This argument over the meaning of "everlasting" in Scripture to try and exclude Christ's and His Apostle's warnings about everlasting destruction is an example of the form of Socialist religion Skousen remarked from one of the Soviet Communist strategic points against the West. The Communists propose social religion be stressed, instead of Revealed Religion from The Bible.
NT examples like Matt.18:8, or Matt.25:41, or Matt.25:46, or 2 Thess.1:9, or Rom.16:26, and many others, all use the Greek word 'aionios' which literally means everlasting, for ever. Here's its usage in Romans 16...
Rom 16:25-26
25 Now to Him That is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
(KJV)
Someone try to tell me that word there in Rom.16:26 doesn't mean "everlasting" as written.
We don't need the silly confusion of socialist doctrines applied to that Greek word 'aionios' which means everlasting in English.
The whole idea about everlasting destruction is about death, hell, Satan, and the wicked being destroyed, gone forever, no more. That's the meaning in the Psalms also. And it's simple.
And Christ used the valley of Hinnom as a symbolic metaphor FOR the future "lake of fire" event of destruction that is to occur at the end of His thousand years future reign. Per Rev.20:14, the abode called "hell" (Greek haides) goes INTO THAT LAKE OF FIRE, teaching us that hell, haides, hades, or whatever one wants to call it, is a REAL place in the heavenly dimension for the wicked dead.
The idea that when our flesh dies our spirit is also in the ground with it is a materialist notion which disregards The Word of God, Eccl.12:5-7 for one, 1 Cor.5 for another, and 1 Cor.15 for yet another, and also Luke 9:28-31 (remember, Moses died).
NT examples like Matt.18:8, or Matt.25:41, or Matt.25:46, or 2 Thess.1:9, or Rom.16:26, and many others, all use the Greek word 'aionios' which literally means everlasting, for ever. Here's its usage in Romans 16...
Rom 16:25-26
25 Now to Him That is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
(KJV)
Someone try to tell me that word there in Rom.16:26 doesn't mean "everlasting" as written.
We don't need the silly confusion of socialist doctrines applied to that Greek word 'aionios' which means everlasting in English.
The whole idea about everlasting destruction is about death, hell, Satan, and the wicked being destroyed, gone forever, no more. That's the meaning in the Psalms also. And it's simple.
And Christ used the valley of Hinnom as a symbolic metaphor FOR the future "lake of fire" event of destruction that is to occur at the end of His thousand years future reign. Per Rev.20:14, the abode called "hell" (Greek haides) goes INTO THAT LAKE OF FIRE, teaching us that hell, haides, hades, or whatever one wants to call it, is a REAL place in the heavenly dimension for the wicked dead.
The idea that when our flesh dies our spirit is also in the ground with it is a materialist notion which disregards The Word of God, Eccl.12:5-7 for one, 1 Cor.5 for another, and 1 Cor.15 for yet another, and also Luke 9:28-31 (remember, Moses died).