Does the Bible Teach Eternal Punishment?

Table of Contents

Introduction

Witnesses believe that all people will spend eternity in one of four different groups:

• There are 144,000 who will reign with Christ in Heaven.
• Others who have joined their congregation will dwell forever in a restored earth.
• There are those who have never heard the Gospel (or did not quite make up their minds). Their future will be decided during an event that resembles a Judgment Day.
• Finally, there are the wicked who have rejected the protection of the Watchtower Society. These will not be resurrected, nor will they have a Judgment Day because there verdict is already decided: eternal unconsciousness.

This study primarily addresses the last point that there is no Judgment Day for the wicked. In a sense, this study continues where my study on Soul-Sleep ended. In that study, we looked at Scripture to see if Christians who are absent from the body are present with the Lord. This study will show that everyone will stand before God on Judgment Day and that there is a conscious punishment for the wicked. For those who deserve it, this punishment will be everlasting. The doctrine of eternal punishment is important because what we believe effects the way we behave. If we believe that we are going to be punished for a certain behavior, this belief will act as a deterrent. In the book of Job we read:

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? - Job 21:14-15

Perhaps Job could have rephrased the question to read: 'They say unto God, ''What is the Almighty that we should not sin against him? And what loss should we suffer if we rebel against him?'' '

Everyone who literally believes Matthew 13:24 will repent of their wickedness:

And [the Son of Man shall send His angels who] shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. - Matthew 13:42

God is Love

Could a loving God cast even a person, especially one who has never heard the Gospel into an eternal fire? I remember one person who was angry at Christians who preached this to children, feeling that such fear tactics did irreparable psychological harm. I agree, and I do not think that the Bible teaches this doctrine. In studying the Bible, we see that God is love. We also see that he can love without compromising His righteous character.

The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty. - Exodus 34:6b-7a

So how can a loving God torment people? The answer is simple: At great personal cost, He willingly took the punishment for our sins upon His own self. If you reject this gift, do not expect him to compromise His righteous standard.

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
- Hebrews 10:26-31

On the Day of Judgment, we will see not only God's vengeance toward the wicked, but also His love towards His own.

And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
- Malachi 3:15-18

What is the Fear of God?

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire. - Hebrews 12:28-29

Since Malachi said that those who fear God will be His, it is important to understand what it means to fear the Lord. Does the fear of God mean we are to reverence Him, or does He expect us to really fear him? To answer this question, let us examine what the prophets and apostles taught.

My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.  - Psalms 119:120

It is common for a doctor to ask a patient if he feels any pain. He asks his patient to answer this question with a number from one (the least pain) to ten (the most pain). If you look up the words tremble, fear and afraid in a lexicon, using a scale from one (meaning reverence) and ten (meaning terror), you will see that the above passage is a ten for teaching the fear of the Lord.

Let's look at some more passages.

For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.  - Isaiah 66:2

AND

Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 
- Isaiah 8:13

AND

Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?  - Jeremiah 5:22

You can also look up the words used to teach fear of the Lord in other passages of Scripture. If you look up tremble, fear and dread, you will see that these verses are also a ten in teaching the fear of the Lord. But it is not just in individual words that we learn what it means to fear God. This doctrine was taught from the beginning when God first dealt with Israel. In the book of Deuteronomy, we see Israel's response after God spoke to them.

Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die. - Deuteronomy 5:25

What was God's response to these words?

O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever! 
- Deuteronomy 5:29

The fear of God only makes sense if the fate of the wicked is real punishment, and if we realize that all men are sinners. If the punishment of the wicked is eternal soul-sleep, we do not have much to fear. Many who are addicted to sin and believe this do not repent. Yet Jesus warned us,

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  - Matthew 10:28

This passage becomes meaningless  if the wicked do not face a Judgment Day.

Some believe that you cannot love and fear someone at the same time. But this is untrue; God expects us to both love Him and fear Him.

And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.  - Deuteronomy 10:12

This is a strange paradox: those who do not fear the Lord will face His wrath; those who fear the Lord will escape it.

Is Death the Wage of Sin?

Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.  - Ezekiel 18:4

The main argument Witnesses use against a punishment after death is that death itself is the punishment.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  - Romans 6:23

If there were no other verses on this topic, they might have an argument, though it would still not be a very good one. For example, one ordinance in our law states that whoever commits a felony cannot vote. However, such a statute does not nullify any other punishment for felons. Does the Bible mention any other punishments for sin? Yes. Moses said,

Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.  - Leviticus 24:20

If we read Exodus through Deuteronomy carefully, we find that there are many different punishments for different types of transgressions, and only the worst transgressions merited a death penalty. This, the worst punishment that man can mete to a transgressor, allows God Himself to decide the eternal punishment on Judgment Day. Since God is righteous, He fits the punishment to the crime, rather than a one size fits all. Jesus Himself said:

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. - Luke 12:47-48

There are other passages that teach that the punishment will fit the crime:

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. - Matthew 12:36

AND

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. - Matthew 7:2

While we may not be able to agree on what each verdict will look like on the Judgment Day, both the evil and the just will see God's verdicts, and everyone will agree: God is righteousness.

