Eternal Punishment

[269 words] One of the most difficult teachings of the Bible involves the reality of eternal punishment for the lost. In order to make Christianity more appealing to a broader audience, some have taken it upon themselves to revise the Bible’s teaching on the subject. Some have preached universalism, claiming that no one will be lost. Pope Gregory VII in the medieval period put his stamp of approval on the existence of purgatory—the place where some wayward souls would go in order to be purified so they could enter heaven. Still others have taught annihilationism, the idea that the lost will suffer for their sin for only a short while before being erased from reality. Preaching the “other side of the Good News” is tough. We don’t want to think of anyone suffering, especially when it comes to eternity. But Jesus was very clear about the matter. In his parable…