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Regarding your definition of aionios as "pertaining to the ages" - that would be incorrect since the root of aionios is not PLURAL as in ages but only singular as in aion. That fact can be held over you by the opponents of universalism and there is nothing you can present to claim it should mean plural "aions" as a root. Paul
For me the important thing is that the Bible speaks of the eons (plural) to come Eph. 2:7
Only you, of all the people on this earth as far as you yourself know, think that it is an issue.
Let us know if you find anyone else who agrees with you OK?
The end result remains the same which ever point of view is true.
That's all that really care about.
Last edited by rodgertutt; 10-15-2009 at 06:15 AM..
Reason: spacing
From listening to Prophet D. Howard Jr preach on youtube I understand that he is an annihilationist.
Folks might like to be aware of the evidence why some of us think that the Bible teaches universal salvation rather than annihilation.
An online book that shows why we believe the Bible teaches universal salvation rather than annihilation is ALL IN ALL by A.E. Knoch.
WILL UNBELIEVERS BE ANNIHILATED - chapters three and four Lighthouse Library International - ALL IN ALL, ADOLPH E||&type=&what=author
There are also several expositions that do the same thing on a less comprehensive scale. They are accessed through the search engine at the top of the front page on the TENTMAKER website.
For example, two are
ETERNAL DEATH ANNIHILATION ONE STEP OUT OF HELL Eternal Death (Annihilation): One Step Out of Hell; One Step Short of Glory
Or
JUST WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THE WORD DESTRUCTION?
Just What Do You Mean By The Word DESTRUCTION? (http://hell-fact-or-fable.com/destruction3.html - broken link)
Here is an intro to the book
ALL IN ALL by A.E. Knoch (222 pages)
Concordant Publishing Concern
Introduction:
"The blood of Christ is the basis of all blessing. The purpose of God determines human destiny. It does not depend on our deserts. The plan or process of God during the eons or ages must be distinguished from His purpose which will not be fully accomplished until the eons are past. Herein lies the difference between the teaching of the Scriptures and the accepted creeds of Christendom.
The believer suffers in the current era because of sin, but will be released in the resurrection at the presence of Christ. The unbeliever will have affliction and anguish for his sins in the judgment, but he also becomes reconciled to God at the consummation, through the blood of Christ’s cross. (Col.1-20).
Universal reconciliation is the glorious goal toward which all leads. All of God’s purpose is achieved through Him Who is the Alpha and the Omega (Rev.1:8). “In Him the entire complement delights to dwell, and through Him [God delights] to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens” (Col.1:19,20)
The terms translated “forever” and “everlasting” and “never” are human perversions which could never have deceived us if they had been consistently rendered. They denote definite divisions of time called ages or eons. All together they form a distinct portion of time called eonian times. Much in our common creeds is true if confined within the eons, but it is most malignant error when forced beyond the eons.
Since judgment is not eternal, but eonian, we may accept all the solemn threats of death and condemnation without reservation, while happily exulting in God’s grand goal to which all His labors lead: that God may be All in All (1Cor.15:28)."
From Rodger Tutt in Toronto, Canada
Jesus gave us a parable which explains that the punishment we receive is not forever...we will be punished according to what we have done in this life but once the debt is paid for your "crimes" the punishment ends. It's not a hard concept. Why do so many glory in the thought that some will be punished/tormented forever?
You dont learn anything in hell
You dont have a sudden 'revelation" in hell
You dont have a change of heart in hell
You dont repent in hell
You dont want God to give you a 2nd chance in hell.
There is no "evolution" in hell
The way you go into hell, is how you stay
Hell is the same, always the same.
Time?....meaningless in hell
You dont learn anything in hell
You dont have a sudden 'revelation" in hell
You dont have a change of heart in hell
You dont repent in hell
You dont want God to give you a 2nd chance in hell.
There is no "evolution" in hell
The way you go into hell, is how you stay
Hell is the same, always the same.
Time?....meaningless in hell
You dont learn anything in hell
You dont have a sudden 'revelation" in hell
You dont have a change of heart in hell
You dont repent in hell
You dont want God to give you a 2nd chance in hell.
There is no "evolution" in hell
The way you go into hell, is how you stay
Hell is the same, always the same.
Time?....meaningless in hell
Oh and another thing...
No one ever got bounced out of hell for good behavior
You dont learn anything in hell
You dont have a sudden 'revelation" in hell
You dont have a change of heart in hell
You dont repent in hell
You dont want God to give you a 2nd chance in hell.
There is no "evolution" in hell
The way you go into hell, is how you stay
Hell is the same, always the same.
Time?....meaningless in hell
The lost are cast into the Lake of Fire...and then thats it.
The story of the Lost ends at that point....
There is no other point to add to their story. 'The story of their lives does not change from that time on.
There is nothing new going on in hell....
Hell does not have a "new"
Now some say that the Lost burning in Hell forever is their just "Punishment" and to some extent that is true.
But perhaps a better way to look at the condition of their ending is that the loss the damned suffer is something that they themselves sought.
It is their wages...
Burning forever is the person's "earnings"
It is the direct result of the person themselves.
The Bible talks about the Lost being "cast" into the ever-burning lake of Fire.
And this give us an image that is true and easy to understand.
The action of being "cast" gives us the image that there is direct action involved to render the judgments of God.
But another thing that I suggest is just as true should not be overlooked as well.
You dont learn anything in hell
You dont have a sudden 'revelation" in hell
You dont have a change of heart in hell
You dont repent in hell
You dont want God to give you a 2nd chance in hell.
There is no "evolution" in hell
The way you go into hell, is how you stay
Hell is the same, always the same.
Time?....meaningless in hell
The lost are cast into the Lake of Fire...and then thats it.
The story of the Lost ends at that point....
There is no other point to add to their story. 'The story of their lives does not change from that time on.
There is nothing new going on in hell....
Hell does not have a "new"
Now some say that the Lost burning in Hell forever is their just "Punishment" and to some extent that is true.
But perhaps a better way to look at the condition of their ending is that the loss the damned suffer is something that they themselves sought.
It is their wages...
Burning forever is the person's "earnings"
It is the direct result of the person themselves.
The Bible talks about the Lost being "cast" into the ever-burning lake of Fire.
And this give us an image that is true and easy to understand.
The action of being "cast" gives us the image that there is direct action involved to render the judgments of God.
But another thing that I suggest is just as true should not be overlooked as well.
The Lost jumped in.....
Sorry Allan, you are making this up based on tradition and man-made beliefs. You will not find any scripture to back up what you say.
"Burning forever is their 'earnings'"? Um NO. DEATH (NOT ETERNAL PUNISHMENT) is the wages of sin.
"The Lost jumped in..." ... um NO. People are thrown into the lake of fire. God is in control.
"The story of the lost ends at that point" ... um NO. All are made alive by Christ, all will be reconciled to God through Christ, and God will be all in all. God's plan is to unify all things and bring them and sum them up in Christ. Your vision has God not being all in all, and not unifying all things in Christ.
Your mixing of the terms "hell" and "lake of fire" just adds to the confusion of your understanding. "hell" is either sheol/hades or gehenna (or tartarus). NONE of these are the lake of fire. You would do well to understand what fire represents in the bible. Fire is used for purging, refining, and purifying. Fire represents the word of God, and even God Himself.
Stop subscribing to Dante's vision and actually study the bible.
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A different opinion
