I wrote this up at another site but figured it would be a good blog post.
Notice this passage from 2 Thess. 1,
"6Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"
Notice the contrast between the wicked and the righteous. Paul is telling the Thessalonian christians to take comfort in the fact that God will deal with those who reject Him and the gospel.What happens to those who reject? Eternal destruction. Now this word eternal is αἰώνιον (aiōnion). It occurs 45 times in the N.T. and 34 of those times specifically refer to eternal life. One time it is used to refer to Christ's etrnal kingdom. One time it is used to refer to God's "eternal" glory. It is used to refer to His "eternal" authority. Knowing how it is used elsewhere, what do you suppose it means in 2 Thess. 1:9? Clearly it refers to eternal, not temporary, destruction. This shows hell is eternal and specifically for those who reject Christ's sacrifice. This also applies to Matthew 18:8 which speaks of "eternal fire."And Matthew 25:41 which speaks of "eternal fire." Lastly, all three passages cited eternalare used in the accusative singular. There is no getting around this in 2 Thess. 1:9. Hell is a place of eternal destruction.
Comments
Mar 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. Mar 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Mar 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Mar 9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Mar 9:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Mar 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Mar 9:48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. .
Schultz38