What About Annihilationism And Hell?
Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, October 10, 2025 (Donate)
All verses NKJV and ESV
In today’s culture, there are a growing number of people who believe in God and yet reject the reality of hell. They adopt a position that says that God is “too loving” to punish someone in hell, especially for eternity.In doing so, they may develop an annihilationist position: essentially, unsaved people cannot go to heaven, and they believe they cannot go to hell, so they are left with the position that unsaved people are simply annihilated and never punished or potentially put in a state of unconsciousness so they do not feel the punishment. There are variations to this, and I’ll discuss this more in a moment.[1]
Image requested by Bodie Hodge, modified; (ChatGPT)
For several biblical reasons (which will be discussed shortly), the ministry rejects annihilationism, which is opposed in our Statement of Faith. The rejection of annihilationism was not placed in the Statement of Faith on a “whim,” but as a result of diligence in Scriptural study. The point on annihilationism states the following: Those who do not believe in Christ are subject to everlasting, conscious punishment in Hell, but believers are secure to enjoy eternal life with God in Heaven. (Matthew 13:49–50, 25:41-46; John 3:16–18, 3:36, 5:24; 1 Thessalonians 1:8–10; 1 John 5:11–13; Revelation 21:8).[2]
Much of the debate (surrounding a literal hell) stems from arguments over the way some may perceive God as opposed to what God says in His Word. So, this becomes a biblical authority issue (due to a battle over a god of one’s own making versus the God of the Bible). In this article, the 66 books of the Bible are used as the authority, rather than human emotion, which tends to fuel this debate the most.
What Is Annihilationism?
Many would say that annihilationists believe that hell is not real. But this is not entirely fair to say, as many annihilationists would agree that hell is real. It is better to say that annihilationists believe that hell is not a place for the unsaved to spend eternity.
They distinguish this by saying that hell is indeed reserved for the devil and his fallen angels (where they will spend eternity), but not for sinful, unrepentant, unsaved man. Rather, this position holds that the unsaved will be annihilated (cease to exist) or at the very least will be made unconscious of the pain, but they will not go to hell to be in torment for all eternity.
Those who hold to the annihilationist view do get one thing right: hell was created for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), likely since the Devil’s rebellion occurred immediately before mankind’s fall into sin.[3] But in this same passage it says people will be there as well. And keep in mind, just because it was created for the Devil and his angels does not mean that others could not be put there.
The predominant annihilationist argument falls short when one considers that they argue that God is too loving to send sinners to hell (man), but argues that God does send sinners to hell (the devil and his fallen angels). If one argues that Satan is a spiritual being, that doesn’t help, because man is also a spiritual being (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 5:23) made in the image of a spiritual God.
There are variations of annihilationists’ positions too. Some hold that people will go to hell, but only for a short time, and then God releases them (e.g., non-eternal; perhaps even heaven afterwards?) However, this would not be a true annihilationist position but something more akin to a hypothetical purgatory. And this is not the focus of this chapter.
Some say an unsaved person goes to hell for a short time, and then they are annihilated. Others argue that hell itself will be annihilated after a certain point so it no longer exists. Still others say there is no hell at all, and that fallen man (as well as Satan and his fallen angels) will be annihilated immediately. People who take this view liberally interpret “reconciliation” in 1 Corinthians 15:28. There are certainly other variations beyond these but this short introduction to annihilationism should suffice to get us started.
Is Hell A Reality?
The reality of hell must be addressed first. Hell is discussed throughout the Bible. Jesus speaks extensively about hell and heaven, so that should settle the issue that both are real places. The Greek word for hell is gehenna. And there are several passages where these are used, including in the gospel of Mark:
Many would say that annihilationists believe that hell is not real. But this is not entirely fair to say, as many annihilationists would agree that hell is real. It is better to say that annihilationists believe that hell is not a place for the unsaved to spend eternity.
They distinguish this by saying that hell is indeed reserved for the devil and his fallen angels (where they will spend eternity), but not for sinful, unrepentant, unsaved man. Rather, this position holds that the unsaved will be annihilated (cease to exist) or at the very least will be made unconscious of the pain, but they will not go to hell to be in torment for all eternity.
Those who hold to the annihilationist view do get one thing right: hell was created for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), likely since the Devil’s rebellion occurred immediately before mankind’s fall into sin.[3] But in this same passage it says people will be there as well. And keep in mind, just because it was created for the Devil and his angels does not mean that others could not be put there.
The predominant annihilationist argument falls short when one considers that they argue that God is too loving to send sinners to hell (man), but argues that God does send sinners to hell (the devil and his fallen angels). If one argues that Satan is a spiritual being, that doesn’t help, because man is also a spiritual being (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 5:23) made in the image of a spiritual God.
