You illustrate the need to harmonize GW, which says both that hell is forever and God is just.
The harmonization is that suffering in hell lasts until justice is achieved, after which souls are destroyed forever.
Quit ignoring the actual words of Scriptures I cited that indicate degrees of punishment involve time rather than heat. Souls will reap what they sow (Rom. 2:6), perhaps experiencing the agony they caused on earth in accordance with the principal of “eye for eye” (
Matt. 5:38), after which their souls are destroyed forever (per
John 17:12,
Rom. 9:22,
Gal. 6:8,
Phil. 3:19,
2Thes. 1:9,
2Pet. 3:7 &
Rev. 20:13-14).
What passage says hell is temporary. I gave you passages that state rewards in heaven last exactly as long as punishment in hell. God's word says different "degrees" of punishment are dealt out, but that it lasts forever. I get that you say something different.
Joh. 17:12 Is about Jesus only losing Judas out of all the disciples. What does that have to do with anything?
Mat. 5:38 This is about the Old Testament practice of an eye for an eye, vs. the N.T. difference. This is not about hell being temporary.
Rom. 9:22 ALL of
Romans 9-11, including ALL the illustrations, illustrate how God can set aside His "First Born" Nation of Israel (For the time being) and be working with the Gentiles right now. That's it. That's what God says He is illustrating. It has nothing at all to do with eternal salvation. It has nothing at all to do with eternity in hell or eternity in heaven.
Gal. 6:8 Again, there is nothing at all here about rewards in heaven and punishment in hell being temporary. Yes, by their "Fruits" we will know them.
Phil. 3:18-19 Is about false believers whose fruits reveal them. Again, where is the passage that revokes the other passages stating both rewards in heaven and punishment in hell is temporary. Where is the passage? I shared the ones that contradict that view, and you didn't deal with those at all.
2Th. 1:9 Yes. Exactly. "Eternal", ongoing, never ceasing, forever being destroyed. Not for a time and it stops. It's ongoing, eternal. Exactly that long. "Eternity" away from the presence of the Lord. Eternity away from the glory of His power. if it wasn't ongoing, ... for eternity, it would read, "These will pay the penalty of destruction. i.e. once and done.
2Pe. 3:7 When there are a number of passages describing the exact same thing, they have an adjectival effect on each other. A vehicle, in one. a red vehicle in another, a red vehicle with 18 tires. A red vehicle with 18 tires and an extension ladder and lots of hoses. These are not independent, we can leave out all the other information form the rest of the scriptures on the topic, stand-alone statements. I know you would LOVE to have this be the only passage. But look at how long this destruction and separation from God lasts in the previous passage you brought up.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Absolutely. Every last one of them is in the lake of fire forever. The "degrees" of the severity of their agony is determined in accordance with their deeds, and their knowledge. We agree oni differences in "severity". Where we disagree is where, in "almost" all passages on the topic, it says this ongoing destruction, punishment, ... lasts for eternity ... ongoing ... forever and ever. What do you do with punishment in hell and rewards in heaven lasting for eternity? The only way to come to your conclusion is to use an Exacto Knife and cut out the words with regards to "Eternal" punishment, Eternity away from God, Eternal destruction, ... the actual wording is eons upon eons, time upon time everlasting.
