Jonathan Edwards's central doctrine is that the misery of the wicked in hell will be absolutely eternal. He actively refutes two main opposing viewpoints. The first is that "eternal death" signifies annihilation, the complete abolishing of a wicked person's being. The second is that while punishment involves suffering, it will not be truly eternal but only of a very long duration.

Edwards argues for the absolute eternity of hell based on several key reasons. He posits that sin is an infinite evil because it violates an infinite obligation to an infinitely glorious God, thus deserving an infinite punishment. He asserts that inflicting eternal punishment is consistent with God's justice and other divine perfections like His infinite hatred of sin and His truthfulness, which demands the fulfillment of His absolute threats.

Edwards also heavily relies on scriptural evidence for unending torment, citing passages like Matthew 25:46, which parallels "everlasting punishment" with "life eternal," and Revelation's repeated use of "for ever and ever." He also points to descriptions of undying worms and unquenchable fire.

To counter the idea of annihilation, Edwards highlights scriptural descriptions of conscious suffering, including weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, as well as the concept of different degrees of torment. He argues that the fate of Judas being worse than never being born also contradicts annihilation.

According to Edwards, this eternal punishment commences after the day of judgment when all temporal things have ceased. He believes this punishment serves important purposes, including vindicating God's majesty and glorifying His justice. Additionally, it indirectly glorifies God's grace in the salvation of the righteous and enhances their eternal happiness by providing a stark contrast.

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