What’s the Deal?
We have some 30 plus bible verses that conclusively say, the lost do not burn forever in hell. The bible is so strong on this fact it is undeniable. Why then does the modern church persist to teach the lost eternally burn in hell?
That one Word
- Revelation 20:10 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.
The word ever in the above verse is, the entire argument for eternal burning. Yes, this entire doctrine, which goes against dozens of verses in the bible is held up by 1 word, g165 which has been falsely interpreted as the word “forever”.
Aion “g165”
1. for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity
2. the worlds, universe
3. period of time, age
Aionios “g166”
4. without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be
5. without beginning
6. without end, never to cease, everlasting
John who wrote revelation choose g165 in revelation 20:10. John had two choices, one that can only mean eternity, and one that can mean a period of time.
John was spirit guided when he wrote revelation, and he wrote Aion. If the spirit wanted John to infer or confirm hell is eternal, he would simply have guided John to write Aionios. The reason the spirit did not lead John to do this is clear, this would have contradicted the dozens of verses that clearly state hell, is not eternal.
Motive for Eternity
Why then do we find the modern church teaching revelation 20:10 is saying hell is eternal? It is my view the modern church has fallen into a simple trap by the enemy.
They have followed their denominational doctrine on the topic and have not questioned why their doctrine disagrees with the bible. Religion truly is a destructive force that the enemy uses with excellent results.
Anyone with any level of critical thinking ability would desire to seek out why the English word “ever” in revelation 20:10 contradicts so many other verses. When I first stumbled upon this topic, it took me approximately 35 seconds to go to the Greek and realize the KJV translators selected the wrong word in their translation. Yes, 35 seconds, that’s what it took me to realize and confirm the bible does not contradict itself, the KJV translators contradict themselves.
Conclusion
Aion means a period of time, and that is what the KJV translators should have said in Revelation 20:10. They did not and most of the Christian world fell for it. God promised to preserve his words, the Hebrew and Greek are perfect, and there is no perfect way to translate them into English every time. Revelation 20:10 says the beast and the false prophet will be tormented for a period of time, into the age of the age. No one knows how long God intends to torment the devil and his angels in hell before he destroys them, but we do know as an absolute that it won’t be forever.