Before we can figure out if hell is eternal, we have to define it. There’s more than one hell or hell-like place described in the Bible, but for this page I’m going with its most common and simplistic definition: The place where God sends sinners to be punished.
So is that particular hell eternal? Maybe. Will condemned humans be punished there eternally? I don’t believe so. I’ll support my opinion by examining angels, humans, the act of punishment, and the fact of punishment in the light of Scripture.
From this point on I’ll refer to humans who are ultimately classified as sinners and condemned to hell as “unbelievers”. It’s a small reminder that the only thing the unbeliever needs to do to escape hell is believe in Christ.
Angels May Be Eternal
If hell is eternal, then it may be for the sake of fallen angels. This verse seems to suggest they can’t die:
“but those [humans] who are considered worthy [to go to heaven] cannot even die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.”
Luke 20:35-36 (abbreviated)
And, as Matthew tells us, hell was originally created for the devil and his fallen angels:
“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.’“
Matthew 25:41
Therefore, if hell is eternal, it may be so because it was created for an eternal devil and his fallen angels. Of course it could be that Luke 20:36 is only referring to righteous angels as not being able to die. Even so, if hell has to be eternal, then let it be for the devil and the devil’s angels.
Unbelievers May Not Be Eternal
Compared to God we all fall short and miss the mark. The Greek word that’s translated “sin” actually means “to miss the mark”:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
That sin comes with a cost:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
If unbelievers (not having accepted the gracious gift of God) die, they can’t be eternal. Scripture tells us where they’ll die:
“And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul, but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Matthew 10:28
If Jesus warns that God can destroy the unbeliever’s body and soul in hell, then it’s reasonable to assume that’s what God will do.
The ACT of Punishment Is Temporary
As the dictionary says, the word “punishment” can refer to an act or to a fact. Let’s talk about the act.
The Parable of the Faithful Servant tells us what will happen to both the faithful and the unfaithful servant. The faithful servant is a metaphor for the believer. The unfaithful servant is a metaphor for the unbeliever. The blows are a metaphor for the unbeliever’s punishment in hell.
“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.”
Luke 12:47-48 (abbreviated)
Since Jesus says some unbelievers will receive many blows and some few, the unbeliever’s time in hell must be temporary. Otherwise, if unbelievers are to spend eternity in hell, the act of punishment would be infinite and the words “many” and “few” would lose all meaning.
The FACT of Punishment Is Eternal
If a government executes a criminal, that criminal’s execution can never be undone. It’s an eternal fact. Similarly, if God destroys the unbeliever’s body and soul in hell as mentioned in Matthew 10:28, the fact of their punishment will also be eternal.
In Matthew 25 Jesus describes the judgement He will enact upon His return to rule the earth. Speaking of eternal punishment and reward, but not specifically of people, Jesus says the following:
“These [unbelievers] will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous [believers] into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:46
The book of Jude speaks of proverbial wolves in sheep’s clothing and their punishment to come. The “gloom of darkness” (their punishment) is forever. Death is forever dark after all. There’s no reason to think the wolves are forever:
“These are the ones who are hidden, churning up their own shameful deeds, for whom the gloom of darkness has been reserved forever.”
Jude 12-13 (abbreviated)
Earlier in Jude the word “eternal” is used to describe the fire that punished, not the unbelieving cities that were punished. As we know, Sodom and Gomorrah are long gone:
“Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them are exhibited as an example of eternal fire, in undergoing punishment.”
Jude 7 (alternate NASB translation, abbreviated)
The True Tragedy of Hell
If hell is a place of literal fire, how long will unbelievers have to burn before they’ve paid their debt? For the “best of unbelievers”, it may not be long at all. It’ll be awful, but I think there’s something even worse than that temporary act of punishment.
The true tragedy of hell will be the eternal fact that a unique and potentially wonderful person, made in the image of God, and never to be made again, will then be gone forever when they could have lived forever with our Lord and Savior.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be that way. Jesus paid our debt on the cross and offers us a pardon. All He asks is that we believe in what He’s done and that pardon is ours. Undo the “un” in unbeliever and eternity is yours for the taking.