Introduction

This post is based on research from literal-based bible sources, and written especially for Christians who believe the non-scriptural doctrine that hell is everlasting.  According to literal-based bible texts, as set forth in detail below, hell is described exclusively with finite terms of a limited duration.  The time period of hell is described as an “age” (alma) or “eon” (aion).  Moreover, hell is categorically defined as a place of complete destruction and death, not everlasting existence and torture.  Due to mistranslations of just a handful of words over millennia, and Christians willingness to believe priests and commentaries more than the literal bible, certain religious groups have been able to propagate the evil and hateful and false doctrine of an everlasting hell.

Here are just a handful of examples that help expose the blatant mistranslations in modern (non-literal) bibles:

- Sodom's fiery judgment is "eternal" (Jude 7)--until--the creator "will restore the fortunes of Sodom" (Ezek. 16:53-55).

- An Ammonite or Moabite is forbidden to enter the Lord's congregation "forever"-until--the tenth generation (Deut. 23:3):

- Habakkuk tells us of mountains that were "everlasting", that is -until-- they "were shattered" Hab. 3 3:6).

- The Aaronic priesthood was to be an "everlasting" priesthood (Ex. 40:15), that is-until-it was superseded by the Melchizedek priesthood (Hebrews 7:14-18).

1. -Ammon is to become a "wasteland forever" and "rise no more" (Zeph. 2:9, Jer. 25:27 --until--the Lord will "restore the fortunes of the Ammonites" (Jer. 49:6).
   

A.    The Literal Bible Categorically Shows Hell Is Not Everlasting

I encourage all readers to find the oldest and most literal bible they can access, so they can discover on their own the true meaning of the Hebrew word “olam,” the Greek word “aion,” and the Aramaic word “alma.”  Here is a link to a version that should provide a helpful start:  www.virtueinknowledge.com/exegesis-bible.html (also available through the www.logicalhierarchy.com homepage).

If we are to be literalists (to minimize adding or subtracting from the bible), the words "eternal," "everlasting," and "forever and ever" were added (translated) into the bible by men of the hierarchical church, who changed the Greek word "aion," and the Aramaic word ‘alma,’ and the Hebrew word "olam."  "Aion" and “alma” basically mean "age" or "eon" - a finite duration.  "Olam" also refers to an age or multiple ages, but is also dependent for its definition upon the context in which it is used.  Sometimes the context refers to unknown duration from our perspective, as for example with regard to the Father’s glory.  Because the word "olam" requires a context in order to have meaning, the word is protected from people who try to mistranslate it.   Indeed, it’s dishonest for people to claim olam means "everlasting" in every context, or to claim our Father is an everlasting torturer.  Take some comfort in Psalm 12:7 highlighting that the word is protected.

Nor will the word "olam" ever pin down the Father with any time frame to inhibit His actions and thoughts, as He sets His own context - with "olam," the Creator will be whoever, whenever, etc. So, whatever was written on men's hearts as described in Ecclesiastes 3:11, it would presumably be the same thing that Abraham understood, and Moses relied upon, and King David sung.  Discover for yourself whether these men believed or wrote about an everlasting hell. I think you will find they did not. http://www.tentmaker.org/books/Prevailing.html#36  The hierarchical church, however, did, many years after the Messiah died for us and warned us of wolves in sheep's clothing.

Moreover, the word 'hell' in most modern bible translations is actually translated from other words meaning different things, such as Gehenna, Tartarus, Hades, and Sheol.  See e.g., http://www.thetruthabouthell.net/  Over time, with the help of councils and emperors, the hierarchical church and others consolidated them all into one word, "hell."  In the most literal bibles, each of these different places are associated with a finite place and a finite time.  Christians and Catholics accept the finite limitation in space, but too many desperately and wrongly fear a “hell” that is everlasting because that is what is often taught as doctrine. 

 

An example of the need for reproof: Peter had been convinced from his childhood that the the Messiah would never die (Matt. 16:22), and had to revise his theology when the Messiah corrected him on it shortly before the crucifixion.  People should always be ready and willing to do an about-face regarding the false doctrines of men whenever and wherever we are confronted with truth.

B.   The Bible Warns Of False Scribes and Religious Deception

Scripture teaches us that Satan is an imposter, and his methods are often religious.  The bible warns of “the false pen of the scribes.” Jeremiah 8:8.  See also Isaiah 10:1. And remember what our Messiah said of the Pharisees (John 5:42), who claimed they knew the word of God, but they relied on their own traditions to set aside the truth. They passed these traditions down through bible translations, based on organized religious hierarchies. (Matt. 22:29).   I think we are all deceived in measure, which is part of the saga the bible says would happen (e.g., Eliyah versus Edom).  Click here for a study on the various transcribed names of the messiah (for example, Yesu, Yeshua, Yahshua, Ieueshuo, Jesus) and the father (YHVH, Yahweh, IEUE, Yah, Yehweh).

