Eternal Life and Death

The Bible makes it clear that there are two very real existences after life is over on this planet.
- One is eternal life, a place of everlasting bliss living in the presence of God. This is commonly understood as Heaven or the "Eternal Kingdom."
- The other is eternal death, a place of everlasting torment receiving God's relentless wrath in perpetuity as the penalty for sin, that is, for rejecting God's grace, forgiveness and mercy through Christ's sacrifice taking our penalty upon Himself and giving us His righteousness in its place. This place of eternal punishment is known theologically as the "second death" and "final judgement" in a place that the Bible speaks of as the "Lake of Fire" or hell.

Romans 2:6-8 ESV: He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

Revelation 21:8 ESV: But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

Revelation 20:10 ESV: And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 21:1-27 ESV: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Romans 6:23 ESV: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 25:41 ESV: Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."

Hebrews 9:27 ESV: And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment...

Mark 9:43-48 ESV: And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

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