The Bible regularly talks about Eternal life for those who worship God and accept His offer of forgiveness through the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross but people do not appreciate that for any person who refuses this gift of forgiveness will also be given eternal life but it will be of eternal punishment.

The following references clearly teaches that the duration of the punishment for the unbeliever is "Eternal Life":-

• Matt 25:14-30;"Parable of the talents."
• Matt 25:31-46;"He shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left."
• Mark 3:29: "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: "
• Heb 6:2: "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."
• 2 Thess 1:8,9 "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9)Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; "
• Matt 18:7-9: "Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
  8) Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
  9) and if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire."
• Jude 1:6,7: "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
  7) Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

The original Bible text used the same Greek words, aion, aionios, aidios in the New Testament to express the eternal existance of:-

1) God

1 Tim 1:17: "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Rom 1:20; "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"

Rom 16:26; "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:"

2) Christ

Rev 1:18; "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

3) The Holy Ghost.

Heb 9:14; "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

4) the eternal duration of the righteous and the sufferings of the lost.

Matt 25:46; "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

Rev 20:10, "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

Rev 20:15, "And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire."

Matt 13:41,42, "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, 42 and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth."

Matt 25:41, "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"

2 Thess 1:8,9 "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"

Mark 9:45,46, "And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:"

Luke 3:16,17,"I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: 17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable."

Rev 14:9-13,"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 ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."

Jude 1:6. "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."

Some people have the idea that the "second death" situation given in Rev 20:14, "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." indicates that in the case of the wicked they will suffer absolute destruction, their total annihilation, thus idea has no support from Scripture, which always indicates that their future is one of conscious suffering for ever.

Another idea suggests that as God is a "God of Love" then He will ultimately obtain the repentance and restoration of all sinners, the punishment will only be for a period, beware, there is no scripture to confirm this statement. There is not the slightest trace or indication in all the Scriptures of any such possible restoration. Suffering and punishment does not purify a persons soul from sin or bring spiritual life. Forgiveness is only through the atoning death of Christ taking our punishment and it is the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit which was the only means of divine appointment for bringing men to repentance. Those which rejected this gift of love and are now receiving punishment will find, "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins," Heb 10:26,27.