ONE FAMILY PLAN
Hell
The Doctrine of Eternal Torture is simply NOT in Scripture. It doesn't take much to prove, just a little bit o study and common sense...
"But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be liable to and unable to escape the PUNISHMENT IMPOSED BY THE COURT; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be liable to and unable to escape the PUNISHMENT IMPOSED BY THE SANHEDRIN, and whoever says, You cursed fool! [You empty-headed idiot!] shall be LIABLE TO AND UNABLE TO ESCAPE THE HELL (GEHENNA) OF FIRE." (Matthew 5:22, Amplified)
"ANYONE WHO HATES HIS BROTHER IS A MURDERER, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him." (1 John 3:15, NIV)
If you hate your brother in your heart, you are a murderer, punishment of the courts, and if you speak insultingly to your brother, punishment of the Sanhedrin, but if you call your brother a fool, you will be wickedly tortured forever?
"And if your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you; it is better (more profitable and wholesome) for you to enter life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the hell (Gehenna) of fire." (Matthew 18:9, Amplified)
The Scriptures speak in parables. It is the fires of Gehenna, NOT the literal fires of Christianity's hell. The symbolism speaks of "God's refining fire" NOT "hellfire." Gehenna fire holds wonderful spiritual truths. Eternal torture has nothing to do with these truths. It is the HEART of man, not the physical attributes. You can cut off the hands of a thief and he will still be a thief.
"...It is better that you lose one of your members than that your entire body should be cast into hell (Gehenna)."(Matthew 5:30, Amplified Bible)
Unquenchable Fires
Unquenchable fires do not burn forever. They fully complete their purpose and they are no more. Sodom and Gomorrah's "eternal fire (Jude 1:7)" stopped burning years ago.
Death and Hades
...and Death and Hades are thrown into the lake of fire??
Hades is most often translated "hell." Hades means the "realm of the dead."
"Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death." (Revelation 20:14, NIV)
"Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death." (Revelation 20:14, NLT)
Hell is thrown into Hell??
Hades means "the grave" or "place of the dead" but is often translated "hell." Sheol means "the grave." How do we know? In the King James, half the time it is translated "the grave" and the other half "hell." It is easy to see that neither "hades" nor "sheol" means hell - as in 'forever tortured'
NEW TESTAMENT:
"Because thou wilt not LEAVE MY SOUL IN HELL, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
(Acts 2:27, KJV)
"because you will not ABANDON ME TO THE GRAVE, nor will you let your Holy One see decay." (Acts 2:27, NIV)
...quoted from OLD TESTAMENT:
"For thou wilt not LEAVE MY SOUL IN HELL; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." (Psalm 16:10, KJV)
"For You will not ABANDON ME TO SHEOL (THE PLACE OF THE DEAD), neither will You suffer Your holy one [Holy One] to see corruption." (Psalm 16:10, Amplified)
They are one and the same. Hades is translated from the Hebrew "sheol." Pull up the verses. They are everywhere. It absolutely CANNOT mean "hell" as a place of eternal cruelty. HELL is the Realm of the dead...
"What man can live and SHALL NOT SEE DEATH, or can deliver himself from the [powerful] hand of SHEOL (THE PLACE OF THE DEAD)?..." (Psalm 89:48, Amplified)
Death, grave, you understand.
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"(1 Corinthians 15:55)
Why not "O Hell, where is thy victory?" Hades is correctly translated "grave." Why is this? The doctrine of "hell" states that "hell" will be victorious. ALMOST EVERYONE WILL BE THERE, TORTURED ENDLESSLY! This verse alone dispels the doctrine of eternal torture.
There are THREE New Testament Greek words from which "hell" is translated:
There are THREE New Testament Greek words from which “hell” is translated:
Gehenna, a ravine outside Jerusalem, hades, the grave, or place of the dead, and Tartarus, prison of spiritual darkness for angels UNTIL the judgment. None of these even comes close to our fabled hell. Why do we translate 3 Greek words into 1 English word anyway? And while you’re looking over the “sheol” verses, go ahead and pull up the “αἰών” verses. Do your homework before you take the word of the blessed “translation.”