Psalms 97
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

The Judgment Day

When I asked a Witness about the Judgment Day, he said that there was no need for one. He said that God has already condemned the wicked, so there is no point in bringing them back to life just to kill them again. But what does the Bible teach about the Day of Judgment? Let's start with the prophet Malachi, who gives a graphic description.

Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
- Malachi 2:3-4

This context in Malachi is the Judgment Day.

And I will come near you to judgment. And I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those who extort from the hired laborer's wages, and turning away the widow, and the orphan, the alien, and not fearing Me, says Jehovah of Hosts. - Malachi 3:5

God is bringing sinners back to life to punish them, not just to kill them again. Again, Malachi says:

Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. - Malachi 3:16-18

The purpose of Judgment Day is not just to kill the sinners again, One purpose is to show them what they missed out on. Many who teach a false gospel and refuse to hear correction will discern between the righteous and the wicked in that day. Jesus also taught this:

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. - Revelation 3:9

AND

There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of  God, and you yourselves thrust out. 
- Luke 13:28

On the Judgment Day, the wicked will have to be conscious in order to see what they are missing before they are thrust out. They will not be thrust back into soul-sleep; rather, Jesus said that they will be thrust to where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is worth noting that Jesus warned there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth seven different times.

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  - Matthew 25:30

I suspect that one trait of an unprofitable servant is that he teaches false doctrine. In light of these passages, how can anybody teach that the wicked are not punished?

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,  and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  - Matthew 13:49-50

The writer of Hebrews says that those who willfully sin after receiving the truth do not die, but, rather, have a fate worse than death!

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. - Hebrews 10:26-31

By definition, a punishment that is much worse than death cannot be soul-sleep. Since the Witnesses' governing body eisegete these verses, the apostle John writes one verse especially for them:

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  - Revelation 22:18

The Book of Revelation mentions many plagues; the only one missing is soul-sleep. If talking about the punishment of the wicked on the Day of Judgment offends you, then don't talk about it. But be careful that what you do teach does not contradict the Word of God.

But I [Jesus] say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  - Matthew 12:36

Passages that Teach Eternal Torment

Since verses that teach that the fire itself is everlasting are the least controversial, let's start by looking at them.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 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: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 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: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. - Mark 9:43-48

In playing down this passage, many mistakenly believe that Jesus was talking about a garbage dump outside of Jerusalem. They neglect to realize that Jesus was quoting, as He often did, from Isaiah:

For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses 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. - Isaiah 66:22-24

AND

For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion. And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up forever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it forever and ever. - Isaiah 34:8-10

However, just because a fire burns forever does not mean that people will be tormented forever. How would God have to speak of some people spending eternity in torment in order for us to believe Him? How about this passage?

If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
- Revelation 14:9a-11

If you do not believe that this verse teaches eternal torment, what could God possibly say to make you believe? How can you claim to be a witness for Jehovah if you will not believe or teach His Word? Here is another verse that teaches eternal torment:

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. 
- Matthew 25:46

If you read this verse in context, you will know that Jesus is not speaking of eternal unconsciousness because a few verses earlier He said that they will be gnashing their teeth.

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  - Matthew 25:30

So there will be everlasting punishment (Mt 25:46), the unprofitable servants will be conscious, that is they will be weeping and gnashing their teeth (Mt 25:30), and finally, they will be gnashing their teeth because the everlasting punishment is an everlasting fire.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.  - Matthew 25:41

If you believe these verses as they are written, it is much easier to believe Daniel 12:2.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  - Daniel 12:2

There are other verses that talk about being alive in torment (Luke 16:24 and Revelation 19:20 & 20:10, to name three); however, if the above verses do not open one's eyes, it is because they do not believe the Bible. If there is torment, are not these the one who are in danger?

The Witnesses pride themselves in their evangelistic work, yet they are teaching a different Gospel then Jesus taught. Paul warned:

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. - Galatians 1:8

When Does Eternal Fire Not Mean Eternal Fire?

When shown verses that teach eternal punishment, the Witnesses will be quick to point out the following verse in Jude:

So too Sod´om and Go·mor´rah and the cities about them, after they in the same manner as the foregoing ones had committed fornication excessively and gone out after flesh for unnatural use, are placed before [us] as a [warning] example by undergoing the judicial punishment of everlasting fire. - Jude 1:7 NWT (brackets are in the NWT)

Since this "everlasting fire" of Sodom and Gomorrah is no longer burning, the Witnesses reason that other passages teaching eternal fire refer to fires that will also burn out. But let's look at what Jude really said: (My literal translation of the words in question is under the Greek)

σαρκὸς   ἑτέρας     πρόκεινται         δεῖγμα,     πυρὸς    αἰωνίου       δίκην        ὑπέχουσαι

  flesh   different  (they) set before   example  of fire   of eternal  punishment   held under

This reads quite different from the New World Translation.

