In Luke 20:36, Jesus states that we “can no longer die, for they are like the angels”—which must be referring to spiritual death. If so, then your speculation about limited time in hell for those banished there seems to in error—unless fallen angels will be punished eternally, while mankind will not? — J.S.
This is a fair point. But first, for the benefit of our readers, let’s look at the passage:
Jesus said to them, ‘Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die any more, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:34-36)
My position, since 1991, is that the lost eventually cease to exist—whether after a day or a million years is irrelevant; time is either finite or infinite. If I am understanding the issue biblically, punishment comes to an end once justice is satisfied. For those unfamiliar with the doctrine of Terminal Punishment, please click here.
But notice that Jesus is speaking of the righteous, not the wicked. Although all will rise again (John 5:25. 28-29), the “children of the resurrection” are God’s children. They cannot die, because, in the words of the apostle Paul, they have been clothed with immortality (1 Cor 15:54).