There are variations of annihilationists’ positions too. Some hold that people will go to hell, but only for a short time, and then God releases them (e.g., non-eternal; perhaps even heaven afterwards?) However, this would not be a true annihilationist position but something more akin to a hypothetical purgatory. And this is not the focus of this chapter.
Some say an unsaved person goes to hell for a short time, and then they are annihilated. Others argue that hell itself will be annihilated after a certain point so it no longer exists. Still others say there is no hell at all, and that fallen man (as well as Satan and his fallen angels) will be annihilated immediately. People who take this view liberally interpret “reconciliation” in 1 Corinthians 15:28. There are certainly other variations beyond these but this short introduction to annihilationism should suffice to get us started.
Is Hell A Reality?
The reality of hell must be addressed first. Hell is discussed throughout the Bible. Jesus speaks extensively about hell and heaven, so that should settle the issue that both are real places. The Greek word for hell is gehenna. And there are several passages where these are used, including in the gospel of Mark:
"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched–– "where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’ "And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched–– "where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’ "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire–– "where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.’ (Mark 9: 43-48)[4]
Other passages that use this Greek word are Matthew 5:22; 5:29; 5:30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15; 23:33; Luke 12:5; and James 3:6. This is not to be confused with the word hades, which has connotations of hell (Luke 16:19-31) but means “grave,” “death,” and “depths.” The Hebrew word sheol is likely a counterpart to hades, since its definition is “grave,” “underworld,” and “pit” with connotations of hell.[5]
Is Hell An Eternal Conscious Punishment?
Next, the Bible never states that punishment in hell is temporary; on the contrary, punishment in hell is described as “everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). This is significant because the primary reason for denying that punishment in hell is eternal often does not come from the Bible but from the proposition, “How can a loving God condemn people to eternal hell?” That proposition implies that God is not cruel and would not dare judge in such a fashion; i.e., God is perfect in love, forgiveness, and grace. But the theology then lends that God is not perfect in justice, judgment, or eternal decree.
But again, this view of God does not come from the Bible. The Bible teaches something different: a crime against an infinite and eternal Creator demands an infinite and eternal punishment (eternity in hell). This is why the Son (Jesus Christ), who is the infinite and eternal God, could take on such a punishment from the Father who is the infinite and eternal God.[6]
Is such an eternal punishment discussed in the Bible? Consider Daniel:
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)
In both cases, the same terminology is used of those who will inherit everlasting life and those who will inherit everlasting contempt. The Hebrew word for contempt here is dera’own and means “aversion” and “abhorrence,” both of which indicate extreme feelings such as loathing and dislike. And the passage makes it clear that they will be conscious (“awake”) during this time. The New Testament echoes this teaching in John 5:28-29:
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth––those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
In this passage, “resurrection of life” is contrasted with “resurrection of condemnation,” giving equal duration to both; this is very similar to Daniel 12:2. Basically, the grave will give up its dead and they will be judged for eternal life or eternal judgment. Even Paul confirms such a resurrection and judgment of the just and unjust will take place (Acts 24:14-16).
Also, with regard to the duration of punishment in hell, consider Christ’s own words:
Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal (aionios) fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?” Then he will answer them, saying, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal (aionios) punishment, but the righteous into eternal (aionios) life. (Matthew 25:41-46)
Jesus made it clear that hell is not annihilation but instead an eternal conscious punishment. Punishment in hell is contrasted with life once again in this passage, meaning that if the punishment is not everlasting or eternal, then neither is life.
What would this say about the character of a loving God who promises to give eternal life and yet does not? It is better to trust the Scriptures that there is an eternal punishment and in the same way that a good and loving God rewards those who have received Him with eternal life.
The Greek word meaning “eternal” in this passage (aionios) is the same word used to describe the eternality of God Himself in other passages such as Romans 16:26, 1 Timothy 1:7, Hebrews, 9:14, 13:8, and Revelation 4:9. So to make the claim that the term eternal does not necessarily mean eternal to those being punished has serious repercussions, such as inadvertently calling into question the eternality of God. Paul in one of his letters reaffirms this teaching of Christ:
These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (2 Thessalonians 1: 9)
John and Jude also speak of everlasting punishment, be it for angels or others (“forever and ever, no rest, punishment of eternal fire…”):
Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." (Revelation 14:9-11)
And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 1:6-7)
When we look at the Bible, it should be exceptionally clear that the biblical understanding of hell is an eternal conscious punishment, not annihilation.
As an additional note, some believe that since such a punishment exists, God is responsible for it. However, there was no need for such a punishment until after man’s sin against Him.
