Many people of all denominations are beginning to believe that Hell does not exist - but the Bible supports the claim that it does. Examine this verse, one under NKJV and the other NWT:
NKJV - Matthew 25:46, "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
NWT - Matthew 25:46, "These will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life."
So you can see off the bat that there is a difference - but first, before we look at "punishment" and "cutting-off", let's look at the Greek word for "everlasting/eternal". This Greek word is "aoinion". This word literally means just that - everlasting or eternal. Where else are do we see it used?
1 Peter 5:10, "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you."
The word "eternal" here is that very same Greek word. So, unless you are willing to argue God's (Jehovah) glory is not eternal, indicating that there was once a time when our God (specifically, Jehovah) was not glorious, we have to accept that the word literally means "eternal". (Yes, I know the Greek word used here is "Theos" which is used to describe Jesus/ the Wordin John 1:1, However, if you examine Hebrews 1:1, you will see that Jehovah is titled "Theos" as well. Hebrews 1:1
NWT - Hebrews 1:1 "Long ago God (Theos) spoke to our forefathers by means of the prophets on many occasions and in many ways."
They then cite many Old Testament verses of (specifically) Jehovah speaking to prophets. Verses they list are Exodus 24:3, Numbers 12:8, and Jeremiah 7:25 - clearly indicating that "Theos" can be used for "Jehovah".This being said, it is entirely just to make this argument regarding Jehovah's glory being eternal).
So, having established the true meaning of the word eternal/everlasting in these verses, let's move on to the bigger difference between NKJV and NWT. The word that the NWT uses for "cutting-off" and the NKJV uses for "punishment" is the word "kolasin". The world literally translates to "punishment, torment". Nowhere does this word have the meaning, "cutting-off". Watchtower says for this word in Matthew 25:46, "That is, from life. Lit., "lopping off; pruning." This is flat out WRONG and dishonest. EXAMINE this verse under two different translations:
NWT - 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts fear out, because fear *restrains us* (kolasin). Indeed, the one who is fearful has not been made perfect in love."
NKJV - 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves *torment* (kolasin). But he who fears has not been made perfect in love".
Now, what I don't see is the NWT being consistent in their translations (more like interpretations!) and saying, "... because fear prunes us" or "... because fear lops us off". That is because fear torments us. I wouldn't even argue that fear cuts us off - indeed it does hold us back and restrains us from fully receiving all that God has for us - but that isn't what this verse is saying! It is saying that fear kolasin us! It torments us!
If we now go back to Matthew 25:46, and read it with this understanding, that there are some who will go into kolasin aionion, that is eternal (like God's glory) punishment (or even torment), then we have here grounds for a Biblical argument, Biblical evidence, and a Biblical basis for the existence of an eternal, conscious Hell.