Hope and Prophecy

What Does the Bible Say About Hell?

The Bible teaches that hell is the final, complete destruction of sin and unrepentant sinners, an event of finality rather than unending conscious torment, resulting in the total elimination of evil rather than its eternal continuation.

Published 2026-09-13 · Updated 2026-09-27

Written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team. Read our editorial policy.

0 views
State of the DeadHell

Biblical explanation

Malachi describes the wicked being burned up “as stubble,” leaving them “neither root nor branch,” imagery of complete consumption rather than perpetual burning (). Jesus similarly warns of destruction of both soul and body, contrasting this fate with eternal life, framing the outcome as loss of existence rather than eternal conscious suffering (). Revelation describes this final punishment as “the second death” (; 21:8), a term implying a definitive, final end rather than an ongoing state, consistent with Paul's contrast between “the wages of sin,” which is death, and “the gift of God,” which is eternal life (). This teaching underscores both the seriousness of persistent sin and God's ultimate, decisive victory in eliminating evil entirely.

In brief

Malachi describes the wicked being burned up “as stubble,” leaving them “neither root nor branch,” imagery of complete consumption rather than perpetual burning ().

Bible references

Go deeper into this topic What Really Happens After Death? Start the study

Editorial note

This answer is written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team, and is presented with supporting references so you can examine each passage in context. If you notice an error or unclear statement, please suggest a correction.