- Don’t Mark 9:43 and Luke 16:19-31 prove that there is an eternally burning Hell?
“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:” (Mark 9:43)
“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and…there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
And in hell he (the rich man) lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” (Luke 16:19-20, 22-24)
Answer: NO. The Bible describes two Hells,
1. The grave, where all go when they die, righteous and unrighteous. Even Jesus went to this hell. Here, He slept until His resurrection.
“Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.” (Acts 2:30-31)
2. The Earth at the time when the wicked will be destroyed by fire.
“And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” (Revelation 20:9)
“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (2 Peter 3:7)
Further Reading: Psalms 16:10; 2 Peter 3:5-7,10; Revelation 20:9
In Mark 9:43, Jesus is referring to the Earth at this time of judgment. Moreover, parables and their symbols must ALL be literal or figurative. If Hell, as described in Luke 16:19-31, is literal, then (1) Abraham’s bosom must be the heavenly home of the saints, (2) the bodies of men would go to Heaven or Hell at death, and (3) it would contradict the Bible.*
The parable Jesus taught is clearly figurative. He used a common belief at the time to teach the people they had no hope if they ignored what Moses and the prophets said about Him.
Further Reading: Luke 16:31; John 5:45-47; Revelation 20:4-5,9
- Don’t Matthew 25:41 and Luke 3:17 prove the fire of the judgment is “everlasting” and “unquenchable”?
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41)
“Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.” (Luke 3:17)
Answer: NO. Jerusalem and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah also suffered the judgment of “everlasting” and “unquenchable” fire.
“But if ye will not hearken unto me…then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” (Jeremiah 17:27)
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them… are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7)
Their destruction teaches us two things about the fire of the judgment.
1. It is unquenchable because the Lord’s intention to punish the world cannot be changed. Jerusalem was rebuilt after the Lord punished His people. It is not burning today.
2. It is everlasting in its EFFECT, not in its DURATION. Sodom and the wicked cities are not burning today, but they have never been rebuilt. They will never be.
Further Reading: 2 Kings 23:26; Proverbs 10:30; Malachi 4:1,3
- Don’t Matthew 25:46 and Revelation 14:11,20:10 prove this punishment is eternal?
“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:46)
“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.” (Revelation 14:11)
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10)
Answer: NO. To be punished for eternity, the wicked would need immortal bodies and eternal life. But God only promised these things to the righteous. The only thing the wicked will receive is the punishment for their sins, death. From this death, they will never be resurrected. The effect, not the duration, of the punishment is eternal.
Further Reading: Matthew 19:16-19; John 3:14-15; Revelation 20:12-15
Moreover, the word “forever” refers to a limited or unlimited period of time in the Bible. In man’s case, forever means as long as he lives.
“For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” (Psalms 48:14)
The smoke from Sodom and Gomorrah “went up as the smoke of a furnace” (Genesis 19:28), but the smoke subsided when the inhabitants were destroyed. The wicked will only live long enough to be punished. After that, they will be destroyed.
Further Reading: Ezekiel 28:14-19; Malachi 4:1; 2 Peter 2:6
* Please review our Bible studies on Death, Resurrection, and the Judgment for more information.
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