WORD STUDY ON OLAM, AION AND AEON
By O. Khodjo
Welcome to mis-translations and mis-interpretations
INTRODUCTION
I have a standing Axiom in terms of biblical teachings, if the church teaches it then it’s false. There is not one single doctrine that the church practices that the Apostles left us. The church has had an interest in teaching “eternal” judgement. The church has depended on threats of future torment to keep its grip on its members. Eternal judgement has been the party line. All verses that contradict it have been ignored or twisted to mean something different from their obvious meaning. We are so accustomed to the lie, that we find it difficult to accept the truth.
When we study the scriptures on the final destiny of believers and unbelievers, we meet an apparent contradiction. Some scriptures seem to say that THE ENTIRE human race will be SAVED. Consider the following:
Paul here simply states that ALL die in Adam, and in Christ ALL will be made alive, though not at the same time or all in this age. Salvation is not for all in this life, but in progressive ages and stages.
Sin did separate us from GOD but now we ALL will be going back to the Father because the SON has reconciled ALL things back to the father,
Other scriptures appear to teach that unbelievers will suffer “eternal” torment.
The problem has come from the words eternity, everlasting and for ever which is translated from OLAM (Hebrew) and AION (Greek). We need to understand that, the bibles that we have now is not what the Prophets and Apostles penned down by the inspiration of the spirit of GOD. We have too many mistranslation phrases and wrong words added to the bible and too many bogus teachings from the pulpit and seminaries.
A dictionary or lexicon is not the most authoritative place to find the true definition of a word. Especially if the word in question makes or breaks a particular controversial doctrine, such as, is punishment of the wicked for a period of time that ends, or for “eternity”.
OLAM (Hebrew) = AION (Greek) = AEON (English)...all the three mean the same thing = a period of time (long or short) And Not For Ever, Everlasting Or Eternity.
Why did the translators decided to drop aeon (the English equivalent) and rather choose to use everlasting, eternal and forever? Just to make a doctrine stand. Who wrote the dictionary and the lexicons? Is every definition in the lexicon and dictionary correct? This might be your first time hearing this, but I bet you, start checking on words in the dictionary and the lexicons now, You will find errors.
If we argue that meanings of words have changed over the years, it is true, but will that change Gods word? Nope, Never. GOD FORBIDS!!
In many Bibles the Greek word: "aion" is translated as "forever", and "aionios" is translated, "everlasting," or "eternal." HOW PRAY TELL!!
Dr Strong's Greek Dictionary defines "aion" as follows: "an age, perpetuity, the world, a Messianic period, course, eternal, forever, evermore, without end." Strong's defines the adjective aionios as follows: "perpetual, eternal, forever, everlasting."
Are these definitions good scholarship or religious bias? Does anyone see a problem with Dr Strong's definition of "aion/aionios?"
The fact that there may or may not be "cults" who claim that the word "olam/ aion" is mistranslated in many Bibles, has absolutely nothing to do with the validity of the argument. I personally know that "olam/ aion" is not translated properly in most places of the King James Bible, yet I am not a CULT neither a Universalist but rather hungry for the truth...some say am a pagan yet they can’t define the word paganism. The reason given as to why this word cannot be translating "everlasting" is The true test of this word’s meaning is usage and etymology (history of the word).
I will prove that it does not ever mean "without beginning or end" or "eternal" in the Scriptures. Note: When I refer to the "Scriptures," I am assuredly not referring to error-filled Bible translations of the Scriptures but the original scripts (Greek/Hebrew).
I have argued this point for the past years. Just because a word translated WRONGLY can still make sense does NOT justify doing so. Perchance someone might wish to translate Mark 9:41 as follows: "For whosoever shall give you a GLASS OF ICE COLD LEMONADE to drink in my name… shall not lose his reward." Does not the verse make equal SENSE as when it is correctly translated "A CUP OF WATER?" Yes it does, but that is NOT what the Holy Spirit inspired to be preserved for us. Hence, "a glass of ice cold lemonade" is wrong, just as translating Rom. 16:26 as "the everlasting God," is wrong. The Holy Spirit inspired the word aionios (adjective), which translated to our English equivalent "aeonian (adjective)". The adjective is applied to some things which are ‘endless’ [as with ‘God’ in Rom. 16:26] does NOT, of course, for one moment prove that the word itself meant ‘endless’...
ETERNAL DURATION AND MODERN CONCEPTIONS
Olam and Aion denote limited duration in the holy bible. There is a verbal pivot on which swings the question, does the Bible teach the doctrine of Endless Punishment?
It does not seem to have been generally considered by students of this subject that the thought of endless duration is comparatively a modern conception. The ancients, at a time more recent than the dates of the Old Testament, had not yet recognized the idea of endless duration, so that passages containing the word applied to God do not mean that he is of eternal duration, but the idea was for the fact that GOD is immortal. Immortals live on and on but they do not define everlasting or eternity.
The pure idea of eternity is too abstract to have been conceived in the early ages of the world, and accordingly is not found expressed by any word in the ancient languages. But as cultivation advanced and this idea became more distinctly developed, it became necessary in order to express it to invent new words in a new sense. The Hebrews were destitute of any single word to express endless duration. To express a past “eternity” they said before the world was; a future, when the world shall be no more. . . . The Hebrews and other ancient people have no one word for expressing the precise idea of eternity."
THE GREEK CLASSICS
When the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew into Greek by the Seventy, the word aion had been in common use for many centuries. It is outrageous to say that the Seventy would render the Hebrew olam by the Greek aion and give to the latter
(1) a different meaning from that of the former, or
(2) A different meaning from aion in the current Greek literature. It is self-evident, then, that Aion in the Old Testament means exactly what Olam means, and also what Aion means in the Greek classics. A Period Of Time is the sense of olam, and it is equally clear that aion has a similar signification.
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING COVENANTS
RAINBOW COVENANT
Possibly the only truly unilateral covenant in the Bible, where absolutely no participation on our part is required for its fulfilment. Gen. 9:16,
"And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting [Heb: olam] covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth."
This covenant has no requirements on our part, but is it truly everlasting—endless?
If that covenant in Gen 9:16 is everlasting, then explain the following verse
and there is "A NEW heaven and a NEW earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were PASSED AWAY; and there was no more sea " (Rev. 21:1)
And when God says, "Behold, I make ALL THINGS NEW…." (Rev. 21:5), perhaps you can agree that this "rainbow covenant" will have come to an END, and then be of no consequence or have no application in a scriptural, heavenly realm.
A new heaven and earth replaces an old one, is the covenant still running?
ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
Gen17: 1-2"And when Abraham was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, AND be you perfect. And I will make My covenant between Me and thee, and will multiple thee exceedingly…
7-10 And I will establish my covenant between Me and thee and your seed after you in their generations for an everlasting [Heb: olam] covenant. And I will give unto you and to your seed after you, the land wherein you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting [olam] possession… This is My covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and your seed after you; Every man child among you shall be CIRCUMCISED…
13 He that is born in your house, and he that is bought with your money, must be circumcised: and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting [olam] covenant." (Gen. 17:1-2, 7-10, 13).
THE OLD COVENANT
What we term the Old Covenant obviously was not to continue "forever" or "eternally," as it was REPLACED by a NEW Covenant which was clearly stated by Paul by the divine inspiration "NOT according to the covenant that I made with their fathers…." (Heb. 8:9).
This is completely a different covenant, so how could the first covenant be termed everlasting if it has been changed, are we saying GOD lied or our translators have lied against the word of GOD? How pray tell! Grow up people!!!
How long did "EVERLASTING STATUTES" last?
Is the "everlasting statute" regulating the "day of atonement," still in force? "And this shall be an EVERLASTING [olam] statute unto you, to make atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year…." (Lev. 16:34). Now compare Rom. 5:11, "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have NOW received THE ATONEMENT."
So what do you suppose happened to that "EVERLASTING statute" regarding atonement for sin?
"But in those sacrifices there is remembrance again made of sins EVERY YEAR [on the day of ATONEMENT]… Then said He, Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God, He TAKES AWAY THE FIRST [covenant] that He may establish the second [covenant]. By the which will, we are sanctified through the OFFERING OF THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST ONCE [no longer ‘once a year’] FOR ALL" (Heb. 10:4, 9-10).
The Levitical Priests, the offering, the temple, the holy of holies is all, GONE!. Now there is ONE ATONEMENT for all, offered ONCE and never again. This particular "eternity" lasted less than 1500 years! So just maybe an olam is NOT ETERNAL after all. What do you think? Am not being funny here, I just want you to think.
