Do those condemned to hell suffer forever?

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Apr 23, 2024
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#61

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
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Australia
#62
He always made it clear that those in hell are tormented in the fire, day and night for ever and ever. "
The term forever isn't used correctly today. A better way of saying it today would be "while time persists."

In Jonah 2:6, “forever” means “three days and nights.” (See also Jonah 1:17.)

In Deuteronomy 23:3, “forever” means 10 generations. It can also mean “as long as he lives,” or “to death.” (See 1 Samuel 1:22, 28; Exodus 21:6; Psalm 48:14.) So, the wicked will burn in the fire as long as they live, or until death. This fiery consequence of sin will vary according to the degree of sins for each individual, but after the punishment, the fire will go out.

The teaching of eternal torment has done more to drive people to atheism and insanity than any other invention of the devil.

Like the example of Sodom. it is not burning today.

Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

When we are dead time does not exist.
When we die "forever" no longer exists.
Forever and eternity is only relivant while we can comprehend time.

The dead know nothing.

So death may last forever but the Flames will only last as long as the punishment needs to. Pain and punishment only lasts as long as life lasts.

Ever = aion
for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity, the worlds, universe, period of time, age

If you apply eternal time to every use of the word you can get corrupted views.

God is Just.
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,925
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#63
God is life.
All life comes from God.

Will God continue to give life to people in burning flames for ever and ever and ever.

God said that after the second death, there will be no more sorrow or pain. No more death or suffering.

God is just and loving, God is merciful and the teaching of a God that gives life to people for ever so that they can suffer is not the type of God I know.
 
Apr 23, 2024
17
5
3
#64
God is life.
All life comes from God.

Will God continue to give life to people in burning flames for ever and ever and ever.

God said that after the second death, there will be no more sorrow or pain. No more death or suffering.

God is just and loving, God is merciful and the teaching of a God that gives life to people for ever so that they can suffer is not the type of God I know.
God wouldn't enjoy making men eternal to suffer forever because the body and soul of a wicked man is destroyed in the lake of fire, however the evil triad ie the devil or the dragon, the false prophet and the antichrist are tormented forever and it's as literal as that
 

2ndTimeIsTheCharm

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2023
1,932
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#65
God wouldn't enjoy making men eternal to suffer forever because the body and soul of a wicked man is destroyed in the lake of fire, however the evil triad ie the devil or the dragon, the false prophet and the antichrist are tormented forever and it's as literal as that

Yes, the body of the ungodly is destroyed (broken), present but non-functional and painful. Also their soul lives on in anguish (weeping and gnashing of teeth). So the ungodly suffers for the rest of eternity. This is why servants of God have been preaching the gospel for all these centuries so people can avoid receiving this eternal punishment.

God is life.
All life comes from God.

Will God continue to give life to people in burning flames for ever and ever and ever.

God said that after the second death, there will be no more sorrow or pain. No more death or suffering.

God is just and loving, God is merciful and the teaching of a God that gives life to people for ever so that they can suffer is not the type of God I know.
Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

God said that there will be no more sorrow or pain for his people. No more death or suffering for them. He wasn't talking about doing this for the people who rejected Him. The people who reject Him will still have their sin nature and continue to sin.

God is loving, but He is also just. That's He provided a way to be rescued from that punishment. And that is to receive His offer of salvation. This is the reason why we need to spread the gospel all the more.

Also when God said forever, He really did mean forever, not just for an age, but on-going for the rest of eternity. When God breathed life into us, that life doesn't die, but will remain conscious forever. The second death is permanent separation from God, not being winked out of existence.


I will share a link to the some of the answers I received from Bible hermeneutics stack exchange and there seems to be an answer that says that men will perish but the evil triad ie the devil, the false prophet and the antichrist will suffer forever together with fallen angels
He sees a distinction of the triad from normal ungodly people but actually they all have the same fate. It's just the three were cast in the lake of fire without having to go the extra step of dying.

There are other articles that talk about eternal punishment being exactly what it is for all ungodly:

1. Annihilation or Eternal Punishment?

2. Is hell real? Is hell eternal?

3. Will Hell Really Last Forever?

4. Hell as Endless Punishment

The fact that the false teaching that eternal conscious punishment isn't really eternal (really?!??) is gaining more popularity, the end times really are fast approaching.


