The Reality of Eternal Judgment
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
– Matthew 25:46
As we’ve spent the last month and a half or so discussing what will happen towards the end of the age, we have to discuss what is the most uncomfortable aspect of this: eternal judgment. I’ve already discussed what the eternal state will look like for those in Christ in an article I did on what it means for us to live in a glorified state. If you haven’t read that, you can read it here. In this article, I will only address eternal judgment, but I will also address one of the erroneous teachings on it. While the subject matter is uncomfortable, we need to remember that it is true. Jesus spent more time on the doctrine of hell and judgment than He did any other doctrine, and I am of the mind that it is because He wanted us to know about it so as to avoid it by repenting and believing His Gospel. If it was that important to Him, we ought to take it seriously and understand what He taught. So, let’s do that now.
When Does Judgment Happen and What Is It?
When a Christian dies, their spirit goes to be with Christ (2 Cor. 5:8). It is in this state they remain until Christ returns and resurrects them into an eternal body. When an unbeliever dies, their spirit is separated from Christ and is sent to a place of torment (Luke 16:24) where they are held in a spiritual state until the return of Christ. At this time, they too are resurrected into eternal bodies but are then condemned to eternal death. For the sake of this article and in light of our bigger series on the end times, we are only focusing on what happens when Christ returns. So, in answer to the question of when, it happens after Christ has returned (Revelation 20) and before He has established His eternal reign in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21). If you’re a premillennialist, it is after the millennial reign of Christ. Regardless, it is at this time that both believers and unbelievers are resurrected into eternal physical bodies (Acts 24:15) and will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to either be rewarded with eternal life if they are Christians or judged with eternal death if they are not (Matthew 25:46).
Eternal death is to be separated from God for time unending and to be placed into the Lake of Fire (Hell). This is a place of conscious torment from which there is no relief and is the final destination for those who have rejected the Gospel (Revelation 20:14-15). In Mark 9:48, Jesus described it as a place where the worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. This is an image that reiterates the fact that it won’t end. He also described it as a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth, an image of both rage and pain. It is a place so horrific and grievous that Christ bore the cross so His people could be spared it. Everyone will die once, but only the unrepentant will die twice in this manner (Revelation 21:8).
Is Hell Real and Is It Eternal?
Yes and yes. I bring this up because there is an erroneous view of hell which is taught primarily (but not exclusively) by universalists, who explain that hell is either not eternal or that it is a man-made doctrine that came to be via translation errors and translation bias. We need to examine this, but we must first understand that this is heresy. As previously stated, Christ taught extensively on hell. He believed it was real and believed it was eternal. It is what the Gospel saves us from, and to be blunt, it is what we deserve. What purpose does the cross serve if hell is not real and is not eternal? To deny its existence and its eternality is to negate the Gospel. This is biblically incoherent and heretical.
The basis for all of this lies in the translation of the Greek word aionios. This is most commonly translated into English as “eternal.” We get our English word for eon from this word. An eon is an immeasurable period of time, AKA, an eternity. The issue arises in that this word can have other meanings and is translated based on its context. As a side note, language is contextual, and the same word having different meanings is not uncommon, particularly in Greek. Back to the point, aionios can also mean “age.” An age, unlike an eon or eternity, has a definitive beginning and an end. In Luke 20:34, Jesus uses aionios in this way, “Jesus said, ‘The sons of this age (aionios) marry and are given in marriage.’” (Parentheses Mine) It would not make sense to translate aionios as “eternity” here.
However, in Matthew 25:46 Jesus said, “And these will go away into eternal (aionios) punishment, but the righteous into eternal (aionios) life.” (Parentheses mine). Here, it makes sense to use aionios as “eternal” given what Jesus is talking about in this context. However, it is argued (by universalists) that you could use either one, and that our English Bibles reflect a translation bias. The claim is that the word was intentionally mistranslated here to create a doctrine of eternal judgment that the original language did not teach. I agree that some things can be lost in translation, but I vehemently disagree that this was a translation error or one that reflects bias. I believe this is the best translation of the word aionios and I will explain why using Matthew 25:46.
If aionios is to be translated as “age” here, then Jesus is saying that judgment is temporary. On this basis, a universalist can argue that hell is just an allegory for this life, and many do. We suffer, we die, we get sick, etc. This is our judgment. But in this translation, we also have to conclude that the eternal life Jesus offers through the Gospel is an allegory for this life, also. This means that the same life in which we get sick, suffer, and die, that we are to view as “hell,” is also the great promise of salvation in Jesus. Our relationship with Jesus does indeed benefit us now, but that benefit is found in the hope of eternal life to come with Him (1 Thess. 4:17). If you translate aionios as an age here, you don’t get eternal judgment, but you don’t get eternal life either. This is as good as it gets. No, thank you.
What you cannot do is translate them in different ways in the same context. If you translate aionios as “age,” you have to do it for both. If you translate aionios as “eternal” you have to do it for both. You cannot translate them as different words. It makes no sense to do so unless you are trying to erase eternal judgment, which is the goal of the universalist. What we are left with, then, is both a warning and an encouragement: Hell is real and it is eternal, but if we repent and believe the Gospel, we can instead have eternal life.
Further, if we’re going to question the translation of the word, we have to look at every context it is used and ask ourselves, “Did they get it right?” Is Christ’s dominion as it is described in 2 Timothy 6:16 eternal or only for an age? Is His throne (an image of His rule) forever or is it only for an age? Is the glory of Christ in 1 Peter 5:10 eternal or only for an age? Is God Himself eternal as Deuteronomy 33:27 says, or is He only for an age? No one who teaches hell as a man-made doctrine would do this. The only time “eternal” is called into question is when it relates to eternal judgment. This, in and of itself, is a red flag. Realistically though, this releases a floodgate of questioning the Word of God that amounts to asking, “Did God really say?” From a purely logical standpoint, can we honestly believe God would go to the trouble of giving us His Word over 1,500 years in three languages on three continents by nearly 40 authors only to fumble the ball when it was translated into English specifically?
Summary
Eternal judgment is real. Hell is real, and we do violence to the Word of God and the teachings of Christ when we try and erase it to make us more comfortable. The Gospel is both a warning that we are under judgment and an invitation to repent so we may avoid that judgment. But make no mistake, if we do not heed its warning we can expect to be justly judged for our sin. It doesn’t have to be this way. Come to Christ, repent and be saved. Christian, preach the whole Gospel, including hell. The world needs to hear it if they are to repent and be saved.
Soli Deo Gloria
