of God (1 Timothy 1:17; Romans 1:20; 16:26)

2. …of Christ (Rev. 1:18)

3. …of the Holy Ghost (Hebrews 9:14)

4. …the eternal duration of the sufferings of the lost (Matthew 25:46; Jude 1:6-7).

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” (Rev. 9:1), “the smoke of their torment ascending up for ever and ever” (Rev. 14:10-11).

See: The curse of DEATH—the first death and the second death

Annihilation?

At death, do people just wink out and simply cease to exist? Certainly not. The human soul is an eternal. The idea that the “second death” (Rev. 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 forever.

Restoration?

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).

About Hell and damnation

• The Final Judgment
• Is there an actual place called “Hell”? Answer
• Why was Hell made? Answer
• Is there anyone in Hell today? Answer
• Will there literally be a burning fire in Hell? Answer
• What should you be willing to do to stay out of Hell? Answer
• What if I don’t believe in Hell? Answer
• Hell—and Sheol, Hades, Gehenna
• damnation
• What kind of world would you create? Answer
• How did bad and evil things came to Earth? Answer
• the fall of mankind to evil and depravity
• 
  Why is the world the way it is? If God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and loving, would He really create a world like this? (filled with oppression, suffering, death and cruelty) Answer

More information

• What is the one “unpardonable sin” that inevitably sends a person to Hell? Answer
• How can a God of LOVE send anybody to Hell? Answer
• Is the cliché true that God hates the sin, but loves the sinner? Answer about God’s love
• Is the cliché true that there are MANY WAYS to God? Aren’t ALL “RELIGIONS” basically praying to the same God? Answer
• Who is the being of light encountered in near-death experiences? Answer

There’s HOPE

Discover God’s promise for all people—told beautifully and clearly from the beginning. Discover The HOPE! Watch it here, on-line, full-length

Eternal LIFE

• What is eternal life? and what does the Bible say about it?
• What is damnation?
• Will all mankind eventually be saved?
• About paradise in the Bible
• About Heaven
• There is only ONE WAY.
• Am I good enough to get to Heaven?
• How good is good enough? Answer
• THE GOOD NEWS—How to be saved from damnation
• What is the eternal destiny of an infant who dies? Answer
• Do you understand God’s Story? Take a multimedia journey through the Bible, from Creation to eternity. Hear and read an exciting summary of the Bible’s most important records, in chronological order.
• Is marriage eternal? Answer