Article — Heaven and Hell — Q & A

This means after death and judgment, your soul ceases to exist, and you won't spend eternity in hell. Where does this idea come from? It’s a misinterpretation of two concepts.

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First, an annihilationist says that if the unbeliever’s resurrected body is cast into the Lake of Fire, it would be immediately consumed. They would cease to exist. However, the Lake of Fire is both a physical and spiritual realm. An unbeliever’s body is prepared for an eternal fate. Plus, the spiritual nature is not consumed.

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Secondly, the annihilationist says that the Greek word for ‘eternal’ (aionios) does not always mean forever. It can sometimes refer to an ‘age’ or a specific period of time.

 

However, Revelation 20 is very clear that the devil is cast into the Lake of Fire, and he “will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” The word ‘eternal’ is never used in this instance. Instead, ‘forever and ever’ is used. The last verse in chapter 20 also says that unbelievers are also “thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10, 15).

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If the devil is in the Lake of Fire ‘forever and ever’ without using the word ‘eternal,’ further proof is found in Jesus' own words when he says,

“Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41).

 

Essentially, these unbelievers are going to the same torment as the devil, which we read earlier was forever and ever.

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The best verse to refute annihilation is in Matthew 25:46. It uses the same Greek word, ‘eternal,’ for both believers and unbelievers. It says,

“These [unbelievers] will go away into ‘eternal’ punishment, but the righteous [believers] into ‘eternal’ life.”

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Another verse to refute annihilation is in Daniel 12:2. It says those who have died will awake,

“some to ‘everlasting’ life, and some to shame and ‘everlasting’ contempt.”

 

In these verses, ‘eternal’ and ‘everlasting’ are compared equally with believers and unbelievers. So both groups are forever.

 

But if ‘eternal’ and ‘everlasting’ are just finite periods of time, the annihilationist would have to take a position that both believers and unbelievers will cease to exist. However, there are too many verses about a believer’s eternal life in heaven that an annihilationist couldn't refute. Therefore, the annihilationist’s argument falls apart.