If the wicked just perish and cease to exist, then why would Jesus say in Matthew 5:29 and Mark 9:48 that it's better to live the rest of your life maimed, then live the rest of your life with all your health intact and being thrown in hell? What about Matthew 25:46? 2 Thessalonians 1:9 describes eternal ongoing punishment, not that they'll be destroyed and cease to exist forever. And Revelation 22:15 says that the wicked still exist but do not partake in the new Earth. That would be just limited pain and suffering, but at least you know that when you are utterly gone, body and soul, but so would your suffering and your ability to feel any more regret or pain. Isaiah 66:24 describes the utter fate of those who remain in rebellion against God. Can you imagine being tormented with your conscience day and night without stop for a million years, or a decillion, never mind eternity (Revelation 14:10-11)? Eternal torment scares me a heck of a lot more than eventually becoming extinct body and soul.
HELL (γέεννα, geenna). The Greek word is often translated in English versions of the New Testament as “hell.” It is a noun derived from the Hebrew phrase גיא הנום (gy' hnwm), which means “Valley of Hinnom.” The Valley of Hinnom was a ravine along the southern slope of Jerusalem (Josh 15:18; 18:16). In Old Testament times, it was a place used for offering sacrifices to foreign gods. Eventually, the site was used to burn refuse. When the Jews discussed punishment in the afterlife, they employed the image of this smoldering waste dump. (LBD).
The thought behind Matthew 5:29-30 is in reference to a
place of punishment. For the unrepentant wicked this is the second death in the lake of fire *Revelation 21:7-8.
In regards to Matthew 25:46 and 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 the punishment here is the lake of fire which is also described as the second death (Revelation 21:7-8). It is the punishment of fire that brings the second death and it's results are eternal in that once your dead your dead forever and that is the punishment. The choices for mankind is eternal life or eternal death because those who choose death reject the gift of God's dear son and choose death over life as the wages of sin is death *Romans 6:23. There is no such thing as eternal conscious punishment in hell fire which is a false teaching handed down to protestantism by the Roman Catholic Church.
As to Revelation 22:15 it is the closing remarks of the book of Revelation after everything has already been said with context beginning at Revelation 22:10 which says...
Revelation 22:11-15
[10], And he said to me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
[11], He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
[12], And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
[13], I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
[14], Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
[15], For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves and makes a lie.
As shown above with the context these are closing remarks to the whole book of Revelation with JESUS closing by saying before he comes "
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." This is prior to the second coming then Jesus promounces the blessing on those who do His commandments v14 who receive eternal life and enter in through the gates into the city (new Jerusalem). These partake of the first resurrection to eternal life. Those without are the unrepentant wicked who receive their reward of the second death in the lake of fire. There is a time gap between the two resurrections (see Revelation 20:1-15).
Isaiah 66:21-24 says
[21], And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, said the LORD.
[22], For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, said the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
[23], And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, said the LORD.
[24], And they shall go forth, and look on the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh.
Carcasses here are the dead bodies of those who are destroyed. The reference here in Isaiah is to those that are subject to the unquenchable fire, that is a fire that cannot be put out these are not living persons but dead bodies.
Finally to Revelation 14:11 [11],
And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
Some parrallel this scripture to the reference of Edom in Isaiah 34:10
The Greek word translated in English for "forever" is αἰών aion and simply means "an age" or cycle of time and it does
not always mean age without end.
Strong’s Concordance
aiṓn properly,
an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by implication, the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future)
Abbot Smith Lexicon
αἰών A space of time, as, a lifetime, generation, period of history, an indefinitely long period; in NT of an indefintely long period,
an age, eternity… …the ages or world-periods which when summed up make eternity
HELPS Words studies;
aiṓn (see also the cognate adjective,
166 /aiṓnios, “age-long”) – properly, an age (era, “time-span”), characterized by a specific quality (type of existence).
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon
:
Aion: age (
Latinaevum, which is αἰών with the Aeolic digamma), a human lifetime (
in Homer, Herodotus, Pindar, Tragic poets), life itself (
Homer Iliad 5, 685 με καί λίποι αἰών etc.).
Young's Literal Translation
and the smoke of their torment doth go up to
ages of ages; and they have no rest day and night, who are bowing before the beast and his image, also if any doth receive the mark of his name.
Now let's add the context back in...
Revelation 14:6-12
[6], And I saw another angel fly in the middle of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
[7], Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Note: the first angels message is the everlasting Gospel saying "
Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters"
[8], And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
The fall of Babylon is proclaimed by the second angels message.
[9], And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
[10], The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
[11], and the smoke of their torment doth go up to ages of ages; and they have no rest day and night, who are bowing before the beast and his image, also if any doth receive the mark of his name.
[12], Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Note now Revelation 14:9-12 is the context of v11 which is the third angels message which follow the everlasting gospel and a call back to worshipping God, the fall of Babylon (apostate Christianity) and now a warning to those who worship the beast and receive his mark in the forehead or hand (believing or doing) those who receive the beasts mark
will drink (future context)
the wine wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation;
and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. The context is important here as it is in reference to the proclaimation of the three angels messages and closes with a warning to those who receive the mark of the beast.
Third Angel's Message: The third angel gives a fearful warning to those who “worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark.” Those who drink the wine of Babylon’s impure doctrines will “drink the wine of the wrath of God.” This will be fulfilled both in the
seven last plagues (
Revelation 16:1-2) and the second death in the lake of fire *
Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:8
In Revelation 14:11 there is two fulfillments here one to the seven last plagues where those who receive the mark of the beast receive no rest day and night
and before the second coming in the seven last plagues. This is evidence as the term "who worship the beast" is present tense to worshipping the beast
and the second death that all the unrepentant wicked receive in the lake of fire after the second resurrection (Revelation 21:8)
Hope this helps.