The "EVERLASTING [olam] priesthood" of Exodus 40:15. And just how long did this "everlasting priesthood" last?
"If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the PRIESTHOOD BEING CHANGED, there is made of necessity a change also of the law…
For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood" (Heb. 7:11-12, 14).
And so we have no more "EVERLASTING" Levitical priesthood, but rather a CHANGE in law and a CHANGE in the priesthood. And so this "everlasting/eternity" also lasted 1500 years, and ENDED. How do we explain that? Theologians are lying, full of errors.
I will give just one of many examples in the Old Testament where "olam" absolutely cannot mean "forever" or "eternal" as Dr. Strong so Erroneously defines it:
Exodus 21:6 "Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him FOR EVER [Heb: ‘olam’—Strong’s ‘ETERNITY’]."
Does Dr. Strong also believe in ETERNAL SLAVERY? That is too BAD...for him being the most powerful bible concordance used worldwide...what a shame, poor scholarship.
Therefore we have just seen absolute and unarguable proof that the Hebrew olam does not and cannot possibly mean everlasting or eternal.
The concept of "eternity" is foreign to the Holy Scriptures. There is virtually nothing that is outside of the time periods known as aions. There are just a couple of hints regarding life beyond the ages of time. Luke speaks of things pertaining to the Kingdom, not coming to an end. And Paul tells us that in resurrection we will have "incorruption" and "immortality" signifying "deathlessness," but neither word has to do with time itself. Paul also speaks of a time in which God will be "ALL in all." That is the extent to which the Scriptures even hint of eternity or anything beyond the ages of time.
In II Corinthians Paul was telling us about some eternal things, let examine this scripture:
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. II Cor. 4:17-18
II Cor. 4:18 is neither speaking of "deathless" or "everlasting," as some theologians suggest. It is speaking of what is happening now, in our life of flesh, and what will happen during the ages of our reign with Christ in the kingdom of God. The things of this life, we SEE daily. The things pertaining to the Kingdom of God are as yet "NOT seen." Again, it is not even speaking of what is "visible" and "Invisible," but rather what is NOW SEEN as compared with things "eonian" and NOT YET SEEN, which when seen will not be temporary, but will last through whole aeons of time. And all that is perfected through the Kingdom of God and the reign of Christ bringing all enemies into subjection, will last on PAST the aeons, and will have NO END.
The next great event in prophecy is not eternity, but rather the END of this eon and the BEGINNING of the next—the one in which the very elect will reign with Christ. There is no sense in jumping into eternity when as yet, we have numerous ages to yet live and administer God’s government and His Great Judgment. And so, what is not yet seen, is "aeonian" (pertaining to the eons), and not "eternity" as some of you, the Theologians and the King James suggests in this verse.
Paul is contrasting what is "seen" now and what is "not seen," now, but is yet future.
Not contrasting material with spiritual, but rather what is perceived in this temporary life and what is ahead as our reward in the Kingdom which is yet to come...
Paul is not speaking of spiritual things over the material world. Notice the previous verse:
17"Four our light affliction, which is but for a moment [this is temporary, and this is what Paul tells us we are NOW OBSERVING], works for us a far more exceeding and AIONIOS weight of glory."
Paul is contrasting the
[1] ‘light affliction’ with
[2] ‘Exceeding weight of glory.’
This cannot be denied, for I have just merely numbered the two contrasting points he is making. Now then, we know that the ‘light affliction’ is as he says ‘momentary’—it is SEEN, it is NOW, and it is TEMPORARY. But, he tells us that this NOW SEEN TEMPORARY affliction will bring us an EXCEEDING WEIGHT OF GLORY. WHEN? IN THE RESURRECTION, of course, the first resurrection, when we will be GLORIFIED WITH CHRIST and… and what? Why we (chosen, few, elect) are to be "kings and priests" with our Lord. When? All through ETERNITY? NO, during the "oncoming ages." These verses are speaking of the trials we now see and are enduring for a temporary moment, contrasted with the glory that will be ours IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD on this earth ruling and reign with Christ THROUGH THE AGES, not for eternity. Not even Christ rules as "King" for eternity.
Therefore aeonians means —pertaining to the oncoming AGES. Our glorious reign with Christ on the earth over the nations is for the AGES, not for eternity. The reign of Christ COMES TO AND END, just as aionios comes to an end I Cor. 15:25-26
God is NOT an "age lasting god" but rather "THE God of the ages." One has to get it through the head that a Greek "aion" is English "aeon," and a Greek "aionios" is English "aeonian." And they do not mean forever, eternity or everlasting.
Theologians normally quotes that eternity is time without end, this is NONSENSE! A blatant lie. Eternity has no beginning no end, got nothing to do with time.
In Time There Is Change
In Eternity There Is No Change,
If There Was No Sun There Would Have Been No Days(Time)
If There Was No Moon There Would Have Been No Nights(Time)
Before Creation There Was No Time
Double Check Scriptures You Will Understand This.
EXCERPTS FROM THE JEHOVAH WITNESS’S ARCHIVES
*** it-2 pp. 1102-1103 Time Indefinite ***
TIME INDEFINITE
The Hebrew word ‛oh·lam′ carries the thought of indefinite or uncertain time. Lexicographer Gesenius defines it as meaning “hidden time, i.e. obscure and long, of which the beginning or end is uncertain or indefinite.” (A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, translated by E. Robinson, 1836, p. 746) Accordingly, expressions such as “time indefinite” (Ps 25:6), “indefinitely lasting” (Hab 3:6), “of old” (Ge 6:4), “a long time ago,” “of long ago” (Jos 24:2; Pr 22:28; 23:10), and “long-lasting” (Eccl. 12:5) appropriately convey the thought of the original-language term.
The word ‛oh·lam′ is at times associated with that which is everlasting. (1Ki 2:45, ftn) The prophet Isaiah wrote: “Jehovah, the Creator of the extremities of the earth, is a God to time indefinite.” (Isa 40:28) Jehovah is “from time indefinite to time indefinite.” (Ps. 90:2) Since Jehovah is immortal and does not die, he will continue to be God for all eternity. (Hab 1:12; 1Ti 1:17) However, the Hebrew expression ‛oh·lam′ does not in itself mean “forever.” It often refers to things that have an end, but the period of such things’ existence can be said to be ‘to time indefinite’ because the time of their end is not then specified. For example, the ‘indefinitely lasting’ Law covenant came to an end with Jesus’ death and the bringing in of a new covenant. (Ex 31:16, 17; Ro 10:4; Ga 5:18; Col 2:16, 17; Heb 9:15) And the ‘indefinitely lasting’ Aaronic priesthood similarly came to an end.—Ex 40:15; Heb 7:11-24; 10:1
Another Hebrew term, ‛adh, denotes unlimited future time, everlastingness, or eternity. (1Ch 28:9; Ps 19:9; Isa 9:6; 45:17; Hab 3:6) At times, as at Psalm 45:6, the words ‛oh·lam′ and ‛adh appear together and may be rendered “age-during, and for ever” (Yg), “age-abiding and beyond” (Ro), and “time indefinite, even forever” (NW). Concerning the earth, the psalmist declared: “It will not be made to totter to time indefinite, or forever.”—Ps 104:5.
The Hebrew term ne′tsach can also denote everlastingness. From Dr strong # 5331 :( always, constantly, end, nevermore, perpetual, strength, victory
Or netsach {nay'-tsakh}; from natsach; properly, a goal, i.e. The bright object at a distance travelled towards; hence (figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or (objectively) confidence; but usually (adverbially), continually (i.e. To the most distant point of view); --alway(-s), constantly, end, (+ n-)ever(more), perpetual, strength, victory.)
Among the ways it may be rendered are “forever” (Job 4:20; 14:20), “perpetually” (Isa 57:16), and “always” (Ps 9:18). Sometimes ne′tsach and ‛oh·lam′ occur in parallel (Ps 49:8, 9), or the terms ne′tsach and ‛adh appear together. (Am 1:11) All three words are found at Psalm 9:5, 6: “You have rebuked nations . . . Their name you have wiped out to time indefinite [le‛oh·lam′], even forever [wa·‛edh′]. O you enemy, your desolations have come to their perpetual [la·ne′tsach] finish.”
