Topic: Endless and Eternal Punishment:

Matthew 25:46 > Mark 3:29 > 2 Thessalonians 1:9 > Jude 1:7 > Jacob 7:18 > Mosiah 2:33, 39 > Mosiah 27:31 > 2 Nephi 9:16 > 2 Nephi 28:23 > 2 Nephi 2:10 > 2 Nephi 9:25 > Alma 42:16-22 > Words of Mormon 1:15-16 > Doctrine and Covenants 19:6-12 > Moses 7:35

There are many references in scripture to the punishment that will be received by the wicked. In fact, it may not be the best motivator or God’s preferred way of motivating, but it is the threat of punishment that motivates some to do what is right. Eventually, we would hope that love of God will become our prime motivator. Anyway, in this Scripture Train we will come to understand punishment and what endless and eternal mean.

Endless and eternal are used, as it seems, nearly interchangeably. One verse may read endless, another eternal. In an earlier Scripture Train, we learned that the terms eternal and endless are also used with life. So on one hand we learn that life is endless and eternal and on the other, we learn that punishment is endless and eternal. Life and punishment in the eternal sense, has to do with our state of being. Life is endless or eternal when we enjoy the life that God enjoys; endless or eternal punishment means that we will not enjoy the life that God enjoys. In Matthew chapter 25 verse 46, we read this very instruction; the righteous will enjoy what is called life eternal, but the wicked will not; they will have what is called everlasting punishment. Here we see the differentiation between life and punishment. In Mark chapter 3 verse 29, we read how punishment is also called eternal. In 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 9, Paul equates punishment with destruction and that it is everlasting. So, in Paul’s instruction, what is being destroyed? The opportunity for spiritual life, our opportunity for the kind of life God lives, is gone; there is no more opportunity to enjoy God’s quality of life. In Jude chapter 1 verse 7, we read that punishment is also equated to fire, everlasting fire. Paul teaches in one case that punishment is equated to destruction, in another to fire; it appears likely that there may be more types of punishment than we may have realized!

The Book of Mormon also makes this distinction. In Jacob chapter 7 verse 18, we read that punishment is eternal. In the book of Mosiah chapter 2 verse 33, we read that punishment is everlasting; and in verse 39 we read that it is never-ending. We also learn a new synonym to be used with punishment and damnation, torment. A view of this torment can be found in Mosiah chapter 27 verse 31; here we learn that those who lived without God in the world will live without Him in the eternal world. We learn that all mankind will confess that God’s punishments are just. Then we learn that when the wicked behold God, they will quake, tremble and shrink before Him; in this we can see how we will be tormented. It will be a natural outcome of our beholding a glorious God, who we rejected during our mortal life. In 2 Nephi chapter 9 verse 16, additional light is shed on the meaning of torment, lake of fire and brimstone and so forth. Here we learn that those who are filthy before God will go away into everlasting fire, but then we learn that the fire and the torment thereof, is as a lake of fire and brimstone. In other words, the wicked will not actually find themselves in never-ending fire, but their torment, their punishment is as such. Can you imagine how you will feel when you behold God in all the beauty of His glorious majesty and knowing that you could have enjoyed the same for all eternity, but rejected it, can you imagine how your torment will be? In 2 Nephi chapter 28 verse 23 we learn that this terrible torment that the wicked will know when they feel the grasp of death, hell and the devil upon them will be endless. In 2 Nephi chapter 2 verse 10, we learn that punishment and happiness are polar opposites.

Now let us study for a moment how punishment comes to pass and what makes punishment possible. In 2 Nephi chapter 9 verse 25, we learn that punishment of the sinner is possible because there is a law. Combine this with Alma chapter 42 verses 16 through 22, we learn that punishment is only possible because of law and repentance. God gave mankind laws to follow; we also call these laws, commandments. Without law, punishment could not exist and without the ability to repent of broken laws or broken commandments God would not be just in attaching a punishment to a broken law. He knew that because of our human condition broken laws and broken commandments was inevitable. He also knew that with just one slip up on our part, we could not return to Him, we would be filthy and as we have discussed in the past, filthiness cannot dwell with God. So God, in order to be just and merciful, He had to make a way for our escape from death, hell and punishment. So, through Jesus Christ, He made it possible for us to repent. Repentance makes it possible for us to escape the punishment of broken laws and commandments.

In Doctrine and Covenants section 19 verses 6 through 12 and in Moses chapter 7 verse 35, we are taught important principles that bring all that we have discussed together to make sense of the terms eternal, endless and everlasting in this Scripture Train. Here we learn that God did not say that there would be no end to this torment, but rather we learn that it is called endless, everlasting and eternal, because these are names of the almighty God. Therefore, we learn that Endless punishment is God’s punishment; Eternal punishment is God’s punishment. God will punish us according to His justice and mercy, therefore whatever punishment we receive will be Eternal, Endless and Everlasting.