Originally, God made a perfect world (Genesis 1:31; Deuteronomy 32:4). It was because of man’s actions that death and sin entered the world. It is because of man’s actions against a perfect God that such an eternal punishment in hell even exists (Genesis 3, Romans 5).[7] Therefore, blaming God for such a place as hell is not warranted. The blame should be directed at sinful man, sinful Satan, and sinful angels.
There are other Greek words that discuss eternal punishment. The root word for the eternal torment in Revelation 14:11 is basanizo. It means “grievous pains” and “torment.” It is used to describe labor pains in Revelation 12:2, and the centurion's servant in Matthew 8:6, who is "dreadfully tormented".
Revelation 14:10-11 speaks of the punishment as having no rest day or night from it:
“He himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
There will be no stop to the pain for all eternity. For the punishment from an infinite God is an infinite punishment. This is all the more reason to witness to all people, who are our relatives through Adam and Noah. Consider John 3:36:
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
How can this wrath from an eternal God be satisfied, when the people in hell are not equal to God? Because they are not, this wrath will continue for all eternity. Consider the words of Scripture regarding Judas:
The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born. (Matthew 26:24)
If the punishment were merely annihilation or an unconscious torment, then it would be as though the person were never born. But this is not the case for Judas, for Scripture says the opposite.
What about Proverbs 12:7, which says the wicked will be “no more”? The answer to this is simple enough when read in context (Proverbs 12:5-7):
The thoughts of the righteous are right, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. The words of the wicked are, "Lie in wait for blood," But the mouth of the upright will deliver them. The wicked are overthrown and are no more, But the house of the righteous will stand.
The context is clearly speaking of the wicked on earth, their actions here and their judgment here, not their eternal judgment, which occurs after death (Hebrews 9:27).[8]
The point is that God makes it clear in Scripture that the wicked will be punished eternally, and they will be conscious of it. When people try to make the argument that God will reduce this punishment’s duration or cause people to be annihilated, it does not come from Scripture but from arbitrary opinions.
Is Reconciliation Salvation?
Some have argued that reconciliation in the Bible is essentially salvation (e.g., Colossians 1:20). Reconciliation is not salvation nor is it a temporal ending of punishment. The Bible never equates reconciliation with salvation.
“Reconciliation of all” means that there will be a change for all: all will change to know who Christ is. This change happens to believers when they are saved (since we had a mind of sin but now have the mind of the Spirit), but it also happens to unbelievers but after they die—but by then it is too late for them.
They will bow the knee, confess to God, and know that God is God, and they will be reconciled unto that (Isaiah 45:23, Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10), but they will still have to endure the punishment because it is too late for them at judgment.
Some have tried to use John 12:32 to argue for a form of reconciliation as well. When Jesus says, "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself,” He is not saying all people will be saved, but that all peoples will be drawn. This is confirmed by other passages of Scripture (e.g., John 6:44, Colossians 1:23).
Other debates aside, what it shows is that no one has an excuse (Romans 1:20). All peoples have been drawn, but if they do not receive the Lord Jesus as their Savior, they retain the wrath of God (John 1:12, 3:16-18, 3:36).
Is Hell Complete Separation From God?
One aspect of this argument is that hell is complete separation from God, and since something cannot exist outside of God, it must be annihilated. Many Christians use the term “separation from God” as a nice way of saying “hell”. But it needs to be clarified because it is only partially accurate—it is not a complete separation.
When man sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, death and suffering came into the creation (Genesis 3, Romans 8). Essentially, sin became a point of separation between man and God. We were separated from God to a certain degree; death, which is the result of sin (e.g., Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:19, Romans 5:12), and eternal death (for unbelievers, Satan, and fallen angels), which has its final culmination in hell, is seen by some as absolute separation from God.
However, this is not exactly a complete separation, as even hell will be not be able to escape the fact that all things are being upheld by Christ (Hebrews 1:3). Furthermore, the wrath of God will abide on those in hell (John 3:36), so even God will have a direct influence there. Hell will not be annihilated, but will be sustained for all eternity.
To be clear, there is separation (Matthew 13:49, Matthew 25:32, Hebrews 7:26), but it is better to understand this “separation” as an absolute separation from God’s goodness and love, not a complete separation from existence. In other words, those in hell will not receive God’s goodness in but rather the punishment they deserve. Christians will not experience this separation from God’s love and goodness (Romans 8:35).[9]
Conclusion: Image Of God
The last point of discussion I want to address is that man is made in the image of God. Unlike a plant, rock, or an animal, man is made special and unique, having the breath of God inserted into him from God to Adam (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7); from Adam to Eve (Genesis 3:21-25); and from them to all of us (Genesis 9:6).
