Q: Isn’t the “life eternal” of the “righteous” sheep contrasted here with the “everlasting punishment” of the goats?  How can “everlasting punishment” not be everlasting?

A: First, one must understand that the word in the Greek which has been ‘translated’ as “eternal” and “everlasting” is “aionian,” and literally means “of or belonging to an age” (Companion Bible, appendix 151, pp 174). Young’s Literal Translation renders it “age-lasting,” while Rotherham in his translation uses “age-abiding.”

Even from the context of this passage, this truth can be seen. Jesus says in v.31 ff, “When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations…”

The place is upon the earth before the glory throne of Christ at the beginning of the Millennium. The nations who are alive after the days of the tribulation are before Him. Notice, they have not been resurrected. They are judged only as how they treated Christ’s brethren, the faithful Israelites, during those terrible days. 

And, we know the “sheep” will inherit “the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” vs.34. This is the Messianic kingdom lasting 1000 years.

The “goats” when judged, will either die then, or when thrown into the fire prepared for the devil and his angels, which is the lake of fire. They are human beings. They cannot live in a lake of fire. But, this is not their end. They will be resurrected to be judged for all their deeds before Christ on the great white throne.   And of all the dead being judged, those whose names are not written in the book of life, will be cast into the lake of fire which is the second death.