In the Christian Greek Scriptures, the word ai·on′ may denote a time period of indefinite or indeterminate length, a period of remote, but not endless, time. For example, at Luke 1:70 and Acts 3:21 ai·on′ can be rendered “of old,” “of old time,” “in ancient times.” (RS, NW, AT) Often, however, the context suggests that ai·on′ is to be understood to refer to a time period of undefined length because of such period being endless in duration. (Lu 1:55; Joh 6:50, 51; 12:34; 1Jo 2:17) Similarly, the adjective ai·o′ni·os (drawn from ai·on′) can, as is evident from the context, signify both “long lasting” (Ro 16:25; 2Ti 1:9; Tit 1:2) and “everlasting.” (Mt 18:8; 19:16, 29) Another Greek adjective, a·i′di·os, specifically means “eternal” or “everlasting.”—Ro 1:20; Jude 6, NW, RS, AT; for a further consideration of ai·on′,
The Greek “Aion.” “Age” may also refer to a period of time in man’s history, whether having or not having datable bounds. It is frequently used to translate the Greek word ai·on′ (plural, ai·o′nes) in some translations.
Greek lexicographers show the word to mean “space of time clearly defined and marked out, epoch, age,” and also “lifetime, life,” or “age, generation.” Since an epoch, or age, can begin and end or IT CAN GO ON FOREVER, it follows that ai·on′ could refer to a period of time that is endless, though having a beginning. (This whole explanation is nonsense and contradictory) bold writings are mine.
Thus, as recorded at Mark 3:29, Jesus said that the blasphemer against the holy spirit was guilty of “everlasting [agelong, perpetual, eternal] sin,” or a sin never to be cancelled out at any future time (THIS IS NEVER TRUE, IT’S ONLY FOR THE AEONS) bold comments are mine. A similar expression was used with regard to the fruitless fig tree, where “forever” in the Greek is literally “to [for] the age.” (Mt 21:19) At Jesus’ birth the angelic promise was that “he will rule as king over the house of Jacob FOREVER [literally, into the ages].”—Luke 1:33 (JESUS NEVER RULES FOREVER, THE PROPER WORDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INTO THE AGES (a period of time), because he hands over the kingdom to the father who sent him after destroying the last enemy, DEATH. God then becomes king 1 Cor. 15 :24 - 28) bold writings are mine
However, ai·on′ can also refer more particularly to the consistent state of things or the current state of affairs or features that distinguish a certain period of time, epoch, or age rather than to the matter of time itself
In the Hebrew Scriptures. The Hebrew term che′ledh is similar in meaning to ai·on′, referring in some texts to “life’s duration” (Job 11:17; Ps 39:5; 89:47), but in other cases the features of the time period appear to be the main thing signified, allowing for rendering it “system of things.” (Ps 17:13, 14; 49:1) Some translations use the word “world” to render this term in these latter texts, but this rendering more or less bypasses the sense implied, namely, that of continuing time.
*** w96 4/1 pp. 10-15 Praise the King of Eternity! ***
“Jehovah is King to time indefinite, even forever.”—PSALM 10:16.
ETERNITY—what would you say it is? Do you think time could really go on forever? Well, there is no question that time stretches forever into the past. So why not forever into the future? (NONSENSE, TIME IS GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH ETERNITY) bold writings are mine. Indeed, the New World Translation of the Bible refers to God as being praised “from time indefinite even to time indefinite.” (Psalm 41:13). (THIS IS TRUE BECAUSE GOD STARTED RECEIVING PRAISES WHEN HE CREATED THE ANGELS, BEFORE THAT THERE WAS NO PRAISES) bold writings are mine
I can go on and on and on from the Jehovah witness archives but there is no need.
End Of Jehovah Witnesses Archives...
KING JAMES Vs. NEW WORLD TRANSLATION
The New World Translation (which is the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible) DOES translate "aionion" (albeit erroneously) as "everlasting—"…in accord with the commandment of the EVERLASTING God…." (Rom. 16:25, New World Translation). Yet they still argue this out as correctly translated likewise all Christendom.
Let’s compare the following verse from two popular archrivals in Christendom...
"And these will depart into Everlasting CUTTING-OFF, but the righteous ones into EVERLASTING life" (Matt. 25:46, New World Translation of Jehovah’s Witnesses).
“And these shall go away into Everlasting PUNISHMENT: but the righteous into life ETERNAL” (Matt. 25:46, King James Version)
The word translated cutting off by JW and Punishment by KJV is a Greek word “Kolasin” which means cutting off and NOT punishment...
This verse has many problems. The JW’s followed the error of the KJV with reference to "aionio.”. Actually the New World Translation (JW) translated “kolasin” correctly than KJV, because the word is not "punishment." The Greek word "kolasin" comes from "kolazo" and it means to "cut off" or to "prune." Since the New World Translation knew to properly translate this word "cutting off," it is remarkable that they still erred and translated "aionio" as everlasting, hence: "everlasting cutting-off." Pruning is administered to INCREASE LIFE AND PRODUCTION. They should have seen by this alone that this "pruning" could not be "everlasting.” JW on this subject is far better than KJV. So stop calling the Jehovah witness as a false religion, prove yourself right with your own error filled King James.
Bear in mind that the proper translation of the word "punishment" is used but one time only in the New Testament with reference to sinners, and that is in Heb. 10:29 “Of how much sorer PUNISHMENT, suppose ye, ...”
Dr Strong # 5098 Gk=timoria From timoreo ; means vindication, i.e. a penalty -- punishment.
And nowhere else in the entire New Testament! Yes nowhere else unless is a wrong translation.
The word "kolasin" is better translated "chastening" which agrees with pruning or cutting off and not punishment. And "aionio (Greek)" mean "aeonian (English)"—pertaining to the aions, hence "chastening aeonian" is the proper translation. And "life aeonian" is also proper. Hence both times "aionio" is aeonian and not eternal. The life that is promised to the elect who overcome is life for the aeons—"aeonian life." They are promised ruler ship with Jesus on this earth over the nations, Rev. 2:26. They are NOT promised ruler ship over the nations for all eternity, as not even Christ Himself rules over the nations eternally:
24 Then the END WILL COME, when he HANDS OVER THE KINGDOM TO GOD the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 THE LAST ENEMY TO BE DESTROYED IS DEATH. 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be ALL in ALL. (I Cor. 15:24-28 NIV)
The Elect will reign and JUDGE the nations not only through the millennium, but also for the whole period of the Great White Throne/Lake of fire/Second death judgment.
And AFTER the consummation of the ages, the elect saints continue to live, not because they were promised "eternal" life, but because they have been resurrected from the dead or changed at our Lord’s coming, hence they are all given IMMORTALITY! Which means that they will NEVER EVER die, even though they have never been promised "eternal" life by such a name or term,
The Scriptural fact that God is an "aionios [aeonian] God" in no way suggests that God lives only for the period covered by the word "aionios." That is unjustifiable speculation based on false deductions from a false premise. This reasoning is so silly that it hardly deserves comment.
In Gen. 24:3 we read that God is the "God of the earth." Now the earth is visible; is God therefore visible? No. The earth is physical; is God therefore physical? No. The earth will pass away (Matt. 24:35); does this mean that God too will "pass away," since He is the "God" of this "visible, material, passing away" earth? NO. Pretty silly huh?
Now for one of the most important truths of all regarding this word "aionios." When God says that He is "the AEONIAN God," He is stating a FACT. That Jesus procured "AEONIAN redemption" for us, is a statement of FACT. Neither "aeonian God" nor "aeonian redemption" are statements of LIMITATION. And to suggest that they are statements of limitation is to pervert the Scriptures—they neither say nor insinuate any such thing.
This principle of stating a FACT, which is not a statement of LIMITATION, is found throughout the Scriptures. God is for example: "The God OF Abraham, OF Isaac, and OF Jacob" (Ex. 3:6). This is a statement of FACT. It is not a statement of LIMITATION. This statement of fact does not limit God from also being the God of Moses, David, Peter and Paul.
If the statement said that God is the "God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ONLY," then it would be a statement of limitation, but we don’t find any such words of limitation in the verses in question. It doesn’t say that God is the "eonian God, ONLY," or that Jesus procured "eonian redemption ONLY" for us. Does it?
I have no problem with the fact that "immortality" is practically "eternal." That is, those with immortality live eternally. But that is NOT what the words themselves mean. Eternal does not MEAN immortality anymore than immortality means eternal.
