Recently, an article ran in the Star Herald Super Saver entitled "A Miserable Doctrine." In this article the doctrine of Eternal Punishment was denied, and presented as a doctrine that was miserable, and accused God of being a "torturer of his creation." This article is a refutation of that article, and will do what the other article did not do, give scriptural support of what is said.
The author of the original article stated that he did not like the idea of his "aunts, uncles, cousins, and even his children" thrashing about in tormenting flames for all eternity. No one should like that idea at all, but that does not change what the Bible says. The final judgment is described in Matthew 25. In this chapter it says that Jesus will sit upon His throne, and will separate the righteous from the unrighteous at which time He will deliver the fate of both: either "everlasting punishment," or "life eternal" (46). That passage is clear for all who want to see the truth. There will be eternal life, and there will be eternal punishment. If we do not like the idea of our aunts, uncles, etc. suffering there for all eternity, then instead of denying the doctrine, we need to be teaching them about how God loved them so much that He sent His Son so that no one should have to perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
The original article also said "very, very few texts even remotely suggested a punishment like the traditional hell." If even one said it, that would be enough to make it true. We have already considered one passage that says that there is going to be eternal punishment, but here are a few more: Matthew 25:41; Revelation 14:11; Mark 9:43-44; Matthew 18:8.
The author went on to say "nearly all texts conveyed a judgment terminating in cessation of being. The wicked will be cut off, killed and consumed."One passage that he might refer to (I will supply one, for he did not bother to do so) is II Thessalonians 1:7-9. In this passage it says that those who know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ shall be punished with "everlasting destruction." He might argue that this verse teaches that they would be destroyed, not eternally punished.To come to such a conclusion is to: ignore the verses that say that there will be eternal punishment; make the Bible contradict itself; and to fail to "rightly divide the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).
When Paul says that they will be punished with eternal destruction, he is not saying they will cease to exist, but is using a figure of speech describing what their fate will be. Instead of receiving eternal life, they will suffer eternal punishment. One might compare it to Ephesians 2:1 where Paul, writing to the Ephesian Christians says they had been "dead" in trespasses and sins. Were they literally, physically dead? No! Paul was using a figure of speech describing their condition. They had been spiritually dead.
Eternal punishment does not make God unloving, or cruel. He has told us what the result of sin will be (eternal punishment). He has told us how to avoid it (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:10; I Peter 3:21).He sent His Son to die, so that we do not have to suffer for all eternity (John 3:16).Those who end up suffering for all eternity have no one to blame but themselves.
Do not allow yourselves to be deceived in believing that there is not going to be an eternal punishment. The Bible clearly says that there is going to be eternal punishment. What each of us need to do is take advantage of the Love of God so we can escape it.