Historically, the group in the Messiah’s time who claimed they were the authority on scripture interpretation were the Pharisees.  They amassed much wealth and made their own rules - an example that certainly counsels in favor of personal humility on this issue, as well as caution in dealing with similar organizations and persons today.  Here is what the bible has to say about entrusting  teaching authority to any church or person - Matthew, Ch. 23 - 

 “8 `And ye -- ye may not be called Rabbi, for one is your director -- the Christ, and all ye are brethren;   9 and ye may not call [any] your father on the earth, for one is your Father, who is in the heavens, 10 nor may ye be called directors, for one is your director -- the Christ. 11 And the greater of you shall be your ministrant, 12 and whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and whoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

C.    Everlasting Hell Is An Evil Doctrine, Propagated Through Hate

It is natural that we analyze the ‘everlasting hell deception’ logically, because it allows us to check the source and strength of our faith.  For starters, while it is conceivable to a human being that a superior being could transcend time and then torture the inferior population infinitely for finite crimes, even though the superior being created the inferior being with foreknowledge of its failure, why would anyone ascribe this motive to our Father, especially when there are more literal bible translations out there that require a different conclusion?

 

Logically, I think our ultimate Authority over earth wants bible readers to be faced with all feasible translations of “olam” and “gehenna” etc for several reasons, such as (1) so that we learn something about the nature of fear and love, (2) so that we will take grace seriously, (3) so that we learn something about ourselves and show our true colors, (4) to provide an extreme illustration of the harm that comes from false doctrines of men and the hierarchical church. What does your heart tell you? In my experience, when a person is told that there is an everlasting hell, he or she may exhibit the following negative behaviors: (1) hope that God does not exist, (2) belief that God does not do justice, and (3) preaching the everlasting hell doctrine to others to help share the burden of their own psychological fear.

 

Truly, the fear of everlasting torture drains you of love.  And if you preach it to others, and it actually takes root in that child, it will drain them eventually too.  I think it is evil.  That is my personal experience.

 

The "everlasting hell" translation by men of the church serves an earthly purpose - to increase elitist religious power over the populace.   This makes for bad fruit from a translation. Isaiah 29:13.  Indeed, why would an Authority of mercy punish His creation eternally for finite sins? Does the bible not teach that the Father's wrath is just? Where in His law has He ever proscribed infinite torture for finite crime? Our Authority is consistent. Isn't it more likely that certain members of the church engaged in mistranslation? When I read Mark 9:44 ("Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched") I see the Messiah quoting Isaiah 66:24, and referring to a millennial reign of Christ, which is pointing towards a finite hell for evil doers that none may escape at that time, rather than a place of infinite torture.  See also, Revelation 20:14 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."  Death is repeatedly described in literal-based bibles as extinguishment, not everlasting existence and torture. 

 

And let’s look at some other scriptural examples too.  Recall the part of the book of revelation where the people who are still alive on earth wish they could die but instead are tortured by lion-headed locusts for five months because they accepted the mark of the beast?  Revelation 9:11.  Finite torture, not infinite.  And recall the information about Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16 - Christ never even suggests the rich man's torture goes on infinitely. So we add to the bible if we presume everlasting torture. Similarly, we subtract from the bible if we presume there is no hell.  Fire is many things in the bible - a refining and purifying one (Malachi 3:2; I Cor. 3:10-15), a light to guide us (Deuteronomy 1:33), and a consuming fire designed to extinguish evil (Deuteronomy 4:24).

 

D.     Context Is Key

Context is very important in original bible languages. In many places, the bible tells us to be very careful with the word. Just a couple examples - Matthew 13:3-19 and Luke 4:3-15 (farmer sows good seed [the gospel], but if it falls by the wayside, Satan snatches it from your heart); 1 Peter 1:20 ("this first knowing, that no prophecy of the writing doth come of private exposition, for not by will of man did ever prophecy come, but by the Holy Spirit borne on holy men of God spake.") It seems quite logical to me that the farther we are from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words, the greater likelihood we are receiving the words "by the wayside." Here is another important point - when Paul writes to Timothy that all scripture is good for reproof and correction, we must remember that Paul does not have the power to say we should disobey the Messiah’s command to discern what is true scripture and be vigilant in discerning false prophets (by distinguishing good fruit from bad fruit).  Indeed, even Peter warned of the danger of misinterpreting Paul’s letters.  In my experience, most modern church interpretations of Paul’s letters tend to be dangerously illogical and also hypocritical. Accordingly, it’s worth remembering that we are commanded to follow the messiah, not Paul.  Was the messiah in Paul at all times? 

 

There is a Christian spirituality out there that doesn't require us to pretend we know more than we do.  Perhaps this is why the messiah counseled for humility.  Consider the distinction between these two extremes - intolerance and compromise.   Now consider what fundamental humility is.  How many indoctrinated Christians and Catholics deny themselves so they can fill themselves with "Jesus," and then they proceed to tell others "in the name of God" how wrong everybody else is because (insert your own bible translations and traditions here)?  Have I successfully made my point yet? There's also a major difference between preaching common-sense laws, like "don't steal," compared to theological matters.   It seems arrogant to me when preachers claim to speak "in the name of Jesus," and proudly thump one bible translation to the exclusion of contradictory translations and even logic itself, which logically gives meaning to translations.

E.    In Conclusion

Bible translators change the scriptures all the time to match their theology. It's a business that has spawned much division in Christianity and Catholicism. And worse, past monks working in the Vatican have admitted to changing the bible at the request of popes. Frankly, one doesn't need to be an expert to figure out how insane it is to tell little kids that they'll burn for infinity if they don't follow a particular bible translation. Most people (children included) know little to nothing of the history of mistranslations, book burning, papal dictates, etc., etc.  

 

Shall we ignore these historical experiences? The messiah instructed, as witnessed in the gospel, that he does not want elitism for us here on earth (Matt 23:8-12), but rather, he wants service (Matt 5-7).  A bad bible translation serves the same master today as it did in the messiah’s time.