Why I Am NOT A Jehovah's Witness VIII

**The Jehovah's Witnesses deny the reality of eternity of the future punishment of the wicked.

According to their doctrine of salvation...salvation is "the deliverance from the destructive power of sin, a redemption from the eternal end of sin which is everlasting death and annihilation." This annihilation is a complete destruction as if they had never existed before. But where does the Word of God support that?

Our Lord Jesus reveals to us that hell is a furnace of fire.

Matthew 13:49-50 (KJB) "So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
(NWT) "That is how it will be in the conclusion of the system of things: the angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the righteous and will cast them into the fiery furnace. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be."

Hell is an unquenchable fire.

Mark 9: 42-48 (KJB) "And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenced: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
(NWT) "But whoever stumbles one of these little ones that believe, it would be finer for him if a millstone such as is turned by an ass were put around his neck and he were actually pitched into the sea. And if ever your hand makes you stumble, cut it off; it is finer for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go off into Gehenna, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot makes you stumble, cut it off; it is finer for you to enter into life lame than with two feet to be pitched into Gehenna. And if your eye makes you stumble, throw it away; it is finer for you to enter one-eyed into the kingdom of God than with two eyes to be pitched into Gehenna, where their maggot does not die and the fire is not put out."

The Greek word "Aionois" which means without end...is used to describe eternity. It is used in John 3:16 (KJB) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting (Aionois) life." to portray the everlasting life of a believer with Christ. Also in Romans 16:26 (KJB) "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting (Aionois) God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:" to portray the eternity of God. It is also used by Christ in Matthew 18:8 (KJB) "Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting (Aionois) fire." in describing the eternity of hell. It is also in Revelation 14:11 (KJB) "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever (Aionois): and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."

Just as there is an eternity in Heaven there is an eternity in Hell. Those who do not believe this truth now...if you choose not to trust Christ as your personal Saviour before you die or He returns for His church....you will believe it then.