And the SMOKE of their torment...No eternal damnation for anyone, except the Devil
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That’s a curious statement from my perspective since that’s what the Bible teaches. Plainly, God’s righteous judgement and mercy are embodied by a punishment fit for the crime. While the wages of any sin is death, how is God cast in a better light by sending someone to eternal torment for never having heard the gospel? As Jesus said, only those who believe in Him will receive immortality.
If a car is destroyed and reduced to mere atoms then it isn’t a car anymore. It’s the same for spiritual death and destruction of soul and body in hell. The components that sustained life and consciousness are gone forever.
The word you’re looking for, I believe, would be destroyed.
Consider 2 Peter 2:6:
and condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes, having appointed them as an example for those who are going to be ungodly,
We’re Sodom and Gomorrah wiped off the face of the earth and reduced to ashes? That’s the example of what will happen to the ungodly. The city was destroyed so the wicked will, in like manner, cease to exist.
Where do you see that?
If a car is destroyed and reduced to mere atoms then it isn’t a car anymore. It’s the same for spiritual death and destruction of soul and body in hell. The components that sustained life and consciousness are gone forever.
The word you’re looking for, I believe, would be destroyed.
Consider 2 Peter 2:6:
and condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes, having appointed them as an example for those who are going to be ungodly,
We’re Sodom and Gomorrah wiped off the face of the earth and reduced to ashes? That’s the example of what will happen to the ungodly. The city was destroyed so the wicked will, in like manner, cease to exist.
Where do you see that?
The rest of that text about Sodom, it says those that were destroyed, are held "under punishment for the day of judgment,"
You can use any translation you like they are all similar.
The example he emphasizes is what I put in red. This is the message. That there is punishment for their spirits in the after life. Not only are they in punishment now, but they are held there until the judgment where they will be punished. The plain reading of the text suggests to any reader that these wicked who were already killed by flood and fire have only more punishment to look forward to. That is the Just Justice of God that he is wanting us to grasp. You can't not see it. It is so plainly stated.
CSB
6and if he reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorraha to ashes and condemned them to extinction,A making them an example of what is coming to the ungodly;B b 7and if he rescued righteous Lot,a distressed by the depraved behavior of the immoral 8(for as that righteous man lived among them day by day, his righteous soul was tormented by the lawless deeds he saw and hearda) — 9then the Lord knows how to rescuea the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,b
NIV
the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh c and despise authority.
You can use any translation you like they are all similar.
The example he emphasizes is what I put in red. This is the message. That there is punishment for their spirits in the after life. Not only are they in punishment now, but they are held there until the judgment where they will be punished. The plain reading of the text suggests to any reader that these wicked who were already killed by flood and fire have only more punishment to look forward to. That is the Just Justice of God that he is wanting us to grasp. You can't not see it. It is so plainly stated.
CSB
6and if he reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorraha to ashes and condemned them to extinction,A making them an example of what is coming to the ungodly;B b 7and if he rescued righteous Lot,a distressed by the depraved behavior of the immoral 8(for as that righteous man lived among them day by day, his righteous soul was tormented by the lawless deeds he saw and hearda) — 9then the Lord knows how to rescuea the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,b
NIV
the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh c and despise authority.
I think you should resist the temptation to label your debate opponents as naturally-minded, incapable of understanding the word of God. While I can see how that would be convenient for your case, you’re better off using Bible verses to support your position rather than using words against the character of others. You’ll be called out and it’ll not help you.
Your position is the spiritually dead in hell are still aware, conscious, and cognizant. Those with eternal life are aware, conscious, and cognizant too. So what you’re saying is there is effectually no difference between spiritual life and spiritual death. I’ve shown you the Bible says otherwise.
You’ve not shown how spiritual death leads to eternal conscious torment in hell.
Ecclesiastes 9:5
For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything. They no longer have a reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten
Your position is the spiritually dead in hell are still aware, conscious, and cognizant. Those with eternal life are aware, conscious, and cognizant too. So what you’re saying is there is effectually no difference between spiritual life and spiritual death. I’ve shown you the Bible says otherwise.
You’ve not shown how spiritual death leads to eternal conscious torment in hell.
Ecclesiastes 9:5
For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything. They no longer have a reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten
I’m aware of Peter 2:9 and it isn’t relevant for eternal torment. Read it again, it says the unrighteous will have their punishment on the day of judgment. It doesn’t say they are being punished now or will be punished forever.
I’m sure you’re aware of what the punishment is on the day of judgement; it’s death.
