What Greek and Hebrew word are you using that you believe says forever or eternal?
Daniel 12:1-2 (WEB) At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there will be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time. At that time your people will be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will
awake, some to
everlasting [‘ō·w·lām] life, and some to
shame and everlasting [‘ō·w·lām: noun masculine singular] contempt.
Out of
208 occurrences in the OT for the Hebrew word “
‘ō-w-lām” (
noun masculine singular) used,
204 occurrences translates
‘ō-w-lām as everlasting, perpetual, ever, always, forever, and forevermore, or some other permanent or unchanging way. Only 4 times is
‘ō-w-lām translated as “from of old,” but only because
the context limits its use within a restricted parameter:
For instance, a time frame is understood within the context.
Matthew 25:46 (WEB) 46 These will go away into
eternal [aiōnion: accusative feminine singular] punishment, but the righteous into
eternal [aiōnion: accusative feminine singular] life.
Out of
45 occurrences in the NT for the Greek word
aiōnion (
adjective, accusative masculine) used,
in all 45 occurrences, “
aiōnion” is defined as “everlasting” or “eternal.” That is
100% of the time,
aiōnion means “
everlasting” or “
eternal.”
2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 (WEB) 6 Since
it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, 8
punishing those who don’t know God, and to those who
don’t obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus, 9 who will
pay the penalty: eternal [aiōnion] destruction from the face of the Lord
Out of
45 occurrences in the NT for the Greek word
aiōnion (
adjective, accusative masculine) used,
in all 45 occurrences, “
aiōnion” is defined as “everlasting” or “eternal.” That is
100% of the time,
aiōnion means “
everlasting” or “
eternal.”
Jude 1:7 (WEB) 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, having in the same way as these given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are shown as an example,
suffering the punishment of eternal [aiōniou] fire.
Out of
15 occurrences in the NT for the Greek word
aiōniou (
adjective, genitive neuter singular) used,
in all 15 occurrences, “
aiōniou” is defined as “everlasting” or “eternal.” That is
100% of the time,
aiōniou means “
everlasting” or “
eternal.”
Jude 1:12-13 (WEB) 12 These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the
blackness of darkness has been reserved forever [aiōna].
Out of
31 occurrences in the NT for the Greek word
aiōna (
noun, accusative masculine singular) used, “
aiōna” could be defined as “ever,” “forever,” “evermore,” or “age.” However, when you consider the context of the other Scriptures I provided that show that God's Judgment of the wicked is eternal, then we cannot in good conscience change the meaning of God's judgment to mean "temporary" just because
aiōna is: noun, accusative masculine singular rather than another tense.
For instance, a time frame is understood within the context if a set time parameter is meant.
"
FOREVER AND EVER" literally: “
ages of ages” always means
everlasting or
forever - OT and NT.
Revelation 14:9-11 (WEB) 9 Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand, 10 he also will
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger.
He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment goes up
forever [aiōnas: noun accusative masculine plural] and ever [aiōnōn: noun genitive masculine plural]. They have
no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
Revelation 20:10 (WEB) 10 The devil who deceived them was thrown into the
lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be
tormented day and night forever [aiōnas: noun accusative masculine plural] and ever [aiōnōn: noun genitive masculine plural].
Revelation 20:14-15 (WEB) 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the
lake of fire. This is the second death, the
lake of fire. 15 If
anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was
cast into the lake of fire.
The eternality of punishment is taught by Lord Jesus in various ways. Some of these are as follows:
Matthew 5:22-26 (WEB)
25 Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and
you be cast into prison. 26 Most certainly
I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
Lord Jesus appears to be describing a place that the unrighteous will be cast into, and is eternal, because no one who is in that prison can pay anything. So this place is
forever.
Luke 12:57-59 (WEB)
57 Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer,
and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you,
you will by no means get out of there, until you have paid the very last penny.
Again, Lord Jesus appears to be describing a place that the unrighteous will be cast into, and is eternal, because no one who is in that prison can pay anything.
The Parable of the
Rich Man and Lazarus is taught by Lord Jesus as another example of the finality and eternality of eternal punishment. See:
Luke 16:19-31
As well, eternal punishment does not mean eternal non-existence, because the idea Lord Jesus conveys in His teachings, is that we should fear going into that place of eternal fire. In addition, those who are eternally punished, which is also called eternal death, is separation from the presence of God forever as this Passage indicates....
Revelation 22:12-17 (WEB) 12 “Behold, I come quickly.
My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14
Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. 15
Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
