Study 14: Judgment Passages — Answer Key¶
Eight Major Texts on the Final Judgment
A Note on How to Study
Throughout this series, we distinguish between what the Bible explicitly says and what people infer from the Bible. These are not the same thing.
- Explicit: You can point to a verse and quote it. The text directly says this.
- Inference: Someone claims the Bible teaches something, but no single verse says it. They have drawn a conclusion — possibly a good one, possibly not — but the conclusion itself is not in the text.
This distinction is critical in this study. These eight passages are among the most frequently cited texts on the final judgment. The question is: what words do they actually use for the fate of the wicked?
Section A: Revelation 20:11-15 — The Great White Throne¶
1. Read Revelation 20:12-13. What standard is used to judge the dead? What phrase is repeated twice?
The dead are judged "according to their works." This phrase appears in both verse 12 and verse 13, emphasizing judgment by conduct as the standard.
"And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." — Revelation 20:12
"And they were judged every man according to their works." — Revelation 20:13
2. Read Revelation 20:14. Death and hell (hades) are cast into the lake of fire. What does the text call this? Does the text use the word "torment" or the word "death" to identify what the lake of fire is?
The text calls it "the second death" — using thanatos (death) vocabulary, not basanizo (torment) vocabulary. The predicate nominative "This is the second death" directly identifies what the lake of fire is: death, not torment.
"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." — Revelation 20:14
3. Read Revelation 20:15. Those not found in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire. Does this verse use any torment vocabulary (such as basanizo) for these human subjects, or does it simply state they are cast in?
The verse simply states they are cast into the lake of fire. No torment vocabulary appears. The only label the text gives for what the lake of fire does to human subjects is "the second death" (verse 14). The text does not describe what happens to them using the word torment.
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." — Revelation 20:15
Section B: Matthew 25:31-46 — The Sheep and the Goats¶
4. Read Matthew 25:41. Who was the "everlasting fire" originally prepared for? Was it prepared for humans?
The everlasting fire was "prepared for the devil and his angels" — not originally prepared for human beings. The text's own statement identifies the fire's primary designation as being for non-human entities.
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." — Matthew 25:41
5. Read Matthew 25:46. What two outcomes does Jesus describe? What is the word translated "punishment" in the original Greek — is it basanismos (torment) or kolasis (punishment/penalty)?
Jesus describes "everlasting punishment" (kolasin aionion) and "life eternal" (zoen aionion). The word is kolasis — punishment or penalty — not basanismos (torment). These are different Greek words with different meanings. The text says "punishment," not "torment."
"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." — Matthew 25:46
6. The Greek word kolasis (G2851) occurs only twice in the entire New Testament: Matthew 25:46 and 1 John 4:18. It is derived from kolazo, meaning "to curtail, prune, restrain." Does this word describe an ongoing process of torment, or does it describe a penalty/infliction?
Kolasis describes a penalty or infliction — a penal consequence. Its root meaning involves curtailment or pruning, not ongoing conscious suffering. The word was also used in the LXX (Greek Old Testament) in contexts of capital punishment (Wisdom 19:4; 2 Maccabees 4:38), demonstrating it was commonly associated with death, not ongoing suffering. The text chose kolasis rather than basanismos, and these are not interchangeable words.
Section C: Daniel 12:2 and Isaiah 66:24 — The Old Testament Pair¶
7. Read Daniel 12:2. What two outcomes does the resurrection produce? The word translated "contempt" is the Hebrew dera'on (H1860). It occurs only twice in the entire Old Testament — in Daniel 12:2 and Isaiah 66:24. What does this rare word connection suggest about how these two passages relate?
The resurrection produces two outcomes: "everlasting life" and "shame and everlasting contempt." The word dera'on appears only twice in the entire OT, creating a strong verbal link between Daniel 12:2 and Isaiah 66:24. This shared rare vocabulary suggests these passages describe the same reality. In Isaiah 66:24, dera'on describes how the living view dead bodies — it is the reaction of onlookers, not an experience of the dead.
