This is among the top handful of reasons why some people reject Christianity.  And that is not hard to understand.  Why would God be portrayed as the most loving being by far and yet send the majority of people into everlasting torment?  Sin is awful and our choice, but “everlasting torment”…  The argument is that He could have designed things so that didn’t happen.

Overview:
CS Lewis is a very well respected theologian and saw how the actual verses could go either way.  Here is his quote.  “But I notice that Our Lord, while stressing the terror of hell with unsparing severity usually emphasizes the idea not of duration but of finality. Consignment to the destroying fire is usually treated as the end of the story—not as the beginning of a new story. That the lost soul is eternally fixed in its diabolical attitude we cannot doubt: but whether this eternal fixity implies endless duration—or duration at all—we cannot say.”  CS Lewis – The Problem of Pain.

It should be noted that the broad base of today’s theologians believe that “punishment” continues into and on-going in eternity.  That said, there is debate because it could be said that a plain reading of the majority of related scriptures could indicate that the torment is for the period between our death on the earth and the final judgement where those that reject God “perish” / “are destroyed”.  For example, the rich man and Lazarus is a scene of tormenting fire while this earth still exists because the rich man wants to warn his relatives.  Additionally, the most famous verse in the New Testament, John 3:16, seems to contrast “perishing” and “eternal” life.

The root question is around if God’s judgement is “finalized in eternity” or “for all of eternity”.  There appears to be verses for each.

The Bible verses:
Here are some that seem to indicate “destruction” or “perish”.

• Psalm 1:6:  … but the way of the ungodly shall perish
• Psalm 37:20:  But the wicked shall perish… they shall vanish – like smoke they will vanish away.
• Matthew 7:13-14:  Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction…
• Matthew 10:28:  Do not fear those that can kill body, but not soul.  Rather, fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
• Luke 16:19-31:  Rich man and Lazarus:  This is not referencing eternity since the earth still exists (people are still there for someone to “go talk to”).  It clearly shows “torment” while this earth still exists (i.e. before final judgement)
• John 3:16:  … whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life …
• John 10:28:  [saved] will not perish but have eternal life
• Romans 6:23:  For the wages of sin is death …
• Philippians 3:19:  whose end is destruction …
• 2 Thessalonians 1:9:  who shall be punished with everlasting destruction … (see more on this one below)
• Hebrews 10:39:  But we are not of them who shrink back to destruction; but have faith that saves the soul.
• 2 Peter 2:4,9:  … cast them into Hell / keep under punishment … “until the judgement”
• James 4:12:  There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.
• Jude 1:7:  “just as Sodom and Gomorrah … serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” (Sodom and Gomorrah are not burning anymore and yet the Bible says they are undergoing the judgement of eternal fire.  Why reference their fire if it is the same as for all others that rejected God?)
• Revelation 21:8:  The word “death” here is used over 100 times in the NT and clearly means death.  Note that this verse is right after the Judgement Throne.

A verse for on-going punishment

• Matthew 25:46:  These shall go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.

Unclear verses

• Daniel 12:2:  eternal “life” vs eternal “contempt” (Technically, you don’t need to be living to be an object of contempt.  Hitler is a perfect example of a dead person that is still an object of contempt.)
• Revelation 20:10:  Devil and false prophet tormented “day and night” forever and ever.  (Revelation 21:23 & 22:5 indicate day and night end after the final judgement when current earth and Universe are burned up and those that are saved go to Heaven [The New Jerusalem].  Revelation 21:1-2)
• Revelation 14:11:  And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever and they have “no rest day or night”.  (Again, a reference to day and night “might” indicate only applicable until after the final judgement.)

Cast into lake of eternal fire (but no indication if consumed by the fire or not – See Rev 20:14-15 in “Considerations” below)

• Matt 18:8:  If hand causes to stumble better to cut off than enter eternal fire
• Matt 25:41:  Those on the left to be cast into eternal fire
• Mark 9:43:  And if your hand makes you sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched.

Some words can be translated into more than word.  In these cases, it is important to look at the context of the verse and also how the word is used elsewhere in the Bible.

• 2 Thessalonians 1:9 uses the words “eternal destruction” and “away from the presence of the Lord”.  Some may say that the latter phrase indicates on-going existence in eternity.  That is possible, but the word “olethros” is used a total of 5 times in the New Testament and two of the most clear are in 1 Corinthians 5:5 and Hebrews 11:28 where it clearly means destruction.
• The word “apollumi” used in John 3:16 is used over 90 times in the New Testament.
  • It is nearly always translated as “lost/lose”, “destroy(ed)” or “perish(ed)”.  It is translated “ruined” once in some Bible translations.
  • The times that it is translated “lost” sometimes do not mean death such as in the parables of the lost sheep,  the lost coin and the prodigal son.  But other times, indicates something that is “eliminated” such choosing to “lose” our life in order to live for God.
  • The majority of the instances are “perish(ed)” or “destroy(ed)”.  Some examples:  Matthew 2:13 where Herod sought to “destroy” the infant Jesus and killed all boys under 2 years old; Matthew 5:29 where God says to take out your eye if it causes you to stumble; Mark 3:6 where the Pharisees sought to destroy Jesus after healed on the Sabbath;  Luke 17:29 where the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.  Note that John 3:16 contrasting “eternal” with “ruined” or “lost” would be an awkward contrast.

