at all...
No darkness
The Hell question
Is hell forever?
Christendom has three basic views when it comes to the fate of those that do not accept Jesus in this lifetime; eternal conscious torment, annihilation or ultimate reconciliation. The view that most of the "American" church embraces today is eternal conscious torment. This belief says there is a place called hell where those that could not or did not except Jesus will spend eternity. Annihilation is the belief that sinners are destroyed, rather than tormented forever. Finally is ultimate reconciliation. This belief says that ultimately God's love will win and He will reconcile all mankind back to Himself. What most Christians don't know is there is a great deal of Bible proof texts for (EACH) of these belief systems.
I believe the following facts will at least propel us to ask if tradition has given us (all) the facts. Beloved, is it possible that what you have been told about Judgment, condemnation, torment and even hell is not entirely true? Rather than giving an absolute conclusion to that question I would simply like to leave you with some information that tradition does NOT want you to have.
Armed with a misunderstanding of God's true nature the Jews at the time of Jesus believed that the Messiah was coming with a literal sword to physically destroy all Israel’s enemies. Because of this when Jesus showed up proclaiming love, peace and goodwill towards ALL men, the majority of Jews rejected their own deliverance. I believe much of the modern Church has fallen into the same snare. Just like the Jews at the time of Jesus many are waiting for Jesus to return with a literal sword to torment, destroy and cast into hell billions of people that did not accept Him.
Whether it's the day of the Lord or the day someone dies, is the unbelievers fate settled forever in twinkling of an eye? Will the evil they have done in this life be punished with more evil in the afterlife?
Jesus told the Pharisee’s that believed He would defeat evil with more evil that their father was the devil. Is it possible that just like the religious of Jesus’ time we are blinded by the flash of a literal sword thrust into our face by the traditions of man? Is it possible that the message Jesus brought has been diluted and twisted by the religious to gain control of the masses with the use of fear? I believe that a closer examination of some Greek words and a brief study of Church history reveal this is exactly what has happened.
A (very) brief history of the church:
The early believers conquered Rome with the Gospel of God’s love!! No swords were drawn from the true believers and many gave their lives for this most wonderful message. The message was simply that God is NOT who you thought He was, (John 1:5, 1:18, 5:37, 6:46, 8:19, 17:25). He is love (1 John 4:8, 4:16), always was, always will be (Hebrews 13:8). He is light (1John 1:5), always was, always will be (Hebrews 13:8). He is life (John 14:6), always was, always will be (Hebrews 13:8). He does not use evil or darkness in any way (1 John 1:5, James 1:13-17), never has, never will (Hebrews 13:8).
Because this message of love could not be stopped, the emperor Constantine stopped persecuting believers. Then sometime around 380AD Christianity actually became the official religion of Rome. Because of this, Christianity became a melting pot where pagan beliefs, Greek mythology and governmental influence were integrated into the church. In light of our subject it is important to understand that prior to this tragedy the (vast majority) of the early church believed that God would eventually reconcile ALL things. In fact history records that at this time there were six known theological schools, four of them believed in ultimate reconciliation, one believed in annihilation and one believed in eternal torment. Regardless of what you’ve been told, ultimate reconciliation is NOT a new thing.
The very short version of a long story is with the mixture of government, Judaism, Greek mythology and pagan beliefs, a message of fear began to mix with the pure message of love that Jesus brought us. By the time scriptures were actually being translated this mixture had already become part of the Christian culture. Any honest student of the Bible will tell you that EVERYONE is affected by presupposition, Bible translators are no different. As we all know each Greek and Hebrew word can have multiple English meanings and the translation of these words will always be affected by the presuppositions’ of those translating it. It was under the influence of this cultural bias certain words were translated by some translators to carry a more fearful meaning than the original Greek word itself. Let's take an honest look at a few Greek words and their English meanings.
The Greek word “Krisis” is translated in English as: Judgment, Condemnation, Damnation or Accusation.
Strong’s 2920 defines the word as a separating, sundering, separation, trial, contest, selection, judgment opinion or decision given concerning anything.
Vines expository dictionary: krisis (2920) (a) denotes “the process of investigation, the act of distinguishing and separating”
• We get our English word crisis from this word. The word in the truest sense means a turning point. For example, when a person's body is racked with fever, and its highest temperature is reached, this is called the crisis. It is the turning point! Strong's Exhaustive Concordance says the primary meaning for the word is a decision. Damnation is very misleading; but turning point, decision, or judgment are words much closer to what krisis means. When we understand what judgment in the truest sense means, we would know that it is a good thing. - Elwin R. Roach
• The Greek word (krisis) DOES NOT mean that the gavel falls and torment begins.
In light of this information how might it affect verses that use the words judgment, condemnation, damnation and accusation? Would they take on a different meaning?
