Where In The Bible Will I Find:

Punishment In Hell Is Eternal?

The Scriptures reveal, that two destinies await the souls of mankind, and it is by the way we live our lives that we determine which ours shall be, for it is by our choice, that is, by the way we live our lives, we are choosing which place we will spend eternity, "...God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil ... these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal ... all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment". (Eccl. 12:14; Matt. 25:46; John 5:28-29.

Jesus, in speaking of hell, said, "Hell, the unquenchable fire ... where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44, 48). He says this punishment is eternal, or everlasting, and He will say to the wicked, "...Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels ... these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life" (Matt. 25:41-46). How long will hell last, and how long will one suffer there?

Jesus says it will be "eternally," or "for ever and ever." This will be an ongoing pain without relief. Jesus pictures this punishment by saying, "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth ... and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Matt. 13:41-42; Rev. 20:10).

Some, even though they believe in hell, picture it as a place where the wicked will simply be burned and cease to exist. But there are no Scripture to support that theory. Hell is eternal and so is punishment. "...These shall go away into everlasting punishment ... the smoke of their torment goeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night..." (Matt. 25:46; Rev. 14:11).

The rich man, as recorded in Luke 16, found himself "in torment" (v. 23). He was begging for mercy for he was anguished in the flames. Many people wonder why one should suffer forever and ever for only a short lifetime of sin. A man may commit murder, which only takes a few seconds and is then sentenced to prison for many years longer than he has already lived, and too, he lives in hope of being released, or even being able to escape, but in hell there will be no hope of being released, or even being able to escape. But, remember the words of Jesus, "ETERNAL PUNISHMENT - The smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever - the eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels - tormented day and night forever and ever," God said, "...I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life..." (Deut. 30:19).