YOU KNOW THAT “HELL” THE RELIGIOUS CHURCH TAUGHT YOU ALL YOUR LIFE?
Jesus Never Taught That Hell in All of Scripture
INTRODUCTION: SMOKE AND FEAR — HOW RELIGION TURNED THE GOSPEL INTO A FIREPIT
For centuries, the Church has preached a gospel dipped in fear, lit with matches from the Dark Ages, and fueled by translations that served empires more than truth. The message? “Believe… or burn forever.” Entire generations were born under the weight of this terror—shaking in pews, whispering scared bedtime prayers, and wondering if their next mistake might land them in an eternal torture chamber.
But here’s the thunderous truth:
Jesus Christ NEVER preached eternal torment.
He never spoke of souls screaming in fire forever. He never painted His Father as a cosmic sadist. Instead, He revealed a God who is a Consuming Fire of love, a Refiner, a Restorer of all things.
In this book, we’ll walk through every single passage religion has weaponized, and we’ll expose it with fire and truth:
The real meaning of “Gehenna,” “Hades,” “Tartarus,” and “Sheol”
How mistranslated words like “eternal” and “punishment” have fooled the masses
How the fear-based gospel has hidden the Lamb of God from a world desperately in need of Him
And how the true message of Christ is not damnation, but reconciliation, correction, and restoration
This isn’t soft gospel fluff. This is truth strong enough to break centuries of religious bondage.
Prepare to unlearn fear.
Prepare to behold the real Jesus.
Prepare to confront the lie that’s held billions hostage.
This is the hour.
This is the unveiling.
This is the Gospel of Fire without torment — and glory without fear.
CHAPTER ONE
Smoking Guns: What Religion Has Preached Without Fear or Shame
For generations, religion has fired off a series of verses like loaded pistols, weaponizing scripture into bullets of fear. These are the “smoking guns” — verses quoted out of context, mistranslated, and used to control the masses, not liberate them.
From dusty pulpits to televised crusades, pastors have shouted, “Hell is real, and it’s forever!” But let us come and reason together, for what they call “hell” is often nothing more than a translation trap and a theological myth.
We begin by laying bare the top eight “hell verses” used by modern Christianity to support the idea of eternal, conscious torment. These passages have been cherry-picked, twisted, and stripped of their context — turned into spiritual blackmail instead of messages of divine truth.
Let’s examine the first: 1. Matthew 25:46 — Everlasting Punishment? Or Age-Lasting Correction?
“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
Religion’s Spin:
This verse is their cornerstone — used to teach that heaven is eternal joy and hell is eternal torture. It’s “black-and-white,” they say. Case closed.
Truth Unveiled:
Both “everlasting” and “eternal” in this verse come from the same Greek word — aionios, which means “age-lasting”, not endless.
Even more shocking: the word “punishment” here is not torment. It’s kolasis — a Greek term used in agriculture. It means pruning, discipline, or correction.
This verse is not a sentence of eternal torture, but a prophetic picture of corrective judgment in the coming age — a separation of motives, not eternal destinies. 2. Mark 9:43–48 — “Where Their Worm Dieth Not”?
“…to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Religion’s Spin:
This is quoted as proof of people burning alive in a literal hell forever. Truth Unveiled:
Jesus used the word Gehenna, a literal valley outside Jerusalem where fire burned trash and carcasses. His audience knew this place well — it was a symbol of shame and national judgment.
The “worm that dies not” is a reference to Isaiah 66:24, which speaks of dead bodies, not immortal souls. And the “fire not quenched” speaks of God’s purifying judgment, not an endless torture chamber. Jesus wasn’t giving geography for hell. He was issuing a prophetic warning to Israel, not eternal torment doctrine.
Let’s tear every brick from this hell-built house until only the Cornerstone remains — Christ, the Savior of all.
Let’s keep the fire burning, brother. Here comes: 3. Luke 16:19–31 — The Rich Man and Lazarus
“…And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments…”
(Luke 16:23) Religion’s Spin:
This parable has been taught as a literal eyewitness tour of the afterlife — rich men burn, poor men get comforted. Heaven up. Hell down. Flames, thirst, torment, and no escape. Truth Unveiled:
Jesus never intended this story as a literal description of the afterlife. It’s a parable — a prophetic rebuke to the Pharisees, not a theology lesson on post-mortem torment.
Let’s look at the evidence:
Clues it’s a Parable:
It begins like other parables: “There was a certain rich man…”
It uses symbolism and irony: Abraham’s bosom? A drop of water for flames?
Parables are not doctrine — they are revelatory mirrors. Cultural Context:
“Hell” here is Hades — the Greek underworld concept, not Gehenna.
The Pharisees believed in reward based on wealth and status. Jesus flipped the script: the rich man is tormented and the beggar is comforted.
