This site is for thoughtful Christians learning how to answer the hard questions people are asking today
FOREVER?
PURPOSE:Helping Christians engage in intelligent conversations with doubters and unbelievers
Will people burn in hell FOREVER?
THIS IS
INSIGHT 2
What the Old Testament says
Hell is not a subject taught in the Old Testament. The concept of hell as taught in the New Testament is completely missing in the Old Testament.
There are only four verses – quoted below – which could be stretched to imply the New Testament concept of hell, and they all allude to total destruction, not eternal damnation.
– 1 –
'Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, some must die.' (2 Samuel 14:14, Joab speaking, military commander under King David)
The Old Testament does not teach about any particular kind of hell after death. In the Old Testament, Jews thought that people – non-Jews (Gentiles) for sure – just die ('cannot be recovered,' end of existence), like every other living thing.
– 2 –
'A little while, and the wicked will be no more ...' (Psalm 37:10, Psalmist speaking)
In the Old Testament times, Jews believed that human life is short and death is end of existence. The important thing is preserving life of the nation. 'Will be no more' is contrary to eternal life in hell.
– 3 –
'... though the wicked spring up like grass and all evil doers flourish, they will be forever destroyed' (Psalm 92:7, Psalmist speaking)
Same words used by Jesus in the New Testament (see Insight 4 below). 'Forever destroyed' means end of existence, much different than eternal life in hell.
– 4 –
'Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evil doer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,' says the Lord Almighty. 'Not a root or branch will be left to them ... and they will be ashes under the soles of your feet ...' (Malachi 4:1-3, Old Testament Prophet speaking)
