Eternal death could never be a punishment. Punishment cannot be applied on unconsciousness. To be punished,
one must be conscious and there is no consciousness in the grave.
Ben, got to disagree here. Says here that death is a punishment:
1 Samuel 28:9-10 KJV
And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? [10] And Saul sware to her by the Lord , saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
And here:
Hebrews 10:28-29 KJV
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: [29] Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
It looks to me that whomever wrote that thought that death is a punishment. What do you think?
If one believes in a resurrection then that first death is not an eternal punishment.... Because it doesn't stick. They come back. When they die and there is NO coming back, then it's an eternal punishment.