This was a warning to Israel’s leaders who rejected the poor and the prophets — and who would soon reject the resurrection itself (v.31). This is not a teaching about eternal torment. It’s a parable about justice, reversal, and the coming judgment on the Jewish elite. 4. Revelation 14:10–11 — The Smoke of Their Torment Ascends Forever?
“…and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone… and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever…” Religion’s Spin:
This is shouted from pulpits as a final warning: burn forever or believe now. Truth Unveiled:
Let’s break down what this really says:
“Torment” here is from the Greek word basanizo, which means testing or refining — like metal in fire.
“Forever and ever” is aionas ton aionon — literally “unto the ages of the ages.” Not endless, but age-during.
This is symbolic apocalyptic language, not literal fire descriptions. Revelation is not a newspaper — it’s a vision packed with signs and symbols.
And remember, fire in Scripture is often purifying — not punishing. The smoke rising forever is the testimony of judgment complete — like the burning of Sodom. This passage doesn’t teach eternal conscious torment, but age-lasting divine judgment — leading to cleansing and restoration. 5. Revelation 20:10 — “Tormented Day and Night Forever and Ever”
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone… and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Religion’s Spin:
This is quoted as proof of eternal torture — not just for Satan, but for all unbelievers. It’s their “final nail in the coffin” verse. Truth Unveiled:
Let’s carefully unravel it.
Original Language Matters:
The Greek phrase “for ever and ever” is εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων (eis tous aionas ton aionon) — it literally means: “Unto the ages of the ages,”
NOT “forever without end.”
This is age-during — not eternal. It refers to a divinely appointed season of judgment and purification. The Lake of Fire — What Is It?
It’s not literal fire. It’s the fire of God — His holy presence.
“Our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29).
Fire refines gold, burns chaff, and reveals what remains.
Who Is the Judgment For?
The beast, the false prophet, and the devil — yes. But even here, this is not torture for torture’s sake.
The lake of fire is God’s final cleansing judgment, not a torture pit. We must never interpret apocalyptic visions as literal threats. This is not hell — it is the fire of divine justice consuming corruption.
Even the devil will be brought to his knees — not to be tortured forever, but to confess Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10–11). 6. Jude 7 — “Suffering the Vengeance of Eternal Fire”
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrah… are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
(Jude 7) Religion’s Spin:
“See? Sodom was punished with eternal fire. That must mean everyone who sins like them will be thrown into the same kind of everlasting hellfire!” Truth Unveiled:
Let’s break it wide open: What Happened to Sodom?
Sodom and Gomorrah were burned with literal fire from heaven (Genesis 19:24).
Are they still burning today? No.
The fire was complete and final, but not eternal in duration — it was eternal in consequence. What Does “Eternal Fire” Really Mean?
The Greek word is αἰώνιος (aiōnios) — it means “age-during,” not endless.
Jude says Sodom is an “example” — not of torture without end, but of God’s righteous judgment. Isaiah 34:10 says the fire against Edom will “burn forever” — yet Edom is no longer burning today.
This proves that “eternal fire” in Scripture often means judgment with lasting results, not unending torture.
The Restoration Prophecies:
Even for Sodom — the so-called worst city — God promises restoration:
“I will restore the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters…”
(Ezekiel 16:53) Think about it — if they were cast into literal eternal fire, how can God restore them? The answer: The “eternal fire” consumed the wickedness, not the souls. God’s judgments are corrective, not cruel. He always brings life from ashes. 7. Matthew 25:46 — “These shall go away into everlasting punishment…”
“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
(Matthew 25:46, KJV) Religion’s Spin:
This verse is used as the final nail: Jesus Himself said people go to “everlasting punishment.” Case closed, right? Truth Unveiled:
What Did Jesus Actually Say?
Let’s look at the original Greek words:
“Everlasting punishment” = kolasin aiōnion
“Eternal life” = zōēn aiōnion
The same word is used for both “punishment” and “life” — aiōnion — which means “age-during” or “belonging to an age,” not endless. The Word “Punishment” — Not What You Think
The Greek word for punishment here is kolasis — and this is crucial.
It does not mean retribution or vengeance.
It means corrective discipline — like pruning a tree to help it grow.
Origin: Kolasis comes from the Greek idea of trimming, cutting back, disciplining for restoration.
In contrast, the Greek word for vengeful punishment is timoria, which Jesus never uses here.
So this verse should actually read:
“These shall go away into age-during correction, but the righteous into age-during life.” The Age of Correction vs. the Age of Reign
Jesus was not speaking of eternal torment but of an age of correction — a time of discipline and training for those not yet transformed. This is not about final destinations — it’s about the Kingdom age to come and the process of divine judgment.
And note this: Jesus said NOTHING about fire here.
No flames. No devils. No torture. Just separation into two destinies — one for reigning, one for refining.
