Biblical support of Eternal Hellfire?

[donfish06]

Where in the scriptures does one find support of the idea that one will burn for eternity?

[missmuffet]

Alot more people believe in heaven than in hell.Hell is a real place.We are all sinners Romans 3:23.The just punishment for that sin is death Romans 6:23.God is an infinite and eternal Being,the punishment for sin,death,must also be infinite and eternal.The punishment of the wicked dead in hell is described throughout scripture as "eternal fire"(Matthew 25-41)"unquenchable fire"(Matthew 3:12 and a "lake of burning sulfur" where the wicked are "tormented day and night forever and ever Revelation 20:10.

Praise God,through Jesus,we can escape this eternal fate.John 3;16,18,36.

[Guest]

Where in the scriptures does one find support of the idea that one will burn for eternity?

 

~

 

Jesus

 

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Mark 9:47-48

 

Never

 

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:10

 

Never Lied

 

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14-15

 

But Some Men Will

 

For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Jeremiah 8:11

 

So Put Your Trust

 

I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. Jeremiah 57:19

 

In The LORD

 

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:26

[donfish06]

Alot more people believe in heaven than in hell.Hell is a real place.We are all sinners Romans 3:23.The just punishment for that sin is death Romans 6:23.God is an infinite and eternal Being,the punishment for sin,death,must also be infinite and eternal.The punishment of the wicked dead in hell is described throughout scripture as "eternal fire"(Matthew 25-41)"unquenchable fire"(Matthew 3:12 and a "lake of burning sulfur" where the wicked are "tormented day and night forever and ever Revelation 20:10.

Praise God,through Jesus,we can escape this eternal fate.John 3;16,18,36.

 

1) Where is the word "eternal" linked with "hell" or "fire". I found 1 instance of "eternal fire":

 

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. 

 

The last time I checked, Sodom and Gomorrha are not still burning, so it wasn't eternal.

 

2) "For ever and ever" does not mean eternal:

 

Jon 2:6  I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. 

 

In this case, for ever was 3 days.

 

Deu 23:3  An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever: 

 

In this case, for ever is 10 generations

 

Exo 21:6  Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

 

In this case, for ever is however long the slave/servant lives

 

1Sa 1:22  But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever. 

 

In this case, for ever is however long Samuel lived

 

3) Most verses people get the idea of "eternal hell" are do not necessarily mean eternal.

 

4) I believe in hell, I just don't see support of it being eternal.

 

Eze 18:4  Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. 

Eze 18:20  The soul that sinneth, it shall die

 

Can a soul "die" for eternity? Where in the scripture has "die" meant anything except for dead? 

 

To be tormented for eternity, you would have to be alive for eternity. Jesus is the only way to eternal life, the opposite of eternal life is destruction. John 3:16 says if we believe in him we will not perish, thus if we do not believe in him, we will perish. Perish means to be completely destroyed. 

[donfish06]

 

Where in the scriptures does one find support of the idea that one will burn for eternity?

 

~

 

Jesus

 

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Mark 9:47-48

 

Never

 

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:10

 

Never Lied

 

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14-15

 

But Some Men Will

 

For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Jeremiah 8:11

 

So Put Your Trust

 

I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. Jeremiah 57:19

 

In The LORD

 

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:26

 

You can see my view on "for ever" not proving "eternity".

 

The scripture you posted, Mark 9:48 is the only verse that seems like it could be talking about an eternal hell, but when you look at it in context, it says that the fire of hell is unquenchable. It does not say that it is eternal. It could mean: the fire is unquenchable until it is destroyed. 

 

Even if I am wrong about the meaning of this verse, it is only one verse. Are we supposed to base a doctrine off of 1 verse?

 

Now, I personally won't be going their either way, so it really doesn't mean anything to me whether it is or is not eternal. So why does it matter?

 

If hell is not eternal, and we are telling the lost that they will burn eternally in hell, then they are going to look at God as an unjust God, and we will be misrepresenting Him as unjust. 

 

Why would a God who is the definition of just torment somebody for eternity all based on 80 years or less of life?

 

Why would a just God punish a monk who has lived a pure life, but never accepted Christ, with the same punishment that he would punish someone like Hitler, or Nero?

