Truth Versus Tradition
For centuries, the traditional Christian belief about hell—which claims the wicked descend directly to hell at death and are tortured there for eternity—rendered minimal debate. Most churches still promote this doctrine, commonly called “eternal conscious torment” (ECT) and popularized centuries ago by the philosopher Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354–430). You’ve probably heard ECT preached from the pulpit or argued online.
But recently, more and more Christians are questioning whether eternal torment aligns with what the Bible actually says about hell.
Christian writer Preston Sprinkle believes that annihilationism (which teaches the permanent destruction of the wicked) will soon become the dominant belief about hell among Protestants, adding “I base that on how many well-known pastors secretly hold that view. I think that we are at a time and place when there is a growing suspicion of adopting tradition for the sake of tradition” (as quoted in Mark Strauss’ 2016 article “The Campaign to Eliminate Hell”).
Strauss concluded his article by stating, “The debate over hell shows no sign of dissipating. . . . If anything, the scope of the discussion appears to be expanding.” He was right. As proof, take the heated discussions surrounding Kirk Cameron’s 2025 podcast episode “Are We Wrong About Hell?”—which amassed over 300,000 views and responses from various church leaders.
More than ever, it seems, Christians are wondering: Does eternal conscious torment align with God’s character of love? Could hell really be eternal? Is hell even real?
Two hundred years ago, amid an era rife with hellfire preaching, a small group of believers asked these same questions. Instead of turning to Augustine’s writings or “traditional” doctrines, they turned to the Bible.
Since its inception in the mid-1800s, the Seventh-day Adventist Christian movement has embraced the truth of Scripture, exploring its depths to preach God’s authentic character and plan for humanity: He will punish the wicked, but He will not prolong suffering eternally; God will remove pain from the universe forever.
Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe in Hell?
Hell is real in the Bible, so it is real for Seventh-day Adventists. However, Adventists reject the traditional belief about hell that paints it as a present and everlasting torture chamber. Instead, they define hell according to the original Greek and Hebrew meanings of the word as used in the original Scriptures.
The English word “hell” appears often in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible—which Christians considered the top translation for nearly 400 years. But as they were recording the New Testament, KJV transcribers actually translated “hell” from three distinct Greek words, each carrying a very different meaning:
Example: Peter, quoting David regarding the Messiah (Jesus): “Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” (Acts 2:27, KJV)
- Gehenna: the “lake of fire,” the place of future punishment where the wicked will be completely destroyed, a Grecian way to spell the Hebrew words that mean “the valley of Hinnom” found in the Old Testament (examples include HJoshua 15:8 and Jeremiah 7:32).
Example: “ . . . But whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:22, KJV)
- Tartarus: the restrained condition of the fallen angels, a term used just once in the New Testament.
Example: “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment.” (2 Peter 2:4, KJV)
Just as many mistakenly relate Hades to the final punishment of the wicked, many also associate the Old Testament word Sheol (שְׁאוֹל) with this same event, as English versions of the Bible often translate Sheol to “hell.” But, just like Hades, Sheol simply refers to the grave.
(Remember Acts 2:27, which uses Hades? Peter was quoting David, who wrote in Psalm 16:10, NKJV: “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol . . . ”)
Even the righteous expect to go to Sheol (Genesis 37:35; Job 14:13)—although they die with the great expectation of resurrection and eternal life with Jesus.
So do Seventh-day Adventists believe in hell? Yes, they believe in the biblical Gehenna: God will one day consume the wicked with fire. They also believe in the biblical Hades / Sheol: right now, the dead–both righteous and wicked–are unconscious, unfeeling, and unable to speak (Ecclesiastes 9:5).
Is Hell Real? What the Bible Actually Describes
By rejecting false beliefs about hell contained in the ECT doctrine, many begin to wonder, “Is hell even real?” As you’ve seen, language differences and centuries of translation have somewhat obscured the intricate meanings behind the word “hell” that often appears in English versions of the Bible.