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting (αἰώνιον) fire prepared for the devil and his angels…” (Matthew 25:41, NKJV)
The Greek word aion (αἰών), from where “eternal” or “everlasting” is derived does NOT mean eternal! It is easy to prove.
Before the eternities... RIDICULOUS!
“...ordained before the ages (αἰώνων) ...”
(1 Corinthians 2:7, NKJV)
Past eternities... RIDICULOUS!
“…kept hidden for ages (αἰώνων) and generations...” (Colossians 1:26, NIV)
He makes the eternities... RIDICULOUS!
“...through whom also He did make the ages (αἰῶνασ)” (Hebrews 1:2, YLT)
The present eternity... RIDICULOUS!
“...to rescue us from the present evil age (αἰῶνοσ)...” (Galatians 1:4, NIV)
The ending of an eternity... RIDICULOUS!
“...the end of the age (αἰῶνοσ)?" (Matthew 24:3, NIV)
In the coming eternity, we’ll have eternal life...
“Who will not receive in return many times more in this world and, in the coming age (αἰῶνι), eternal (αἰώνιον) life.” (Luke 18:30, Amplified Bible)
RIDICULOUS!
Here we have “age” AND “eternal” in the same verse, both its noun and its adjective. Of course, “age” has no adjective, and if it did, it wouldn’t be “eternal!” Also, look at the difference in meanings when you move the comma:
“who may not receive back manifold more in this time, and in the coming age, life age-during.'” (Luke 18:30, Young's Literal Translation)
There were no commas in the original Greek. Do we have “eternal” life in this world and the next? No. This has nothing to do with “eternal life” as you will see. There was not even a word for “eternal” in the original Greek or Hebrew. And please, do a study on nouns and adjectives, be they Greek or English. Our word “age,” if it had an adjective would not mean “eternal.” The word “eon” and its adjective “eonian” mean the same thing, just as “hour” and “hourly” mean the same thing. It was the “rate of the hour” or “the hourly rate.” He is a “God of love” or a “loving God.”
This is interesting:
“to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever (αἰῶνοσ τῶν αἰώνων) ! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21, NIV)
or, Ephesians 3:21, concordant version, “...the eon of the eons...” or rotherham, “... age of the ages ...” Is this “eternities” of “eternities?” Don’t “generations” come to an end?
And finally, fulfillment of the eternities...
“...on whom the fulfillment of the ages (αἰώνων) has come.” (1 Cor 10:11, NIV)
RIDICULOUS!
Need we continue? Aion simply cannot mean eternal, nor does its adjective. Aion means “age” or “eon” and its adjective “eonion” means “that which pertains to ages.”
Look at this verse:
“For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever (αἰώνιον),” (Philemon 1:15, NKJV)
This word DOES NOT mean “forever!” Context explains itself. Were they to receive this person for eternity? Was he their “everlasting” possession?” There are numerous examples throughout Scripture.
“...This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (πρὸ χρόνων αἰωνίων)” (2 Timothy 1:9, NIV)
and “...promised before the beginning of time…” (Titus 1:2, NIV) This is transliterated “pro chronon aionion” and means “before times eonian.” By default, this cannot mean “eternal.”
In the Hebrew, the word is “olam.” In the Greek it is “aionios.” We know this because the Septuagint was the first translation of the Scriptures, Hebrew to Greek. It was the bible Jesus used. The Hebrew “olam” is translated to the Greek “aionios” in the Septuagint. There are hundreds of examples.
“...his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever (olam).” (Exodus 21:6, KJV)
“...shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him for life.” (Exodus 21:6, Amplified)
Is this “eternal slavery?” Neither “olam” nor “aionion” mean everlasting or eternal. It is a scam to promote “the” doctrine. That is all. We could go on forever. “Aionios” or “aionion” is the adjective of its noun, “aion.” It clearly means “age” and it’s adjective, “that which pertains to ages.” In the above example it was of shorter duration than a man’s life.
