(NKJV CITATIONS)
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
In the above text the word perish is translated from the Greek word, apollumi. The Strong’s definition is “to destroy fully… destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.” Hence we find that to perish would be a complete cessation of life. Death is the opposite of life.
Many people entertain the idea, fostered for centuries by philosophers and theologians, that the dead do not die. In fact they imply that when a person dies they become “more alive” than before. But nowhere in the scriptures will we find that there is any consciousness in death.
Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”
As for the fate of those who are unrepentant and disobedient – God states “…all souls are mine… the soul who sins shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4.
Romans 6:33, “The wages of sin is death.” (not eternal torment).
Adam was told that the penalty of disobedience would be death (Genesis 2:17). Nothing is mentioned about having to suffer in eternal flames. If God can create, he also has the power to destroy.
It would absolutely contradict God's character of love, justice and mercy to assign living beings to a place of eternal torment. He has the power to destroy (put to death, kill, cause to die, make perish, eliminate, to wipe from existence) those who will not conform to his laws. (Psalms 145:20)
For a more detailed study about the fate of the dead, please download the free PDF: "Where Are the Dead?"