The Greek word “Kolasis” is translated in English as punishment or torment. Strongs 2851 defines the word as correction, punishment or penalty.
• According to William Barclay, kolasis originally meant the pruning of trees to make them grow better. He wrote, "I think it's true to say that in all Greek secular literature kolasis is never used for anything but remedial punishment.
• The dictionary definition of Remedial is to supply a remedy and is always Intended to correct or improve
• "The trimming of the luxuriant branches of a tree or vine to improve it and make it fruitful. - "Donnegan,
• "The kind of punishment which tends to the improvement of the criminal is what the Greek philosophers called kolasis or chastisement." - Liddell,
• The true meaning of the Greek word Kolasis translated in English as torment and punishment does not contain the idea of a final decree, nor does it imply torture or torment. In fact the word carries with it the opposite meaning. Whatever else the word might mean it’s core is to (improve) not torment.
In light of this information how might it affect verses that use the words punishment or torment? Would they take on a different meaning?
The Greek word “Basanos” is translated into English as torment.
Strongs 931 defines this word as a touchstone, which is a black siliceous stone used to test the purity of gold or silver by the color of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal.
• This word has the sense of testing for purity and quality, NOT being tortured. When the coal touched Isaiah’s lips was this “torment” or cleansing? In Malachi, the priests of the Old Covenant would be refined (touch stoned) was this to torture or purify?
• The Greek word Basanos, translated in English as torment is much closer to testing for purity than it is torture.
In light of this information how might that affect verses that use the word Torment.
Would they take on a different meaning?
The Greek words “Aion or Aionios” are translated in English as eternal, everlasting, since the world began, forever, world, never and the beginning of the world.
Strong’s 165 defines this word as forever OR an unbroken age OR perpetuity of time OR eternity OR the worlds OR universe OR period of time OR an age.
• Thayer’s lexicon gives as its first definition of aion the sense of an “age”.
• Dr Young’s commentary defines the word as age during or age abiding.
If “aionois” does not mean “everlasting” in the Chronos sense, then the traditional basis for “endless torment” splinters considerably – William Barkley.
In light of this information how might it affect the way we read verses that use the words forever, eternal or everlasting?
The Greek word “Geenna” is translated in English as hell.
Strong’s 1067 defines the word as the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned;
Geenna is not and never was a place below the earth created for torture. Jesus used Geenna/the valley of hinnom symbolically, not literally. By the way (hell/the valley of Hinnom) is now a park south of Jerusalem. This word is used twelve times in the New Testament.
The Greek word “Hades” is also translated in English as hell
Strong’s 86 defines the word as Hades or Pluto, the god of the lower regions, Orcus, the nether world, the realm of the dead. Later use of this word is the grave, death or hell.
Greek mythology tagged this word the underworld. The general meaning of this word is simply the realm of the dead. This word is found eleven times in the New Testament
The Greek word “Tartaroo” is the third New Testament word translated in English as hell
This word does carry the idea of a place for punishment. But, and this is a big but. This word is used (only once) in 2 Peter 2:4 and is referring to the Angels that sinned and are awaiting Judgment.
With all the information we have gathered I would simply like to look at one of the most popular verses that Christians use to prove a place of everlasting punishment. The following are all respected Bible translations. No commentaries, just a bible verse. Beloved, the following are ALL Bibles, you decide…….
All verses below are from Matthew 25:46
King James Version, 1611 spelled as in the original
And these shall goe away into euerlasting punishment : but the righteous into life eternall.
Concordant Literal New Testament, 1983
And these shall be coming away into chastening eonian, yet the just into life eonian.
Rotherham Emphasized Bible, 1959
And these shall go away into age-abiding correction, but the righteous into age-abiding life.
The Restoration of Original Sacred Name Bible, 1976
And these shall go away into age-abiding *correction, but the righteous into **age-abiding life.
New Testament in Modern Speech, 1910
And these shall go away into the Punishment of the Ages, but the righteous into the Life* of the Ages.
The Holy Bible In Modern English (Fenton), 1903
And these He will dismiss into a long correction, but the well-doers to an enduring life.
Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible, 1898
And these shall go away to punishment age-during, but the righteous to life age-during.
The New Covenant, 1884
And these shall go away into aeonian chastisement, and the just into aeonian life
Christians that believe in ultimate reconciliation are not, I repeat NOT Universalists. Unitarian Universalists believe that everyone goes straight into the arms of the creator at death no matter what they believe. They also deny Christ as being the only way to God. On the other hand Christians that believe in ultimate reconciliation DO believe there is a crisis/hell for those that die without having accepted Jesus as Lord. In fact most that I have talked to believe hell (for some) will be for a very long time (ages). Furthermore Christians that believe in ultimate reconciliation DO believe that Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father. Whether in this life or the ages to come, EVERYONE coming to the Father will have to go through Jesus....
By Tim Cooper
