The Destiny of the Unsaved

            One topic that often debated is the destiny of those who choose not to follow Christ. There are three predominate theories regarding the destiny of the unsaved; eternal punishment, annihilationism, and universalism. Those who subscribe to the theory of eternal punishment hold that the sin of those who die without the benefit the grace of God through faith in Christ will be punished perpetually in a place of constant torment (hell) without end.[1] The annihilationist position suggests that hell is a form of instantaneous destruction or cessation of existence of the souls of the unsaved dead.[2]  In contrast to both eternal punishment and annihilation, the universalist holds that the efficiency of Christ’s atoning sacrifice is not limited and therefore all people will eventually be reconciled to God.[3]

            Of these three theories, the biblical evidence wholly points to the theory of eternal punishment. The Bible clearly teaches that all have sinned against God (Rom. 3:23; Is. 64:6), that no sin will go unpunished, and that the punishment for sin is death (Dan. 12:2; Matt 10:15; John 5:28-29; Rom. 6:23). The Bible also teaches that this death is not the cessation of existence, but endless torment and separation from God:

          The duration of this punishment is sometime expressed in the New Testament by the use of aiōn or one of its derivatives (Matt. 18:8; 25:41; 46:2; 2 Thess. 1:9). Aiōn means “old age,” and it was used of the never ending “age to come,” which gave rise to the adjective aiōnion the meaning “eternal,” everlasting.” These words are used of “the King eternal” (1 Tim. 1:17), of “the eternal God” (Rom. 16:26), and when Glory is ascribed to God “forever” (Rom. 11:36), and God is blessed “forever” (2 Cor. 11:31). The concept of endless duration could not be more strongly conveyed; the use of these expressions for the eternity of God shows conclusively that they do not mean limited duration. It is important that the same adjective is used of eternal punishment as of eternal life (Matt. 25:46 has both). The punishment is just as eternal as the life. One is no more limited that the other.[4]

Jesus Himself taught that hell is a place “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48 ESV). Based on the clearly articulated teaching of Scripture, one is confronted with the eternal nature of the punishment for sin.

            There are several arguments commonly made against the doctrine of eternal punishment. The annihilationist argues that only God is immortal (1 Tim 1:17; 6:16) and that immortality is a special gift connected with redemption in Jesus Christ (Rom. 2:7; 1 Cor. 15:53-54; 2 Tim. 1:10).[5]  However, the overall biblical witness is that mankind was created as an eternal being in God’s own image (Gen. 1:27) and that physical death entered the world as a result of the curse of sin (Gen. 3:19). An argument against the doctrine of eternal punishment that is shared by both the annihilationist and the universalist is that eternal punishment is contrary to God’s love as revealed in Scripture. With respect to this argument, the same difficulty in reconciling God’s love with eternal punishment would seem to be present in reconciling God’s love with the idea of divine punishment at all, and, conversely if (as Scripture abundantly testifies) it is consistent for God to punish the wicked for a certain length of time after the last judgment, then there seems to be no necessary reason why it would be inconsistent of God to inflict the same punishment for an unending period of time.[6] If God is just then sin cannot go without punishment (Pro. 11:21). Another argument is that eternal punishment for temporal sins is unfairly severe. This argument wrongly assumes that man knows the extent of the evil done when sinners rebel against God.[7]  The punishment for rebellion increases proportionally as the position of the one rebelled against increases. To rebel against one with a small amount of authority would result in a proportionally small punishment, but to rebel against one with great authority results is a proportionally great punishment. The rebellion has not changed, just the position of the one rebelled against. Using this logic if one were to rebel against one with eternal and unsurpassed authority, the punishment for said rebellion would be proportionally eternal and unsurpassed. Such is the case in rebellion against God, who possesses all authority.

            God created hell, a real place where real people will spend a real eternity.[8]  If we are to be obedient to the greatest commandments (Matt 22:37-39), we must join with Jesus is his mission to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) and we must love our neighbor enough to not allow them to spend an eternity in a place of torment without the opportunity to make an informed choice. As one better understands hell, they will have a deeper burden for lost loved ones. A full awareness of hell would lead one to make every effort to present the gospel to the lost.[9]

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[1] L.L. Morris, “Eternal Punishment,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Baker Reference Library) 2nd ed., ed. Walter Elwell (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2001), 395.

[2] Elmer L. Townes, Theology for Today (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing, 2002), 838.

[3] J.R. Root, “Universalism,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Baker Reference Library) 2nd ed., ed. Walter Elwell (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2001), 1232.

[4] L.L. Morris, “Eternal Punishment,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Baker Reference Library) 2nd ed., ed. Walter Elwell (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2001), 395.

[5]R. Nicole, “Annihilationism,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Baker Reference Library) 2nd ed., ed. Walter Elwell (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2001), 64.

[6] Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. (Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1151.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Elmer L. Towns Concise Bible Doctrines (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2006), 415.

[9] Ibid., 416.