Hi WS,
I agree with you that we have to be consistent. If owlam and aionios meant eternal then it means eternal both ways and if not then it is not eternal both ways. However, I disagree with the conclusion you've drawn, that being that if the torment isn't forever then neither is the kingdom. I submit that owlam and aionios do not mean eternal, however, that doesn't mean that the believer doesn't have eternal life. You see, we don't need to use the words owlam or aionios life to show that the believer lives forever. So even though aionios doesn't mean forever, we know the believer will live forever because of statements in the Scriptures such as Jesus' words in Luke.
34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
(Luk 20:34-36 KJV)
According to Jesus the children of the resurrection die no more. That is eternal life, they die no more. So, we don't need aionios to mean eternal to show that believers have eternal life.
I agree with you that we have to be consistent. If owlam and aionios meant eternal then it means eternal both ways and if not then it is not eternal both ways. However, I disagree with the conclusion you've drawn, that being that if the torment isn't forever then neither is the kingdom. I submit that owlam and aionios do not mean eternal, however, that doesn't mean that the believer doesn't have eternal life. You see, we don't need to use the words owlam or aionios life to show that the believer lives forever. So even though aionios doesn't mean forever, we know the believer will live forever because of statements in the Scriptures such as Jesus' words in Luke.
34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
(Luk 20:34-36 KJV)
According to Jesus the children of the resurrection die no more. That is eternal life, they die no more. So, we don't need aionios to mean eternal to show that believers have eternal life.