Awesome Truths and Amazing Facts
Richard Vaughn

Today: “Hell. Are people there and is it burning now?” Part 4 - Conclusion
In the last three weeks we have proved conclusively from God’s Word, that contrary to what is taught in many religious circles, hellfire is not burning now and that it will be in the future. Also that Satan will not be in charge, in fact he, his angels and all of the lost will be destroyed in that fire. The fire will go out and Satan, his angels and all the lost will be ashes. The earth will be created anew and sin and evil will be no more.
This week we will answer some thought questions. Again using the King James Version.
Question - Does the Bible speak of “eternal torment”? No, the phrase is not in the Bible.
Question – Then why does the Bible say the wicked will be destroyed with unquenchable fire? Unquenchable fire is fire that cannot be put out, but it goes out when it has turned everything to ashes. Jeremiah 17:27 says Jerusalem was to be destroyed with unquenchable fire. “But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” This fire went out and Jerusalem is not burning today.
Question – Doesn’t Matthew 25:46 say the wicked will receive “everlasting punishment”? “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” The word is punishment, not punishing. The punishment is the second death and it is the death that is everlasting.
Question – Matthew 25:41 speaks of “everlasting fire” for the wicked. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” Does it go out? Yes, according to the Bible it does. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed with everlasting or eternal fire. Jude 1:7 reads, “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.” These cities became ashes and are not burning today. The everlasting hellfire will go out after it has turned the wicked into ashes. Malachi 4:3. “And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.”  
Question – Doesn’t the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 teach an eternal hell of torment? No indeed, it is simply a parable to illustrate a point. Jesus often used things that people were most familiar with in his parables. Going to Abraham’s bosom was a commonly held belief, although in error. Many facts make it clear that this is a parable. A. Abraham’s bosom is not heaven (Hebrews 11:8-10); B. People in hell can’t talk to those in heaven (Isaiah 65:17); C. The dead are in their graves (Job 17:13); D. Men are rewarded at Christ’s second coming (Revelation 22:11,12); E. The lost are punished at the end of the world, not when they die (Matthew 13:40-42). The point of the story is found in verse 31 of Luke 16. “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
Question – But the Bible speaks of the wicked being tormented forever, doesn’t it? The term “for ever,” as used in the Bible, means simply a period of time, limited or unlimited. It is used 56 times in the Bible in connection with things that have already ended. It is like the word “tall,” which means something different with men, trees or mountains. In Jonah 2:6, “for ever” means three days and nights. In Deuteronomy 23:3, this means 10 generations. In the case of man, this means as long as he lives, or until his death. (See 
1 Samuel 1:22,28; Exodus 21:6; Psalm 48:14). So the wicked will burn in the fire as long as they live, or until they have died their second death. This fiery punishment for sin will vary according to the degree of sins for each individual, but after the punishment, the fire will go out. The teaching of eternal torment has done more to drive people to atheism and insanity than any other invention of the devil. It is slander upon the loving character of a tender, gracious heavenly Father and has done untold harm to the Christian cause.
Next Week: “Prophecy – The future told in advance – Daniel 2”