“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels,'” (Matthew 25:41).

The phrase “eternal fire” only occurs three times in the entire New Testament.  The other two occurrences are…

• “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire,” (Matthew 18:8).
• “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire,” (Jude 7).

In light of annihilationism, Matthew 25:41 is where Jesus tells us that the fire “which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” is eternal.  This is important because

We see that this fire has been prepared for the devil and his angels. Now, since Jesus said that angels don’t die (Luke 20:36), then logically they will be consciously tormented forever in eternal fire.

• “for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection,” (Luke 20:36).

Furthermore, Matthew 25:41 coupled with other verses presents an even bigger challenge to annihilationism.

• “And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone,” (Rev. 19:20).
• “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever,” (Rev. 20:10).
• “Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name,” (Rev. 14:11).

Conclusion

What we see here in these Scriptures is that the angels don’t die (Luke 20:36), that the devil and his angels will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10), that this fire is eternal (Matt. 25:41), and that they will be joined by the beast, the false prophet, and those who worshipped them (Rev. 19:20; 20:11). So, if the angels don’t die and are cast into the eternal fire along with the wicked people, then the implication is that they all suffer forever.

As unpleasant as it is, this does seem to be what the Bible teaches given the Scriptures listed above.  I take no pleasure in affirming this doctrine. But my preferences and desires have no bearing on truth. If the Scriptures teach what they do, then I must stand on the truth is revealed within them. So should we all.