Let’s have a little common sense and wisdom regarding this matter. It is senseless to state that "God is eternal." The very fact OF God is proof in itself that God IS eternal. We do not speak of "wet rain," do we? We do not say: "It’s raining WET rain." The very fact OF rain assumes that it is WET. The writers of Scripture had NO WORD in their vocabulary which could be defined as "endless time." But they DID have a word that signified "no death." Immortality means DEATH=LESS=NESS, not eternal or eternity.
The word "eternal" comes from the Latin "aeternum" which in the first century meant virtually the same as the word "seculum," and in fact, Saint Jerome(one of the first to translate the bible into latin---the now vulgate) sometimes rendered "aion" aeternus, and in other places he renders "aion" as seculum. They were considered virtually synonyms. Here is how the Latin dictionaries define, seculum—"a generation, an age, the world, the times, the SPIRIT OF THE TIMES, and a period of a hundred years."
Jesus doesn’t reign over ANYONE "forever." That is not a translation, but an interpretation. If Jesus reigns "forever," then Paul lied in I Cor. 15:25 where he tells us that Jesus rules ONLY UNTIL He puts down all enemies. He then TURNS OVER THE KINGDOM TO HIS GOD AND FATHER. He STOPS reigning. His "eternal" reign COMES TO AN END, because His reign is "aionion" and not "eternal."
The kingdom does continue; it is endless. However, Jesus as "King" of this kingdom is "eonian" and NOT ENDLESS, as we have clearly seen from I Cor. 15:24-25.
Some argue that "Aeon" in the singular means "age," but in the plural it means "forever" or "eternal." Let’s see how the Greek Septuagint uses both the singular and plural forms in these two verses"
Singular: Micah 4:5—"ets ton aiona kai epekeina….for the eon and BEYOND." Well that can’t possibly mean forever for eternal, as there can be nothing "beyond" eternity.
I hope my readers got that?? Read it again and again and again!!!
Plural: Dan. 12:3—"eis tous aionas kai eti….for the eons and LONGER." Once again, there can be nothing "longer" than eternity Besides, how is it possible to have a plurality of "eternities?" how pray tell?
Here are just a few scriptures in which "aionios" cannot possibly mean eternal:
1. Rom. 16:25—"…according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world [Gk: aionios] began." Well check this bit of translating genius out. We have the ADJECTIVE word "aionios" and the KJV translators changed it to a NOUN, "world."
The word "world" (kosmos) is not found in this verse; furthermore, neither is the word "began." The Greek reads: "…in times aeonian." Do we really believe in "times eternal." What does "time," let alone "times" have to do with "eternity?" And as Paul speaks of the "revelation" of this secret, how could it EVER be revealed if it was kept secret ‘ETERNALLY?’ Do you not see a problem—a CONTRADICTION in all of this? NONSENSE! - remember that eternity has got nothing to do with time.
2. II Thes. 2:16—"…and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace." "Console" is defined as, "To calm (allay) sorrow or grief of." "Hope" is defined as, "To wish for something with expectations of its fulfilment." Now then, according to this inane (silly) KJV translation of this verse, just how long are we going to have our "Sorrow And Grief Allayed?" How long must we "HOPE" before we have our hope fulfilled? For ALL ETERNITY? Nonsense.
3. II Tim. 1:9—"…according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." The word "world" is not found in the Greek manuscripts, the word "began" is not found in the Greek manuscripts. Here is what the Greek says: "…before TIMES AEONIAN." So where is the consistency with these translators? Could they not deceive the readers by translating this verse properly? If "aionios" means "eternal" or "evermore" then HOW pray tell, can there be "TIMES" before "ETERNITY?" Give me a break. This is not translating; this is out and out planned deception! They change an adjective into a noun, then change the noun to a different word, then completely leave out the word "times." This total lack of scholarship and honesty is reprehensible!
4. Jude 7—"Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." The Greek reads: "…experiencing the justice of fire aeonian." Well just how long does this "aeonian/aionios fire last? Is it really "eternal" as the Authorized Version and Christendom, contend?
A. There is NO FIRE burning in Palestine since the days of Sodom anywhere, let alone in the vicinity of these ancient cities. The best archaeologists can discern that Sodom is located at the bottom of what is now a sea.
B. Ezekiel 16:55—"When your sisters, SODOM and her daughters, shall RETURN TO THEIR FORMER ESTATE, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then you [Jerusalem] shall return to your former estate."
The judgment of God against Sodom was decidedly not, ETERNAL. Here is clear Scriptural evidence and proof that "olam/aion/aionios," etc., DO NOT MEAN ETERNAL OR ENDLESS TIME. Give it up, The doctrine of "eternal torture" is the most evil doctrine, teaching, or concept ever invented in the history of the universe. It is the MOST blasphemous thing that could ever be attributed to our Lord and Father. Give it up!
Now you know the word of GOD has been twisted centuries ago just after the APOSTLES passed out, the word of God gets twisted even the more from the pulpit by our own Prophets, Apostles, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelist and the worse of all is our Theologians. Most of these errors we are encountering have come from Our LATIN brothers (CATHOLICS). Christendom accuse the Catholic’s of false doctrine practices yet we follow their belief, by preaching (eternal torture in hell) and celebrating with them (Christmas and Easter) which the apostles never did- just to mention a few. Some of us still love the Catholic’s though because the catholic’s don’t peddle the word of God, likewise the Jehovah witnesses but our own holy ghost babies and their leaders become one and peddle the word of GOD. Remember Paul said it’s the majority that is peddling the word of GOD, and who are the majority?
2 Corinthians 2:17 "Unlike MANY PEOPLE, we are not in the habit of MAKING PROFIT out of God’s Message" (The Twentieth Century New Testament).
The Majority are not Atheists, not Pagans, not Moslems not Hindus not Sinners but the very Christians that call upon the name of GOD every day. They are the Majority peddling the word of GOD. Only a small number of people are finding the narrow road.
We are not saying that there is no lake of fire, there is...Jesus, Peter and Paul said it is painful to go through this “fire”, so it’s better to go through it now than later, even though there is no partiality with God!!!.
Multitudes no doubt have rejected Jesus and gone into judgment and punishment. But this punishment is not an endless, merciless torment. Rather it is a loving, beneficial, corrective time of purification.
“The Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son” (Heb 12: 6).
We read of those who receive the mark of the beast that they
“will be tormented with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb” (Rev 14: 10).
This is picture language and both fire and sulphur are cleansing agents. This purging takes place in the loving, caring presence of Jesus. When that work is complete they too will come to repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ and join the great multitude of the redeemed and sing the praises of the saviour of all mankind.
Let’s put on a measure of truth people of God. God should help us to understand this...
GOD’S JUSTICE
God’s justice, as well as his wisdom, his love and his power, make the idea of infinite punishment or eternal torment a total impossibility. Divine justice requires that a lifetime of sin and disobedience and rejection of God should receive a punishment, and no doubt a severe punishment; but every concept of biblical justice demands that it should be limited and not endless.
The picture that now emerges from our study is not a hell of unmitigated, unending torment. Rather it is a place of judgement for correction. We begin to see a loving Creator who is not going to be content with his creatures until they are ultimately purged and cleansed of every sin. He is taking infinite pains over their perfection. His purposes may be long in their outworking, but in the end they will be perfectly accomplished.
Romans 8: 20 - 21: ‘For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.’
In this passage God clearly takes responsibility for the fall of creation. He subjected the creation to futility in hope of its future deliverance. It was all part of his full creative plan. He did not lose the first round in a conflict with Satan. He positively planned that events should go that way. Think please think well.
Ultimately we must see that God takes responsibility for evil and uses it to bring about his purposes. In Isaiah 45 God states his sovereignty. He states that he has raised up Cyrus, a heathen king, for his purposes. In verse 5 he says, ‘Besides Me there is no God.’ In verse 7 he adds, ‘the one forming light and creating darkness, causing peace and creating evil; I am the Lord who does all these things.’ Some English versions read calamity rather than evil. Good and evil are not two opposing forces, like white and black on the chessboard, striving for mastery of the universe. God created all things including evil to serve his own purposes, and he is in total control.
The prophet Habakkuk wrestled with this problem. Read chapter 1 verses 5 and 6:
‘Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days - You would not believe if you were told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that fierce and impetuous people ...’ God raised up an evil people to work out his purposes of judgement and correction for Israel. Habakkuk, like us, found it difficult to understand. In Romans 9: 17, Paul quotes Exodus 9: 16 to state emphatically that God raised up Pharaoh. Pharaoh is like Satan, holding the people of God in cruel bondage and captivity until the deliverer comes to set them free. Paul goes on to state the absolute sovereignty of God.