But be assured: hell is real. It is a future event of divine judgment that will destroy the wicked by fire and was described by Jesus Himself:
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
Describing what He will tell the wicked at the end of time, Jesus said:
“Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41)
Beliefs About Hell That Come From Scripture
Many who believe that hell is real often picture a stony chamber hidden beneath the crust of Earth where the wicked are tortured by demons and a red two-horned devil holding a pitchfork.
Alright, that image is extreme, and few believe in it. But at the same time, few understand the true image of hell painted in Scripture.
This is what the Bible actually says about hell:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” says the LORD of hosts, “that will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name . . . you shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet . . . ” (Malachi 4:1–3)
“And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. . . . The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:4b, 5, 13–15)
These verses tell us that:
- Hell is not eternal, because those who refuse to accept Jesus must pay the wages of sin: the loss of life.
- Hell is God’s final act of justice, and it will completely eradicate the wicked.
- Hell will occur after the righteous reign with Christ for 1,000 years in heaven. The wicked will be resurrected to judgment and the second death—the permanent end of existence for sin and sinners.
These three biblical truths play a key role in shaping Seventh-day Adventist beliefs about hell.
Beliefs About Hell and the Language of Fire, Destruction, and Judgment
As you’ve seen, the Bible uses strong verbiage to describe the event of hell, including the words “fire,” “destruction,” and “judgment.” It’s important to question and study the why’s behind these terms. Does God delight in destroying people? Is judgment necessary? Why can’t God save everyone?
By unveiling God’s character, the Bible responds to these doubts.
Scripture tells us that God must destroy the wicked because they chose to transgress His holy law of life, and the just price of that transgression is death (remember Romans 6:23?). God respects our right to choose, even when we choose to forsake Him. He will never rob us of our moral agency, just as He will not bypass justice or perpetuate rebellion. God will ensure that sin can never rise again to hurt His loved ones. He promises to “wipe away every tear” from our eyes:
“There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4b)
How will all these “former things” pass away? God will send hellfire to devour the wicked (Revelation 20:9) and totally purify the Earth to make way for a sinless world:
“ . . . The heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. . . . Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:10, 13)
God offers salvation to everyone, desiring that all should be saved (2 Peter 3:9). He continuously entreats humans to turn from sin. He will not enjoy hell.
“ . . . ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die . . . ?’ ” (Ezekiel 33:11)
Is Hell Eternal According to the Bible?
The element of hell most often debated among Christians is whether or not it is eternal. Those who subscribe to the “traditional” belief about hell (ECT) draw upon verses like Revelation 20:10, which describes those in the lake of fire as being “tormented day and night forever and ever.”
To understand this verse’s full meaning, we must investigate its original context and language.
The author of Revelation, John, was a Jewish follower of Jesus writing in a style deeply rooted in Jewish apocalyptic imagery. The term “forever and ever” is a Semitic-style idiom denoting the fullest extent of duration appropriate to the subject under discussion. (For example, Jonah was inside the whale “forever” – Jonah 2:6.) Translated to Greek, this expression appropriately becomes “eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn.” Aiōnas and aiōnōn are derived from aiōn, a word that signifies a finite age or eternity depending on the subject being described.
The Bible is clear: the nature of hell is not eternal. The wicked will be “burned up” (Matthew 3:12), turned to “stubble” and “ashes” (Malachi 4:1, 3), “destroyed” (Matthew 10:28). They will die (Ezekiel 18:4; John 3:16; Romans 6:23), “as though they had never been” (Obadiah 1:16).
Is Hell Eternal or Is the Punishment Eternal?
We cannot ignore that Scripture consistently uses words like “eternal” and “unquenchable” to describe hellfire and the wicked’s final punishment (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:42–48; Thessalonians 1:9). Does the Word of God contradict itself, then? No. Instead—as it so often does—the Bible interprets itself.