An adjective and a noun are positioned differently but they carry the same weight. Adjectives are never stronger than their nouns. The Greek “aion” is the English “eon” and the Greek “aionios” is the English “eonian.”
“...by the command of the eternal (αἰωνίου) God...” (Romans 16:26, NIV)
“…according to the injunction of the eonian God…” (Romans 16:26, CLT)
So, when we see “eonion God” He is the “God of the ages.” God created the “eons.” Therefore, He is the “eonian” God and His plan of salvation for all of us is carried out through “eonian” times. Scriptures speak of God’s plan for the ages. Upon the filling of New Jerusalem, at the consummation of all ages, after everyone is finally “saved,” we don’t know what the future holds. The story of salvation concludes. Our future is a mystery. I think it’s exciting!
And when we see:
“Who shall be punished with everlasting (αἰώνιον) destruction (ὄλεθρον) from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power…” (2 Thessalonians 1:9, KJV)
Consider this:
“To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction (ὄλεθρον) of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 5:5, KJV)
This “destruction” is used for our benefit, so that we “may be saved.” This is not “eternal” destruction! How do you “destroy” something eternally, anyway?
“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. THEY WILL BE TORMENTED day and night for ever and ever (αἰῶνασ τῶν αἰώνων).” (Revelation 20:10, NIV)
The Greek word Basinizo (βαςανίζω) from which torture and torment come is defined as testing metals “by the touchstone, which is a black siliceous stone used to test the purity of gold or silver by the colour of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal (Thayer and Smith, New Testament Greek Lexicon).”
IT TESTS FOR PURIFICATION PURPOSES!
God will be fair. Judgment will serve its purpose. The “smoke of their torment (Revelation 14:11),” goes out in the same way an “unquenchable” fire goes out, AFTER it has accomplished its purpose. Have you read the story of Adam and Eve? Read it closely.
The serpent, or Satan, Eve, and Adam ALL chose out of preference, from the heart but there was ABSOLUTELY NO "FREE" WILL!! God planted the “forbidden” tree in the MIDDLE of the garden, placed Satan in the same place and started “the fall” rolling. God says:
“...WHEN you eat of it you will surely die."
(Genesis 2:17, NIV)
The serpent, being more “crafty” than any of the wild animals (“God had made”), tempted Eve. When she “saw that the fruit of the tree was good” she ate. After this, she gave to the man and he ate. When confronted, the man said “the woman YOU PUT HERE” gave it to me. God’s response was not: “you knew better, man, stop blaming the woman.” Instead, He said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" God planned the “cause” that “caused” Satan to “cause” the woman to “cause” the man. He knew exactly what he was doing. What did the woman say? She said: "THE SERPENT DECEIVED ME, and I ate." At this point, God does not question her deception. He says to the serpent, “because you have done this...” and to Adam He said “because you listened to your wife...” Once again, God planned the “cause” that “caused” Satan to “cause” the woman to “cause” the man. It’s all cause and effect. There are no "uncaused" choices. Why, tell me, if Satan, the woman, and the man had no “freewill” choice, which I assure you is indeed the case, will God eternally torture them? This is ridiculous, silly, childish talk. They did exactly as God planned. Evil and good are both in HIS plan, like it or not.
“...saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever (αἰῶνασ τῶν αἰώνων)!’” (Revelation 11:15, NKJV)
Is this eternity of the eternities? Does Jesus really reign forever? No. He begins to reign at his resurrection when He is seated at the right hand of God. After we have all been reconciled, He hands the kingdom back over to His father.
“For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.”
(1 Cor 15:25)
“Enemies under His feet” does not mean he is making people his doormat. This is contrary to Scripture in every way.
“For he ‘has put everything under his feet.’ Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. WHEN HE HAS DONE THIS, THEN THE SON HIMSELF WILL BE MADE SUBJECT to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:27-28, NIV)
He puts “everything under his feet” in the same way he is placed under the Father. As we will be subject to Christ, Christ will be subject to God. God will be all in all!
