The Bible teaches that the punishment of the wicked is everlasting, but this does not mean eternal conscious torment in every case. Scripture repeatedly speaks of the destruction of the soul, emphasizing the finality and permanence of God’s judgment.
Matthew 10:28 says:
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
The word “destroy” means to bring to ruin or put an end to. Jesus is not describing ongoing torment but the final destruction of both soul and body.
Malachi 4:1–3 also describes the fate of the wicked:
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven… all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble… You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet.”
This imagery is one of complete judgment, not continuous suffering.
Revelation 14:11 states:
“And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever…”
This language echoes Isaiah 34:10 concerning Edom:
“It shall not be quenched night or day; its smoke shall ascend forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste.”
This does not describe eternal burning, but the finality and totality of judgment, symbolized by smoke that ascends forever as a sign of what was completely destroyed.
The same understanding applies to Jude 7, which describes Sodom and Gomorrah:
“…suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
Yet those cities are not still burning. The “eternal fire” refers to the irreversible judgment from God.
Romans 6:23 teaches:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Eternal life is a gift to the righteous; the wicked receive death, not unending life in torment.
The destruction of the wicked is eternal in its result, not in ongoing experience. The punishment is final, irreversible, and just. It serves as a sobering warning of the consequences of sin.
However, Revelation 20:10 does teach that the beast, the false prophet, and Satan will be tormented day and night forever and ever:
“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
This is a specific judgment reserved for these agents of evil. The confusion often arises when this judgment is incorrectly applied to all the wicked. The Bible distinguishes the eternal torment of these three from the destruction of the rest.