"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." — Daniel 12:2
8. Read Isaiah 66:24. The subjects of the worm and fire are called "carcases" — the Hebrew word peger. Look at how peger is used throughout the Old Testament (22 occurrences). Does peger ever refer to living persons, or does it always mean dead bodies/corpses?
Peger always means dead body or corpse in all 22 of its Old Testament occurrences. It never refers to a living person. The subjects of the worm and fire in Isaiah 66:24 are explicitly dead. The living "go forth and look upon" these dead bodies — the onlookers are alive; the objects being viewed are corpses.
"And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh." — Isaiah 66:24
9. Read Isaiah 66:16-17 (the context just before verse 24). What happens to the transgressors before their carcasses are viewed in verse 24? Are they "slain" and "consumed," or are they kept alive?
The transgressors are "slain" and "consumed" before verse 24 describes their carcasses. Verse 16 states "the slain of the LORD shall be many," and verse 17 states they "shall be consumed together." The sequence is clear: they are killed first, then their dead bodies become objects of abhorrence.
"For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many." — Isaiah 66:16
"They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens...shall be consumed together, saith the LORD." — Isaiah 66:17
Section D: John 5:28-29 and 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10¶
10. Read John 5:29. What are the two resurrections called? The word translated "damnation" in the KJV is the Greek word krisis (G2920). Does krisis mean "torment," or does it mean "judgment/decision"?
The two resurrections are "the resurrection of life" and "the resurrection of damnation" (krisis). The word krisis means judgment or decision — a judicial process — not torment. It describes the act of judging, not the nature of the outcome. Throughout John 5 (vv. 22, 24, 27, 29, 30), krisis consistently refers to the judgment process, not to any specific form of punishment.
"And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." — John 5:29
11. Read John 5:24. What two states does Jesus contrast? What does He say the believer has passed from, and passed to?
Jesus contrasts death and life. The believer "is passed from death unto life." The opposite of life is death — not torment. The krisis (condemnation/judgment) that the believer escapes is what brings death, and the alternative to death is life.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." — John 5:24
12. Read 2 Thessalonians 1:9. What does Paul say the punishment is? The Greek word is olethros (G3639). Olethros appears four times in the New Testament (1 Cor 5:5; 1 Thess 5:3; 2 Thess 1:9; 1 Tim 6:9). In every occurrence, what does it mean?
Paul says the punishment is "everlasting destruction" (olethron aionion). In all four of its New Testament occurrences, olethros means destruction or ruin — never "conscious ongoing existence in a state of ruin." Paul had access to basanizo (torment) vocabulary and did not use it. He chose the word for destruction. This is a didactic epistle — Paul directly teaching a church — which is the clearest genre for doctrinal statements.
"Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." — 2 Thessalonians 1:9
Section E: Hebrews 10:26-31 and Romans 2:5-11¶
13. Read Hebrews 10:27. What will happen to the adversaries? The word "devour" (katesthio) means to consume or eat up. Is this destruction vocabulary or torment vocabulary?
The fire will "devour" the adversaries. Katesthio means to consume or eat up — this is destruction vocabulary, not torment vocabulary. When fire devours something, it consumes it. The author of Hebrews selected a word meaning total consumption, not ongoing torment.
"But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." — Hebrews 10:27
14. Read Hebrews 10:39. What two alternatives does the author present? What is the word translated "perdition" — is it basanismos (torment) or apoleia (destruction)?
The two alternatives are "perdition" (apoleia) and "saving of the soul." The word is apoleia — destruction or perdition — not basanismos (torment). The binary the author presents is destruction versus salvation. This is the same destruction word family (apollymi/apoleia) that appears repeatedly throughout the New Testament.
"But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." — Hebrews 10:39
15. Read Romans 2:7. What must people seek in order to receive eternal life? Is immortality described as something humans already possess, or something they must seek?
Immortality (aphtharsia) must be sought — it is received along with eternal life. The text states that those who "seek for glory and honour and immortality" receive "eternal life." Immortality is presented as something obtained through seeking, not as an inherent human attribute. If humans already possessed immortality, seeking it would be unnecessary.