Take Jude 1:7, which says Sodom and Gomorrah suffered the “vengeance of eternal fire.” Those cities are not still burning. “Eternal fire” turned them “into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly” (2 Peter 2:6). The fire of divine wrath, the fire of hell, is eternal because its impact is eternal. The wicked will never rise again.
Why the Character of God Matters in This Question
In “The Campaign to Eliminate Hell,” Strauss quoted the now deceased Clark Pinnock, an evangelical theologian who heavily questioned ECT:
“Everlasting torment is intolerable from a moral point of view because it makes God into a bloodthirsty monster who maintains an everlasting Auschwitz for victims whom he does not even allow to die.”
Pinnock was certainly onto something. This popular, absolutely monstrous image of God and hell does not align with Scripture, which tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8) and, as you’ve already read, promises to end pain forever (Revelation 21:4). How could the saved enjoy eternity knowing their friends and family are suffering in hell? How could a just God punish finite sin infinitely?
Perhaps the greatest biblical evidence against ECT is the panorama it paints of God’s relationship with humanity: God created us in love, loved us even when we sinned, and became sin for us so that we can become His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). A God like that would never torture people forever, nor would He fail to fulfill His promises.
How Seventh-day Adventists Understand Final Punishment
Seventh-day Adventists believe that hell, or gehenna, is the second death described in Revelation 20: God’s complete, irreversible, and permanent annihilation of Satan and everyone who refused God’s gift of salvation through Jesus. This will happen at the close of the millennium, when God will resurrect the wicked to face their final punishment by fire. Even this punishment is an act of mercy, for those who chose not to align themselves with God’s law would find only misery in His kingdom of glory.
These Seventh-day Adventist beliefs about hell differ sharply from the traditional Christian view, yet they are fully based on God’s Word.
What This Teaching Means for Hope, Fear, and the Gospel
Seventh-day Adventist teachings on hell argue that:
- No one is suffering in hell right now. The dead know nothing.
- We do not have to live in fear of a universe in which suffering is endlessly preserved. Instead, we can look forward with hope to a future in which pain and death are completely and permanently eradicated.
- The Gospel is an invitation to choose God because He loves us, not because He threatens unending torment for unbelievers.
- God is both perfectly just and perfectly loving.
Because of our Heavenly Father’s great mercy, because Jesus Christ died and rose again, we can approach God with confidence and hope, knowing that His ultimate purpose is to restore creation and dwell forever with His redeemed people in a universe where evil will never rise again.
Related Articles:
What the Bible Says About Hell: Eternal Conscious Torment or Annihilation?
The Difference Between the First and Second Death: A Hopeful Study of Revelation 20
Why the Cross of Christ Transforms the Meaning of Death
Do you want to dig even deeper into the Bible? Check out our study guides, videos, podcasts, and more!
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Resources
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Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe in Hell?
Truth Versus Tradition
For centuries, the traditional Christian belief about hell—which claims the wicked descend directly to hell at death and are tortured there for eternity—rendered minimal debate. Most churches still promote this doctrine, commonly called “eternal conscious torment” (ECT) and popularized centuries ago by the philosopher Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354–430). You’ve probably heard ECT preached from the pulpit or argued online.
But recently, more and more Christians are questioning whether eternal torment aligns with what the Bible actually says about hell.
Christian writer Preston Sprinkle believes that annihilationism (which teaches the permanent destruction of the wicked) will soon become the dominant belief about hell among Protestants, adding “I base that on how many well-known pastors secretly hold that view. I think that we are at a time and place when there is a growing suspicion of adopting tradition for the sake of tradition” (as quoted in Mark Strauss’ 2016 article “The Campaign to Eliminate Hell”).
Strauss concluded his article by stating, “The debate over hell shows no sign of dissipating. . . . If anything, the scope of the discussion appears to be expanding.” He was right. As proof, take the heated discussions surrounding Kirk Cameron’s 2025 podcast episode “Are We Wrong About Hell?”—which amassed over 300,000 views and responses from various church leaders.