🐹
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
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Australia
#66
God wouldn't enjoy making men eternal to suffer forever because the body and soul of a wicked man is destroyed in the lake of fire, however the evil triad ie the devil or the dragon, the false prophet and the antichrist are tormented forever and it's as literal as that
Why does God continually give life to the triad above?
Why would God give them eternal life?
God can stop giving them life when justice is served. God is Just. Justice will be served. Eternal suffering is not equal or just.
 

2ndTimeIsTheCharm

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2023
1,932
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#67
Why does God continually give life to the triad above?
Why would God give them eternal life?
God can stop giving them life when justice is served. God is Just. Justice will be served. Eternal suffering is not equal or just.
Tell God that if you think He's being unfair. This is His creation and His rules. We just live in it. Not believing what He means doesn't change His mind. So we need to accept that about His nature, even though it's a hard fact about God.

So it IS really terrible to end up in hell. This is why we need to spread the gospel as accurately and as completely as we can so that people will have a truly saving knowledge of the gift He offers and be saved.


🐹
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
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Almost Heaven West Virginia
#68
God wouldn't enjoy making men eternal to suffer forever because the body and soul of a wicked man is destroyed in the lake of fire, however the evil triad ie the devil or the dragon, the false prophet and the antichrist are tormented forever and it's as literal as that
Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death
Revelation 20:14 and 21:8

8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

"Shall have their part" doesn't sound like annihilation to me friend.
 

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
5,020
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#69
Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death
Revelation 20:14 and 21:8

8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

"Shall have their part" doesn't sound like annihilation to me friend.
It does sound like annihilation to me friend. and it is in harmony with this annihilation scripture:

Psalms 37:20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,925
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Australia
#70
If God is Just.

How is eternal suffering equal justice for a time of sin.

70 years of sinful deeds does not equal eternal suffering.

I trust God to bring justice, and I trust God to be fair, equitable, unbiased, impartial and Just.

Sin is not immortalized.
Sin is forever destroyed..

The second death is the end of sin and death.
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
2,843
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#71
If God is Just.

How is eternal suffering equal justice for a time of sin.

70 years of sinful deeds does not equal eternal suffering.

I trust God to bring justice, and I trust God to be fair, equitable, unbiased, impartial and Just.

Sin is not immortalized.
Sin is forever destroyed..

The second death is the end of sin and death.
Or, imagine a unbeliever dying just into adulthood, maybe 21 years old. The eternal conscious torment crowd would have us believe that God gives this person life after death so that they may suffer for all eternity. Somehow that is just.

Ironically, as much as the Evangelical church labors to distance themselves from Roman Catholicism, the ECT doctrine was first embraced by the church in Rome. No doubt they raked in large sums of money threatening unbelievers with a fiery life.

Quite simply, the attending standard of the Age to come is “God is all in all”. With ECT, God exists within the forever-burning demons and unbelievers. If a person knows God then they know such a reality is impossible.
 

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
5,020
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#72
Ironically, as much as the Evangelical church labors to distance themselves from Roman Catholicism, the ECT doctrine was first embraced by the church in Rome. No doubt they raked in large sums of money threatening unbelievers with a fiery life.

True.

1/6 of the Early churches' theological schools taught eternal torment, ROME, where the birth of the Catholic church and Jesuits originated from. Rome is well known for paganism, perversions and heresies and the labeling of true doctrines as heresies. They are responsible for a massive number of Christian murders and torturing (no wonder they like doctrines that teach about torture).

4/6 of the Early churches' theological schools taught Universalism, Alexandria, Antioch, Caesarea and Edessa/Nisbis.


1/6 of the Early churches' theological schools taught eternal Annihilation, Ephesus.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,166
29,467
113
#73
The term forever isn't used correctly today. A better way of saying it today would be "while time persists."

In Jonah 2:6, “forever” means “three days and nights.” (See also Jonah 1:17.)

In Deuteronomy 23:3, “forever” means 10 generations. It can also mean “as long as he lives,” or “to death.” (See 1 Samuel 1:22, 28; Exodus 21:6; Psalm 48:14.) So, the wicked will burn in the fire as long as they live, or until death. This fiery consequence of sin will vary according to the degree of sins for each individual, but after the punishment, the fire will go out.