"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life." — Romans 2:7
16. Read Romans 2:12. What does Paul say will happen to those who have sinned? The Greek word is apollymi — what does it mean?
Paul says those who have sinned "shall also perish" (apollymi). The word apollymi means to destroy, to perish, to be ruined completely. It is the verb form of the same word family as apoleia (destruction/perdition) in Hebrews 10:39. Paul uses destruction vocabulary for the outcome of sinners — not torment vocabulary.
"For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law." — Romans 2:12
Section F: The Vocabulary Pattern¶
17. Across all eight judgment passages, how many use the word basanizo (torment) or basanismos (torment) for human subjects? What vocabulary do these passages actually use instead?
Zero. None of the eight major judgment passages uses basanizo or basanismos for the fate of human wicked. Instead, the passages use three categories of vocabulary: (1) destruction/death terms — thanatos (second death), olethros (destruction), katesthio (devour), apoleia (perdition), apollymi (perish); (2) penalty/judgment terms without specifying the nature — kolasis (punishment), krisis (judgment); (3) corpse/contempt vocabulary describing the viewed state of the dead — peger (carcasses), dera'on (abhorrence).
18. Four of the eight passages use explicit destruction/death vocabulary for the fate of the wicked. Which four passages and which words do they use?
The four passages are: - Revelation 20:14 — "the second death" (thanatos) - 2 Thessalonians 1:9 — "everlasting destruction" (olethros) - Hebrews 10:27, 39 — fire "shall devour" (katesthio); "perdition" (apoleia) - Romans 2:12 — "perish" (apollymi)
Explicit or Inference? — Answers¶
A. "Revelation 20:14 calls the lake of fire 'the second death.'" - Explicit. The verse directly states: "This is the second death." You can point to the verse and quote it.
B. "The 'everlasting punishment' of Matthew 25:46 is eternal conscious torment." - Inference. The text says "everlasting punishment" (kolasis), not "everlasting torment" (basanismos). The claim replaces the word "punishment" with "torment" — adding a concept (conscious ongoing suffering) that the text's own word (kolasis) does not contain. The word kolasis means penalty/infliction, and 2 Thessalonians 1:9 (Paul describing the same event) calls it "everlasting destruction."
C. "Isaiah 66:24 describes worms and fire acting on carcasses (dead bodies)." - Explicit. The verse says "carcases" — peger, which always means dead body/corpse in its 22 OT occurrences. This is what the text directly states.
D. "The 'everlasting contempt' of Daniel 12:2 means the wicked are consciously aware of their shame forever." - Inference. The text says "everlasting contempt" (dera'on). The only other occurrence of dera'on (Isaiah 66:24) describes the reaction of the living to dead bodies. The claim adds consciousness to a word that describes how others view the subjects, not what the subjects experience. The text does not say the wicked are aware of anything.
E. "None of the eight major judgment passages uses the word basanizo (torment) for human subjects." - Explicit. This is an observable fact about the vocabulary in these passages. The word basanizo does not appear in any of the eight passages in reference to human beings. Anyone can verify this by checking each text.
What the Bible Says vs. What People Say the Bible Teaches¶
| The Bible explicitly says... | People often claim the Bible teaches... |
|---|---|
| Rev 20:14 calls the lake of fire "the second death" (thanatos) | The lake of fire is a place of eternal conscious torment |
| Matt 25:46 uses kolasis (punishment/penalty), not basanismos (torment) | "Everlasting punishment" means everlasting torment |
| Isa 66:24 describes worm and fire acting on peger (corpses/dead bodies) | The worm and fire torture living, conscious beings |
| 2 Thess 1:9 says "everlasting destruction" (olethros) | "Everlasting destruction" means eternal separation in conscious ruin |
| Rom 2:7 says immortality must be sought and received | All humans are inherently immortal |
| None of the 8 passages uses basanizo (torment) for humans | These judgment passages teach eternal conscious torment |