We have examined all the words translated as “hell” and can conclude that there is no such thing as hell in the Bible. God judges, but His judgments are always for correction. That is why Scripture says we can rejoice in God’s judgments (Ps. 67:4-5; 96:10-13; 98:4,9). It is the gospel that God will set everything right (Rom. 2:16)! His judgments have a purpose and are never eternal, and although they are sometimes severe, they are relatively short (Ps. 30:6).
But what happens to those who are cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death (Rev. 20:14)? Do they remain in death forever?
eternal death
In Christianity, people sometimes speak of “eternal death.” This usually means going to hell. Which is strange, of course, because they simultaneously teach that they are not truly dead there. Sometimes people say that those in the second death are dead forever. They disappear and cease to exist.
eternal
The word “eternal” is the translation of the Greek word aion. In Scripture, an aion is a period of time, with a beginning and an end. If we were to translate it as eternal, we must keep in mind that it means: pertaining to an age. It does not have the meaning of “everlasting” in Scripture.
eternal death?
The concept of eternal death does not appear in the Bible. Nor do the associated thoughts. Hell does not exist, nor does the situation of the second death last forever. If this were the case, life would be destroyed for a large part of humanity in the lake of fire, because they die there permanently.
death is abolished
But Scripture teaches that death is abolished, and that just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
The following verses (23-24) state that this vivification occurs in stages; there is a specific order. During Christ’s reign, various groups of people are made alive at different times.
25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
until
Christ’s reign has a “until.” Christ reigns during the thousand years and also during the aeon of the new heaven and earth. Death will then be much less active (Isaiah 65:20), but still present, as we have already seen (Rev. 21:8). There will still be sickness in the new heaven and earth (Rev. 22:2) and imperfection (Rev. 21:27; 22:15).
All enemies have not yet been subdued, and all hostility has not yet been abolished. And that is why Christ still reigns, for he will not hand over his kingdom to God the Father until he has abolished all principality and authority and power (1 Cor. 15:24).
26 The last enemy, death, will be destroyed.
the last enemy
Death is the last enemy, which is abolished. The second death is still active during the era of the new heaven and earth. It is an instrument in God’s hand. Those judged at the great white throne have risen in their old bodies, and their “old life” is judged. They are thrown into the lake of fire, there to die a second death.
When death is abolished as the last enemy, this is the final phase of vivification, of which Paul says: “then comes the end” (1 Corinthians 1:24). The abolishing of death occurs by making alive all who are still in death. Only then will there be no more death, and will death be abolished.
27 For he puts all things under his feet. But when he says, “All things are subjected,” it is clear that they are excepted by him who puts all things under him.
28 And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who puts all things under him, so that God may be all in all.
a perfect creation
This perfect Kingdom, in which all things are subjected, will be handed over to the Father by the Son. All imperfection has been removed, and Christ has brought all things to perfection. No one is missing anymore, death has been abolished, and all creation has been reconciled to God.
Colossians 1
20 and through him to reconcile all things to him, making peace through the blood of his cross, whether things on earth or things in heaven.