Featured Is Hell a place for eternal punishment?

[AgnosticBoy]

I have two questions about the biblical concept of Hell.

Is Hell a place where there will be eternal punishment?

If so, who will be eternally punished there? Is it humans or is it the Devil and his angels or is it both?

The reason I ask is because I've come across views that say that Hell is not forever. If that's the case, then that would take the sting out of arguments that say that God is cruel for punishing humans for an eternity just for not believing.

What does the Bible say on this subject?

 

[AgnosticBoy]

Is Hell a place where there will be eternal punishment?

Is some relevant info.

Mark 9:43 says that the fire in Hell never goes out. Why would it last forever if there was no eternal punishment?

Matthew 10:28 seems to say that the soul can be "destroyed" in Hell. Something that can be destroyed doesn't last forever.

Both passages quoted below....

Mark 9:43
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.

Mattew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

[Scooter]

Yes, Hell is forever. Those who teach Hell is temporary have developed this false doctrine, IMHO, to soothe a guilty conscience. If Hell was only a temporary place, there would be no need to evangelize the world. Revelation 14:11 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.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

@Scooter

That Revelation passage you think includes all humans? Or just the ones that received the mark?

Later on I will check out my go-to site as well to see if they give any alternative explanation.

 

[Scooter]

That Revelation passage you think includes all humans? Or just the ones that received the mark?

I believe it includes all who reject Christ. Later on we read about the final judgment of all nonbelievers and they are cast into the lake for fire: Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

Thanks for the good replies, Scooter.

I also found this interesting passage -
Matthew 25:31-33, 41-43, 47
31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

41“Then he will say to those on his left,
‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
46“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

The one passage that casts doubt in me still is Matthew 10:28. It seems to say that the soul can be "destroyed" in Hell.

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

[Scooter]

The word destroy does not mean the soul ceases to exist. When the twin towers were hit by the planes they were destroyed, but they did not vanish. The mass of rubble remained. When a soul is destroyed in Hell it does not cease to exist or disappear. It is in a state of ruin, just like the towers were ruined.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

The word destroy does not mean the soul ceases to exist.

After I read your post the first time around, I wasn't really sold on that view. I have since looked up the word "destroy" in the Greek for Matthew 10:28. The Greek word for "destroy" is "apollumi", defined as to destroy or destroy utterly according to Strong's Concordance. Thayer's Greek Lexicon elaborates more by explaining it as "to put an end to". BUT Thayer's also gives a metaphorical meaning, "

metaphorically, to devote or give over to eternal misery: Matthew 10:28; James 4:12; contextually, by one's conduct to cause another to lose eternal salvation:"

So now I'm sold on your view. Just wanted to show the extra stuff that convinced me just in case it helps others.

 

[bbyrd009]

I have two questions about the biblical concept of Hell.

Is Hell a place where there will be eternal punishment?

Srsly? All go to the same place (the grave)
and if you check the relevant instances of “eternal,” youll see that they do not derive from the Greek aidios (forever)

If so, who will be eternally punished there? Is it humans or is it the Devil and his angels or is it both?

The reason I ask is because I've come across views that say that Hell is not forever. If that's the case, then that would take the sting out of arguments that say that God is cruel for punishing humans for an eternity just for not believing.

What does the Bible say on this subject?

Furthermore, the Father judges no one, No one has ever gone up to heaven, All go to the same place

Hel as we know it was an import of England’s Norse/Angle scribes, who likely just had no better term to translate into; guess they didnt burn their trash? lol