...flesh for unnatural use, are placed before [us] as a [warning] example by undergoing the judicial punishment of everlasting fire

The words translated example and punishment are in the accusative case, so they are the objects of the sentence. The words of fire and of eternal are in the genitive case. The genitive is often viewed as the possessive case. Technically, a noun in the genitive case helps to qualify another noun. Thus, the genitive functions adjectivally to limit a noun by describing, defining, qualifying or modifying it. In Jude, the words fire and eternal are each adjectivally limiting the words example or punishment. Jude is a little vague here. If we did not know his context, the words in question could also be understood as:

• an example of a fiery and eternal punishment
• a fiery example of eternal punishment (my vote)
• a fiery and eternal example of punishment

Thus, eternal does not have to be an adjective of fire.

Even those who don't understand Greek, but who are honestly seeking the truth, should conclude that the example, rather than the fire, was eternal because the example of Sodom still existed when Jude wrote his letter, even though the fire had gone out.

The Witnesses make two mistakes when they use Jude to teach that there is no eternal fire. First, they bear false witness by reading into Jude something he never taught: that there will be no eternal punishment. They would be much wiser to read Jude for what he says; he is trying to warn about a coming fiery judgment. Second, by undermining the word eternal, do they not also undermine verses that teach that God's kingdom is eternal? These errors will revisit them.

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  - Revelation 22:19

Though seven million Witnesses have been taught that Jude proves that fire of hell will go out, they have not taken the time to read the letter of Jude for themselves or to think for themselves. If you wish to make sure that your name is written in the Book of Life, take our Two question test and see.

Whom Will God Torment Forever?

The Roman Catholic Church and many protestant denominations teach that you will be in either the Kingdom of God or Hell Fire. Thus, all people unreached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ will burn forever in Hell. Believing that a merciful God could not act so cruely, the Witnesses and a few other denominations take the opposite position; that is, there will be no conscious punishment. Yet my study of the Scriptures has lead me to a third conclusion: those, and only those, who deserve it will be tormented forever. When we read about the judgment of God, we also read about the type of person subjected to it.

If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it or sell it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. - Exodus 22:1

AND

Break for break, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him. - Leviticus 24:20

Who will suffer the eternal torment mentioned in Revelation 14?

If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
- Revelation 14:9b-11

What must these people do in order to deserve eternal torment?

• They will worship a world leader who will speak great blasphemies against Jehovah.
  (Revelation 13:6 & 13:8)
• They will persecute those who will not worship the Beast. (Revelation 13:15 & 13:17)
• They will worship Satan (Revelation 13:4 - They worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast.)

The Scriptures plainly warned that those who do those things are going to be punished forever. They have only themselves to blame for not believing.

While we are not the judges (that is, we cannot pass judgment on individuals), we do know that we serve an unchanging God. Therefore, other equally wicked people should expect the same punishment.

For I am Jehovah, I change not. Because of this you sons of Jacob are not destroyed. - Malachi 3:6

AND

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. - Hebrews 13:8

In the earlier example of Judgment Day, we saw Malachi name the guilty before he declared their punishment.

And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. - Malachi 2:1-3

In this passage, God's anger was, as it often is, directed toward His governing body. I suspect that they ignored this judgment, since they usually do. God was angry with His priests in that day because, as Malachi said,

For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. - Malachi 2:7-8

If God was angry then with His governing body for departing out of the way, He will be angry now with those who have caused many to stumble at the law. We can see from these passages that the punishment on the Day of Judgment will be according to the sin. This is what Jesus taught.

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. - Luke 12:47-48

We can see that God has expectations of even those who have never heard the Gospel.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
- Mark 16:15-16

God expects those who have had the Gospel preached to them to repent and believe. Those who have heard the Gospel will have far more required of them than those who have not.

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. - James 3:1

Since religious leaders have the strictest judgment, false teachers and those leaders who put stumbling blocks in the way of God's people will receive His greatest wrath.

Conclusion

The title of this study is Does the Bible Teach Eternal Punishment? Using the scriptures, we have seen that those who have heard the Gospel and still serve Satan will receive eternal torment. The false prophets and false teachers who mislead God's people will be close behind. Those reading this study have heard the Gospel of Jesus; those who reject Him or blaspheme the Holy Spirit are also damned.

But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy  Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:  - Mark 3:29

AND

For certain men crept in secretly, those having been of old previously written into this condemnation, ungodly ones perverting the grace of our God for unbridled lust, and denying the only Master, God, even our Lord Jesus Christ. - Jude 1:4

There are many other passages in scripture that warn of God's eternal wrath against the wicked, but those who eisegetes the passages in this study will eisegete those also. How much fuller would a Witness's life be if he was not always playing down Scripture or replacing it with booklet studies? May the Lord Jehovah bless those who come to fear Him and faithfully teach His Word.

Written by Jeff Barnes