Can God simply cease to exist? No. It would be contrary to His nature of being absolute life, from which all life and existence stem. Bearing the image of God, we too are eternal beings (not be confused with infinite beings— man will exist eternally in the future but not eternally past). We will live on: either in heaven with God and His goodness, or in hell separated from God’s goodness and love and having the wrath of God abiding on us for all eternity.
Do you see why it is important to witness to people, to see them saved? Such a punishment is not what anyone would want to endure.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
□
Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.
Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.
Originally at Answers in Genesis; Edited; Republished by permission.
Is Hell Complete Separation From God?
One aspect of this argument is that hell is complete separation from God, and since something cannot exist outside of God, it must be annihilated. Many Christians use the term “separation from God” as a nice way of saying “hell”. But it needs to be clarified because it is only partially accurate—it is not a complete separation.
When man sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, death and suffering came into the creation (Genesis 3, Romans 8). Essentially, sin became a point of separation between man and God. We were separated from God to a certain degree; death, which is the result of sin (e.g., Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:19, Romans 5:12), and eternal death (for unbelievers, Satan, and fallen angels), which has its final culmination in hell, is seen by some as absolute separation from God.
However, this is not exactly a complete separation, as even hell will be not be able to escape the fact that all things are being upheld by Christ (Hebrews 1:3). Furthermore, the wrath of God will abide on those in hell (John 3:36), so even God will have a direct influence there. Hell will not be annihilated, but will be sustained for all eternity.
To be clear, there is separation (Matthew 13:49, Matthew 25:32, Hebrews 7:26), but it is better to understand this “separation” as an absolute separation from God’s goodness and love, not a complete separation from existence. In other words, those in hell will not receive God’s goodness in but rather the punishment they deserve. Christians will not experience this separation from God’s love and goodness (Romans 8:35).[9]
Conclusion: Image Of God
The last point of discussion I want to address is that man is made in the image of God. Unlike a plant, rock, or an animal, man is made special and unique, having the breath of God inserted into him from God to Adam (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7); from Adam to Eve (Genesis 3:21-25); and from them to all of us (Genesis 9:6).
Can God simply cease to exist? No. It would be contrary to His nature of being absolute life, from which all life and existence stem. Bearing the image of God, we too are eternal beings (not be confused with infinite beings— man will exist eternally in the future but not eternally past). We will live on: either in heaven with God and His goodness, or in hell separated from God’s goodness and love and having the wrath of God abiding on us for all eternity.
Do you see why it is important to witness to people, to see them saved? Such a punishment is not what anyone would want to endure.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
□
Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.
Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.
Originally at Answers in Genesis; Edited; Republished by permission.
[1] This is not to be confused
with the Roman Church’s position of purgatory, an idea that originates in the
minds of men about a second chance between earth and heaven. People who hold to
annihilationism still adhere to Scriptures like Hebrews 9:27 that say we die
once, and then after this is the judgment, as opposed to dying once and then
being offered a second chance in purgatory.
[2] “The BAM Statement of
Faith,” Biblical Authority Ministries, https://www.biblicalauthorityministries.org/p/blog-page.html.
[3] Bodie Hodge, The Fall of Satan (Green Forest,
Arkansas: Master Books, 2011), pp. 53-57.
[4] All Scripture taken from
the NKJV and ESV
[5] There is also the Greek
term tartaroo, which also refers to hell,
but is specifically used in conjunction with fallen angels. Since this term is
only used once in the Bible (2 Peter 2:4), it may be more difficult to
ascertain its full meaning or range of meanings. Regardless, according to the
passages above, hell is a reality.
[6] Interestingly, it is
possible to do functions mathematics with infinites. For example, 1 infinity
minus 1 infinity equals zero. So, in an abstract sense, one infinite punishment
that mankind deserves minus one infinite satisfaction of that punishment by the
Son equals 0. In other words, Christ’s substitutional atonement was
sufficient for salvation.
[7] Satan did sin first, but
he did not have dominion over the
world—Adam and Eve did (Genesis 1:26-28). When they sinned, then their dominion
fell. This is why sin affected the world when Adam ate of the tree, not when
Satan sinned. However, Satan’s sin, even though it would have been prior to
Adam, did require punishment, and hence, hell is his final destination.
[8] Some have also tried to
use Psalm 37:10 to defend an annihilationist view, but again the context is in
reference to what is occurring on earth and the actions of the wicked on earth.
This is not speaking of an eternal state but of affairs on earth. The wicked
shall be cut off and be no more on earth—and then they will face eternal
judgment.
[9] Consider
the rich man and Lazarus of which Jesus spoke (Luke 16:19-31). Upon death,
there was a great chasm or gulf that existed between the two, so that the rich
man, who was in torment, could not pass through to the other side.
