How 'eternal' is hell? How long is the suffering of one who dies in unbelief?
The fire that consumes and causes those within it to wail and gnash their teeth is God, Himself. He is the consuming fire [Deut 4:24, Deut 9:3, Heb 12:29]. The results of direct contact with God is shown by example with the three Hebrews thrown into the fire of Nebuchadnezzar in Dan 3: 16-27. Only the ropes binding them were burned. They nor their clothes were burned and they did not even have the smell of smoke on them after being thrown in the fire. On the other hand, the strong soldiers who threw them into the fire died because they came to close to the fire great heat. The same fire that destroys sin and sinners is embraced by true believers.
The fire that Moses saw in the bush caught his attention because it did not consume the bush [see Exodus 3:4]. The bush, of course, had not sinned.
Notice that the following verse in Ezekiel does not say that the sinning soul will live forever in torment. It says that it will die:
“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.” Ezek 18:4
And Isaiah also speaks not of eternal torment but rather final and total destruction:
“They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.” Isa 26:14
And Ecclesiastes says nothing about the dead suffering pain or torment. It says that they know nothing:
“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Ecc 9:5
And the New Testament:
Based on the following words why should we think that unbelievers will also live?
“And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” John 11:26
The following words the “fire is not quenched” speak of God abiding forever rather than an unending punishment.
“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:43-44
The worm that doesn’t die is not man or man’s soul. Does it not rather speak of the worms in the earth where we are buried that will consume our dead bodies?
Job expects another reward via a resurrection, but he knows what will happen to his body in the grave:
“And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:” Job 19:26
Isaiah also speaks of the worms:
“Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.” Isa. 14:11
“For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.” Isa 51:8
And Paul speaks of results of sin and death rather than eternal pain and suffering:
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom 6:23
The only ones Jesus speaks of as never dying are who?
The following verse is often used by some to show an eternal torment, but considering its apparent conflict with other verses cited?
“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.” Rev 14:11
Perhaps the question to ask here is, What is the “smoke of their torment”?
“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.” Psalm 37:20
They perish and there is nothing left of them but smoke…
David also knows what will be the final result of the wicked. He does not say that they will suffer eternal torment. He says that they perish!
“As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.” Psalm 68:2
And then again what about this which says that the devil shall be tormented forever?
“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.” Rev 20:10
And then this?
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev 20:15
Cast into the lake of fire, but this does not spell out eternal torment for them does it?
As for a place called “hell”?
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Rev 20:14
Is hell something more than the grave in which our natural body of flesh is placed when it dies?
