Everlasting Meaning Forever-or Not: If the term "everlasting" is the same word used in the verse about everlasting life and everlasting punishment, how can the meaning be different in one case, and not the other? [Matthew 25:46]. The Meaning of Everlasting: Does it not detract from the meaning of our insight into eternity to have the meaning questioned? [Matthew 25:46, Ezekiel 18:4, Ecclesiastes 12:7].