The concept of hell as a place of eternal punishment is supported by several interpretations of specific Bible verses. Here are some of the most frequently cited:
* Matthew 25:46: "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." (NIV)
* This verse is part of the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. The use of the word "eternal" (Greek: *aiónios*) to describe the punishment is a key argument for the eternal nature of hell.
* Revelation 14:11: "And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” (NIV)
* This verse describes the punishment of those who worship the beast, using the phrase "for ever and ever," implying an unending duration.
* Revelation 20:10: "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (NIV)
* Similar to Revelation 14:11, this verse uses the phrase "for ever and ever" in the context of torment in the lake of fire.
* Mark 9:43-48: "And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out, where ‘the worms do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’" (NIV)
* Jesus himself speaks of "hell" (Greek: *Gehenna*) as a place of unquenchable fire and undying worms, suggesting unending destruction. The reference to "Gehenna" is significant because it was the city's garbage dump that was always burning and stinking with worms and flies.
* 2 Thessalonians 1:9: "They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might." (NIV)
* This verse describes the punishment as "everlasting destruction," which, according to some interpretations, implies not annihilation but a state of ongoing ruin and separation from God.
It's important to note that there are alternative interpretations of these verses. Some argue that "eternal" (aiónios) can refer to a long but finite period, and that "destruction" implies annihilation rather than unending torment. The debate over the nature of hell is complex and involves considerations of language, theology, and different hermeneutical approaches to the Bible.