When we start to see Satan and evil and wicked nations as tools in the hand of God for working out his purposes, everything begins to make sense. God plunged the whole creation down into sin that He might bring it up again having known evil and chosen good.
Job in his innocent integrity was certainly pleasing in the eyes of God. God’s work however was not complete. How much greater was Job’s appreciation, love and understanding of God after he had suffered. Like the whole creation, he had to go down before he could rise to a greater height. In Jesus himself above all we see the same pattern. He came down by steps from the greatest height to the lowest depths, before God raised Him again to the highest glory at His right hand.
Do we encourage sinners to continue in their evil ways by taking away the threat of eternal damnation? No! It remains ‘a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God’ (Heb 10: 31). Better we go through the purification now than later. Paul was constrained to be an ‘ambassador for Christ’ not by the fear of hell, but by fear of the Lord and by the love of Christ (2 Cor. 5: 11, 14, 20). We no longer see the human race as hell-bound sinners most of whom will eventually be permanently written off. We see each one as a creation of God for whom He has a purpose that will be accomplished.
DESTROYED, PERISHED, AND LOST "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to DESTROY both soul and body in hell [the Greek is "Gehenna" NOT hell. It is ‘Gehenna fire,’ Mat. 5:22, not ‘hell fire’]" (Matt. 10:28) Is there no salvation from this "destruction" in Gehenna fire? Notice that they are not "eternally lost" in Gehenna fire, but they are "DESTROYED" in gehenna fire. Their condition is that of being DESTROYED. This is not a hopeless condition or even our own Lord would have been put into a hopeless condition. "Jesus answered and said unto them, DESTROY this temple, and in three days I will raise it up ... but He spake of the temple of His BODY" (John 2:19 & 21). Later they did destroy Jesus Christ and sure enough three days later God SAVED Jesus from that destruction. Notice what Job said with relation to being "destroyed": "Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet Thou dost DESTROY me" (Job 10:8). Yet Job knew that God would yet save him. In Jeremiah 18 God tells Jeremiah to go down to the Potter’s house and observe him at work. Jeremiah sees the potter destroy a marred work in his hand and refashion it into something useful. This we learn is an analogy of how God would "destroy" Judah (Vs. 7), and yet save him in the end. God will refashion all of marred (destroyed) mankind into glorious sons of God! Jesus told His disciples in a sermon that if they called a brother "fool" they would be in danger of "Gehenna fire." What kind of danger is that? How does this Gehenna fire actually judge us? Is there anywhere that we are told how Gehenna judges us to make us "righteous?" There is a verse that specifically addresses what Gehenna accomplishes, but it is one of the least understood verses in all Scripture: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell [Gehenna fire]" (Matt. 10:28). The biggest problem in understanding this verse, is to understand who this verse is talking about. The Church will tell you that it is talking about those who will suffer loss of salvation in the eternal fires of hell. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. This verse was addressed directly to and about the 12 apostles, and is applied to all Christ's disciples throughout all generations. Go back to the first verse of chapter 10 for the contextual proof that Jesus is instructing his Apostles only in this teaching: "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them [no one else, just 'them,' just the twelve apostles], saying..." And Jesus continues speaking unbroken all the way to the eleventh chapter, to His twelve apostles only. Christians always talk about people taking phrases out of context yet they are the worst of all, always looking for phrases to agree with their doctrine. If it is the world of unrepentant sinners that are to "fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell," then why didn't Jesus make this clear to His apostles in these verses? But no, Jesus warned His apostles that they are to be the ones fearing. Notice: "...He called unto Himself His twelve disciples... These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them saying... [Jesus continues speaking to His apostles only] ...And fear not them [their enemies and persecutors] which kill the body [their body; your body], but are not able to kill the soul [your soul]: but rather fear Him [you twelve apostles] which is able to DESTROY both soul and body [both YOUR soul and YOUR body] in hell [Gehenna fire]" (Matt. 10:1, 5, & 28). Assuredly, Jesus was not warning the wicked to not fear the wicked who, when they kill the wicked cannot kill the soul... No, this instruction is for believers. Gehenna is judgment. It is not torture in literal fire. It is judgment upon God's Elect to spiritually purify them; to make them holy and blameless; and to make them strong. Gehenna speaks of judgment, and Jesus taught that God is "able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna." How are we (God's Elect) presently being destroyed in both body and soul? Notice what Jesus said a few verses after He made this statement: "He that finds his life [Gk: 'psuche' - soul, not zoe which is life] shall lose it: and he that loses his life [soul] for My sake shall find it" (Matt. 10:39). King James loves to swap words which are different in meaning just to make a sentence doctrinally sound. We must be spiritually baptized into Christ's death, and we must also LOSE OUR SOUL for Christ's sake. Learn to read Scriptures accurately and precisely. Take note that Jesus did NOT say "And fear not them which KILL the body, but are not able to KILL the soul, but rather fear Him which is able to KILL both soul and body in hell [Gk: Gehenna]." No, Jesus did NOT say that, but it is assumed that He either said that or at least meant that. No, He did not. Jesus said: "And fear not them which KILL the body, but are not able to KILL the soul, but rather fear Him which is able to DESTROY both soul and body in hell [Gk: Gehenna]." Why the switch? Jesus switches from "kill" to "destroy." It is our "soul" that God is more interested in than our "life." An insane person may have a perfectly healthy life, but his soul is severely damaged. A comatose (coma, tired or drunken state) person may be in perfect physical health and be very much "alive," but possesses virtually no soul-conscious awareness, character, love, emotions, knowledge, hopes and dreams, memories, etc. Now then, "destroy" in Vs. 28 is the Greek word 'appolumi' and it means: DESTROY, PERISH, LOSE. Wow! Are you seeing this? How much easier it would have been for us if only the translators had been consistent, but God didn't want them to be consistent. Jesus says that God can "appolumi your body and soul." In verse 39 Jesus tells us that we must "appolumi our own soul." Either we 'appolumi' -destroy/lose our souls, or God will 'appolumi' our souls for us, and that is not the way we want to go, seeing that: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God" (Heb. 10:31). And notice this is precisely what we read in Matt. 5:29- "If your right eye offend you [then YOU] pluck it out... And if your right hand offend you [then YOU] cut it off... and not that your whole body should be cast [by GOD, 'fear HIM'] into Gehenna" (Matt. 5:28-30). We must pluck out and cut off those members of the body which are used to sin against God: "Mortify therefore your members [Gk: 'melos' -'parts of the BODY' -Dr. Strong] which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God comes ['fear HIM'] on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of Him that created him [it]" (Col. 3:5-10). But hopefully by now, we all know that the different "members" of our body [pluck out your eye; cut off your hand; cut off your foot] do not actually sin, but it is the heart and carnal mind of man that uses the members of his body to commit sin: "Neither yield you your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin..." (Rom. 6:13). So then God teaches us to "fear HIM" and in so doing, DESTROY [Gk: 'apollumi' -destroy, perish, lose] our soul by "PLUCKING OUT AND CUTTING OFF " these members of our body so as to stop using them as "instruments of unrighteousness unto sin" so that God will not have to "destroy both our body and our soul in Gehenna" by "CASTING us into Gehenna." Are you beginning to understand the judgment of "Gehenna fire" (but that won’t be for eternity) and how it works? PERISHED: Can a person perish and still be saved? Of course. Even "righteous" men can perish, "All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a JUST MAN that PERISHES in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongs his life in his wickedness" (Ecc. 7:15). One more, "The RIGHTEOUS PERISHES, and no man lays it to heart..." (Isa. 57:1). Perishing is not something that can cut off God’s arm of salvation. LOST: Can a person sin, be lost, die, and then be saved? Certainly. Let’s look at one of those parables of Jesus that Christendom thinks of as easy to understand little stories, when in fact they don’t even begin to understand. You all know the story contained in the parable of the Prodigal son so I won’t read it all, but let me give you the "truth" of this parable. God is the "Father" in this parable, and the Prodigal is EVERY SON WHO HAS GONE ASTRAY. "And when he had spent all ... And when he came to himself ... I will arise and go to my father ... I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight ... And am no more worthy to be called thy son ... But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring hither the fatted calf ... For this my son was DEAD, and is alive again; he was LOST, and is found. And they began to be merry" (Luke 15:14-23). This man SINNED, he was LOST, and he SPIRITUALLY DIED! Do we ALL spiritually DIE? "AND AS IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE..." But isn’t this speaking of the PHYSICAL death of our bodies? No it is not. The second part of the verse gives us the answer as to which death this is, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but AFTER this the JUDGMENT" (Heb. 9:27). Notice that "judgment" comes after this death, and not before. We know that JUDGMENT is upon the house of God NOW! Each individual Christian in every generation is judged NOW, in THIS life, BEFORE he physically dies! And so the "death" that all men must partake of before judgment is SPIRITUAL DEATH. Notice: "And I saw THE DEAD, small and great, STAND before God" (Rev. 20:12). How pray tell can the physically dead, stand, if they are dead? So here then is the order of things. The Prodigal Son SINNED, he was LOST, he spiritually DIED, and then? And then he was JUDGED! Where and when was he judged? In the hog pens of a far alien country, that’s where. God had to bring him out of this alien county (Mystery Babylon the Great) with all its "riotous living" (Luke 15:13). And so it was that God JUDGED this Prodigal with the beasts and swine of Babylon until he "came to himself." (Vs. 17). Seems to me that God sent King Nebuchadnezzar into the fields with the beasts to live like a beast, so that he too "came to himself." God has not warned in vain to "Come out of her [MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH] my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Rev. 17:5 & 18:4). He that has an ear let him hear. And so this Prodigal SINNED, was LOST, and spiritually DIED. Surely he is outside of the realm of salvation now. No, he is in the perfect realm FOR SALVATION. How many millions of times this parable of the Prodigal Son has been read, but how many times has its truth ever been understood and perceived? This prodigal was, according to his father, "DEAD." And it was after his father said that he was "dead" that he welcomed him back, forgave him, exalted him, and rewarded him! Now who says one can’t be saved after death. It is after death that most of humanity will be SAVED. Grow up holy ghost babies! May God finally grant you his spiritual wisdom to SEE SOMETHING SPIRITUAL! Parables are NOT literal, that’s why they are called "parables" instead of "history." Here is the wages of riotous and carnal living in the hog pens of Babylon: "For the wages of sin is DEATH..." (Rom. 6:23). SPIRITUAL DEATH! What must happen AFTER we spiritually DIE? "JUDGMENT!" The spiritual DEAD must be JUDGED. Does judging CORRECT the spiritually dead sinners? Yes it does. That is what the parable of the Prodigal Son is all about. God’s "ways and means" ALWAYS WORK! "...For when Thy [God’s] JUDGMENTS are in the earth, the INHABITANTS OF THE WORLD WILL LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Isa. 26:9)!
