Which other scriptures support the concept of eternal life and punishment? Matthew 25 :46 — The Launch Point “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Jesus places two destinies side by side—both described by the same Greek adjective, aiónios, meaning “everlasting.” If the joy is endless, so is the judgment. One Word, Two Destinies • Aiónios appears 71 times in the New Testament. • It modifies “life” in verses like John 3:16 and “punishment” or “destruction” in passages like 2 Thessalonians 1:9. • Scripture never hints that one side is temporary while the other is permanent; the durations always match. Promises of Eternal Life • John 3 :16 — “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” • John 3 :36 — “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.” • John 5 :28-29 — “those who have done good to the resurrection of life.” • John 10 :27-28 — “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.” • Romans 6 :23 — “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” • Daniel 12 :2 — “some to everlasting life.” Together, these passages paint eternal life as unending fellowship, security, and joy in God’s presence. Warnings of Eternal Punishment • Daniel 12 :2 — “others to shame and everlasting contempt.” • Mark 9 :43-48 — “hell, into the unquenchable fire … where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.” • 2 Thessalonians 1 :8-9 — “They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord.” • Jude 7 — “an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.” • Revelation 14 :9-11 — “The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest.” • Revelation 20 :10, 14-15 — “tormented day and night forever and ever … anyone … not written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Eternal punishment is depicted as conscious, unending separation from God—terrifying but just. A Balanced, Sobering Assurance • The same inspired Word offers a free gift of life and warns of irrevocable judgment. • Hebrews 9 :27 reminds us, “it is appointed for men to die once, and after that to face judgment.” • Scripture’s consistency calls us to take both promises seriously, embracing Christ for life and urging others to do the same while mercy is still offered. |
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