OpenMind

If you look at the original Greek for Matthew 25:41 you'll see that the word translated as "eternal" is aiónios, which more accurately means "age long". it's the word from which we get "eon" and it's translated as "eternal" because it means "a very long time", but it is not literally eternal, as in never ending. Aiónios always refers to a time period, an age, which has an end. Also... [166 (aiṓnios) does not focus on the future per se, but rather on the quality of the age (165 /aiṓn) it relates to. Thus believers live in "eternal(166 /aiṓnios) life" right now, experiencing this quality of God's life now as a present possession. [source]

Hell is a Lie I believe the concept of hell as typically depicted is a lie. There is no place of eternal torment full of fire and tormenting demons. The reason I say this is because it's not in scripture. The concept of eternal punishment was common in many pagan religions when Christianity began, including the Norse, the Teutons, the Romans, the Greeks, the Egyptians and the Chinese. The Roman Catholic Church is well known to have used fear to drive people, and their money, into the church and effectively used the image of hell to depict the horrors of the consequence of disobedience to the church. I don't believe the concept of hell was invented by the RCC perse, but rather it is an amalgamation of pagan concepts that seeped into Christianity with the help of the RCC as it suited their purpose. Modern Bible Translations are Inaccurate The King James Version is probably the biggest reason people continue to believe in it today as the words Sheol, Gehenna and Hades are translated as "Hell". Sheol and Hades actually mean "the grave" or "the unseen place", which is the place where everybody goes upon death, but the KJV translators disingenuously translated these words as "Hell" when speaking of the wicked dying, but translated those same words as "the grave" when speaking of the righteous dying. That's blatant bias designed to shape the thinking of the reader. For example, 1 Corinthians 15:55 O death where is thy sting? O grave (Hades) where is thy victory? But the same word in Luke 10:15 is translated as hell. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell (Hades). There are literally hundreds of such examples. Gehenna refers to a valley outside of Jerusalem where the Pagans used to sacrifice their children in fire and which was being used as a garbage incinerator in Jesus' time. Yet this word also is translated as hell. Matthew 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell (Gehenna). Jesus was talking about physical fiery death here, not a place of eternal torment. Early Christians Believed in Universalism The second reason why I don't believe in a place of eternal torment is because the early Christians didn't either. The concept of hell did not exist in Christianity for the first four centuries. The original apostles creed (before the RCC corrupted it) made not a single mention of eternal punishment. The grave stones of early Christians proclaimed joy and hope for all, depicting the Lord Jesus with a goat over his shoulder signifying that even the wicked will be found by the shepherd. And it is from these early Christian centuries, when death was no longer regarded as death but sleep in the hope of salvation, and from which we get the word cemetery, which comes from the Greek word dormitory, which means "the sleeping place". Death was no longer sadness but a reminder of hope and joy. Every single piece of evidence of early Christian life is in line with the concept of universalism. The Bible Itself Teaches Universalism Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him. Colossians 1:20 having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself. Acts 3:21: restitution of all things Hebrews 1:2 heir of all things Galatians 3:8 In thee shall all nations be blessed John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand Luke 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God Luke 6:35 he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved 1 Timothy 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time 2 Peter 3:9 not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance Romans 11:32 that he might have mercy upon all Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things John 3:13 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Titus 2:11 The grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for all people John 1:29 Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world 1 Timothy 4:10 the living God, who is the Saviour of all men John 4:42 and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world 1 John 3:8 the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil 2 Timothy 1:10 our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death Revelation 1:18 I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of death and hades Revelation 20:14 death and hades were cast into the lake of fire I Corinthians 15:22 In Christ shall all be made alive Philippians 2:10-11 Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess

I recently asked a question here: And my question was kind of answered but I have a follow up question but I can't respond to the thread. Is the thread closed? Why can I not respond to it? Can it be opened again?

Signed up last Saturday. Hoping to engage the community, but I can not. Does my account still need to be approved? How long does this normally take?

I just joined and just need to know what we're not allowed to say here because although everybody claims free speech we know that's just not true. And no, I'm not asking about being mean or rude to people, obviously that's frowned upon. I just need to know if there are certain beliefs we're not allowed to admit to, or if there are certain claims we're not allowed to make here at worthy Christian forums. EDIT: I can't respond to your answer. Please enable my ability to respond.