What is Hell ? A small study help
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"Apollymi" can be used for both. If eternal torment is true, then there is no guarantee that the wicked cannot escape the Lake of Fire. Another interesting word is the word "aion(ious)", which can mean "eternal" or "eternity" like in Matthew 25:46, but not always, like in Matthew 24:3. This word is not the clearest one that can be translated as "eternal", "always" or "forever". "pantote" which is used in Verses like Philippians 4:4 is even clearer.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I am very familiar with "aion" and "aionios," as I have studied them many times. It can mean a cycle of time, an age or never ending and having no beginning or ending. Below is an example of the word "aion" defined as "having no beginning or ending."
"Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven. And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: “There will be no more delay!"
In the scripture above the word "aion" is translated forever and ever. And because it is referring to God who lives for aion and aion, then because God has no beginning or ending, the word must then be defined as such. Consider the following:
"And they (wicked) will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Aionios is an adjective derived from aion and translated in the verse above as "eternal." Therefore, since aionios is used for both the wicked and the righteous it must retain the same meaning for both. That said, since we know that eternal (aionios) life for the righteous is defined as never ending life in the joy of the Lord, then eternal (aionios) punishment must also be never ending in separation from God in the lake of fire. You can't have the word aionios meaning annihilation for the wicked and never ending for the righteous. Both uses must retain the same meaning.
Why do you continue to resist the truth instead of learning from what is being shared with you. This all comes from many years of study.
Yes, I am very familiar with "aion" and "aionios," as I have studied them many times. It can mean a cycle of time, an age or never ending and having no beginning or ending. Below is an example of the word "aion" defined as "having no beginning or ending."
"Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven. And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: “There will be no more delay!"
In the scripture above the word "aion" is translated forever and ever. And because it is referring to God who lives for aion and aion, then because God has no beginning or ending, the word must then be defined as such. Consider the following:
"And they (wicked) will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Aionios is an adjective derived from aion and translated in the verse above as "eternal." Therefore, since aionios is used for both the wicked and the righteous it must retain the same meaning for both. That said, since we know that eternal (aionios) life for the righteous is defined as never ending life in the joy of the Lord, then eternal (aionios) punishment must also be never ending in separation from God in the lake of fire. You can't have the word aionios meaning annihilation for the wicked and never ending for the righteous. Both uses must retain the same meaning.
Why do you continue to resist the truth instead of learning from what is being shared with you. This all comes from many years of study.
What makes you so sure that conditional immortality is not eternal punishment? Yes, I agree that eternal punishment is eternal separation, but God is omnipresent, so literal destruction is the only way.
You say you studied many years, others who came to other conclusions may say the same. The eternal judgement (Hebrews 6:1), will it be ongoing forever? Or will it be finished sooner or later and the results are eternal?
I won't deny that "aionious" means "eternal" in both cases in Matthew 25:46. That however does not mean it was the right translation in EVERY case. As an example it is often said that Jesus' kingdom is forever, yet in 1 Corinthians 15:24 we read "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power." And let us read Matthew 24.3, which says "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (aion)?" Here "the end of eternity"obviously would have been a bad translation.
You say you studied many years, others who came to other conclusions may say the same. The eternal judgement (Hebrews 6:1), will it be ongoing forever? Or will it be finished sooner or later and the results are eternal?
I won't deny that "aionious" means "eternal" in both cases in Matthew 25:46. That however does not mean it was the right translation in EVERY case. As an example it is often said that Jesus' kingdom is forever, yet in 1 Corinthians 15:24 we read "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power." And let us read Matthew 24.3, which says "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (aion)?" Here "the end of eternity"obviously would have been a bad translation.
Also, regarding eternal life: nearly all of us believe that once we are in "heaven" we cannot get kicked out - even if they believe that we can lose our salvation BEFORE we die (which I do). Yet, even that is problematic. Lucifer already was in heaven when he got kicked out. And we know God does not change.
