.……..when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; II Thessalonians 1:7b – 9
The Greek word translated destruction in II Thessalonians 1:9 is olethros (the noun form). This word means destruction or ruin. [1] More light can be shed on the meaning of this word by examining how it is used elsewhere in Scripture.
This Greek word olethros is used in I Corinthians 5:5 in reference to an erring believer: To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Here it is used of the effect upon the physical condition of an erring believer for the purpose of his spiritual profit. [2]
Olethros is also used in I Timothy 6:9. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. Here destruction is used of the indulgences of the flesh, referring to physical ruin. [3]
The Greek word translated perdition above is apoleia. It reinforces the meaning of ruin. This word is related to the verb form apollumi (see below): and likewise indicates “loss of well being, not of being“, it is used (a) of things, signifying their waste, or ruin; of ointment, Matt 26:8; of money, Acts 8:20 (“perish“); (b) of persons, signifying their spiritual and eternal perdition, Matt 7:13; John 17:12; II Thess. 2:3; where son of perdition signifies the the proper destiny of the person mentioned;………of false teachers, II Peter 2:1, 3; of ungodly men, 3:7; of those who wrest the Scriptures, 3:16; of the Beast, the final head of the revived Roman Empire, Rev. 17:8, 11; (c) of impersonal subjects, as heresies, II Peter 2:1, where “destructive heresies” (RV; KJV, “damnable“) is, lit., heresies of destruction (marg., “sects of perdition“). [4]
The verb form of olethros is ollumi. The strengthened form of this word is apollumi which means to destroy utterly or to perish. The idea is not extinction but ruin, loss, not of being, but of well being. This is clear from its use, as, e.g., of the marring of wine skins, Luke 5:37; of lost sheep, i.e., lost to the shepherd, metaphorical of spiritual destitution, Luke 15:4,6, etc.; the lost son, 15:24; of the perishing of food (meat), John 6:27; of gold, I Peter 1:7. [5]
As you can see the word olethros and translated as destruction, lost, waste or perish elsewhere in Scripture, does not mean extinction, annihilation, or loss of being. The use of this word in the New Testament consistently conveys the meaning of ruin or the loss of well being. [6]
…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Copyright 1984, 1996, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN