How Do People Ignore This?

In 2 Thessalonians 1 we have some words from Paul about eternity which simply cannot be ignored. There are some in the church today, a growing number, who seek to deny the reality of eternal punishment. But passages like this leave little doubt don’t they? Here is what Paul writes in verses 3-10: 3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

There are clearly two groups of people in mind here…those who believe and those who do not. Those who will be punished are those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of Jesus. And their punishment is everlasting destruction.  There is no valid way to exegete this into anything else. Hell and eternal punishment is a teaching in the bible that I wish wasn’t there; but it is there and we in the church are not doing anyone favors by pretending it isn’t there.  If you do not know God you will be judged for eternity.  Please don’t ignore this.