Friday DIVE – TEN KEY PASSAGES FOR ETERNAL TORMENT IN HELL |fd20260731

In his contribution to the book in Two Views of Hell, Robert Peterson sets forth ten passages that as part of the “overwhelming evidence” to support the historical interpretation of hell as everlasting punishment.  I agree with Peterson’s citation of Augustine, “who cautions us against following the example of those who, ‘while not slighting the authority of the sacred Scriptures, . . . nevertheless interpret them wrongly and suppose that what is to happen will not be what the Scriptures speak of, but what they themselves would like to happen” (City of God, 21.27).  I find myself facing the same temptation, so it is helpful to keep God’s Word front and center when constructing our theology.  

1. Undying Worm and Unquenchable Fire (OT) 

Isaiah 66:22-24

For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain.   From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the LORD.  

And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me.  For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.  

• “worm” … from tolatam (plural of tola) … worms that do not die as worms because they are maggots that transform into flies  
• “fire shall not be quenched” … re: a fire that will not be put out until all combustible material is burnt up
• According to Google AI …
  • Understanding “Unquenchable” vs. “Eternal” in Context 
    • In biblical literature, “unquenchable” or “eternal” fire does not mean the physical flames burn forever without stopping ….
    • Unstoppable Until Consumed: A fire is considered “unquenchable” if human efforts cannot put it out while it is actively destroying its target.  The fire that fell on Sodom and Gomorrah could not be extinguished by the inhabitants and burned until the cities were entirely reduced to ash. 

2. Everlasting Life/Everlasting Contempt   

Daniel 12:1-2

At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people.  And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time.  But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.  And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  

• “everlasting” … from olam: Eternity, everlasting, forever, perpetual, ancient, world, always, ancient time, any more, continuance, eternal, for, everlasting, long time,
• “contempt” … from deraon: Contempt, reproach, abhorrence

3. Eternal Fire/The Fire of Hell  

Matthew 18:6-9

Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.  Woe to the world for temptations to sin!  For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!  And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.  It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.  And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.  t is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.    

• “eternal” … from aionion …   eternal, everlasting, forever … (an adjective, derived from 165 /aiṓn  (“an age, having a particular character and quality“) – properly, “age-like” (“like-an-age“), i.e. an “age-characteristic” (the quality describing a particular age);
• “fire” … from pur … fire
• “hell” … from  geenna … Gehenna, hell
• “fire” … from pyros … from pur …

4. Eternal Punishment/Eternal Life  

Matthew 25:31-46

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” . . . Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels . . .  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”  

• “eternal” … from aionion …
• “fire” … from pur …
• “punishment” … from kolasin … from kolasis … punishment, torment (KJV), torture (ABiPE) correction

5. Undying Worm and Unquenchable Fire (NT)   

Mark 9:42-48

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.  And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable  fire.   And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.  And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out.  It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”  

• “hell” … from geenna … hell,  Gehenna
• “their worm does not die” …  from skolex (singular)
• “unquenchable fire” … and “fire that is not quenched” …

6. Everlasting Destruction   

2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering — since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They will suffer the punishment of eternal  destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.  

• “punishment”  … from diken … from diké: Justice, judgment, punishment, vengeance, penalty (Biblehub)
• “eternal” … from aionion … age-lasting
• “destruction”  … from olethron … from  olethros … destruction,  ruin   …
  • According to HELPS Word-studies:  3639 ólethros (from ollymi/“destroy”) – properly, ruination with its full, destructive results (LS). 3639 /ólethros (“ruination”) however does not imply “extinction” (annihilation).  Rather it emphasizes the consequent loss that goes with the complete “undoing.” 
  • (According to Vines Expository Dictionary … loss, not of being, but of well-being) 

7. The Punishment of Eternal Fire   

Jude 1:7

Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.   