Considerations:

• Revelation 20:14-15 is the actual account of when the unsaved are thrown into the Lake of Fire.  Note how “Death and Hades” and “those not found in the book of life” are both “thrown into the Lake of Fire”.  Since death will be no more in eternity (Rev 21:4) and there will be no more need for Hades, it is reasonable to expect they are consumed in the Lake of Fire.  If so, this couplet of verses would indicate the unsaved are also consumed.
• It is possible that the concept of time does not exist in eternity which would not be surprising since apparently we will be living for all eternity.  It is believed that “time” “began” during Day 1 of Creation (“In the beginning”).  Even secular scientists currently believe “time and space” began at the Big Bang.  So, it would not be surprising if the concept of time no longer exists after “the Heavens and Earth pass away” (Rev 21:1).  When “forever and ever” is used, it “could be” a term used during “time” (i.e. while earth still exists) or it could reference eternity.  Not conclusive.
• God could leave the eternal fire forever in eternity as a visible reminder even after those that rejected Him have perished.
• If verses seem to fall on both sides of a topic, the next question is, “What best fits God’s character?”  Would God’s character more likely subject someone to torment without end or would His character more likely punish them for all to see and then end their life?

Summarizing the two possibilities:

• Applies to both:  Regarding the people reject the free gift of loving and wise Heavenly Father, He cannot allow those people into Heaven because they would make Heaven the same mess we have here.  Note that the impact of our rejecting God’s truths and love not only affect ourselves, but also affect other people who may have various impacts on other people which may include long term distress.  We do these things throughout our lives and so the impact is far worse than we will ever realize.  This is especially true if they feel comfortable rejecting God because of what they saw in us.
• Punishment for all of eternity:
  • What happens before the end of this earth and the Judgement Throne.  The story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 sounds like what it would be like once people go to the final Lake of Fire at the end of this world as described in Revelation 20:14-15 because the rich man is experiencing tormenting heat.  Basically, it appears that there is something like pre-Lake of Fire.
  • What happens at the end of the earth and the Judgement Throne.  The books of our lives are opened.  The book with the names of those that acknowledged that God is far wiser, powerful and loving than us and have accepted Christ’s redemption for the wrong we have done go to Heaven.  The people remaining will have their deeds while here read from the book of our lives.  The attitudes and actions will be compared to God’s standards.  The result will be that they are sent to the eternal Lake of Fire for eternal torment.
  • Verses with “eternal” or “forever and ever”:  These are generally interpreted to mean that they apply to all of eternity even if “time” no longer exists.
  • Verses with “day and night”:  The apparent conflict between these verses applying to the time after the Judgement Throne and Revelation 21:23 & 22:5 does not seem to be addressed.
  • Verses with the words “perish(ed)” or “destroy(ed)”:  When the words “olethros” or “apollumi” are used, they are generally interpreted to mean something like “ruined” or “experiencing destruction for all of eternity”.
  • This is the common view today.
• Punishment until the end of “time” (and Earth / Universe) and destruction in the Lake of Fire:
  • What happens before the end of this earth and the Judgement Throne.  The story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 sounds like tormenting heat.  Basically, this is the torment and it lasts for all of “time” which end at the beginning of eternity.
  • What happens at the end of the earth and the Judgement Throne.  The books of our lives are opened.  The book with the names of those that acknowledged that God is far wiser, powerful and loving than us and have accepted Christ’s redemption for the wrong we have done go to Heaven.  The people remaining will have their deeds while here read from the book of our lives.  The attitudes and actions will be compared to God’s standards.  The result will be that they are sent to the eternal Lake of Fire for destruction where they will perish.  The flame will be left burning as a reminder of the contempt for the attitudes and actions that brought pain to our world that those in Heaven will recognize is no longer a part of their lives.
  • Verses with “eternal” or “forever and ever”:  These are generally interpreted to mean that they apply to all of “time” which ends at eternity future.  Reminder “time” may not have existed in eternity past.
  • Verses with “day and night”:  These verses support the idea of perish / destroy after Judgement Throne because Revelation 21:23 & 22:5 would exclude them from eternity.
  • Verses with the words “perish(ed)” or “destroy(ed)”:  When the words “olethros” or “apollumi” are used, they are generally interpreted to mean perish(ed) or destroy(ed) which occurs at the Judgement Throne when those that reject God are sent to the Lake of Fire.
  • This view is rejected by most today because of Matthew 25:46 and the presumption that “forever and ever” continues into eternity.

Final thoughts:
Most of us, whether in theology, science, politics, etc. tend to focus on data that supports a position and minimize data that contradicts that position.  I suspect that is why CS Lewis concluded “we cannot say”.  That said, if you don’t support “on-going torment in eternity”, you likely will be subject to negative feedback.

One final note:  God does not send anyone to Hell.  People make that choice when they reject God who is far more loving and wise than them.  This world is a blink-of-an-eye time in “eternity”.  It is a time where we get to see what happens when we get to do things our own way.  The mess in this world shows that our wisdom is flawed.  God is setting up an eternity in a place far more beautiful than this Earth where people will have wholesome relationships because they have learned it truly is better to give than to receive and God will be there visibly with us.  If God allowed the folks who are steadfast on their attitudes and values being better than their loving and wise Heavenly Father, Heaven would be no better than the mess we have created here.  See our FAQ on Heaven is greatly misunderstood for more.