I see this as the order of three coming resurrections of mankind from the dead.

• The believers of this grace age “church which is His body” in which we live today will come forth out of their graves (or the sea) bearing Christ’s eternal resurrection life in their new glorious resurrection bodies… to dwell “eternal life in heaven” (2Cor 5:1b).
• The believers of the O.T. and Kingdom gospel of the four gospels (Adam, Able, Noah, Abraham, Rahab, David, Matthew, Mark, Luke John, to name a few) will come forth out of their graves (or sea) bearing Christ’s eternal, resurrection life in their glorious resurrection bodies to dwell forever on the new earth in the Millennial and Eternal Kingdoms.

David wrote: “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” (Psalm 17:15 (KJV)

• The lost unbelievers of all ages will be raised at the final ‘judgment’ and sentenced to eternal death in “the lake of fire” (cf. Rev 20:10-14.)  This then is the eternal punishment the Bible calls the “second death” (Rev 20:14) – not eternal torment as punishment of “living souls.”

Jesus said this (below) of those “under the Law” who lived and died before and after today’s “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph 3:2):

John 5:28-29 … the hour is coming, in the which ALL that are in “the graves” shall hear his voice, ²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life (Believers Israel at the 1^st Resurrection); and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation (at the final White Throne Judgment).

So, my view has changed according to what the Scripture reveals, concerning the unbelieving lost dead who are without Christ’s eternal “Spirit of life.” They will not be alive in any form to suffer eternally in “the lake of fire.” Their spiritless, lifeless, souls and bodies will… “perish,” (Gk., apollymi, means, utterly, everlastingly, destroyed). Such a “death” is the penal consequence of Sin. “… by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Rom 5:12) Eternal death is in the starkest contrast with everlasting life, which only overcome by Christ’s life.

Dan. 12:2 … many of them (Israel) that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting (perpetual) life…

Matt. 19:29 every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit (be an heir of) everlasting life.

Jn. 5:24 … verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on (trusts in) him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (Zoë, eternal life).

Jn. 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life…

Jn. 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on (trusts in) him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.  

Jn 6:47 … verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on (trusts in) me hath everlasting life.

ETERNAL DEATH:

Death is easily explained as the loss of “the spirit of man” which is “the breath of life” (Gen 2:7). Psa. 104:29 Thou takest away their breath (Heb. ruach, spirit), they die (Heb., gawa, expire), and return to their dust.

I, as many still do, formerly saw the destiny of mankind in this way.

1) The believing ones in Christ, while in the grave, await their eternal reward “in heaven.”

2) The unbelieving lost, while in the grave, await judgment and the reward of eternal punishment of their souls in the torment of “the lake of fire.”

I now see that, Biblically, the eternal destiny of lost souls is eternal death, annihilation, after they are resurrected to stand and bow their knees at final judgment (cf. Rev 14:11). This is contrary to the traditional orthodox position of most of the church at large, that says lost souls will consciously suffer eternal torment in hell fire; this is traditionalism. However, the traditionalism view of eternal punishment of lost souls is not Biblical, even though it is held by most of the church at large. As we’ve seen, the fact is that when a man is dies he has lost his spirit-life; thus, he no longer is a living soul; he ceases to exist as a “living soul.”

And so, all the dead are awaiting their just eternal reward of either;

1. Resurrection to the live in the Millennial kingdom on earth or,
2. The eternal reward of heaven (2Cor 5:1b) for grace-age believers who have received Christ’s eternal resurrection life during their time on earth or,
3. for those who refused Christ’s eternal life while on earth during their lifetime, they will suffer eternal loss, that is death by loss of their spirit that returns to the Lord, whereby their souls are snuffed out, and their bodies will be consumed in “the lake of fire.”

I see the unbelieving ones as being held “dead” (asleep) in the grave, while awaiting the 2^nd resurrection unto the final Great White Throne Judgment, after which their spirit-less and therefore lifeless bodies will “perish (be totally destroyed)” in “the lake of fire” – that is to be no longer existent in any form. Note the words “shall be punished with Everlasting Destruction” in the verse below.

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not ‘the gospel (good news) of our Lord Jesus Christ’: ⁹ Who shall be punished with Everlasting Destruction (away) from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)

Paul wrote that Jesus Christ will “judge the secrets of men according to my gospel (the gospel of the grace of God)” (Rom 2:16). How exceedingly fair and just it is to be judged according to Paul’s ‘grace gospel’ – the offer of the free “gift” of salvation with eternal life received “by grace through faith” in Christ alone (cf. Eph 2:8-9).  “Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” (2 Timothy 2:10)

Yet, all the believing ones who have died await their eternal reward; but they are now “asleep” and “in Christ,” according to the Scriptures.

God’s grace is always offered in all generation or dispensations. Even under the Law God’s grace was expressed in providing a way for men to cover their sins through animal blood sacrifices that were a promise of “the Lamb of God” who was to come and redeem all who will believe. If God judged men according to “the law of Moses” no one ever would be saved, for all of us have broken “the Law.” None of the children of fallen Adam, because of their depraved nature, cannot consistently keep “the Law.” Thus, they will not be judged on the basis of that which they were unable to live up to... by offering and trusting in the sacrifices that the Lord had ordained for them. Today, under “the gospel of the grace of God” (Act 20:24) He judges men according to the good news of God’s grace gospel proclaimed by Paul, which is the great truth that salvation is available to all who take God at His Word and approaches Him in His way… via faith in Christ’s cross.  Paul’s gospel is the way for us today is; “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Act 16:31)

The Biblical record speaks of “total destruction” of unbelieving lost souls.

“And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish (Heb., abad, lose one’s self). ¹³ Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed (Heb., tamam, to completion) with dying?” (Numbers 17:12-13)

“The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever… ²⁰ But the wicked shall perish (Heb., abad, lose one’s self), and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs (as sacrificed): they shall consume (Heb., kala, be finished, destroyed); into smoke shall they consume away (Heb., kala, be finished, destroyed). (Psa. 37:18-20)

“Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. ² As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish (Heb., abad, lose one’s self) at the presence of God.” (Psa. 68:1-2)

Note above and below that the choice is always life or utter destruction of one’s soul-self, there’s not a word of eternal suffering for the ‘souls’ of the lost.

Jesus said:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to Destruction (Gk. apoleia, ruin, waste), and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto Life (Gk. Zoë, the eternal spirt-life), and few there be that find it. (Matt. 7:13-14)

Paul wrote defining punishment of the lost lead as “everlasting destruction.”

“Who shall be punished with ‘everlasting destruction’ from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thess 1:9)

The word “destruction” in 2 Thes 1:9 is translated from the Greek, olethros, meaning, destruction that last forever as the ultimate punishment. Since all the lost unbelievers have rejected God as presented in “the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,” they will cease to exist as living beings in any form, neither in spirit, soul or body. They will never enjoy the presence and glory of God.

In Scripture, I find the utter destruction of “living souls,” but no support for ‘eternal punishment of souls in a living state of being,” but rather I find hundreds of references to everlasting “destruction” or utter annihilation of the “living souls” of human beings.