Well, the Jews ended up crucifying their own Messiah, so I would not exactly consider them to always be experts on what God's Word always. My ultimate authority is the Bible (God's Holy Word) and not history written by men.
You said:
When Jesus taught e.g.,“Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41).
The fire is “
everlasting” as long as it accomplishes its intended purpose. When Jesus talks about the unquenchable fire and the worms that do not die in Mark 9:43-44, and Mark 9:48, He was referring to Isaiah 66:22-24. In the picture we are given in Isaiah 66:22-24, we are on the New Earth, and the saints are witnessing the lifeless remains (carcases) of the wicked after several sabbaths and new moons. Carcases or corpses are dead, and they are not living.
In addition, the dictionary has several definitions for the word "ever." Besides the word "ever" meaning eternal, it also defines the word "ever" in this way, as well.
Ever:
(adverb):
To a great extent or degree.
Dictionary Source:
Ever dictionary definition | ever defined
So words like “everlasting” in relation to “fire” (i.e. punishment) in Matthew 25:41 lets us know that it does not always means forever.
For example: “
Everlasting” or “
for ever” can be talking about "forever" here on this Earth (as long as someone lives) or in having a sense of "completeness" or "totality" for a specific thing). For what do you make of the following verses below that say that "forever" (or it's related words) is not forever?
• In
Genesis 13:15 the land of Canaan is given to Israel “forever”.
• The sin of Samaria "is incurable" (
Micah 1:9) until -- Lord "will restore ... the fortunes of Samaria." (
Ezekiel 16:53).
• An Ammonite or Moabite is forbidden to enter the Lord's congregation "forever" until -- the tenth generation (
Deuteronomy 23:3):
• Habakkuk tells us of mountains that were "everlasting" until -- they "were shattered"
Habakkuk 3:6).
• The Aaronic Priesthood was to be an "everlasting" priesthood (
Exodus 40:15), that is-until-it was superseded by the Melchizedek Priesthood (
Hebrews 7:14-18).
• Many translations of the Bible inform us that God would dwell in Solomon's Temple "forever" (
1 Kings 8:13), until -- the Temple was destroyed.
• The children of Israel were to "observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant" (
Exodus 31:16)-until -- Paul states there remains "another day" of Sabbath rest for the people of God (
Hebrews 4:8-9).
• The fire for Israel's sin offering (of a ram without blemish) is never to be put out. It shall be a "perpetual" until -- Christ, the Lamb of God, dies for our sins.
• God's waves of wrath roll over Jonah "forever" until--the Lord delivers him from the large fish's belly on the third day (
Jonah 2:6-10;
Jonah 1:17); Egypt and Elam will "rise no more" (
Jeremiah 25:27) until -- the Lord will "restore the fortunes of Egypt" (
Ezekiel 29:14) and "restore the fortunes of Elam" (
Jeremiah 49:39).
• Israel's judgment lasts "forever" until -- the Spirit is poured out and God restores it (
Isaiah 32:13-15).
• The King James Bible, as well as many others, tells us that a bond slave was to serve his master "forever" (
Exodus 21:6), until -- his death.
• “Eternal” (Greek aionia, αιονια) is sometimes used of a limited (not endless) period of time. But the most common use is illustrated in
2 Corinthians 4:18 where it is contrasted with “temporal” and in
Philemon 1:15 where it is contrasted with “for a while.”
So the word "forever" as used in the Bible is true. It does mean "forever" but it is talking in "forever" under the context of within either a temporary Covenant, or here upon this Earth (which is temporal), or within the Lake of Fire (Which is also a temporary place). In Philemon 1:15: Paul mentioned to Philemon how Onesimus was going to return back to him (his master) forever.
Obviously, Onesimus is not an immortal man still living upon the Earth with his master (Philemon) today. He was returning back to his master forever within the context of their temporary lives upon the Earth.
You said:
these shall go away into eternal punishment, Matthew 25:46
“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment:
but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:46).
What does “eternal judgment” mean in Hebrews 6:2? It’s pretty simple; God judges, and the result is everlasting. Few traditionalists (i.e. Eternal Torment proponents), if any, argue that this verse teaches that God is continually judging for eternity, banging his gavel and repeatedly declaring saved or unsaved the same finite number of existent people. But wait a minute; it doesn’t say “the eternal results of judgment.” It says “eternal judgment.” Following the reasoning applied to Matthew 25:46, this verse must teach that God is continually in the act of judging! In other words, the consequences of the punishment are everlasting, and not the act of punishing that is ongoing. In fact, if we compare Scripture with Scripture, we discover exactly what this“everlasting punishment” actually is.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:9. It says, “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;” (KJV).
So the wicked will be destroyed. Their everlasting punishment is…. everlasting destruction! Destruction means it is not around anymore. Something that is destroyed is no more. If I tell you I will destroy a piece of paper, I will either shred it, or burn it, etc.; It will be no more from what it used to be. It will cease to function in the manner that it was. It was destroyed. So Matthew 25:46 is referring to an everlasting punishment. This punishment has everlasting consequences and it is everlasting destruction (i.e. something that will be no more). Just as there is an “eternal judgment” mentioned in Scripture. A one time judgment with eternal consequences, and not a court like judgment that will stretch out into eternity for all time. Therefore, there will also be an “everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46), or a punishment that has everlasting consequences by an “everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). It will be a destruction or ruin, or end of the wicked that has everlasting consequences.
Now, some try to say that comparing “everlasting life with everlasting punishment” is proof of Eternal Torment.
However, if we were to look more closely at Matthew 25:46:
Everlasting is the parallel (which speaks of the eternal consequences).
Both life and death (destruction, i.e. the punishment) have eternal consequences or effects.
But life and death (punishment) is the contrast.
So the verse is one part parallel and one part contrast.
As I already pointed out, the "everlasting punishment" is said to be "everlasting destruction" in 2 Thessalonians 1:9, which is death.
So the contrast is life (reward) and death (punishment).
And everlasting is the parallel.
Anyways, if ECT (Eternal Conscious Torment) was true, the verse would say,
"And these shall go away into everlasting life to be tortured in flames: but the righteous into life eternal to be in peaceful bliss." (Matthew 25:46 ECT Influenced Translation).
But the verse doesn't really say that, though; So Matthew 25:46 is not a solid case in proving Eternal Torment. At first glance, a person may get this impression when reading it, but we know that many verses in Scripture can be easily misunderstood with a quick reading (if we are not careful to compare Scripture with Scripture).
Sources used in this post:
(Please take note that I do not agree with everything these Christian authors believe, say, or do; I am merely posting the source links to show that I quoted them at certain times for the point of my article):
Apttpteach
Matthew 25:46 Does Not Prove Eternal Torment – Part 1 | Rethinking Hell