More than ever, it seems, Christians are wondering: Does eternal conscious torment align with God’s character of love? Could hell really be eternal? Is hell even real?
Two hundred years ago, amid an era rife with hellfire preaching, a small group of believers asked these same questions. Instead of turning to Augustine’s writings or “traditional” doctrines, they turned to the Bible.
Since its inception in the mid-1800s, the Seventh-day Adventist Christian movement has embraced the truth of Scripture, exploring its depths to preach God’s authentic character and plan for humanity: He will punish the wicked, but He will not prolong suffering eternally; God will remove pain from the universe forever.
Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe in Hell?
Hell is real in the Bible, so it is real for Seventh-day Adventists. However, Adventists reject the traditional belief about hell that paints it as a present and everlasting torture chamber. Instead, they define hell according to the original Greek and Hebrew meanings of the word as used in the original Scriptures.
The English word “hell” appears often in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible—which Christians considered the top translation for nearly 400 years. But as they were recording the New Testament, KJV transcribers actually translated “hell” from three distinct Greek words, each carrying a very different meaning:
Example: Peter, quoting David regarding the Messiah (Jesus): “Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” (Acts 2:27, KJV)
Example: “ . . . But whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:22, KJV)
Example: “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment.” (2 Peter 2:4, KJV)
Just as many mistakenly relate Hades to the final punishment of the wicked, many also associate the Old Testament word Sheol (שְׁאוֹל) with this same event, as English versions of the Bible often translate Sheol to “hell.” But, just like Hades, Sheol simply refers to the grave.
(Remember Acts 2:27, which uses Hades? Peter was quoting David, who wrote in Psalm 16:10, NKJV: “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol . . . ”)
Even the righteous expect to go to Sheol (Genesis 37:35; Job 14:13)—although they die with the great expectation of resurrection and eternal life with Jesus.
So do Seventh-day Adventists believe in hell? Yes, they believe in the biblical Gehenna: God will one day consume the wicked with fire. They also believe in the biblical Hades / Sheol: right now, the dead–both righteous and wicked–are unconscious, unfeeling, and unable to speak (Ecclesiastes 9:5).
Is Hell Real? What the Bible Actually Describes
By rejecting false beliefs about hell contained in the ECT doctrine, many begin to wonder, “Is hell even real?” As you’ve seen, language differences and centuries of translation have somewhat obscured the intricate meanings behind the word “hell” that often appears in English versions of the Bible.
But be assured: hell is real. It is a future event of divine judgment that will destroy the wicked by fire and was described by Jesus Himself:
Describing what He will tell the wicked at the end of time, Jesus said:
Beliefs About Hell That Come From Scripture
Many who believe that hell is real often picture a stony chamber hidden beneath the crust of Earth where the wicked are tortured by demons and a red two-horned devil holding a pitchfork.
Alright, that image is extreme, and few believe in it. But at the same time, few understand the true image of hell painted in Scripture.
This is what the Bible actually says about hell:
These verses tell us that:
These three biblical truths play a key role in shaping Seventh-day Adventist beliefs about hell.
Beliefs About Hell and the Language of Fire, Destruction, and Judgment
As you’ve seen, the Bible uses strong verbiage to describe the event of hell, including the words “fire,” “destruction,” and “judgment.” It’s important to question and study the why’s behind these terms. Does God delight in destroying people? Is judgment necessary? Why can’t God save everyone?
By unveiling God’s character, the Bible responds to these doubts.
Scripture tells us that God must destroy the wicked because they chose to transgress His holy law of life, and the just price of that transgression is death (remember Romans 6:23?). God respects our right to choose, even when we choose to forsake Him. He will never rob us of our moral agency, just as He will not bypass justice or perpetuate rebellion. God will ensure that sin can never rise again to hurt His loved ones. He promises to “wipe away every tear” from our eyes:
How will all these “former things” pass away? God will send hellfire to devour the wicked (Revelation 20:9) and totally purify the Earth to make way for a sinless world:
God offers salvation to everyone, desiring that all should be saved (2 Peter 3:9). He continuously entreats humans to turn from sin. He will not enjoy hell.
