| | :It's important to understand what the "everlasting" pertains to in terms of punishment for the wicked so the Bible isn't misinterpreted into self-contradiction. [https://biblehub.com/matthew/10-28.htm Matthew 10:28] states, "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.'''" How can the wicked be eternally tormented if they are destroyed (Matthew 10:28), reduced to ashes ([https://biblehub.com/malachi/4-3.htm Malachi 4:3]), utterly consumed ([https://www.biblehub.com/isaiah/9-18.htm Isaiah 9:18]), perish ([https://biblehub.com/psalms/37-20.htm Psalm 37:20]), and, simply put, die ([https://biblehub.com/romans/6-23.htm Romans 6:23])? | | :It's important to understand what the "everlasting" pertains to in terms of punishment for the wicked so the Bible isn't misinterpreted into self-contradiction. [https://biblehub.com/matthew/10-28.htm Matthew 10:28] states, "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.'''" How can the wicked be eternally tormented if they are destroyed (Matthew 10:28), reduced to ashes ([https://biblehub.com/malachi/4-3.htm Malachi 4:3]), utterly consumed ([https://www.biblehub.com/isaiah/9-18.htm Isaiah 9:18]), perish ([https://biblehub.com/psalms/37-20.htm Psalm 37:20]), and, simply put, die ([https://biblehub.com/romans/6-23.htm Romans 6:23])? |
| − | :The answer is that "everlasting punishment" refers to the effects. [https://biblehub.com/jude/1-7.htm Jude 7] refers to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as the vengeance of "eternal fire." Obviously, the two cities aren't perpetually burning today, so the "eternal" in "eternal fire" in that context refers to the ''effect'', aka destruction, as lasting literally forever and forever. If we apply this concept into Matthew 25:41, Jesus is simply stating that the resulting effect of the punishment against the devil and his angels will last forever, because the second death is permanent. —[[User:LT|<code><span style="background:#FF8181">'''LT'''</span></code>]] '''''[[User talk:LT|<sup>(Matthew 26:52)</sup>]]''''' Wednesday, 10:59, April 19, 2023 (EDT) | + | :The answer is that "everlasting punishment" refers to the effects. [https://biblehub.com/jude/1-7.htm Jude 7] refers to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as suffering the vengeance of "eternal fire." Obviously, the two cities aren't perpetually burning today, so the "eternal" in "eternal fire" in that context refers to the ''effect'', aka destruction, as lasting literally forever and forever. If we apply this concept into Matthew 25:41, Jesus is simply stating that the resulting effect of the punishment against the devil and his angels will last forever, because the second death is permanent. —[[User:LT|<code><span style="background:#FF8181">'''LT'''</span></code>]] '''''[[User talk:LT|<sup>(Matthew 26:52)</sup>]]''''' Wednesday, 10:59, April 19, 2023 (EDT) |