Per Revelation 20:11-15 the punishment on at the great white throne judgement is this:
Revelation 20:11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne and the one who was seated on it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and a place was not found for them.
12 And I saw the dead—the great and the small—standing before the throne, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds.
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and each one was judged according to their deeds.
14 And Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
I’m sure you’re aware of what the punishment is on the day of judgement; it’s death.
Per Revelation 20:11-15 the punishment on at the great white throne judgement is this:
Revelation 20:11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne and the one who was seated on it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and a place was not found for them.
12 And I saw the dead—the great and the small—standing before the throne, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds.
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and each one was judged according to their deeds.
14 And Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Jesus parable about the Rich man and Lazarus supports the interpretation of being held in punishment now. Moses and the Prophets warn of a place of torment awaiting the wicked dead. Jesus brought even more revelation.
It's an old topic on CC. I've posted scriptures and presented sound exegesis on them many times in the past. At this point I would just say "Google It" there is just so much already written on this. It's not hard to find good articles.
It's an old topic on CC. I've posted scriptures and presented sound exegesis on them many times in the past. At this point I would just say "Google It" there is just so much already written on this. It's not hard to find good articles.
Jesus characterized the intermediate state of the wicked after death (hell, Hades) as one of fire (Luke 16:23,24), but this is to be distinguished from the eternal fire. Jesus’ words in Luke 16 show us that the wicked remain conscious and are aware of their state and of what they have missed. But the eternal fire is to be identified with what Jesus called Gehenna or literally “the gehenna of fire” (Matthew 5:22,29,30; 10:28; 18:8,9; 23:15; Mark 9:43,45,47; Luke 12:5). This fire is not only to be eternal, but is also said to be of such a nature that it can never be quenched (Mark 9:43). This clearly indicates that there can be no possible end to the fire or the punishment. The punishment is as eternal as the fire. If the fire brought an annihilation of the wicked, there would be no reason for the fire being eternal.
Another New Testament passage refers to eternal punishment as “eternal judgment,” that is, a judgment that is valid eternally (Hebrews 6:2). Still another passage speaks of “ruin” (literally, “death,” “separation”) and “destruction” (eternal loss) (1 Timothy 6:9). This “everlasting destruction” (or separation) is “from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). In these passages the word “death” is thus used in the sense of spiritual death or separation from God. The sinner is even now dead in trespasses and sins and therefore without Christ, or separated from Christ (Ephesians 2:1,12). Eternal judgment brings a final and eternal separation from God and from Christ.
The fire is eternal, but the punishment ends. Why it’s called an eternal punishment is because eternal punishment equals death and destruction.
Think of this this way. Those on death row eventually receive their capital punishment. There’s nothing else they can be done to punish them. A death sentence is an eternal punishment, singular. It isn’t “punishing” which would be ongoing.
Over two dozen verses say the fate of the wicked is death and destruction. I showed you those earlier, but I’ll post them again.
What do you say to these?
James 4:12
"God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy."
Hebrews 10:39
"But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction..."
Philippians 3:18-19
"For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 They are headed for destruction."
Psalm 92:7
"Though the wicked sprout like weeds and evildoers flourish they will be destroyed forever."
Psalm 37:20
"But the wicked will die... they will disappear like smoke."
Psalm 1:6:
"... For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction."
Hebrews 10:26-27
"There is only the terrible expectation of God's judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies."
2 Peter 3:7
"...for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed."
Romans 2:7
"He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers."
Genesis 3:19
"For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return."
Psalm 146:4
"When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them."
Ecclesiastes 9:5
"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten."
Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins is the one who will die.
2 Chronicles 28:3
"He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel." (the Valley of Ben Hinnom is where the concept of Gehenna or Hell comes from)
Jeremiah 19:5
"They have built pagan shrines to Baal, and there they burn their sons as sacrifices to Baal. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed My mind to command such a thing!"
Malachi 4:1, 4:3 "The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all... On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies."
Matthew 10:28
"And fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
John 6:51
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever" (the offer to live forever only makes sense if it were possible to not live forever.)
2 Thessalonians 1:9
"They will be punished with eternal destruction,forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power."
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death."
2 Peter 2:6
"and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly"
Revelation 20:14-15
"And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire."
Think of this this way. Those on death row eventually receive their capital punishment. There’s nothing else they can be done to punish them. A death sentence is an eternal punishment, singular. It isn’t “punishing” which would be ongoing.
Over two dozen verses say the fate of the wicked is death and destruction. I showed you those earlier, but I’ll post them again.
What do you say to these?
James 4:12
"God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy."