 

Eternal  means no beginning and no ending... God created hell, so it has a beginning and thus can NOT be eternal

[Guest DRS81]

Whether hell is eternal or not, I would not want to go there because whether it's eternal or not, it's very very real, a very real and physical place..

 

(Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”) (2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment..) (Rev 19:20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.) (Matt 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.) (Matt 13:41-42 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.) (Jude 1:7 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.) (Mark 9:43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.) (2 Thess 1:9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.) (Matt 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”)

[donfish06]

Whether hell is eternal or not, I would not want to go there because whether it's eternal or not, it's very very real, a very real and physical place..

 

(Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”) (2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment..) (Rev 19:20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.) (Matt 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.) (Matt 13:41-42 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.) (Jude 1:7 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.) (Mark 9:43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.) (2 Thess 1:9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.) (Matt 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”)

Eternal destruction... a destruction that lasts for eternity?

Eternal punishment... a punishment that lasts for eternity?

 

Like I said, I believe in a real hell, but I do not believe it will last for eternity. To burn for eternity would require eternal life, and there is only one way to have that.

[Guest DRS81]

Eternal punishment... a punishment that lasts for eternity?

Eternal destruction... a destruction that lasts for eternity?

 

Like I said, I believe in a real hell, but I do not believe it will last for eternity. To burn for eternity would require eternal life, and there is only one way to have that.

 

Yeah that debate has been going on for centuries.

[Guest shiloh357]

 

Whether hell is eternal or not, I would not want to go there because whether it's eternal or not, it's very very real, a very real and physical place..

 

(Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”) (2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment..) (Rev 19:20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.) (Matt 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.) (Matt 13:41-42 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.) (Jude 1:7 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.) (Mark 9:43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.) (2 Thess 1:9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.) (Matt 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”)

Eternal destruction... a destruction that lasts for eternity?

Eternal punishment... a punishment that lasts for eternity?

 

Like I said, I believe in a real hell, but I do not believe it will last for eternity. To burn for eternity would require eternal life, and there is only one way to have that.

 

Eternal life and living forever are not the same thing.   Jesus is eternal life.   Eternal life means at its least, being made alive spiritually with the very life of God within you.   It is more like a quality of life than length of life.  Jesus is the personification of eternal life.

 

Sinners will live forever without eternal life and according to Jesus will go into eternal punishment.  That is straight from the word of God as demonstrated in the quote above.  So if you don't believe in eternal punishment, you are disagreeing with the Bible.

[ProphecyKid]

 

Whether hell is eternal or not, I would not want to go there because whether it's eternal or not, it's very very real, a very real and physical place..

 

(Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”) (2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment..) (Rev 19:20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.) (Matt 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.) (Matt 13:41-42 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.) (Jude 1:7 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.) (Mark 9:43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.) (2 Thess 1:9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.) (Matt 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”)

Eternal destruction... a destruction that lasts for eternity?

Eternal punishment... a punishment that lasts for eternity?

 

Like I said, I believe in a real hell, but I do not believe it will last for eternity. To burn for eternity would require eternal life, and there is only one way to have that.

 

 

You are 100% Correct Brother. 

 

How just and how fair would God be to punish someone for all eternity who only lived for 16 years and did not accept him and the 80 year old man who grew up in church but spend his life as a wolf in sheep's clothing get the same reward. Punishment for eternity is not fair and is not just. How does a human being get the same punishment as the devil himself which an eternal, everlasting hell would be. 

 

And even in addition to the excellent points you made earlier.

 

In order for one to be eternally punished, one must be given eternal life. Eternal Life is ONLY the reward of the saved, not the lost. Immortality is only given to the saved, not the lost. Explain to me how a mortal man can be punished for all eternity. And this goes against the entire meaning of death. Punished for eternity would never lead to death.

 

Also the bible says:

 

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Mal 4:1  For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 

Psa 37:10  For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 

Psa 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. 

 

All of this suggest there would be an end to their existence and they would not just be burning forever.

 

Final Point. 

 

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

Rev 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 

 

When God recreates the new heaven and new earth, he must also by definition get rid of the lake of fire since it is taking place on the old earth. Can cannot recreate a perfect world like it was in creation, with the lake of fire still burning on the side. In Revelation 21 and 22, in the description of the new heaven and new earth, we don't see the lake of fire being mentioned anywhere. God must get rid of everything that was on the earth before to recreate the world for us to inhabit.