“THE LORD (God) says to my Lord (the Messiah), Sit at My right hand, UNTIL I make Your adversaries Your footstool.” (Psalm 110:1, Amplified Bible)
He reigns UNTIL He has put all enemies under His feet, UNTIL New Jerusalem is filled.
So when you read:
“And these will go away into everlasting (αἰώνιον) punishment (κόλαςιν), but the righteous into eternal (αἰώνιον) life.” (Matthew 25:46, NKJV)
Here is a better translation:
"And these shall be coming away into chastening eonian, yet the just into life eonian." (Matthew 25:46, CLT)
Please know, there is NO eternal punishment! It’s not even talking about punishment. Kolasin (κόλαςιν) is a reformatory process. It comes from "kolazo" meaning to "cut off" or "prune." We prune to boost production and life. It speaks of “chastisement” or corrective measures for our benefit. The bible speaks of ages, not eternities. What would be the purpose of disciplining someone for eternity? For that matter, what would be the purpose of punishing or torturing someone for eternity, and didn’t “eternity” used to mean “without beginning or end?” There are bibles that translate these verses correctly. Hell is not in every translation because “hell” is not in the Scriptures. Bibles are big money. “Hell” remains in the more popular translations because mainstream theologians would throw a fit if it were removed. The doctrines of hell and tithing have kept them in business.
But how do we know we have “eternal” life if the same word is used for “eternal” punishment? First of all, we have what we are given. We don’t create a doctrine to make us “feel better.” However, the last enemy to be destroyed is death. There will be no more death of any kind, ever. The Biblical story of ‘death’ is really a parable anyway. We live in a crypt, the Lake of Fire, the Furnace of Affliction… we are refined here.
“So it is with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable and decays, but [the body] that is resurrected is imperishable (immune to decay, immortal).” (1 Cor 15:42, Amplified)
Our spiritual bodies will never die.
THE LAKE OF FIRE
We ALL need a study on FIRE! What is the judgment? What is this Lake of Fire? It will do us good to know because we’re all going through it!
“...the GLORY OF THE LORD LOOKED LIKE A CONSUMING FIRE on top of the mountain.” (Exodus 24:17, NIV)
We are all saved having gone through the fire!!!
Salvation IS going through the fire!!!
The moment we are born, we begin to die.
All of us will die the “second death.”
“... It is a burnt offering, AN OFFERING MADE BY FIRE, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.” (Leviticus 1:9, NIV) “...offerings MADE TO ME BY FIRE. Like the sin offering and the guilt offering, IT IS MOST HOLY.”
(Leviticus 6:17, NIV) “... OFFERINGS MADE TO THE LORD BY FIRE FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME. Whatever touches them will become holy. ' " (Leviticus 6:18, NIV)
...and on and on it goes. Why do you think all these offerings were made by fire?? Jesus wasn’t burned at the stake. He was crucified! Has this thought ever crossed your mind? Everyone goes through the fire, period. The “unblemished” or “forgiven” will go through the fire. Jesus went through the fire. He was tempted, tried, and crucified. God “refines” us through fire!
"For it became HIM, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many *that’s us and the rest of the world+ sons unto glory, to make the CAPTAIN of their salvation PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING." (Heb. 2:10) “FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE...” (Deuteronomy 4:24), “...THE VOICE OF GOD SPEAKING OUT OF FIRE...” (Deuteronomy 4:33), “The LORD spoke to you FACE TO FACE OUT OF THE FIRE on the mountain.” (Deuteronomy 5:4, NIV) “SMOKE ROSE FROM HIS NOSTRILS; CONSUMING FIRE CAME FROM HIS MOUTH, BURNING COALS BLAZED OUT OF IT.” (2 Sam 22:9, NIV)
Is this symbolism? Of course it is. God works through fire. It is his specialty. He speaks out of it, answers by it, IS a consuming fire. It is all through the Scriptures!