• “punishment” … from diken … from diké: Justice, judgment, punishment, vengeance, penalty (Biblehub)
• “eternal” … from aioniou … from aionios … age-lasting
• “fire” … from pyros … from pur … fire
• QUESTION:  IF Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire that is “eternal” … why is it not still burning today??

8. Blackest Darkness Reserved Forever   

Jude 1:13      

[These people are] wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.   

• “forever” … from eis aiona … literally, into the age of

9. The Smoke of Their Torment Rises for Ever and Ever   

Revelation 14:9-11

If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.  

• “tormented”  …  from  basanisthēsetai … literally “he will be tormented” … from basanizó: to torment, to torture, to vex, to distress  …
  • According to HELPS Word-studies  … 928 basanízō (from 931 /básanos, “a tormenting trial”) – properly, to examine (literally by using torture).
  • According to  Thayer’s Greek Lexicon …
    • 1. properly, to test (metals) by the touchstone.
    • 2. to question by applying torture.
  • Historical Background  … as per Biblehub … The classical root referred to a touchstone used for testing precious metals; by extension it came to denote the examination of a person under torture, then any form of severe distress.  The New Testament writers draw on this semantic range to depict forces that probe authenticity (storms testing faith), expose evil (prophetic preaching), or execute righteous judgment (final punishment).
• “fire”  … from pyri … from pur …
• “sulfur”  … from theio … from theion: sulfur, brimstone
  • According to the Topical Lexicon in Biblehub …  “Scripture harnesses this tangible image to convey the terrible certainty, purity, and permanence of divine judgment. Fire consumes; brimstone lingers, clings, and penetrates—together they portray the totality of God’s wrath against unrepentant sin.”
  • According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon …  “apparently the neuter of the adjective  θεῖος  equivalent to divine incense, because burning brimstone was regarded as having power to purify, and to ward off contagion.”
• “torment”  … from basanismou … from  basanismos: torment, torture … or a testing by the touchstone (Thayer’s)  
• “forever and ever” … from eis aionas aionon (n-gmp) … literally, (in)to ages of ages …

10. The Lake of Fire   

Revelation 20:10, 14-15

And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. . . .  Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  This is the second death, the lake of fire.  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.  

• “lake” … from limnen
• “fire” … from pyros
• “sulfur” … from theio … from theion: sulfur, brimstone
• “they will be tormented” … from basanisthēsontai … literally they will be tormented … (tested by the touchstone)
• “forever and ever” … from eis aionas aionon (n-gmp) … literally, (in)to ages of ages … 

Questionable words/phrases … because of mistranslations      

• their worm shall not die  Isaiah 66:22-24  
• their fire shall not be quenched  Isaiah 66:22-24   
• some to everlasting contempt   Daniel 12:2   
• eternal fire   Matthew 18:8  
• the hell of fire   Matthew 18:9  
• eternal fire   Matthew 25:45  
• eternal punishment   Matthew 25:46   
• go to hell  … Mark 9:42-48   
• to the unquenchable  fire.   … Mark 9:42-48   
• hell … hell … their worm does not die  … Mark 9:42-48  
• the fire is not quenched …  Mark 9:2-48  
• the punishment of eternal destruction   2 Thessalonians 1:5-10  
• the punishment of eternal destruction   2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 
• the punishment of eternal destruction   2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 
• the punishment of eternal fire … Jude 1:7   
• the punishment of eternal fire … Jude 1:7   
• the gloom of utter darkness reserved forever … Jude 13   
• the gloom of utter darkness reserved forever … Jude 13   
• he will be tormented with fire and sulfur   … Revelation 14:9-11 
• he will be tormented with fire and sulfur  … Revelation 14:9-11 
• he will be tormented with fire and sulfur  … Revelation 14:9-11  
• the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever,  … Revelation 14:9-11 
• thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur … Revelation 20:10, 14-15 
• thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur … Revelation 20:10, 14-15   
• tormented day and night forever and ever …  Revelation 20:10, 14-15   
• tormented day and night forever and ever  … Revelation 20:10, 14-15