The entire concept of eternal or everlasting punishment hinges primarily on a single verse of Scripture–Matthew 25:46. This is the only place in the entire Bible where we find these two words together AND only in some Bibles. There are over a dozen English translations which do NOT contain the concept of “eternal punishment” on ANY of their pages, NOR the pagan concept of Hell.
The Greek form for “everlasting punishment” in Matthew 25:46 is “kolasinaionion.” Kolasin is a noun in the accusative form, singular voice, feminine gender and means “punishment, chastening, correction, to cut-off as in pruning a tree to bare more fruit.” “Aionion” is the adjective form of “aion,” in the singular form and means “pertaining to an eon or age, an indeterminate period of time.” (Note: the two words in many, not all translations become reversed changing the Greek into English.)
“Aionion,” as shown above, is the singular form of the adjective of the Greek noun “aion.” Many people unfamiliar with the Greek do not realize that the endings of the same word change (inflection) to indicate its mood, case, gender, etc. Therefore, “aionion” may appear with different endings. “Aionion, aioniou, aionios,” for example, are all different inflections of the adjective form of the noun “aion.”
The noun “aion” in Greek literature has always meant “an indeterminate period of time. It could be as short as the time Jonah spent in the belly of a fish (three days or nights), the length of a man’s life, or as long as a very long age.
The Bible speaks of at least 5 “aions” and perhaps many more. If there were “aions” in the past. This must mean that each one of them have ended for they are now past! The New Testament writers spoke of “the present wicked aion” which ended during that very generation. Obviously, it was followed by another “aion”– the “aion” in which we presently live. If there are “aions” to come, it must mean that this one we live in will also end.
There is a verse which says “the consummation of the aions” showing that each “aion” ends. So how can they be eternal?
There is “the coming eon” (Matt.10:30, Luke 18:30
There is “the present wicked eon” (Gal.1:4)
There is “the oncoming eons (future)(Eph.2:7)
There is “the conclusion of the eon (present) (Mt.13:39,40)
There is “the secret concealed from the eons (past) (Eph.3:9)
Plainly, the Greek word “aion” transliterated “eon” cannot mean “eternal.” A study into the Greek of the Biblical period and before will bear this out.
“Aionion” is the adjective of the noun “aion.”
Since grammar rules mandate an adjective CANNOT take on a greater force than its noun form, it is evident that “aionion” in any of its adjective forms (ios, ou, on) CANNOT possible mean “everlasting” or anything remotely indicating eternity or unending time.
For example, “hourly” cannot mean “pertaining to days, weeks, months, or years. The word MUST mean “pertaining to an hour.” Therefore, “aionion,” the adjective form of the noun “aion” which clearly means a period of indeterminate TIME, CANNOT mean, “forever and ever, eternal, everlasting, eternity, etc) or other words which connote timelessness or unending ages.
Therefore, those many Bibles which do NOT contain the teaching of everlasting punishment or Hell are true to the original languages of Greek and Hebrew and those which teach everlasting punishment or Hell are false. Scholars are just as easily subjected to the “traditions of the elders” as the rest of us. It’s time to let the original Greek and Hebrew languages of the Bible break down the traditions of men. For a list of the many English translations of the Bible that do NOT contain these pagan concepts
The Purifying Fire and the Remedial Brimstone (sulphur)
The nature of Sulphur: What most people know about it is that it is a yellow powder and stinks when it is burned. The odour actually happens only when combined with something else like hydrogen. It is oneof the more abundant elements occurring naturally in our world. Fool’s Gold (iron pyrite) is mined for its sulphur. The chemistry of sulphur is more complex than that of any other elemental substance, because it exists in the largest variety of structural forms. The viscosity of melted sulphur (resistance to flow) increases 10,000 fold as it is heated from 319 to 383 degrees. When heating most other liquids their viscosity decreases. It does not dilute in water.
Sulphur is the king of remedies. It was used to treat skin disorders such as acne or scabies i.e., to remove blemishes. It was used as an internal cleanser. It has no side effects. It is used to treat fevers. It stimulates the bodies natural healing powers. Sulphur is used in treating gout, rheumatism, bronchitis and digestive problems. Sulphur is required for life!
Sulphur is used in refining low grade ore into gold! Sulpher (actually sulphuric acid)
is used to separate the copper from the Gold.
It works like this. In a blast furnace low-grade ore, fluxes, coal, lead oxide, iron, pyrites and slag’s from other processes are mixed. Oxygen enriched air is blown in the base of the furnace. The whole mixture heats up and melts and 3 main reactions take place:
Only the waste is consumed, the precious metal (gold) is left within the lead brick. By another electro-chemical process the pure gold is separated from the lead.
The mention of sulphur in Rev 19 & 20 was not to add a foul stinking odour to the torment of the fire but to refine that which was in the fire! The symbolic sulphur is a necessary part of the process, not an added misery to torment. Its purpose is help to change those from detrious (death) to Gold! From death to life!
So even that which we associate with a foul, stinking, odour our God uses it to His purpose and creates purity.
Zechariah 13:9
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Malachi 3:3
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Genesis 12:3
“And through you shall ALL families of the earth be blessed”
Lamentations 3:31-33
For the Lord will not cast off forever; for though He causes grief, yet He will have pity according to the multitude of His kindnesses.
Psalm 66:4
ALL the earth shall worship You, and shall sing to You; they praise Your name..
Psalm 22:27-28
All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations Shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the LORD’s and He rules over the nations.
Psalm 145:21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, And ALL flesh shall bless His holy name Forever and ever.
By Tony Nungesser and Gary Amirault