PUNISHING Vs. CHASTENING
I did talk about misused of the word “punishment” earlier on but I want to discuss it properly at this stage. While considering all of the hellfire and brimstone material disseminated by Christian teachers, preachers, writers, and educators around the world, just how many hundreds of times do you suppose the word "punishment" is used in the entire New Testament with regards to sinners? Hundreds? Would you believe less than fifty? Would you believe less than ten? Would you believe ONCE? That’s right, the answer is one time."Of how much more punishment [Gk: timoria], suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden underfoot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" (Heb. 10:29). I can assure you that those who have committed the above crime towards the Lord are few indeed. Most of humanity that will be judged in the lake of fire has NEVER EVEN HEARD of Jesus Christ, let alone, "trodden underfoot the Son of God, and counted the blood of the covenant, an UNHOLY thing, and done DESPITE unto the Spirit of grace." Most have never even heard of such sins, let alone committed them. This is a most powerful Scripture to be sure, but it does not speak of "eternal" punishment, and it is the ONLY SCRIPTURE IN THE ENTIRETY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT that uses the word "punishment" with reference to punishing sinners! There are three other places in the KJV that the word "punish" or "punished" is used correctly. They are Acts 4:21; 22:5; and 26:11 where Saul (later Paul) is punishing not sinners, but members of the church, the followers of Christ. II Thes. 1:9 should be translated, "eonian extermination" and not "punished ... everlasting." II Peter 2:4 & 9 should both be "chastening" as it is the same Greek word kolazo and not timoria which means punish. The KJV uses "punished" in verse nine, which should be "chasten," and ironically it doesn’t even translate the Greek word kolazo (chasten) in verse four -- the KJV translators left it out completely. I suppose the translators thought that it was redundant to say, "chastening judging." But then again, they didn’t bother to look at II Cor. 2:6 which should read "rebuke" (another Greek word, epitimia), not "punish." And lastly, I Pet. 2:14 should read "vengeance" (still another Greek word, kdikesise), and not punishment. So in the case of "punishment" we have but ONE Scripture to deal with. Even among those who love the doctrine of eternal torment, no Scripture in the Old Testament has ever been brought forth which even vaguely defends their theory.
PUNISHMENT AND THE GOSPEL
For all those who have never heard the real Gospel of God, here it is:"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publish peace; that brings GOOD TIDINGS [that means gospel] of GOOD [not evil tidings of a Lord who administers infinite acts of eternal terrorism], that publishes SALVATION [not DAMNATION] ... The LORD hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of ALL THE NATIONS [that’s the whole world], and ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH [that’s everyone] SHALL SEE THE SALVATION OF OUR GOD" (Isa. 52:7 & 10). I am wondering if most of my readers have ever even heard of this verse or knew that it is in their Bibles. Now I am aware of the many Scriptures that speak of death, destruction, and perishing of wicked people. And we won’t forget the one Scripture with regards to punishment. All those Scriptures are true. They are not, however, God’s final judgment on the wicked. The final judgments of God will bring salvation to ALL and there are no scriptures that contradict those saving declarations of Almighty God. God has declared it; He has spoken it; His Word has gone forth: He has willed "Who WILL have ALL men to be SAVED and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (I Tim. 2:4). Here then is a declaration of God from His own inspired Word. It is found in all Bibles and in all languages on earth for all to see and believe. But the Church of Babylon has tried to destroy this declaration and make it of no effect in the minds of millions and millions of people around the world. They teach that this verse and declaration of Almighty God WILL NEVER EVER HAPPEN! Well, be it known, that they LIE! Here’s what God says about His own words and His own declarations. "So shall MY WORD BE that GOES FORTH OUT OF MY MOUTH [as in I Tim. 2:4 and a hundred Scriptures like it]; it shall NOT return unto me void [unfruitful, negated, ineffective, ineffectual, inoperative, invalid, null, worthless, vain, unsuccessful], but it SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PLEASE, AND IT SHALL PROSPER [bear fruit, benefit, do well, flourish, increase, multiply, progress, make good] in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11). Most people don’t know what the preacher teach, they only copy from the tele/radio evangelist and preach the same thing, the fact that BENNY HINN teaches it does not make it right. The fact that the whole world teaches it does not make it right. The narrow gate, only few are finding it not the majority. Remember the former things of old: For I am God, and there is none else; I AM GOD, and there is none like Me, "Telling from the BEGINNING, the HEREAFTER, And from AFORETIME, what has NOT YET been done, Saying, ‘ALL MY COUNSEL SHALL BE CONFIRMED, And ALL MY DESIRE WILL I DO. Calling from the sunrise, a bird of prey, From a land far off, the man of My counsel. Indeed, I SPEAK! INDEED, I WILL BRING IT ABOUT! I formed. Indeed, I WILL DO IT" (Isaiah 46:9-11). Nothing can hinder God’s words or declarations. Even the things that are perceived to be hindrances to God’s will (such as the lake of fire and the second death), are not hindrances at all, but rather are the very instruments for the accomplishment of His will. God has a ONE HUNDRED PERCENT GOSPEL, AND IT’S FREE!
