End TimesTier 1AgreeStarted by Robert Williams - May 13, 2026 - 5 comments
Hell is eternal... but temporary
Discussing:
“Hell is eternal conscious torment.”
Thread starter's perspective:
Hell is illustrated as torment, but is described as annihilation
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MS
504
where are you getting the " described as annihilation" from? Personally I'm not sure if I side on eternal torment, or if eventually the soul ceases to exist.
RW
347
Hell, based on scripture, is either:
- eternal torment
- eternal separation from God and all that comes with Him (peace, comfort, love, etc)
- ceasing to exist
I'd like to give an argument for the last of the three views of hell (ie: annihilation). To start, scripture suggests that NOTHING is eternal but God... UNLESS God allows it (eg, the soul) and that eternal life is the REWARD from God:
John 11:26 states, "everyone who lives and believes in Me **will never die**.
Likewise, Jesus also stated that, "**this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.**" (John 17:3)
And: **the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life** in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
This seems to imply those who don't believe *will* die, opposed to their soul remaining for all eternity, as with those to whom the reward of eternal life if given. In other words, all people die (Hebrew 9:27) but those that "die *in* Christ" are the ones that are to receive eternal life/will be resurrected (John 11:25).
Moreover, Jesus was clear on the fact that the soul *is* destroyed in hell:
"And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to **destroy both soul and body in hell**. (Matthew 10:28)
Of course there is much more to this, including how "forever" is tied to the punishment. But that will have to be for later as I don't want to bog down this post.
