Eschatology: The Destiny of the Unsaved
By Jake Kohl
Eternal punishment is plain from
the Bible that sin will be punished and the duration of this punishment is
sometimes expressed in the New Testament by the use of aion or one of its
derivatives meaning "old age," and it was used of the never-ending
"age to come," which gave to the corresponding adjective aionion the meaning
"eternal," everlasting.[1]
Defining the word annihilationism which is from the Latin word nihil (nothing), annihilationism
expresses the position of those who hold that some, if not all, human souls
will cease to exist after death.[2] We then
have the word universalism which is that doctrine which asserts that all men
will eventually be reconciled to God. A Universalist believes that the
efficiency of the Atonement is not limited and therefore extends to all.[3]
Looking deeper
into understanding the nature of God and His justified eternal punishment; we
must look at the difference between Sheol, Hades and Gehenna. Sheol, is an
intermediate state in which souls are dealt with according to their lives on
earth[4] and
Hades, is virtually synonymous with the Hebrew Sheol,[5] and
Gehenna, which works together with Hades and Sheol; however, the latter is more
consistently the interim abode of both good and bad souls after death prior to
judgment, while Gehenna is the final and everlasting place of punishment for
the wicked following the last judgment.[6]
Gehenna is a place where the wicked will be eternally punished. Towns states
that “Hell, properly translated, comes from the word Gehenna, which was a name
applied to a place in the valley of Hinnom where in older times human
sacrifices were offered.[7]
Furthermore, Towns states that Gehenna is the name in scripture for the lake of
fire, the final and eternal abode of the lost,[8] which
corresponds to the traditional understanding of the eternal abode of the
wicked.
Hell is a real
place, and according to 2 Thessalonians 1:8, the fire will take vengeance on
them that does not know God and does not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Psalm
9:17 also corresponds with Matthew 25:46 and is clear that when we die here on
earth, the wicked will not share the same eternity as those redeemed by God.
Eternity is simply forever with no end, as if time ceases to exist.
A common
objection to my view is that some will claim that Hell is not eternal. Many
will cite Jonah 2:2 and state this is proof that God will hear from those who
are in hell; that He will listen and set free those who cry out to Him.
Unfortunately, this text is misinterpreted, because when Jonah was in the belly
of the whale, he was not in Gehenna. Gehenna is the final destination, whereas
Sheol and Hades are not. We see even now where mankind has died and are brought
back to life. John 11:43 is another example when Jesus raised Lazarus from the
dead. Gehenna is the place after the Great White Throne Judgment. Lazarus was
not yet judged and therefore was not in Hell, but the place where he was in an
intermediate state after death (Sheol).
With this
being said; God’s love for us is not to suffer eternal torment in hell, but to
rejoice with Him in eternal glory. God’s love for us in unconditional when we
choose to accept Him and follow His ways. It is easy to see and read about
God’s judgment and to ask ourselves how God, a God of love, can send us to this
wicked place called hell. God’s judgment is fair because we are given that
choice to choose to love and accept Him just as He does with us. This has a
profound impact on evangelism/missions because the Bible tells us of His
redemptive plans for our lives, and the love He has for us. The Bible is also
clear that we have the choice to choose Him and His ways which leads to eternal
life with Him, or the ways of the world which is sin and leads to eternal
torment in Hell. How can the wicked, who refuse God, be with God in the end?
Yes, God loves us all, but we receive what we give according to His will and by
our choice to choose. If we love and obey Him, He will love and reward us in
eternity. If we fail to submit to Him and reject Him, it is only fair that He
reject you in eternity. This is why we must choose this day who we will serve
(Joshua 24:15).
Bibliography
Towns, Elmer. Theology
for Today. (Mason, Ohio: Cengage Learning, 2008)
Walter
A. Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology: Second Edition, (Grand
Rapids: Baker, 2001),
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