GRACE AND JUDGMENT
"For whom the Lord loves He CHASTENS..." (Heb. 12:6).There is no escaping it. If you are to be a "son of God" you will be chastened. The word "chastened" is paideuo, and is not too severe. Even if involving some punishment, the whole thrust of the word is to train, educate, discipline, prune, instruct, etc. These are all good things not to be feared. But there is more, so we might just as well read it and get our attitudes adjusted to it. The rest of the verse: "For whom the Lord loves He CHASTENS, and [AND] ...SCOURGES every son whom He receives [or is assenting]" (Heb. 12:6) "SCOURGES?" No, not scourging! Does God show His love toward us by scourging us? It is absolutely necessary. Scourging is definitely even more severe and harsh than chastening. The word "scourge" in Heb. 12:6 is from the Greek word mastigoo and here’s its definition: "to flog (literally or figuratively) -- scourge" Strong’s Greek Dictionary, page 46. And what does "flog" mean? "flog 1. To beat severely with a whip or rod." Page 531 American heritage College Dictionary. This word "scourge" in Heb. 12:6 which God performs on us, is the very same word found in John 19:1 where it says they took Jesus and "scourged" Him. Now then, will God literally "BEAT SEVERELY WITH A WHIP OR ROD" every son that He receives? No, not necessarily, even though they did literally do so to Paul and many other followers of Jesus Christ. Remember that the definition said it can be "literal OR figurative." Many people have come to know Christ in their senior years, and God does not literally beat every little old lady with whips and rods when they turn to Him. However, the chastening of God’s grace in Titus 2:11 can certainly seem like a real flogging. God will chasten us until He drives out the beast in us. Although we are not condemned when God judges us, we nonetheless must be chastened. "If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? But if you be without chastisement, whereof ALL are partakers, then are you bastards, and NOT sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection into the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for OUR PROFIT, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but GRIEVOUS: nevertheless afterward it yields the PEACEABLE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS unto them which are exercised thereby" (Heb. 12:7--11). So it is essential that we accept God’s chastisement which is how He "judges" us. The reason we are not "condemned" with the world is because we accept God’s judgment in our lives "There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom. 8:1). But can we compare the judging that believers go through with the judging that the wicked receive at the end of the age in the lake of fire. Surely there is no comparison, is there? Trust me when I say, "For there is no respect [Gk: partiality] of persons with God" (Rom. 2:11).
· Doesn’t the "second death" part of the "lake of fire" seal their fate forever?
· Isn’t it true that God will never, ever pressure anyone to accept Jesus Christ?
· Isn’t it true that even God Himself doesn’t know why some people reject His Sacrifice?
· Didn’t God predestine us to be saved but predestined those in the lake of fire to be damned?
· Isn’t the reason why some people choose Christ and others Reject Christ an eternal mystery?
· Is there something about death itself that prevents God from saving a non-believer after death?
· Does Rom. 8:38-19 substantiate the teaching that death separates God from sinners, eternally?
· Isn’t the lake of fire the most dreadful thing that God Almighty has ever created?
· Will billions of sinners purposely choose to be tortured in fire forever rather than accept Christ?
· Let’s face it, isn’t the lake of fire something we will never understand until it comes?
· Is God as stupid and depraved as the theologians who try to bring Him down to their level?
I will now answer all these questions in order: No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, and NO!
Keep these scriptures in mind.
"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast [what is THAT?], and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone [does brimstone make the lake of fire burn HOTTER? Is fire without brimstone not hot enough to burn and torture human flesh?]" (Rev. 19:20)."And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire [I thought a lake contains water] and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented [does that mean TORTURED? Can spirit beings be tormented by physical fire?] day and night [but there shall be ‘NO NIGHT’, 20:25] for ever and ever [how long is THAT? Is ‘ever AND ever’ something like TWICE as long as eternity?]" (Rev. 20:10). "And I saw a great white [not BLACK] throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away [where did they GO?]; and there was found no place for them [if this is literal, then where did God PUT THEM?]" (Rev. 20:11). "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand [stand WHERE, both the heavens AND THE EARTH ‘fled away’ Vs. 11] before God; and the books [are these books like a daily DIARY from Waterston Bookstore?] Were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life [why is this only ONE book?]: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works" (Rev. 20:12). "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it [is this speaking of dead sailors who drowned in the ocean?]; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them [is death and hell a place or a realm? And how can HELL deliver up their DEAD -- we are assured by Christendom that those in hell are VERY MUCH ALIVE and SUFFERING?]: and the dead were judged [does judge mean SENTENCED TO HELL FOR EVER?] every man according to their works" (Rev. 20:13). "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire [wait just a minute; Christendom tells us that death {separation from God} and hell represent what the lake of fire actually IS, so how pray tell can they be cast INTO the lake of fire?]. This is the second death [Ah, here is the real key to understand this whole enigma - -the SECOND death is not a repeat performance of the FIRST death]" (Rev. 20:14). "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire [where they are BURNED UP? TORTURED FOR ETERNITY? Or JUDGED -- - RIGHT?]" (Rev. 20:15). "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake of fire which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8). One can check a hundred translations of the Bible, and there will be little deviation from the verses cited above. The King James Version is about as accurate a translation of these verses as there is. Most versions are very close to the KJV, word for word. But there are about a dozen Bible Translations that differ most significantly on five little words. The most heretical and damning doctrines of Christendom completely melt away with a proper translation of these five little words: eis tous [for the] aionas ton [of the] aionon. So we have "for the (something?) Of the (something?)." Now that we know what the olam , aion and the aionon is, we should understand all verses and scriptures that uses eternity, evermore, ever and ever, and everlasting. All we have to do is to replace them with the proper word and have a proper translation and that takes away the contradiction of scriptures we listed from the beginning of this letter. Now we learned from Scripture that if we would volunteer to have God judge us now that we would not need to be condemned with the world in the lake of fire. And Peter tells us that this judgment (like the one the Thessalonians were going through) must begin at the HOUSE OF GOD. We saw that it involves much tribulation, sorrow, affliction and suffering. These things are God’s judgment on believers to try their hearts and prove them worthy for the Kingdom of God. Christ told us that if we do not forsake all (even give our very bodies as a living Sacrifice, according to Paul) and take up OUR cross and follow Christ into persecutions that start in our own household, then He doesn’t want us in the kingdom with Him -- we are NOT WORTHY (at this time)! Now if you are following these Scriptures closely you will see that we are to give our bodies as a living sacrifice and endure suffering, affliction, and persecution. But there is MORE! Oh NO, how much more can we take? What else? TRIALS. There are trials! The word "trial" in the New Testament is translated from the Greek word dokimion and means TESTING. God is going to TEST us. Are you excited about that? However, We must go through it. Peter tells us the many trials and temptations are heaviness to our hearts, but because we know why we are going through it, we can, nevertheless, REJOICE! "Wherein ye GREATLY REJOICE, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in HEAVINESS THROUGH MANIFOLD TEMPTATIONS" (I Peter 1:6). Ah, yes, how sweet it is in the mouth (REJOICE), but how bitter it is in the belly (HEAVINESS) (Rev. 10:10). But say, did you notice how LONG these trials last? For eternity? Or for "a season"? Remember there is NO partiality with God. As we have studied earlier on, those in the final judgment of lake of fire will also be there for just "a season" not eternally! God should help us to understand...