The teaching of eternal torment has done more to drive people to atheism and insanity than any other invention of the devil.

Like the example of Sodom. it is not burning today.

Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

When we are dead time does not exist.
When we die "forever" no longer exists.
Forever and eternity is only relivant while we can comprehend time.

The dead know nothing.

So death may last forever but the Flames will only last as long as the punishment needs to. Pain and punishment only lasts as long as life lasts.

Ever = aion
for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity, the worlds, universe, period of time, age

If you apply eternal time to every use of the word you can get corrupted views.

God is Just.

Forever/Eon
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,166
29,467
113
#74
If God is Just.
How is eternal suffering equal justice for a time of sin.
70 years of sinful deeds does not equal eternal suffering.
I trust God to bring justice, and I trust God to be fair, equitable, unbiased, impartial and Just.

Sin is not immortalized.
Sin is forever destroyed..

The second death is the end of sin and death.
So true. When Adam and Eve sinned, God made sure they could not live forever in that sinful state. He told Adam he would surely die if he ate of the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was Satan who deceived Eve with the lie that they would not surely die. Now we have the majority of Christendom repeating the lie at the heart of the fall of man and corruption of all creation.
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
7,159
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#75
So true. When Adam and Eve sinned, God made sure they could not live forever in that sinful state. He told Adam he would surely die if he ate of the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was Satan who deceived Eve with the lie that they would not surely die. Now we have the majority of Christendom repeating the lie at the heart of the fall of man and corruption of all creation.
And we have many that aspire to "rule in hell."
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,166
29,467
113
#76
And we have many that aspire to "rule in hell."
I am not sure what you mean by this, or of whom you speak .:unsure:.
But we have Christians saying also that the soul of man is immortal, when Scripture explicitly
states that God alone is immortal. Some even say that death is not punishment, or anything to
fear, and both of those arguments also go directly against what Scripture explicitly states.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,166
29,467
113
#77
God is life. All life comes from God.
Will God continue to give life to people in burning flames for ever and ever and ever.
God said that after the second death, there will be no more sorrow or pain. No more death or suffering.
God is just and loving, God is merciful and the teaching of a God that gives
life to people for ever so that they can suffer is not the type of God I know.
Amen! Christianity 101 = all life is in the Son. Those not found in Him at the end of this age
following the resurrection and judgment of all pass into the second death. Death is not life.



John 3:16
:)
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
7,159
2,174
113
#78
I am not sure what you mean by this, or of whom you speak .:unsure:.
But we have Christians saying also that the soul of man is immortal, when Scripture explicitly
states that God alone is immortal. Some even say that death is not punishment, or anything to
fear, and both of those arguments also go directly against what Scripture explicitly states.
It is not that a Christian will adopt this attitude, but I was thinking of the old saying that goes something like, "it is better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven," which is probably the more common general consensus among the nonreligious.
Life would seem most obviously the better choice among those God sets before us, "I set before you, life and death" and God even offers a recommendation of the choice that we should make, "Choose life." But we can see the extent of any person's insanity when they choose to hold on to the very last bit of that 'rule' offered them, however miniscule the extent of that rule amounts to, that they would rather actively choose death than passively take hold of life.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,166
29,467
113
#79
It is not that a Christian will adopt this attitude, but I was thinking of the old saying that goes something like, "it is better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven," which is probably the more common general consensus among the nonreligious.
Life would seem most obviously the better choice among those God sets before us, "I set before you, life and death" and God even offers a recommendation of the choice that we should make, "Choose life." But we can see the extent of any person's insanity when they choose to hold on to the very last bit of that 'rule' offered them, however miniscule the extent of that rule amounts to, that they would rather actively choose death than passively take hold of life.
Yes, I see what you mean now, and this insanity was pretty much perfectly presented in the 2011
movie called
The Sunset Limited (<= link to imdb) starring Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee
Jones. TLJ, the atheist, would rather kill himself than change his beliefs around God. Atheists are
full of bluff and bluster, and believing all they say would be foolish LOL but still, we do know that
the humility required to lay down our natural inclination to disbelieve is rewarded with God's grace.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,166
29,467
113
#80
It does sound like annihilation to me friend. and it is in harmony with this annihilation scripture:

Psalms 37:20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be
as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

Proverbs 10:25~ When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
:)