So, why does God being omnipresent mean that destruction has to mean annihilation. That doesn't make any sense. As I said in previous posts, the words apoleia and apollumi are defined as not implying annihilation or extinction. So why do you keep using the word destruction to mean that?
Unfortunately, there are many who have adopted the teachings of false teachers, which is why the word of God is being distorted on ever subject in these last days.
If you've got one scripture that states that aion for both the wicked and the righteous as being defined as never ending, why would you think that it could be different somewhere else? You can't have one scripture stating never ending punishment and then annihilation in some other scripture.
"For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death."
"Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire." - Rev.20:14
The end when Jesus will deliver up the kingdom of God after He has put down all rule and all authority, takes place when death is destroyed, which takes place at the great white throne judgment as revealed in Rev.20:14. But what does this have to do with the eternal punishment of the wicked?
In the case of the "end of the age" aion should be defined as meaning a age. Since we know that this current age is going to come to an end and that there will be a millennial kingdom to follow, then we know that aion is not referring to never ending, but to an age. The context will bare out the meaning of the word. Just because aion is used here representing an age, doesn't mean that this meaning should be applied as the same everywhere the word appears in scripture.
Unfortunately, there are many who have adopted the teachings of false teachers, which is why the word of God is being distorted on ever subject in these last days.
If you've got one scripture that states that aion for both the wicked and the righteous as being defined as never ending, why would you think that it could be different somewhere else? You can't have one scripture stating never ending punishment and then annihilation in some other scripture.
"For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death."
"Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire." - Rev.20:14
The end when Jesus will deliver up the kingdom of God after He has put down all rule and all authority, takes place when death is destroyed, which takes place at the great white throne judgment as revealed in Rev.20:14. But what does this have to do with the eternal punishment of the wicked?
In the case of the "end of the age" aion should be defined as meaning a age. Since we know that this current age is going to come to an end and that there will be a millennial kingdom to follow, then we know that aion is not referring to never ending, but to an age. The context will bare out the meaning of the word. Just because aion is used here representing an age, doesn't mean that this meaning should be applied as the same everywhere the word appears in scripture.
There will be no one kicked out of heaven. Anyone who is an unbeliever or a believer who has turned away from faith (complete apostacy) they will never even enter into heaven.
As far as Lucifer, though his fate is sealed, he and his angels still have access to heaven. In the middle of the seven years, there will be a war in heaven between Michael and his angels, against Satan and his, but they will not will not be strong enough and will be thrown out of heaven for good. This is in fact the results of the 7th trumpet and the third woe. 3 1/2 years later they will be thrown into the Abyss for a thousand years.
Everything that God does is a legal process. Satan being cast out of heaven is apart of that process. Likewise, the great white throne judgment will be a legal process.
As far as Lucifer, though his fate is sealed, he and his angels still have access to heaven. In the middle of the seven years, there will be a war in heaven between Michael and his angels, against Satan and his, but they will not will not be strong enough and will be thrown out of heaven for good. This is in fact the results of the 7th trumpet and the third woe. 3 1/2 years later they will be thrown into the Abyss for a thousand years.
Everything that God does is a legal process. Satan being cast out of heaven is apart of that process. Likewise, the great white throne judgment will be a legal process.
Though God is omnipresent it is the wicked who will be shut out of His presence, not God shut out of their presence. In other words, God knows everything that is going on in His creation, but the wicked will be shut out of His presence. I would also add that God states that He takes no pleasure in the death (ruin) of the wicked. However, God has set the standard of punishment for sin against Him and will not deviate from that. Yet at the same time, He desires all people to accept His provision for salvation through faith in His Son. If they don't do that, then He will enforce the punishment.
"Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?'
"Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?'
God's wrath is not poured out on mankind but upon sin. Those who refuse to forsake sin and cleave to Christ suffer the eternal punishment that God puts on sin. You do not know Gods nature and only mock Him with your accusations. I need not judge but you have better consider how God has judged you.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
For the cause of Christ
Roger