# Why would hell be forever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 11, 2002, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397 "2002-06-11T04:52:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Psycho\_Pirate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Psycho\_Pirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psycho_Pirate)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/21 "2002-06-11T15:31:19Z")
In response to JuanitaTech’s reference. Here is basically how I understand it. (Fundamental Baptist chiming in. Break out your pointy sticks and Greek translations if you must.) 🙂 I don’t labor under the assumption that I have everything figured out. I am just stating my beliefs, based on how I understand the Bible. All who die in this life and do not accept the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross to forgive all sins will go the Hell when they die. They will stay in Hell until the end of the Tribulation (70th week of Daniel). The events that follow are taken from Revelation 20:11-15. 11 ¶ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. This event is known as the Great White Throne Judgment. Here the wicked dead are judged according to their works. At the end of this judgment they are cast into the Lake of Fire, which will go on forever. Of course, God does not want anyone to end up in this horrible place. These places of punishment were created solely for the devil and his angels. God gives us every opportunity to avoid this fate. It is up to us to take the initiative and accept forgiveness. It is interesting to note that the dead who trusted Christ and were saved will also have to stand before God at judgment. However, they will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. They too will have to give an account of their lives, but they will not be condemned to Hell due to the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ. ---
**Author:** ![Hab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@Hab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hab)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/22 "2002-06-11T16:17:36Z")
“into ages of ages” is a literal rendering of the Greek phrase that the King James Version translates “forever and ever” I really didn’t know what Hell was ill I started trying to communicate with Calvinists. ---
**Author:** ![Hab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@Hab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hab)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/23 "2002-06-11T16:19:43Z")
untill I started trying to communicate with Calvinists. ( wunder how come ah caint edit muh own post? ) ---
**Author:** ![Chekmate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@Chekmate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chekmate)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/24 "2002-06-11T16:40:51Z")
Because it’s scarier that way ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/25 "2002-06-11T16:40:51Z")
Hey, **Habs** , welcome!! Great to see you over here! Good answer. (Ever think of using “Dances With Calvinists” as a sock in that thread over there? ;)) (Hijack: There were controversialist posters in the earliest days of this board who would say something offensive, get angry responses, and then edit out their offensive remark and play innocent. So the admins. disabled the ability to edit.) ---
**Author:** ![Hab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@Hab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hab)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/26 "2002-06-11T17:24:48Z")
I luv it!! . OH – I see – goin’ back EDITING trying tuh SMOOTH THINGS OVER, huh? . Guess I’m the opposite – I go back sometimes and **BOLD** what some might take out… thx fer the welcome – ya know – when there was a debate elsewhere between whether TOTAL ANIHILLATION or ETERNAL TORMENT was the correct interpretation of “hell” – man – I knew I had to BRANCH OUT SOME ya know whudduh meen? . got tew bee sum thurd owlternative… ---
**Author:** ![Amok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Amok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amok)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/27 "2002-06-11T17:30:33Z")
While I don’t expect it to happen (and I’m not sure that Marlowe did either), I’ve always liked this quote from _Faustus_: > [@](#): > > When all the world dissolves, > And every creature shall be purified, > All places shall be hell that are not heaven. So eventually this mortal realm will end, and all those who are worthy will spend eternity in Heaven, while those who aren’t will be cast into the feiry pit. As for why you can’t move from one to another… I guess the Christian view of these places doesn’t allow for freedom of action (or will) by the inhabitants, thus there’s no way to show that you’ve been redeemed or corrupted (unless you’re an angel like Satan). ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/28 "2002-06-11T18:19:24Z")
I don’t think there really is such a place as hell. It was all a big conspiracy by the church leaders to attempt to make us do what they wanted us to. They made our choices appear to be to follow their orders or face an eternity in flames. But I think that no such place exists- they just wanted us to believe that one does. And no, im not some conspiracy freak (just thought I should clarify that) ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/29 "2002-06-11T18:38:06Z")
Kirkland1244: > [@](#): > > Hell is also temporary in Jewish theology, or so I’ve been told. Correct, to a point. Ordinary sinners go to hell for no more than a year. However “those who rebel against G-d” do get a one-way ticket. ---
**Author:** ![YiBaiYuan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/f475e1/32.png) [@YiBaiYuan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YiBaiYuan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/30 "2002-06-12T01:54:42Z")
Since we seem to be posting opinions, I guess I’ll weigh in. I believe Hell is temporary. Those who don’t make it to Heaven will be thrown into the Lake of Fire for a specified duration. That length will be determined by how bad you were in this life. (ie: some will burn only a few moments, others will burn much longer.) Once their punishment is over, they then cease to exist. There is no eternal awareness of being separated from God. No infinite punishment for a short life of sin, or a short redemptive punishment before going on to Heaven. There is only a period of burning punishment, then no more existence. Gone forever. The only ones that live eternally will be those in Heaven. ---
