Eternal conscious punishment
Historic orthodoxy
Those who die without Christ will experience God's just punishment consciously and without end.
Also called: everlasting punishment, eternal punishment, ECT
What it means
The Bible teaches that after death comes judgment, and that at the last day all people will be raised, some to everlasting life and some to everlasting shame and contempt. Jesus Himself spoke more about hell than anyone else in Scripture, and He described it as a place of fire, darkness, and anguish that does not end. He set "eternal punishment" side by side with "eternal life," using the same word for both.
This doctrine is not taught because Christians delight in it. It is taught because Jesus taught it, and because it shows how serious sin is against an infinitely holy God. It also shows the greatness of what Christ endured to rescue His people, and it gives the church's call to repentance its urgency.
The historic creeds and confessions are united on this point. The Athanasian Creed says that those who have done evil will go into everlasting fire, and the Westminster and 1689 confessions speak of the wicked being cast into eternal torments.
In Scripture
The wicked go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Jesus describes hell as where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.
Some will awake to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the Lord's presence.
The smoke of their torment rises forever, and they have no rest day or night.
They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Where it comes up
Confessions: WCF 33.2; LBCF 1689 32.2; Belgic Confession Art. 37; Athanasian Creed
On this site: Final judgment
Related terms
AnnihilationismSerious error
The teaching that the unsaved will not suffer forever but will cease to exist, either at death or after a period of punishment.
Universal reconciliationOutside historic orthodoxy
The teaching that every person, and in some versions even the devil, will eventually be reconciled to God through Christ, so that hell is temporary.
UniversalismOutside historic orthodoxy
The teaching that all people will be saved, whatever they believe, so that faith in Christ is not necessary for salvation.