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Hell: God's Justice, God's Mercy: Rethinking the Traditional View of Eternal Torment
The traditional view of hell tells us that wicked people will suffer forever and forever. But what kind of God would torture people forever? Doesn't that scare you? Jesus said, "Fear God who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt. 10:28). Perhaps, then, God will actually destroy the soul and body of the wicked in hell. Let's talk about it.
82 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2013
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February 27, 2026
A TRAVELING SPEAKER/INSTRUCTOR DEFENDS ANNIHILATIONISM
Harold Eberle is a former pastor who now travels with his wife Linda as a conference speaker and visiting instructor at various Bible colleges around the world.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 2011 book, “I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and I believe in the existence of hell. However, my study of the Bible leads me to conclude that the wicked people who will be thrown into that terrible place will suffer for the sins they committed and they then will be annihilated---that is, they will burn out of existence… my study of the Bible leads me to embrace the view called annihilationism, which says that the wicked will be annihilated in hell. They will not suffer forever and ever.” (Pg. 1)
He clarifies, “John refers to this final place of judgment as the ‘Lake of Fire’ (Rev 20:14-15). It is that Lake of Fire which I will be referring to as hell. Christians often confuse hades and hell… In reality, hades and hell are two different places.” (Pg. 1-3)
He states, “Notice [in Mt 3:12] that the fire of hell is called the ‘unquenchable fire.’ Some readers may take this to mean that people will suffer forever and ever, but that is not implied with this terminology. We can see the fire as unquenchable in the sense that it cannot be put out. This does not mean the fire will burn forever… This understanding is supported by … Jeremiah 17:27, where He said he would destroy Jerusalem by kindling ‘an unquenchable fire.’ Indeed, Jerusalem was completely destroyed in 70 A.D. No one could quench the fire, but that fire does not burn today. It went out when Jerusalem was utterly destroyed.” (Pg. 9)
He notes, “Some Christians who hold the annihilationist view believe that the wicked … will be burned out of existence instantaneously. Others believe that … the wicked… will suffer for a period of time before being burned out of existence. One reason to believe that it will take some time for the wicked to burn out of existence is because some Bible verses indicate a coming judgment of varying severity… This suggests that the annihilation of the wicked will not be instantaneous. If every wicked person is instantaneously annihilated, then they will all receive the same punishment… So rather than an instantaneous burning out of existence, there may be a period of time during which the wicked will experience true weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Pg. 11-12)
He explains, “Some teachers use the terms ‘conditional immortality’ and ‘annihilationism’ interchangeably, but the focus is slightly different. Conditional immortality refers to the nature of humanity, conditional upon one’s acceptance of Jesus Christ. Annihilationism refers to the nature of hell and the fires of hell having the ability to consume that which is thrown in there. These two doctrines are compatible with one another because non-Christians do not have eternal life, and therefore, they will be burned out of existence in hell.” (Pg. 18-19)
After quoting Revelation 14:9-11, he comments, “‘forever and ever’ was translated from ‘aionios aionon,’ which does not necessarily mean forever and it is literally translated as ‘ages of ages.’ It is also worth noting how Christians who use this passage to argue for the doctrine of eternal torment focus on the phrase, ‘their torment goes up forever and ever.’ But actually it does not say that their TORMENT will last forever and ever, but rather, it says the ‘smoke’ of their torment goes up forever and ever. What is meant by this smoke? The book of Revelation is a very symbolic book, using apocalyptic language. ‘Smoke’ sometimes refers to how things would vanish and only the MEMORY of those things could remain.” (Pg. 28-29)
He continues, “Revelation 19:3 tells us about the judgment of Babylon, ‘Her smoke rises us forever and ever.’ In the same context, we are told that Babylon will ‘be burned up with fire’ (Rev 18:8) ‘and will not be found any more’ (Rev 18:21). Hence, we see ‘smoke’ not as a sign of ongoing pain, but rather as the only thing left after judgment is complete. Babylon, we are told will vanish and only the memory will remain.” (Pg. 30)