Hebrews 10:39
"But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction..."
Philippians 3:18-19
"For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 They are headed for destruction."
Psalm 92:7
"Though the wicked sprout like weeds and evildoers flourish they will be destroyed forever."
Psalm 37:20
"But the wicked will die... they will disappear like smoke."
Psalm 1:6:
"... For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction."
Hebrews 10:26-27
"There is only the terrible expectation of God's judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies."
2 Peter 3:7
"...for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed."
Romans 2:7
"He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers."
Genesis 3:19
"For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return."
Psalm 146:4
"When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them."
Ecclesiastes 9:5
"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten."
Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins is the one who will die.
2 Chronicles 28:3
"He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel." (the Valley of Ben Hinnom is where the concept of Gehenna or Hell comes from)
Jeremiah 19:5
"They have built pagan shrines to Baal, and there they burn their sons as sacrifices to Baal. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed My mind to command such a thing!"
Malachi 4:1, 4:3 "The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all... On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies."
Matthew 10:28
"And fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
John 6:51
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever" (the offer to live forever only makes sense if it were possible to not live forever.)
2 Thessalonians 1:9
"They will be punished with eternal destruction,forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power."
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death."
2 Peter 2:6
"and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly"
Revelation 20:14-15
"And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire."
I agree
Would Heaven be a beautiful, wonderful paradise if every day you had to look into the pit and see a loved one screaming in pain and anguish. Have to smell the burning flesh. That would not be paradise to me. Psalms gives us a good look at what happens to the wicked.
Psalm 18:37
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed.
Psalm 37:38
But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
Psalm 68:2
As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.
Psalm 73:27
Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
Psalm 92:9
For surely Your enemies, O LORD, surely Your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.
Psalm 102:3
For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
What happens to the grease when you Bar-B-Que as it drips into the hot coals it sizzles turns into smoke and is gone.
There is a difference in the millennium while Satan is being held we will be able to look down and see in the pit and say:
Isaiah 14:15
Berean Study Bible
But you will be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.
King James Bible
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Verse 16
Berean Study Bible
Those who see you will stare; they will ponder your fate: “Is this the man who shook the earth and made the kingdoms tremble,
King James Bible
They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee,and consider thee,saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
Would Heaven be a beautiful, wonderful paradise if every day you had to look into the pit and see a loved one screaming in pain and anguish. Have to smell the burning flesh. That would not be paradise to me. Psalms gives us a good look at what happens to the wicked.
Psalm 18:37
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed.
Psalm 37:38
But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
Psalm 68:2
As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.
Psalm 73:27
Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
Psalm 92:9
For surely Your enemies, O LORD, surely Your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.
Psalm 102:3
For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers.
What happens to the grease when you Bar-B-Que as it drips into the hot coals it sizzles turns into smoke and is gone.
There is a difference in the millennium while Satan is being held we will be able to look down and see in the pit and say:
Isaiah 14:15
Berean Study Bible
But you will be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.
King James Bible
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Verse 16
Berean Study Bible
Those who see you will stare; they will ponder your fate: “Is this the man who shook the earth and made the kingdoms tremble,
King James Bible
They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee,and consider thee,saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
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yes the punishment stops. The punishment is everlasting destruction.
2 Thessalonians 1:8,9
8 with burning flame giving punishment to those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus,
9 who will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength,
There it is. They will be destroyed forever meaning there is no possibility of resurrection or being saved.
2 Thessalonians 1:8,9
8 with burning flame giving punishment to those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus,
9 who will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength,
There it is. They will be destroyed forever meaning there is no possibility of resurrection or being saved.
Hello Evmur, 
As far as I can tell it looks like the purpose of the resurrection is to give life to those who did good and to give judgment those who did evil. I think of it like a day in court. Everyone deserves to know the charges against them in clear terms and to face the punishment that’s coming with knowledge of why.
That’s the just nature of God. He always uses a prophet to announce judgments before they were carried out.
John 5:28,29 LEB
28 "Do not be astonished at this, because an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear his voice
29 and they will come out—those who have done good things to a resurrection of life, but those who have practiced evil things to a resurrection of judgment.
As far as I can tell it looks like the purpose of the resurrection is to give life to those who did good and to give judgment those who did evil. I think of it like a day in court. Everyone deserves to know the charges against them in clear terms and to face the punishment that’s coming with knowledge of why.
That’s the just nature of God. He always uses a prophet to announce judgments before they were carried out.
John 5:28,29 LEB
28 "Do not be astonished at this, because an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear his voice
29 and they will come out—those who have done good things to a resurrection of life, but those who have practiced evil things to a resurrection of judgment.
It is not true life to spend the Eternity in the lake of fire that is never quenched where they weep and gnash their teeth and their worms dies not. Even death and hell are thrown into the lake of fire. The second death is the lake of fire itself. Spending eternity there is the reward of Satan's kingdom and they are tormented forever.
Revelation 20:7-15
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:7-15
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
You are right. TO HELL with the LAMBS.
AS LONG AS YOU ARE GOOD. I think you need to be in charge of ADMISSIONS onto the forum and make sure NO ONE other than those who have read all the PRESCRIBED READING are allowed to post threads. Make sure everyone conforms to what you believe so as not to offend in seeking out in a different way than you.
Any chance you have been on these forums tooooo long?
I'll try and let every know what we are SUPPOSED to and are NOT SUPPOSTED to discuss and the correct manner in which to do it, ACCORDING TO YOU.
A few things to clarify:
1. We're now discussing the nature and duration of the "punishment (κόλασις)" of the accursed ones (Matthew 25).
2. κόλασις (kolasis) is defined as "infliction of suffering or pain". It is commonly translated "punishment"/"torment".
1 John 4:18 shows that κόλασις is the element of a fearful experience. It can legitimately be translated as "eternal suffering" or "eternal pain".
3. Notice that Jesus did not say "punishment with eternal effects" or "punishment with eternal results" He said, "eternal punishment".
The word "eternal" is the adjective that modifies the word "punishment". The duration of the punishment, itself, is eternal.
A punishment that stops (ceases) would not be "eternal punishment".
4. "with burning flame giving punishment" in 2 Thess 1:8 is a description of Jesus' 2nd coming, not hell. In verse 9, Hell is then introduced as the final destination for those same people mentioned in verse 8. Also, The "punishment" here in 2 Thess 1 is a different word than in Matt 25. It does not clarify the meaning of "punishment" in Matt 25 because it is a different word and in a different context.
1. We're now discussing the nature and duration of the "punishment (κόλασις)" of the accursed ones (Matthew 25).
2. κόλασις (kolasis) is defined as "infliction of suffering or pain". It is commonly translated "punishment"/"torment".
1 John 4:18 shows that κόλασις is the element of a fearful experience. It can legitimately be translated as "eternal suffering" or "eternal pain".
3. Notice that Jesus did not say "punishment with eternal effects" or "punishment with eternal results" He said, "eternal punishment".
The word "eternal" is the adjective that modifies the word "punishment". The duration of the punishment, itself, is eternal.
A punishment that stops (ceases) would not be "eternal punishment".
4. "with burning flame giving punishment" in 2 Thess 1:8 is a description of Jesus' 2nd coming, not hell. In verse 9, Hell is then introduced as the final destination for those same people mentioned in verse 8. Also, The "punishment" here in 2 Thess 1 is a different word than in Matt 25. It does not clarify the meaning of "punishment" in Matt 25 because it is a different word and in a different context.
Jesus characterized the intermediate state of the wicked after death (hell, Hades) as one of fire (Luke 16:23,24), but this is to be distinguished from the eternal fire. Jesus’ words in Luke 16 show us that the wicked remain conscious and are aware of their state and of what they have missed. But the eternal fire is to be identified with what Jesus called Gehenna or literally “the gehenna of fire” (Matthew 5:22,29,30; 10:28; 18:8,9; 23:15; Mark 9:43,45,47; Luke 12:5). This fire is not only to be eternal, but is also said to be of such a nature that it can never be quenched (Mark 9:43). This clearly indicates that there can be no possible end to the fire or the punishment. The punishment is as eternal as the fire. If the fire brought an annihilation of the wicked, there would be no reason for the fire being eternal.
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Jesus characterized the intermediate state of the wicked after death (hell, Hades) as one of fire (Luke 16:23,24), but this is to be distinguished from the eternal fire. Jesus’ words in Luke 16 show us that the wicked remain conscious and are aware of their state and of what they have missed. But the eternal fire is to be identified with what Jesus called Gehenna or literally “the gehenna of fire” (Matthew 5:22,29,30; 10:28; 18:8,9; 23:15; Mark 9:43,45,47; Luke 12:5). This fire is not only to be eternal, but is also said to be of such a nature that it can never be quenched (Mark 9:43). This clearly indicates that there can be no possible end to the fire or the punishment. The punishment is as eternal as the fire. If the fire brought an annihilation of the wicked, there would be no reason for the fire being eternal.