WHAT DOES THE BIBLE MEAN WHEN IT USES THE TERM... "FOREVER"
For us to understand this very important term, we must let the Bible define
its meaning --
The word "forever" is used 56 times in the old testament in connection with
things that ARE ALERADY ENDED!
In the case of MAN, the Bible teaches that "forever" means AS LONG AS MAN
LIVES. In the case of Samuel, "forever" meant "as long as he liveth."
[ 1 SAMUEL 1:22, 28 ]
In Psalm 48:14 "forever" means UNTIL DEATH...
"...tormented day and night for ever and ever..." [ REV 20:10 ]
So burning "forever" can actually mean that man will burn in the Lake of Fire
until he dies.
Note: if you wish to do a word study on "forever" (written "for ever" in the
King James Bible), its listed in Strong's Concordance under the word "ever."
We cannot overlook the numerous Bible texts about the fate of the damned...
The Bible says:
o "The soul that sinneth, it shall die," NOT LIVE ETERNALLY BURNING IN
HELL. [ EXEKIEL 18:4,20 ]
o "Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
[ MATT 10:28 ] Jesus said it Himself.
o "The wages of sin is death," NOT eternal life in hell. [ ROM 6:23 ]
So when the Bible talks about eternal damnation or buring in the Lake of Fire
"forever," it cannot mean that those people actually live endlessly there.
IT MEANS THE EFFECT OF THE FIRE IS ETERNAL, NOT THE FIRE ITSELF.
...The SECOND DEATH is the sinner's eternal fate.
( Born once, die twice. Born twice, die once. )