“...THE GOD WHO ANSWERS BY FIRE...” (1 Kings 18:24) “‘IS NOT MY WORD LIKE FIRE,’ declares the LORD, ‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?...’” (Jeremiah 23:29, NIV)
All of us will be broken in to pieces. We will die to live.
“...I WILL BRING INTO THE FIRE; I WILL REFINE THEM...” (Zechariah 13:9)
Are you seeing this? It doesn’t take a lifetime of study to realize the purpose of “fire.” We’ve had it wrong. There is no “hell” or “eternal torture” there is “purification.” We are purified through the fire.
“But who can endure THE DAY OF HIS COMING? Who can stand when he appears? FOR HE WILL BE LIKE A REFINER'S FIRE OR A LAUNDERER'S SOAP...” (Malachi 3:2)
...the day of his coming? Could this be judgment? ...a refiner’s fire?? What? Could this be the lake of fire?
“EVERYONE WILL BE SALTED WITH FIRE.” (Mark 9:49)
Did you catch that? “Everyone,” as in “all,” will be salted with fire! Salt is a preservative. We are “preserved” through the fire. No one is annihilated and no one is forever tortured. We’re all going to be around and we will learn to live happily with one another.
“...HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WITH FIRE.” (Luke 3:16)
We will be baptized with the fires of judgment’s “refining” salvation.
“...It will be REVEALED WITH FIRE, and the FIRE WILL TEST the quality of each man's work.” (1 Corinthians 3:13, NIV)
Our very works will be taken through the fire. It’s all revealed with fire!
“Do not put out THE SPIRIT'S FIRE…” (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
The Holy Spirit IS the Spirit of God IS purifying! …for our "GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE." (Hebrews 12:29)
“that THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH, much more precious than gold which is perishing, yet, being TESTED BY FIRE, may be found for applause and glory and honor at the unveiling of Jesus Christ...” (1 Peter 1:7, CLT)
Our “faith” is tested by fire! The “fire” of God cannot be denied. The Scriptures speak plainly as to its purpose. And look at this! Victors, standing on a beautiful, Glass Ocean, symbolically representing the Fire they went through and the world they overcame.
“And I saw what looked like A SEA OF GLASS MIXED WITH FIRE and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious...” (Revelation 15:2, NIV)
Is it making sense? Everyone goes through the Fire! It’s all the same fire!! Judgment begins at the house of God!
"For the time is come that JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD…" (I Peter 4:17, KJV)
The fires of God are refining us. This is salvation. It is a process. The Scriptures are clear about this. “Fire” IS a “lake of fire” IS “Gehenna fire” IS “God’s fire” IS a “consuming fire” IS “Judgment” IS “refining” IS “salvation!” You think some are beyond conversion?
How long did it take to change the heart of Paul? He was the “chief sinner.” Milliseconds? ...a flash of light is all it took for Paul to COMPLETELY change directions!
“And these shall be coming away into chastening eonian, yet the just into life eonian." (Matthew 25:46, Concordant Literal Translation)
This will be a corrective age, or a refining, and those who have gone through the fire will rule, reign, and judge with Christ.
“...if any one was not found written in the scroll of the life, he was cast to the lake of the fire.” (Revelation 20:14-15, YLT) “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven...” (Romans 1:18, NIV)
His wrath is being revealed right now! It doesn’t all happen in some future 7-year tribulation. Think about it. We’ve all heard it, but have we really?
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, GOD WILL ADD TO HIM THE PLAGUES DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK...” (Revelation 22:18-19, NIV)
Are we to understand that NO one EVER “adds to” the Scriptures EXCEPT during the “last 7 years” or “the” tribulation??!” You and I both know people have been adding to and taking away for centuries! The plagues described in Revelation must occur more often than “the” literal physical 7 years because all kinds of people from days past have to endure them! This verse alone does away with the “everything culminates in 7 years” theory.
"Hell" is among the most vile doctrines to ever enter the hearts of men. It attacks the very character of God. It is a lie.