PART 2
GEHENNA FIRE IS JUDGMENT FIRE ON ALL GOD'S ELECT
"If you be reproached [insulted] for the name of Christ, happy are you... yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf, for the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God..." (I Pet. 4:14, 16-17). We must all receive reproaches from men, but judgment from God. And God purges us from the offenses of our carnal mind by "His Divine consuming FIRE" (Heb. 12:29). The word "fire" is used with reference to Judgment many times in Scripture: "Gehenna fire," "salted with fire," "furnace of fire," "unquenchable fire," "everlasting fire," "burn by fire," "baptism by fire," "coals of fire," "flaming fire," "eternal fire," "consuming fire." Are all of these Scriptural uses of fire really literal, physical, descriptions of how God will torture most of humanity as depicted in this Medieval Christian Art? Here are the New Testament Scriptures which speak of different "fires" by which men are judged: "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of Gold that perishes, though it be tried in the fire [Christ's 'Gehenna fire'], might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (I Pet. 1:7) "Faith" is intangible and as such cannot be "tried" in literal fire. The Greek word translated fire is pur, and it means "fire" (literal or figuratively)-Strong's #4442 . Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by FIRE; and the FIRE shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he has built there upon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet as BY FIRE" (I Cor. 3:13-15). Again fire (Gk; pur) is used figuratively, because the one being tried, "...he himself shall be saved, yet as BY FIRE." If one is "saved by fire," he is not eternally tortured in fire. Come on people wake up from your long slumber! "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He [Jesus] that comes after me is mightier than I, Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit [that's good], and with fire [that's also good]" (Matt. 3:11). Here, being baptized (immersed) in fire [pur] is as important and beneficial as being baptized with God's Holy Spirit. "Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His [threshing] floor, and gather His wheat [wheat is good] into the garner, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" (Matt. 3:12). Chaff is the bracts enclosing the good, mature wheat, which is removed during threshing-it has no value as food, and so is burned like the wood, hay, and stubble of I Cor. 3:12. The Elect are composed of both the valuable wheat and the worthless chaff, but we are not the tares. Notice that the chaff is "burned up... with unquenchable fire." If this "unquenchable fire" "burns up" the chaff, surely it cannot be eternal. Unquenchable has nothing to do with eternal. Unquenchable fires are Scriptures that are not allowed to be quenched before they are allowed to burn themselves out.  We are the wheat of Jesus' parable, and we have unwanted chaff surrounding our lives. Jesus is not likening some people to wheat and others to chaff. The wheat is not one group and the chaff another, but rather the unwanted chaff belongs to the desired wheat. The wheat is the baby and the chaff is the bath water. We do not throw away the baby with the bath water, but we do throw away the dirty bath water (in this analogy the bath water represents chaff which is burned in fire). "For every one shall be salted with fire and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt" (Mark 9:49, See Rom. 12:1-we are that sacrifice). Fire purifies and burns up unwanted character traits likened to "straw, hay, and stubble" and also to "chaff." But Salt is a preservative. Hence the salt and the fire. The spiritual fire purifies us and the spiritual salt preserves us. "And He said unto His disciples... I am come to send fire on the earth: and what will I, if it be already kindled [in His disciples, generation by generation, in this church age, NOW]?" (Luke 12:22 & 49) How can anyone suggest that the different "fires" of which Jesus speaks are literal? What LITERAL FIRE did Jesus set back in Palestine during His ministry? Did He burn down some town or city? Did He start a forest fire. Well, He said the fire sent on the earth was "already kindled" during this period of His ministry. When will the Church give up this literal nonsense concerning the spiritual fire of God's spirit with which he will purify all humanity beginning with His Own House? "It is the spirit that quickens [gives life] the flesh [letter] profits nothing: the WORDS [wheat, chaff, tares, seed, fish, leaven, light, salt, rock, sand, wine, treasure, sons, harvest, Samaritan, physician, sheep, pearl, servants, trees, virgins, talents, vineyards, wedding, supper, coin, talents] are SPIRIT and they are LIFE" (John 6:63). And here is the second witness to this Scriptural truth: "Who also has made us able ministers of the New Covenant; not of the letter [flesh or written code], but of the spirit for the letter [written code] kills, but the spirit gives life" (II Cor. 3:6). Now understand that when Jesus says His words are spirit, He is not saying that each individual phonetically sounded syllable is literally spirit, but the meaning and understanding of His STATEMENTS are spirit. Just a few verses earlier Jesus made a statement that prompted His declaration that "the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit." Here is what He said: "For my flesh is meat [food/bread] indeed; and my blood is drink indeed. He that eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, dwells in Me, and I in him" (John 6:55-56). The words meat and blood are no more "spirit" than is the word poison. But when used to represent "Jesus," Jesus being the bread from heaven, THEN it becomes spirit. Jesus is (spirit) bread that will ultimately impart immortality to those who (spiritually) eat it. So when the Scriptures tell us, "For our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29), can't we understand that these words are "spirit?" God is SPIRIT..." (John 4:24). "...the INVISIBLE God..." (Col. 1:15). Now how can God be visible fire, when we are plainly told and shown in many Scriptures that God is invisible spirit? This phrase, "For our God is a consuming fire," is not literal, so as to contradict the rest of Scripture, but rather is a spiritual statement-the words are literal words, but the statement, the declaration, is spirit. God, as invisible Spirit, spiritually burns up the spiritual wood, hay, straw, and carnality of the human heart, in a similar way that literal fire burns up these physical materials. All these "fires" are the same Fire: GOD IS THIS CONSUMING FIRE! Jesus' judgments are upon His disciples, in this Church age, not upon the wicked and non-believers of the world. Their time is coming, but not in this age.
CHRIST'S JUDGMENTS ARE UPON US, NOT THE WORLD
The Church would have us believe that the world and all of its wicked people who have passed on are being judged today, and every day. That as people live and die, if they are not "saved," they are immediately judged and go to hell. Isn't that what they teach? You know that is what they teach. its Bogus and Nonsense!Is Saddam Hussein, right now, in Hell? Ask your Pastor; ask your teacher; ask your preacher; ask your priest? If anyone is burning in Hell right now, then that person has already been judged. It was in the Egyptian hell of Amenti where the dead were judged at death, not some future "day of judgment." And so Christendom has rejected the Word of God for the pagan customs of the Egyptians. Ask you Pastors why God "has appointed A DAY IN THE WHICH He will judge the world in righteousness" (Acts 17:31) if the dead are judged immediately upon death just as taught by the pagan Egyptians? "Because He has appointed a day, in the which He will [even in Paul's day it was still a future time] judge the world in righteousness by that Man Whom He has ordained: whereof He has given assurance unto all men, in that He has raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). This is Paul teaching the Athenians [pagan Greeks] that there is yet coming a day of judgment on this world. Did it already come many years after Christ's resurrection when Paul was teaching these Greeks? NO. Does anyone have a problem with the phrase, "in the which He WILL [future tense] judge the world?" Two thousand years later that appointed day has not yet arrived. But there is another judgment which did arrive two thousand years ago: God will help us to understand. "Eonian life" is life for the eons or life for the ages. However long the eons or ages are, that is how long eonian or age-abiding life is. Then what? Here's why unlearned theologians say this is not possible, because after the ages or eons, we would all die. NOT TRUE! Let me illustrate. Suppose your company is going to buy you and everyone in your company an all-expense paid trip to Europe for one month. EVERYBODY gets that trip. However, because you are such a fabulous worker and such a asset to the company, your boss is going to send you on a trip to Europe for three whole weeks BEFORE everyone else goes on their trip. This is a SPECIAL, BONUS trip. Not many get to go on THIS particular bonus trip, only a few. Now then, you get to go THREE WEEKS earlier than the rest. When they arrive, you have already been there enjoying yourself for THREE WEEKS. So when the others arrive to begin their vacation, does your vacation END? No. Only your "three week" vacation ends. But you CONTINUE to vacation in Europe just as long as the rest. Your hotel reservation is not cancelled after three weeks. That is not a perfect illustration, but maybe you get the point. "Aionion" or "Age-lasting life" is a SPECIAL gift from God that only a relatively FEW ever receive. It is LIFE in God's Kingdom BEFORE the masses are brought into God's Kingdom. What allows those who are given "eonian life" to continue living even AFTER the eons are past, is not the promise from God of "eternal life" but rather "immortality." All of God's children will be given immortality and incorruption, so that they will never die. However, those who are given immortality before the rest, receive it ages or eons in advance of the rest.
Because of fraudulent theologians time has become eternity.
Aiwnwn is the same as aionion = aeons/eons
Aiwn is the same as aion = eon/aeon
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THATS AN EXCELLENT RESEARCH WORK..KEEP IT UP MAN OF GOD...YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Alan Finch. I became a Christian 42 years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe “Mercy Seat” which was among the Children of Israel in the Old Testament was the most important object in the Tabernacle. The “Mercy Seat” was a representation of the Throne of God in Heaven. The Great White Throne in Heaven (i.e. – Throne of Mercy) will be the very Throne that God will be seated on when He executes judgment on ALL those who come before Him at the future Great White Throne Judgment.
The future Great White Throne Judgment which has been misunderstood by today’s Church will be the judgment of God executing His “GREAT MERCY” of RECONCILING to Himself each and every person who comes before the future Great White Throne Judgment. (Note: This is why that the “Seat” of God is named the “Mercy Seat.”
This will be done through the transforming work by FIRE from God’s Spirit for the purpose of a “Divine Spiritual Transformation.” This has only been made possible because of what Christ accomplished on the Cross by the shedding of His Redeeming Blood for ALL. (Note: The Scriptures do not reveal the length of time for this transforming work of God in each individual. Very likely the length of time will vary with each individual)
Colossians 1:20 - “Christ, who predetermined by God, bled peace into the world by His death on the Cross as God’s means of reconciling to Himself the whole creation, ALL things in heaven and ALL things on earth.”
The future Great White Throne Judgment will not be a judgment of people spending eternity being tormented in a physical Lake of Fire which has become the popular present-day traditional teaching of the Church.
I have written a 28 page article which Biblically expounds upon the final destiny of the entire human race which is made up of those without Christ, those who are Believers in Christ who will be found to have been faithful servants of the Lord, and those who are Believers in Christ who will be found not to have been faithful servants of the Lord. If anyone would like a copy of the article, feel free to e-mail me and request a copy, and I will send you a copy.
(candy33alan@aol.com)