Is annihilationism biblical?

Annihilationism is the belief that unbelievers will not experience an eternity of suffering in hell but will instead be “extinguished” or annihilated after death. Annihilationism is an attractive belief to many because of the awfulness of the idea of people spending eternity in hell. While there are some passages that seem to support annihilationism, a comprehensive look at what the Bible says about the destiny of the wicked reveals that punishment in hell is eternal. A belief in annihilationism results from a misunderstanding of the consequences of sin, the justice of God, and/or the nature of hell.

In relation to the nature of hell, annihilationists misunderstand the meaning of the lake of fire. Obviously, if a human being were cast into a lake of burning lava, he or she would be almost instantly consumed; however, the lake of fire is both a physical and spiritual realm. The punishment is not simply of a human body; it is of a human’s body, soul, and spirit. A spiritual nature cannot be consumed by physical fire. It seems that the unsaved are resurrected with a body fit for eternity just as the saved are (Revelation 20:13; Acts 24:15). These bodies are prepared for an eternal fate.

Eternity is another point of contention. Annihilationists are correct that the Greek word aionion, which is usually translated “eternal,” does not by definition mean “eternal.” It refers to an “age” or “eon,” a specific period of time. In some passages, however, aionion is without question used to refer to an eternity. Revelation 20:10 speaks of Satan, the beast, and the false prophet being cast into the lake of fire and being “tormented day and night forever and ever.” These three are not “extinguished” by being cast into the lake of fire, but their torment goes on forever. Why would the fate of the unsaved, who are also thrown into the lake of fire, be any different (Revelation 20:14–15)?

One evidence for the eternality of hell is Matthew 25:46: “Then they [the unsaved] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” In this verse, the same Greek word is used to refer to the destiny of the wicked and the righteous. If the wicked are only tormented for an “age,” then the righteous will only experience life in heaven for an “age.” If believers will be in heaven forever, unbelievers will be in hell forever.

Another frequent objection raised by annihilationists to the eternality of hell is that it would be unjust for God to punish people eternally for a finite amount of sin. How could it be fair for God to take a person who lived 70 years in sin, and punish him or her for all eternity? The answer is that our sin bears an infinite consequence because it is committed against an infinitely holy God. When King David committed the sins of adultery and murder, he prayed, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (Psalm 51:4). God is an eternal and infinitely glorious being. Our sin, an affront to infinite worth and eternal glory, warrants an infinite and eternal punishment. The consequence is proportional to the value of the thing targeted. What matters is not the length of time we sinned, but the value of the character of the God we sinned against.

More personally, annihilationism puts forward the idea that we could not possibly be happy in heaven if we knew that some of our loved ones were suffering an eternity of torment in hell. Scripture says, however, that we will not have anything to complain about or be saddened by in the eternal state. God will “‘will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). If some of our loved ones are not in heaven, we will be in complete agreement that they do not belong there and that they are condemned by their own refusal to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior (see John 3:18; 14:6). It is hard to understand this, but we will not be saddened by the lack of their presence. Our focus now should not be on how we can enjoy heaven without our loved ones but on how we can point our loved ones to faith in Christ so they will be us.

Hell is perhaps a primary reason why God sent Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. Being “extinguished” after death is no fate to dread, but an eternity in hell is. Jesus’ death paid our infinite sin debt so we would not have to pay it in hell for eternity (2 Corinthians 5:21). When we place our faith in Him, we are saved, forgiven, cleansed, and promised an eternal home in heaven. But if we reject God’s gift of eternal life, we will face the eternal consequences of that decision.