**Author:** ![croaker67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@croaker67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/croaker67)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2002, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/31 "2002-06-12T02:48:40Z")
Come Hell or high water!! Loosely translated as - eternal damnation or wet feet. As an atheist, the idea of eternal suffering is difficult to grasp. Could an omniscient, all powereful, merciful and loving diety make your afterlife horrible for ETERNITY? Sure, but admit it- boredom would set in. ---
**Author:** ![Dances\_With\_Bass\_Amps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Dances\_With\_Bass\_Amps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dances_With_Bass_Amps)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/32 "2002-06-13T01:24:01Z")
it’d be hell… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/33 "2002-06-13T06:13:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hayduke Lives!! \* > \*\*I think the Bible has way to many contradictions and confusing stories, codes, prophecies, etc. for me to decide exactly what I believe. One thing I wonder is, why would hell be forever and ever? If you are really serious about your question, (and I believe you are), I strongly urge you to read the following page [http://www.tentmaker.org/books/PowerOfLifeAndDeathInAGreekFourLetterWord.html](http://www.tentmaker.org/books/PowerOfLifeAndDeathInAGreekFourLetterWord.html) This page deals with the the many contradictions, particularly in the KJV as a result of deliberate mistranslations designed to uphold the doctrine of eternal damnation. In the old testament, the Hebrew _olam_ is mistranslated as forever, while it really means duration of time which is hidden. In the new testament, The Greek word _aion_ is mistranslated as world,never,course,evermore while it really means age. The adjective _ainios_ is mistranslated as everlasting eternal world , ever. Only when these Greek words are translated properly, can many contradiction in the bible be resolved as Gary Amirault points out in the linked article. Now that we are aware that the concept of eternal damnation is inconsistant with the original written text, we can actually believe in an omnipotent and loving God. > [@](#): > > - from cite\* > > Prior to Augustine in the 5th century, the vast majority of Christians including the leadership believed in the Salvation of all mankind through Jesus Christ. St. Basil the Great (c. 329-379) in his De Asceticis wrote: “The mass of men (Christians) say that there is to be an end of punishment to those who are punished.” St. Jerome (342-420): “I know that most understand the story of Nineveh and its King, the ultimate forgiveness of the devil and all rational creatures.” The Christian leader most instrumental in bringing in the damnable heresy of eternal torment, Augustine, admits himself that “There are very many (imo quam plurimi, which can be translated majority) who though not denying the Holy Scriptures do not believe in endless torments.” (Enchiria, ad Laurent. c.29) Imagine, the champion of the doctrine of eternal torment admitting out of his own mouth that as late as the 5th century many or the majority of believers did not believe in eternal torment and he said they did not deny the Scriptures in believing so. > Of the six theological schools known to the early church, 4 taught the salvation of all, one taught annihilation, and only one taught eternal torment. ---
**Author:** ![mindless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mindless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mindless)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/34 "2002-06-13T11:35:45Z")
I dont belive heaven and hell exist, when you die there is nothing more and i’m glad, living for all eternity would be an unimaginable torture wether you dwell in either heaven or hell. Yet there exist so many people that belive in these concepts with so little proof. “do gimps and fetishists hope they are going to hell?” 🙂 \<-anti religious comments follow, dont read if you think you may take offense-\> If I told you the world was a triangle and you didn’t know otherwise would you just agree with me or would you want to find out the truth? Im assuming you’d try to find out the truth, but lets say your not cleaver enough to observe the natural curve of the earth or don’t have access to airal or satelight photos, would your lack of evidence point to me being correct by default? I dont think so, but this is exactly whats happening with religion, we can’t prove or disprove it eitherway becuase the evidence doesn’t exist and can’t be measured or observed corectly, so you either choose follow logic (when it’s proven I will belive, that the earth is a triangle) or faith (I will belive untill its proven otherwise that the earth is a triangle). If i where also to say “I’m gonna hit you real hard with this baseball bat of mine if you dont agree with me, I may even go so far as to kill ya!”, Then I think your more likely to agree with me, not out of a sence of logic, but because you dont want a serious beating. These are the arguments that religion relys upon, I could have said “dont belive me and be damned for all eternity” its still a threat only its psycholigical and un-proovable, you may beable to take my baseball bat away from me but you cant take eternity away from you, especily if you realy, realy want to live forever, you’ll do and belive anything so long as it wont screw up your eternal bliss (aka suicide bombers). wise up everyone, the truth hurts; but its the truth! Don’t ignore it just becuase it doesn’t agree with you. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2002, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397/35 "2002-06-13T11:49:01Z")
I think most people are really like the narrator’s mother in H.G. Wells’ book **In the Days of the Comet**. She says, at one point, something like: “Oh, I believe in an eternal Hell, of course. But I never thought anyone would really _go_ there.” Eternal Damnation might make theological sense, but iy offends the sensitive mind. To argue that Hell must be eternal because otherwise everyone gets in eventually is to ultimately deny the possibility of forgiveness and redemption. To argue that Hell should be eternal because the faithless should not receive the reward of the faithful is to ignore the points of several New Testament parables. Me, I’m agnostic. I don’t believe, or disbelieve for that matter. Sonner than I’d like I’ll find out the truth. If I end up in eternal Hell because I refuse to believe in something with woefully inadequate proof, then screw it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-hell-be-forever/113397.md?page=1)