That is why the parables use common and plain language (even though Jesus made many of his comments via parables precisely so people would NOT understand).
But He was speaking in plain language and not parables when warning of being cast into the lake of fire in eternal punishment. Moreover, figurative language has its corresponding spiritual equivalent, and any one hearing the Lord warning of being cast into a place "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." (Mark 9:48) would understand He was not speaking of just being toasted in the end, but of ongoing punishment in the spiritual realm.
Nor was Lk. 16:19-33 referring to something other than postmortem punishment, as explained here .
I look at the personality of our God all through the bible and how He deals with people that have found themselves at the receiving end of His wrath. The message is always the same: Total destruction. Sometimes entire races. Even threat of them being utterly removed even from the minds of future generations.
But based upon this reasoning then the reward of the righteous is only earthly as well, yet just as God speak of eternal life so He also speaks of eternal destruction.
Just as man’s punishment for sin is different from that of the animals (they are not held accountable at all), satans punishment may be different from ours.
That again would require the elect to also have an eternity like that of animals, while rather than making a difference btwn the punishment of fallen angels and that of the lost, the Lord places them in the same place, and only speaks of eternal torment.
And this doesn’t even address that the eternal suffering concept simply does not jibe with the God of the bible as he presents Himself and as he deals with men and sin throughout the bible.
That is simply not the case but is forcing God to conform to your idea of God, as He both deals with the wicked by slaughtering them in the temporal realm and, as said, being tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." (Revelation 14:10,11)
Man it seems you can type fast!
Yes I do. Interestingly, I am on a conference call right now that I’ve not much involvement with, but I forgot to mute and someone said, “who’s typing so fast out there”. ;-)
But He was speaking in plain language and not parables when warning of being cast into the lake of fire in eternal punishment.
I would think I would be burned up rather quickly. Especially if they said the fire was unquenchable and I was aware that often when bodies were burned in my culture the body was not completely consumed because the body itself put out the fire.
And since Jesus talked of the wheat and tares and the tares being burned up in other passages (and in my plain language the analogy clearly means destroyed as most people mean it), that would add to my being convinced that being thrown into the lake of fire was like being dried grass thrown into a furnace. It is utter destruction, with only CO2 blowing in the wind.
But based upon this reasoning then the reward of the righteous is only earthly as well, yet just as God speak of eternal life so He also speaks of eternal destruction.
So we know the condition is eternal, but one is life and one isn’t, while one is destruction and one isn’t. Even when one appeals to the greek lexicon, the meaning is plain, and the meaning of “life” can be clarified by the use of the word “destruction” and vice versa.
I.e. a reasonable person with no agenda would interpret the scripture to mean one will live, and live eternally, while the other will die, never to be resurrected.
But based upon this reasoning then the reward of the righteous is only earthly as well, yet just as God speak of eternal life so He also speaks of eternal destruction.
Meanwhile, the same thing happens with eternity, only the condition is eternal. It never ends. It simply “is”. One lives, one doesn’t. In plain language, the absense of life is either death (which is a temporal event) or, more precisely, non-existence.
And there is no life outside the presence of God.
That again would require the elect to also have an eternity like that of animals, while rather than making a difference btwn the punishment of fallen angels and that of the lost, the Lord places them in the same place, and only speaks of eternal torment.
That is simply not the case but is forcing God to conform to your idea of God, as He both deals with the wicked by slaughtering them in the temporal realm and, as said, being tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:10,11)
It also says “the smoke of their torment” rises forever and ever. The original Lucy show broadcast waves are STILL eminating from our solar system and will until the universe is destroyed. However, the show only lasted a half hour. This implies that what happened to them WILL linger in eternity.
However, it could be translated that they suffer for all eternity. It’s why there is any discussion here at all. :-)
The thing is, when both sides find themselves arguing “true” meanings of words, especially words that are used in heavily symbolic and allegoric scripture, nobody wants to be “married” to tightly to their position. Honestly, my MAIN personal reason for believing the annihilation interpretation vs the turn or burn one is that it more fits with the personality of my God as presented in the bible as well as His dealings with me personally.
This is the canvas on which my interpretations of all these “Fate of the lost” opinions I have are written.