Permanent Elimination or Everlasting Torment?

Permanent death or everlasting torture? What does the weight of scripture demonstrate is God's viewpoint on what is just?

Even with the first human pair, God was very plain what would happen if they disobeyed.

Gen.2:16,17 Yes, death, returning to the dust from which they were taken, was the plainly stated penalty for disobedience.

Just prior to Moses' death, as part of a motivating discourse, he said the following at Deut.30:15-19 Life and Death as “rewards” for obedience and disobedience were contrasted. No mention of eternal torment in a fiery hell.

Ps.37:9-11 The scripture says that evil men will be “done away with.” Not tortured for all eternity.

Ezekiel 18:4 Once again, death is the punishment, not torment.

Romans 6:23 Indicates that death is the wage of sin, not eternal torment.

Both the apostles Peter and Paul mention destruction (2 Thes.1:9; 2 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 3:7,9), not eternal torment, as punishment from God.

But now what of the “proof” scriptures advanced by those believing in hellfire?

Rev.21:7-8 This is one of two major scriptures that those advancing the idea of hellfire quote. Notice the last few words, “this means the second death.” At Rev.20:14,15 we read what else ends up in the lake of fire (aka “the second death”): “death and the Grave were hurled into the lake of fire.” Since both death and the grave are not objects that can be tormented, a reasoning person would need to ask himself, “What could the second death possibly be?” Revelation 21:4 answers that question: “He [God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” So far from the lake of fire picturing eternal torment, it pictures eternal elimination.

Another term found in scripture is Gehenna. Rather than reinvent the wheel, here is an article that covers that subject.

There are probably a few other scriptures those advancing the idea of hellfire will quote, but the  above seem to be the major players in their line of (wrong) reasoning. Why am I so bold in outrightly calling it wrong? Because it defames the Creator as a person whose justice can only be satisfied by eternally torturing people, when God’s own Word the Bible makes it quite plain he is not that sort of person at all. (See also this article.)

Matthew 8 vs 29 Demons Tormented

Matthew 8:29 "[the demons] screamed, saying: “What have we to do with you, Son of God?  Did you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”

It is helpful to understand what the demons meant by "did you come here to torment us before the appointed time?" As you probably remember, Revelation 20:1-3 says of Jesus: “I saw an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for 1,000 years. And he hurled him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not mislead the nations anymore until the 1,000 years were ended. After this he must be released for a little while."

So the demons were referring to the future time that they know and recognized as their imprisonment in the "abyss." Granted, these are spirit creatures we are talking about, so no physical holding tank could restrain them. But God knew we as physical beings would not understand spiritual things unless they were put in a frame of reference we humans could relate to. So whatever this "abyss" is, it is some sort of restraint that prevents the demons from exerting their influence.

But how do the words “torture” and “torment” play into this? Regarding the original Greek word used here, consider this article: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200004454

Here is a reasoning point that may help: Just as a holding cell, or even possibly solitary confinement might be a "torture" all of and in itself, so likewise restraining the demons inside the abyss is all by itself a torture. (Even a child being punished by being sent to his room or to sit in a corner knows how torturous being grounded can be.) Those who have been in prisons can relate to the mental (psychological and emotional) anguish just being in prison can have. Even if no actual physical torture is being applied, just the act of restraint, the inability to express free will, the inability to enjoy life can be torture.

So things we humans associate with physical torture would not affect a spirit creature. But more importantly is the principle at Jeremiah 19:5 and James 1:13. That is to say, God would never use this sort of torture on anyone.

Revelation 20:10 Satan and Hell

There are those that believe hell (or hades) is a torturous place for evil people. Several so-called Christian religions have taught this, including the Catholic Church of which I used to be a member. Even to this day, there are depictions that I have seen and descriptions I have heard that demonstrate a complete lack of knowledge about this matter.

For example, three common misconceptions I hear frequently are that the devil is the one doing the tormenting and he has resided there longer than anyone else. The devil himself is not affected by the flame of hell. With only one scripture, I can dispel all three spurious beliefs! Revelation 20:10 says: “And the Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulfur, where both the wild beast and the false prophet already were; and they will be tormented* day and night forever and ever.”

In case you think: “That is just your version of the Bible,” you can read other translations here. So now that the “translation” issue is settled, consider these points:

The “wild beast” and the “false prophet” are said to already be in hell before Satan was thrown there.

Satan is also being “tormented” in hell.

There is no mention of Satan himself torturing others. (You will not find any scripture that supports such an idea.)

As for what hell really is, that is not the intent of this post, however, you might be interested in this article.

Is this news to you? Start reading the Bible yourself to see what it really says so you can stop believing the lies you have been and are being told.