📖 Biblical Definition
"Everlasting fire" is Christ’s phrase for the eschatological fire originally prepared for the devil and his angels — and which, by Matthew 25:41, becomes the final destination of the goats at the great judgment: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." It is distinct in emphasis (though referring to the same reality) from the "lake of fire" (Revelation’s eschatological term — 20:14-15) and from Christ’s frequent term Gehenna. "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matthew 25:46). Christ Himself preached more on hell than anyone in Scripture; modern soft-pedaling departs from His tone, not toward His mercy but toward His silenced warnings.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
EVERLASTING, a.
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Lasting or enduring forever; eternal; perpetual; endless; never ceasing. Everlasting fire — in Matt. 25, the place of final punishment.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 25:41 — "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
Matthew 18:8 — "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 fire."
Jude 1:7 — "Sodom and Gomorrha... are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."
Mark 9:44 — "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Christ said “everlasting fire” more than any apostle did; soft pulpits often invert the proportion.
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The man who said the most about hell in the Bible was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Modern Christianity, especially the warm-fuzzy variety, often acts as though hell were Paul's nervous addition to a Jesus who was all about love. The numbers are the opposite: Christ named everlasting fire and the worm that does not die more than any apostle did. The same mouth that said I am the resurrection said depart from me, ye cursed.
The takeaway is not preaching hell with relish; the Lord Himself wept over Jerusalem. The takeaway is preaching with the same balance He kept — severe in warning, tender in invitation, urgent in pleading, honest in danger. Christ did not believe softness about hell would save anyone; He used clear language about it precisely because He loved sinners. Imitate the proportion.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek aionios (G166), pur (G4442).
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Usage
"The man who said the most about hell in the Bible was Christ Himself; soft pulpits invert the proportion."
"Christ used clear language about hell precisely because He loved sinners."
"Severe in warning, tender in invitation, urgent in pleading — imitate His proportion."