Is Hell Eternal According to the Bible?
The element of hell most often debated among Christians is whether or not it is eternal. Those who subscribe to the “traditional” belief about hell (ECT) draw upon verses like Revelation 20:10, which describes those in the lake of fire as being “tormented day and night forever and ever.”
To understand this verse’s full meaning, we must investigate its original context and language.
The author of Revelation, John, was a Jewish follower of Jesus writing in a style deeply rooted in Jewish apocalyptic imagery. The term “forever and ever” is a Semitic-style idiom denoting the fullest extent of duration appropriate to the subject under discussion. (For example, Jonah was inside the whale “forever” – Jonah 2:6.) Translated to Greek, this expression appropriately becomes “eis tous aiōnas tōn aiōnōn.” Aiōnas and aiōnōn are derived from aiōn, a word that signifies a finite age or eternity depending on the subject being described.
The Bible is clear: the nature of hell is not eternal. The wicked will be “burned up” (Matthew 3:12), turned to “stubble” and “ashes” (Malachi 4:1, 3), “destroyed” (Matthew 10:28). They will die (Ezekiel 18:4; John 3:16; Romans 6:23), “as though they had never been” (Obadiah 1:16).
Is Hell Eternal or Is the Punishment Eternal?
We cannot ignore that Scripture consistently uses words like “eternal” and “unquenchable” to describe hellfire and the wicked’s final punishment (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:42–48; Thessalonians 1:9). Does the Word of God contradict itself, then? No. Instead—as it so often does—the Bible interprets itself.
Take Jude 1:7, which says Sodom and Gomorrah suffered the “vengeance of eternal fire.” Those cities are not still burning. “Eternal fire” turned them “into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly” (2 Peter 2:6). The fire of divine wrath, the fire of hell, is eternal because its impact is eternal. The wicked will never rise again.
Why the Character of God Matters in This Question
In “The Campaign to Eliminate Hell,” Strauss quoted the now deceased Clark Pinnock, an evangelical theologian who heavily questioned ECT:
Pinnock was certainly onto something. This popular, absolutely monstrous image of God and hell does not align with Scripture, which tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8) and, as you’ve already read, promises to end pain forever (Revelation 21:4). How could the saved enjoy eternity knowing their friends and family are suffering in hell? How could a just God punish finite sin infinitely?
Perhaps the greatest biblical evidence against ECT is the panorama it paints of God’s relationship with humanity: God created us in love, loved us even when we sinned, and became sin for us so that we can become His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). A God like that would never torture people forever, nor would He fail to fulfill His promises.
How Seventh-day Adventists Understand Final Punishment
Seventh-day Adventists believe that hell, or gehenna, is the second death described in Revelation 20: God’s complete, irreversible, and permanent annihilation of Satan and everyone who refused God’s gift of salvation through Jesus. This will happen at the close of the millennium, when God will resurrect the wicked to face their final punishment by fire. Even this punishment is an act of mercy, for those who chose not to align themselves with God’s law would find only misery in His kingdom of glory.
These Seventh-day Adventist beliefs about hell differ sharply from the traditional Christian view, yet they are fully based on God’s Word.
What This Teaching Means for Hope, Fear, and the Gospel
Seventh-day Adventist teachings on hell argue that:
Because of our Heavenly Father’s great mercy, because Jesus Christ died and rose again, we can approach God with confidence and hope, knowing that His ultimate purpose is to restore creation and dwell forever with His redeemed people in a universe where evil will never rise again.
Related Articles:
What the Bible Says About Hell: Eternal Conscious Torment or Annihilation?
The Difference Between the First and Second Death: A Hopeful Study of Revelation 20
Why the Cross of Christ Transforms the Meaning of Death
Do you want to dig even deeper into the Bible? Check out our study guides, videos, podcasts, and more!
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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