The fate of the wicked, as outlined in the scriptures, is a subject of grave consequence. God declares that the wages of sin, earned through transgression of His law, is death, not eternal torment. The state of the dead is one of complete cessation, where the wicked, like the righteous and even animals, return to dust, knowing nothing and feeling neither joy nor pain. Jesus speaks of a future time of resurrection when both the righteous and the wicked will be judged, with the unrepentant facing punishment in a fire described as hell, likened to the Valley of Hinnom, a place of continual burning refuse near Jerusalem. This unquenchable fire, however, does not burn forever, but rather consumes until nothing flammable remains, as exemplified by historical fires in Jerusalem that eventually extinguished. The wicked will be cast into a lake of burning fire and brimstone, termed the Lake of Fire, where, after resurrection to judgment, they will suffer a second death, being utterly burned up. Their ultimate fate is total annihilation, with body, mind, and spirit destroyed, leaving only ashes under the feet of the righteous, who will then live eternally in a world free of the wicked.

Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 addresses the fate of the wicked, observing the corruption and sin that pervade earthly life. He notes that sinners, in their moral and ethical conduct, often live no better than beasts, and without being called by God at this time, they seem to gain nothing of true value. Their lives, though perhaps appearing attractive with wealth and power, may ultimately be as vain, meaningless, and profitless as an animal's existence. Solomon suggests that the most likely moment for them to grasp this reality is after resurrection, when their minds will be open to God's truth, revealing the emptiness of their prior ways. He emphasizes that what is truly valuable in many lives lies beyond the grave, urging a broader and more penetrating image of life that transcends mere worldly success.

In the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man, Jesus portrays the fate of the wicked as a resurrection to condemnation, where they face the second death in the Lake of Fire, a final and permanent destruction. The rich man, representing the wicked, is resurrected after a vast span of time, yet to him, it feels as though only a moment has passed since his death, as the dead remain totally unconscious with no knowledge of time. Upon awakening, he sees the flame of Gehenna fire, the Lake of Fire, which is about to consume him, filling him with terror and torment, both physical and mental, as he realizes his impending doom. He begs for relief, but his fate is sealed, and he must reap the death he sowed. A great gulf separates him from the righteous, who possess immortality and cannot be touched by the fire, while the wicked, still physical, are subject to destruction by the flames that will devour their bodies after a time of anguish. In his final moments, the rich man expresses concern for his brothers, hoping they might be warned, but he is told that if they do not heed the Scriptures, even a resurrection would not persuade them. The fate of the wicked culminates in being burned up completely, reduced to ashes and smoke, with the fire being unquenchable until it has consumed everything.