He suggests, “Even if we accept this word ‘eternal’ [in Mt. 25:46] as the best translation, we must also consider how the words ‘eternal punishment’ do not necessarily mean ‘eternal punishing.’ The second implies ongoing torment forever and ever. But the first, ‘eternal punishment,’ may indicate an event with eternal consequences … ‘Eternal punishment’ may indicate the eternal judgment, in the sense of being the final judgment. It will be a judgment from which no one can appeal… This understanding sees that people will be judged and God’s sentencing will be final---never to change. Christians who believe in annihilationism understand this to be the actual meaning of ‘eternal judgment’ or ‘eternal punishment.’” (Pg. 32-33)
He adds, “This view is supported by other Bible verses. For example, Jude 7 tells us that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by ‘eternal fire.’ Even though the fire is called ‘eternal,’ the fire which destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah is not burning today. That fire went out many years ago. It was eternal in the sense that it brought ultimate and final destruction upon Sodom and Gomorrah.” (Pg. 33)
He admits, “It is too hard to embrace the Church’s traditional teaching about hell and still live a normal life. How can I work, mow my lawn, or raise my children if most of the world is headed toward such an eternity? I can’t do it and I can’t see any other Christians capable of living with that awareness either. They go on vacations… They laugh and have good times. They may say that they believe in a future judgment bringing the eternal torment of all non-Christians, but none of them seems to REALLY believe it.” (Pg. 38)
He is NOT a Universalist, however. “I can point out some of the errors of their thinking. For example, Colossians 1:20… says that ‘things on earth and things in heaven’ will be reconciled to God. It does not say things in HELL will be reconciled.” (Pg. 43)
He concludes, “In conclusion, hell is real. It is a place where wicked unrepentant people will be sent. After they have paid for their sins, they will be annihilated because God is just and merciful. However, I want to soften my position on this doctrine, because a person’s belief about hell is not fundamental to the Christian faith. The only doctrines worth being dogmatic about are those which distinguish true Christianity from false belief systems. Our understanding of hell is not one of those doctrines…. If on judgment day, I discover that I am wrong, I will close my mouth before a holy God and thank Him for sending His Son to die for me.” (Pg. 55)
This book will interest some Christians who are studying Conditional Immortality/Annihilationism.
Harold Eberle is a former pastor who now travels with his wife Linda as a conference speaker and visiting instructor at various Bible colleges around the world.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 2011 book, “I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and I believe in the existence of hell. However, my study of the Bible leads me to conclude that the wicked people who will be thrown into that terrible place will suffer for the sins they committed and they then will be annihilated---that is, they will burn out of existence… my study of the Bible leads me to embrace the view called annihilationism, which says that the wicked will be annihilated in hell. They will not suffer forever and ever.” (Pg. 1)
He clarifies, “John refers to this final place of judgment as the ‘Lake of Fire’ (Rev 20:14-15). It is that Lake of Fire which I will be referring to as hell. Christians often confuse hades and hell… In reality, hades and hell are two different places.” (Pg. 1-3)
He states, “Notice [in Mt 3:12] that the fire of hell is called the ‘unquenchable fire.’ Some readers may take this to mean that people will suffer forever and ever, but that is not implied with this terminology. We can see the fire as unquenchable in the sense that it cannot be put out. This does not mean the fire will burn forever… This understanding is supported by … Jeremiah 17:27, where He said he would destroy Jerusalem by kindling ‘an unquenchable fire.’ Indeed, Jerusalem was completely destroyed in 70 A.D. No one could quench the fire, but that fire does not burn today. It went out when Jerusalem was utterly destroyed.” (Pg. 9)
He notes, “Some Christians who hold the annihilationist view believe that the wicked … will be burned out of existence instantaneously. Others believe that … the wicked… will suffer for a period of time before being burned out of existence. One reason to believe that it will take some time for the wicked to burn out of existence is because some Bible verses indicate a coming judgment of varying severity… This suggests that the annihilation of the wicked will not be instantaneous. If every wicked person is instantaneously annihilated, then they will all receive the same punishment… So rather than an instantaneous burning out of existence, there may be a period of time during which the wicked will experience true weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Pg. 11-12)
