By Jane Johnson and Bill Brady

Please be aware of triggering in this page and laying down current doctrine as we can get it from generations passing incorrect doctrine down.

Please note we are not saying there are no consequences for sin and we believe in judgement . We are seeing the judgement at the great white throne occurs a second after death but is still a valid way believers may access heaven .

It is so very dangerous to read our doctrine back into scripture as opposed to letting scripture speak for itself. Each of us does this in many ways. And none of us knows when we are doing it until it is revealed to us by Holy Spirit. Many discussions between opponents who hold different views of the meaning of scripture are between individuals each of which has a bias that is unknown to themself. The big question that comes out here is everlasting temporary and eternal forever as often eternal was used when it should have read everlasting .

DEFINITIONS OF HELL

This is Ai response to definitions of hell . Hell has been defined and described in various ways across different cultures, religions, and belief systems. Here are some definitions and concepts associated with hell:

1. Fiery furnace: A place of burning fire and flames, often associated with punishment and suffering (Christianity, Islam).
2. Underworld: A realm beneath the earth, often depicted as a dark, gloomy place (Ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythologies).
3. Place of torment: A realm where souls are subjected to physical and psychological suffering (Christianity, Islam).
4. Lake of fire: A fiery lake or sea, often associated with eternal punishment (Christianity, Revelation).
5. Gehenna: A valley outside Jerusalem, used as a metaphor for a place of punishment and destruction (Judaism, Christianity).
6. Purgatory: A place where souls are purified through suffering, often seen as a temporary state (Catholicism).
7. Tartarus – is this the place fallen angels go ??
8. Sheol: A Hebrew term, referring to the underworld or the grave, where souls go after death (Judaism).
9. Hades: The Greek god of the underworld, also referring to the realm of the dead (Greek mythology).

These definitions and concepts often reflect the cultural, religious, and societal beliefs of the respective traditions, and the nature of hell is often seen as a place of punishment, suffering, or purification.

IS IT EVERLASTING OR ETERNAL

The big question is the difference between everlasting and eternal and so how long does the suffering last and is it here on earth partly

Ai summarizes the Aramaic difference between everlasting and eternal as In the Aramaic Bible, the words “eternal” and “everlasting” are translated from the same Aramaic word, “shalma” (ܫܠܡܐ). However, the context and connotation differ:

• “Eternal” (shalma) typically implies a timeless, unbounded, and perpetual state, often associated with God’s nature, existence, or kingdom.
• “Everlasting” (shalma) typically implies a prolonged or unending duration, often associated with consequences, punishment, or life.

For example:

“Eternal life” (hayye d-shalma) emphasizes a life that transcends time and mortality, united with God’s eternal nature. – “Everlasting punishment” (kulpuna d-shalma) emphasizes a prolonged or unending suffering, rather than necessarily implying eternal conscious torment. While the distinction is subtle, “eternal” tends to emphasize timelessness, whereas “everlasting” emphasizes duration. However, both words are often used interchangeably in English translations, and the Aramaic word “shalma” encompasses both aspects.

This is the big question. In order to answer this question we need an understanding of the meaning of this word without its definition being defined by the doctrine of hell. In otherwords, we need to let scripture speak for itself without our doctrines coloring it. The Hebrew word translated by the NKJV as “Everlasting” is the Hebrew word “Olam”.

Here is what I consider to be a good translation of “Olam”: “The Hebrew word olam literally means “beyond the horizon.” When looking off in the far distance it is difficult to make out any details and what is beyond that horizon cannot be seen. This concept is the olam.”​​ Eternity;​​ Jeff A. Benner 

Addition by Bill Brady

‘The word​​ olam​​ simply means “long duration,” “antiquity,” “futurity,”​​ or​​ “until the end of a period of time”​​ with that period of time​​ determined by the context. Sometimes it​​ refers to the length of a man’s life, sometimes it is an age, and sometimes it is a dispensation, but the Hebrew does not support the concept of eternity as the English word “forever” does.’​​ https://whynotchooselife.com/forever-from-the-hebrew-word-olam/

However, another book translates “Olam” as being :

• `owlam o-lawm’
• Parts of Speech
• Noun Masculine
• `owlam

Definition long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world ancient time, long time (of past) (of future) for ever, always continuous existence, perpetual everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/owlam.html

I don’t consider this to be a good definition. Is this because I disagree with it theologically? No. it is because I have found Jeff Benner, who defines Olam as being “beyond the horizon”, as being an authority on Ancient Hebrew.

But which definition one chooses could easily be seen by someone who is in opposition to one’s opinion as being like the District Attorney & The Defense Attorney each choosing the “expert” whose expert opinion supports her / his case.

IS SUFFERING IN THE Consuming FIRE OF HIS LOVE?

i.e more conviction of sin than physically burning in a fire There is no reason to believe a God would convict those to suffering like being in a fire. Gehenna was a place where they burnt things outside of Jerusalem as opposed to a spiritual realm . I see a difference between the grave and eternal damnation. Angels are subject to a different form of judgement we discern because they don’t have souls

LAKE OF FIRE

From our encounters the The lake of fire in encounter is a purging of sin and a beautiful experience that can be engaged before death . We know this because scripture tells us that if we have our name in the book of life, we do not have to access the lake of fire to be resurrected . Because we have accessed it beforehand to get our name in the book of life. There is no definition of how long the lake of fire lasts upon death therefore we can’t use it to say that means without time . Sheoul and hades are referring more to where the dead existed not flames of fire

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

Remember sometimes everlasting ( for a period ) was wrongly translated as eternal . Scripture also says that unbelievers, sexually immoral, adulterer, idol worshippers etc will not be allowed into heaven. So we have to ask where do they go ?? I see some consequence. Again this article is not saying there is no realms with some form of suffering but how one defines that is suspect and its longevity and if purely after death . Everlasting life applies now as Yeshua said after all .

Wages of sin is death is often quoted to justify separation. This verse does not say hell and conveys a consequence which is the opposite of immortality which was the original blueprint Gnashing of teeth which is a translation for some sort of consequence may mean any form of regret .

It does not automatically mean burning like in a furnace . There are many salvation gospels it is not just about where we go on death . We are saved from evil kings, fallen angels , decay , sin and death for example . Everlasting damnation may mean a position for a period of time of some consequence. Remember fire is a good thing in heaven .

Rev 20:14 says hades will be thrown in the lake of fire – so the period of hell can be uncertain Rev 21:8 which talks about unbelievers being cast in the lake of fire has no mention of the length of time this takes.

Rev 20:13 also says that death gave up their dead so we have to Consider the second resurrection in this dialogue.

John 3:16 talks how those who don’t believe in Jesus will be condemned but that may be a judgement to life when they die at the great white throne . It doesn’t say eternal torment Scripture is not obvious about this topic as some would say just as in the reformation it looked like we were saved by works but that was the mysteries of faith being hidden from us . It seems revelation about the time period of eternal and everlasting also is a big factor.

Is it not likely we will need many reformations on many topics in generations to come as truth is a never ending spiral of depths?

Substiles in description are key and we may have to be careful of trigger and sweeping conclusions of what judgement means .