In the first part I began to explain the
grounds by which I reject the notion of an eternal hell where the wicked suffer
without end for all time. In this post I would like to share some of those passages which are commonly brought
forward to defend eternal torment and offer my perspective on where such
interpretation fails the test. It is not
my intent to unveil every passage on the subject. For those interested in a more comprehensive
treatment, I would highly suggest The
Fire That Consumes or Hell, A Final
Word by Edward Fudge, The Unspeakable
Gift by J.H. Pettingell or After the
Verdict by H.L. Hastings
We must agree at the outset that for
language to have any value, words must mean what they mean in their plain
sense. For example, if we are discussing
a lovely day and I say, ‘look how bright the sun is shining’, we would understand that I am referring to the
bright, hot sphere around which our planet orbits. There is no ambiguity of what is being said
and to change the meaning of my words without cause is unwarranted and
indefensible. If you can agree with me
on this, then I invite you to continue reading.
Some of the most common words/terms used
in the Scripture to speak of the destiny of the lost are 'destroy(ed)', 'perish', 'come to an end', 'come to nothing', 'cease'. These
words, in the plain nature of their meaning, convey one and the same sense- the
utter and complete end of those apart from God.
Nowhere do they mean, nor can they be made to mean, ‘linger forever in conscious
torment’.
In speaking of the enemies of God who come
against Jerusalem, the prophet says, “For the ruthless shall come to nothing and the scoffer cease, and all who watch to do evil
shall be cut off…”(Isaiah 29:20esv)
Three different descriptions in one verse which leave no doubt that the
wicked will not remain.
In the New Testament, from the mouth of
the Lord Jesus, is pledged not an eternity of conscious torment, but complete
destruction. He says, “…do not
fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell [literally
‘Gehenna’].” (Matthew 10:28esv) I was
raised on the notion of the everlasting torment of the lost and it was this verse
that set me on my path to discovering Conditionalism. The image Jesus used for this final
punishment was ‘Gehenna’ (the valley of Hinnom), a garbage dump outside of the
city of Jerusalem where the refuse was thrown to be eaten by worms and burned
with fire. The word ‘destroy’ is apollumi and,
contrary to those who would try to change the meaning of the word, it means
utter, irreversible destruction. Things
which went into the dump, didn't linger forever and they never came back.
Okay, you ask, what of the passages which seem to teach
this never-ending torment? Let me share just a few.
In several places the phrase ‘eternal fire’ is used. For example: “And if your hand or your foot
causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter
life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.” (Matthew 18:8esv) or “…just
as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in
sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by
undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.”
(Jude 7esv). Surely this settles the matter-
the wicked face an eternity in fire. Except
that’s not what the passages say or mean.
It should be obvious that it is the fire which is ‘eternal’ not the
punishment of those cast into the fire.
Sodom and Gomorrah are not still burning are they?
But doesn't an eternal fire necessitate that there should
be something in the fire eternally? And
isn't this therefore what the images of the undying worm and the unquenchable
fire signify? First we must discover the
meaning of the word ‘eternal’. We assume
it to mean ‘forever and ever’, however the Greek word for ‘eternal’ (ainos) does not always mean eternality
in quantity, but eternality in quality.
It is not the fire itself which is eternal, but the effect which the
fire produces, total destruction, which is eternal. When Jesus refers to the worm and fire (Mark
9:48), He does so in allusion to Isaiah 66:24 which speaks of the final
destruction of God’s enemies: “And they shall go out and look on the dead
bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall
not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”esv See how that verse begins- “…they shall go
out and look on the dead bodies…” Not living, tormented souls, but dead
things upon which worms feed and fire consumes.
The choice becomes permanent; the penalty is irreversible; the effects
are everlasting.
Okay, what about Revelation 14:10: “…he [anyone receiving
the mark of the beast] also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full
strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and
sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.” Well that seems pretty straightforward- “tormented
with fire and sulfur.” Just a moment; a
couple questions. First, who is to be
tormented? Those who receive the mark of
the beast. Regardless of how you
interpret Revelation, it should certainly be agreed that there is a very large
segment of the unbelieving human population who has lived and died prior to the
events depicted in this verse, so to make this a blanket statement about all the wicked cannot be justified. If it could, it still wouldn't make the case,
for it says nothing about an everlasting
torment. Conditionalism does not dispute
the notion that those placed under God’s wrath will suffer; but rather that
they will not suffer without end.
Wait! You need to go to Revelation 14:11- “And the
smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or
night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the
mark of its name.” Let’s be sure
we understand what is being described here.
First, judgment is an inevitable result of the persistent and deliberate
rejection of the Lamb in favor of the beast and this particular judgment is
upon those who have sided with the beast.
Additionally, please see that it is the results of the judgment and not
the torment itself which is eternal: “…the
smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever…” The image of ‘no rest’ is not to communicate
eternal torment but is to draw the contrast between the saved and the lost out to its fullest. For those redeemed
by Jesus, there is a future ‘rest’, a welcome into the peaceful Kingdom of
God. For the wicked, there is ‘no rest’,
not meaning that they remain in an active state, but rather the pledge that
there is no eternal Kingdom waiting for them.
What of Revelation 20:10: “…and the devil who had
deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and
the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and
ever.” We concede no ground here, as the
context is abundantly clear that this judgment is for the sinister agents of
evil, satan, the beast and the false prophet.
And while unredeemed humanity is also thrown into the Lake of Fire, nowhere
is it said, nor can it be postulated that their torment is forever.
Consider, as I wrap this section up, how Revelation 21 can
make any possible sense in the light of the never ending torment of the wicked.
The Apostle writes in Revelation 21:4 that God will “will
wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall
there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore…”
This blessing applies to the redeemed.
If the text ended there it could be postulated that the wicked remain to
endure in mourning, crying and pain, but the text does not leave it there; it continues,
“…for the former things have passed away.”
What are the former things if not everything belonging to the age prior
to the coming of Christ and the establishing of God’s perfect Kingdom? That word ‘eternal’ can also mean ‘age’ or ‘ages’. The place of punishment, the Lake of Fire,
belongs to this first age of ‘former things’ and will exist only as long as the
age to which it belongs and no longer.
The worm and fire will do their work until the last scrap is consumed
and then comes the promise of God, Who is “making all things new.” (Revelation
21:5). What does ‘all things’ refer
to? No one would say that God makes sin
new, would they? The notion of eternal
torment must of necessity believe that there will be a place where ‘old things’
survive; unless we are to actually believe that God plans on making a ‘new
hell’ and also makes new those who inhabit that place. This is a plainly ridiculous notion is it
not?
When the wicked are cast into the Lake of Fire, it may be
that most will be snuffed out instantly, while others may remain for a short
while- I will leave that for God to determine.
What I do know is that finally, when all vestiges of evil and sin have
been purged, satan will also be consumed and the lake of fire will burn itself
out. The last sun will set on the old
age a new and eternal morning of God’s eternal age will begin.
If you have made to this point, I appreciate you sticking
with me and hope you come back for part 3.
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ReplyDeleteGreat job Chad! Well done.
ReplyDelete