He explains, “Some teachers use the terms ‘conditional immortality’ and ‘annihilationism’ interchangeably, but the focus is slightly different. Conditional immortality refers to the nature of humanity, conditional upon one’s acceptance of Jesus Christ. Annihilationism refers to the nature of hell and the fires of hell having the ability to consume that which is thrown in there. These two doctrines are compatible with one another because non-Christians do not have eternal life, and therefore, they will be burned out of existence in hell.” (Pg. 18-19)
After quoting Revelation 14:9-11, he comments, “‘forever and ever’ was translated from ‘aionios aionon,’ which does not necessarily mean forever and it is literally translated as ‘ages of ages.’ It is also worth noting how Christians who use this passage to argue for the doctrine of eternal torment focus on the phrase, ‘their torment goes up forever and ever.’ But actually it does not say that their TORMENT will last forever and ever, but rather, it says the ‘smoke’ of their torment goes up forever and ever. What is meant by this smoke? The book of Revelation is a very symbolic book, using apocalyptic language. ‘Smoke’ sometimes refers to how things would vanish and only the MEMORY of those things could remain.” (Pg. 28-29)
He continues, “Revelation 19:3 tells us about the judgment of Babylon, ‘Her smoke rises us forever and ever.’ In the same context, we are told that Babylon will ‘be burned up with fire’ (Rev 18:8) ‘and will not be found any more’ (Rev 18:21). Hence, we see ‘smoke’ not as a sign of ongoing pain, but rather as the only thing left after judgment is complete. Babylon, we are told will vanish and only the memory will remain.” (Pg. 30)
He suggests, “Even if we accept this word ‘eternal’ [in Mt. 25:46] as the best translation, we must also consider how the words ‘eternal punishment’ do not necessarily mean ‘eternal punishing.’ The second implies ongoing torment forever and ever. But the first, ‘eternal punishment,’ may indicate an event with eternal consequences … ‘Eternal punishment’ may indicate the eternal judgment, in the sense of being the final judgment. It will be a judgment from which no one can appeal… This understanding sees that people will be judged and God’s sentencing will be final---never to change. Christians who believe in annihilationism understand this to be the actual meaning of ‘eternal judgment’ or ‘eternal punishment.’” (Pg. 32-33)
He adds, “This view is supported by other Bible verses. For example, Jude 7 tells us that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by ‘eternal fire.’ Even though the fire is called ‘eternal,’ the fire which destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah is not burning today. That fire went out many years ago. It was eternal in the sense that it brought ultimate and final destruction upon Sodom and Gomorrah.” (Pg. 33)
He admits, “It is too hard to embrace the Church’s traditional teaching about hell and still live a normal life. How can I work, mow my lawn, or raise my children if most of the world is headed toward such an eternity? I can’t do it and I can’t see any other Christians capable of living with that awareness either. They go on vacations… They laugh and have good times. They may say that they believe in a future judgment bringing the eternal torment of all non-Christians, but none of them seems to REALLY believe it.” (Pg. 38)
He is NOT a Universalist, however. “I can point out some of the errors of their thinking. For example, Colossians 1:20… says that ‘things on earth and things in heaven’ will be reconciled to God. It does not say things in HELL will be reconciled.” (Pg. 43)
He concludes, “In conclusion, hell is real. It is a place where wicked unrepentant people will be sent. After they have paid for their sins, they will be annihilated because God is just and merciful. However, I want to soften my position on this doctrine, because a person’s belief about hell is not fundamental to the Christian faith. The only doctrines worth being dogmatic about are those which distinguish true Christianity from false belief systems. Our understanding of hell is not one of those doctrines…. If on judgment day, I discover that I am wrong, I will close my mouth before a holy God and thank Him for sending His Son to die for me.” (Pg. 55)
This book will interest some Christians who are studying Conditional Immortality/Annihilationism.
November 13, 2023
The truth shall set you free.
It's a great book on hell, and it makes sense. You should read it. But it now. You will not regret it.
It's a great book on hell, and it makes sense. You should read it. But it now. You will not regret it.
May 5, 2014
Nice concise summary of biblical and philosophical arguments for conditional immortality. Recommended reading for anyone not familiar with the subject.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews