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To: CatherineofAragon
“And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the eternal fire,” (Matt. 18:8).

The fire burns eternally. It doesn't say that you will be tortured by fire eternally.

“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt. 25:46).

The second death or the cessation of your soul will last forever. Notice, again, the punishment has eternal consequences, but it doesn't say that the person will be in eternal torment. There is a difference.

”And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,” (2 Thess. 1:9).

This verse very clearly says eternal destruction. That just confirms that the destruction of the unbelievers soul will be destroyed forever. Hense the second death.

“And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever,” (Rev. 20:10).

Context and order are important in understanding this verse. First the context is that the devil, the anti-christ and the false prophet are thrown into the Lake of Fire before the dead are judged. The context of this verse does say that those specific three entities will be tormented forever, but it says nothing about the dead unbelievers in Hell. That is covered in the proceding verses.

Why are these three tormented forever and no one else? I don't know. I just read what is written and believe what is clearly stated and I don't see clear evidence that unbelievers will be tormented forever.

Here are the main things that got me to thinking deeper on this subject. One, the mention of the second death. Think about what death is. It's the end of existance at some level. The first death being the end of our physical body. The Second death being the end of our spirit or our soul.

Next, juxtapose that against what the reward for believers is...eternal life. For a person to get eternal life they have to "put on Christ's" righteousness. In other words, we aren't born with imortality or the ability to live forever.

1Cor. 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.

If a person is to be tortured forever, they would have to be alive in some form forever. As the above verse confirms we are mortal to begin with and therefore can not in any way on our own live forever. The ONLY way to immortality is through faith in Jesus.
41 posted on 10/03/2012 1:14:09 PM PDT by ScubieNuc (When there is no justice in the laws, justice is left to the outlaws.)
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To: ScubieNuc

Look, I’m sorry, but the Scriptures are as plain as can be, yet you’re denying what they say. Eternal torment isn’t a pleasant thing to contemplate, that’s true, but it’s a fact, no matter how you try to twist and turn to get round it. We can be thankful it isn’t God’s will for us, and that He provided a way to salvation in Jesus Christ.

With all due respect, I’m not going to argue Scriptural fact with you when you clearly don’t want to accept it. God bless.


43 posted on 10/03/2012 1:24:23 PM PDT by CatherineofAragon (Don't be afraid to see what you see. (Ronald Reagan))
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