Scripture speaks of judgment and the punishment of unbelievers using several expressions: Gehenna, eternal fire, destruction, the lake of fire, the second death, and eternal punishment. Christians understand these words differently—as eternal conscious punishment or final destruction (among other views). Here, the scriptural expressions themselves are presented; the debate is not settled.
What does the Bible say about this
- Gehenna, where God can destroy both soul and body (Matt. 10:28); Gehenna, “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:47–48).
- Eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, and eternal punishment—Jesus’ words about the judgment of the nations; the righteous will receive eternal life (Matt. 25:41, 46).
- “Eternal destruction” is spoken of concerning those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel in 2 Thess. 1:7–9; “their end is destruction” (Phil. 3:18–19).
- The lake of fire is called “the second death”; death, hell, and anyone not written in the book of life are thrown into it (Rev. 20:14–15); the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever (Rev. 14:9–11).
- “Weeping and gnashing of teeth” and the fiery furnace appear in Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the weeds (Matt. 13:40–42); in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the dead rich man is in torment in Hades (Luke 16:23).
- Paul contrasts death as the outcome of sin with eternal life as God’s gift in Christ (Rom. 6:23).
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the verse texts are from the Father’s Blessing Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
11 Scripture passages · Father’s Blessing Bible
Matthew 10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mark 9:47–48
47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be thrown into fiery hell, 48 where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.
Matthew 25:41
Then He will also say to those on His left: Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Matthew 25:46
And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
2 Thessalonians 1:7–9
7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
Revelation 20:14–15
14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 14:9–11
9 Then another angel, a third, followed them, saying in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and before the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night—those who worship the beast and its image, and anyone who receives the mark of its name.”
Matthew 13:40–42
40 Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of this age: 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom everything that causes sin and all who practice lawlessness, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Philippians 3:18–19
18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. I have often told you about them, and now tell you even with tears. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
Luke 16:23
And in Hades, being in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus at his side.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