Let me know when you’re ready for the final one — #8: Revelation 21:8 — “The lake which burns with fire and brimstone…” Let’s bring down the curtain with #8 — a verse often used to scare people into salvation, yet grossly misunderstood in light of God’s character and eternal plan. 8. Revelation 21:8 — “The Lake Which Burns with Fire and Brimstone”
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable… shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
(Revelation 21:8) Religion’s Spin:
Here it is — the final damnation. A fiery lake of brimstone for sinners, where they’re burned alive forever in conscious agony. They say: “It’s not symbolic — it’s literal hell.” Truth Unveiled: What Is the Lake of Fire?
Let’s define it by Scripture — not fear:
“Our God is a consuming fire”
(Hebrews 12:29) The lake of fire is not literal lava. It’s a symbol of God’s holy, purifying presence.
Fire: Represents divine cleansing (Malachi 3:2-3)
Brimstone (Greek: theion) — literally divine incense or sulfur used for purification in temple rituals So this lake is not a place of punishment, but a place of purification — the presence of God Himself burning away all that defiles.
What Is the “Second Death”?
The “second death” is not eternal separation — it is the death of the Adamic nature, the carnal mind, and all that cannot inherit the Kingdom.
It is God’s final cleansing, not final torment.
“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power…”
(Revelation 20:6)
The second death doesn’t touch those who’ve already died to self. But for others, it is the death of death — the final crossing through divine fire.
God’s End Goal Is Restoration
After the lake of fire, look what comes next:
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth… and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain…”
(Revelation 21:1–4)
If the lake of fire were literal eternal hell — how could these verses exist?
Because judgment ends — and God’s plan is fulfilled.
God is not building an eternal torture chamber — He is forming a holy people through fire. WORD #1: SHEOL (Hebrew – Old Testament)
Used 65 times in the Hebrew Bible
Translated in the KJV as: hell (31x), grave (31x), pit (3x) What Is Sheol?
Sheol simply means: the realm of the dead — the grave, death, or the unseen place.
It was not a place of fire or torment.
Righteous men like Jacob, Job, David, and even Jesus spoke of going to Sheol.
“Thou wilt not leave my soul in Sheol; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”
(Psalm 16:10)
If Sheol is “hellfire,” why would David rejoice that Jesus would go there? Truth: Sheol = the state of the dead — not a burning torture pit. WORD #2: HADES (Greek – New Testament)
Equivalent of Sheol in Greek
Used 11 times in the New Testament
Translated as: hell (10x), grave (1x) What Is Hades?
Hades = unseen, invisible realm of the dead — exactly like Sheol.
It is not a place of eternal torment.
Revelation says Hades itself will be destroyed:
“And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.”
(Revelation 20:14)
How can Hades be eternal hell if it gets destroyed? Hades is temporary — a holding state of the dead before resurrection. WORD #3: GEHENNA (Greek – New Testament)
Used 12 times in the New Testament
Always translated as “hell” in most English Bibles
Spoken by Jesus — not Paul, Peter, or the apostles What Is Gehenna?
Gehenna was a real valley outside Jerusalem — the Valley of Hinnom.
Known as the garbage dump where trash and dead animals burned.
In the Old Testament, it was a place of pagan child sacrifice (Jeremiah 7:31). When Jesus used “Gehenna,” He was prophesying the coming judgment on Jerusalem — not eternal hell.
“Your whole body be cast into Gehenna.” (Matthew 5:30)
This happened in 70 A.D. — Jerusalem was burned, bodies thrown into the valley. Jesus used Gehenna as a symbol of national judgment, not cosmic damnation. WORD #4: TARTARUS (Greek – New Testament)
Used only once in the Bible
2 Peter 2:4 — “…cast them down to hell [Tartarus]…” What Is Tartarus?
Greek mythology: Tartarus was a dark abyss where fallen angels were held.
In Scripture, it’s a temporary prison for rebellious angels, not humans.
No one is said to be “burning” there. Tartarus = angelic holding place, not a human afterlife of torment.
The Conclusion:
There is no single word in the Bible that means what the religious world teaches as eternal hell.
Sheol = grave
Hades = unseen realm of the dead
Gehenna = a valley used for local judgment imagery
Tartarus = angelic prison, not human punishment The concept of “eternal torture in hell” is a man-made fusion — built from mistranslations and tradition, not from truth. 1. JESUS SPOKE OF FIRE — BUT NOT TO TORTURE, TO PURIFY
“Everyone will be salted with fire.”
— Mark 9:49 Fire in Jesus’ teaching is not torment, but transformation.
Salt preserves and purifies.
All are salted with fire — meaning all go through God’s purifying process.
“He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”
— Matthew 3:11
Fire is for the elect, too! That fire is not hellfire — it’s the fiery presence of God.
2. JESUS NEVER SAID “ETERNAL” — HE SAID AIONIOS
“These shall go away into everlasting punishment…”
— Matthew 25:46, KJV
Mistranslation alert!
The word is aionios — not “eternal,” but age-during.
Greek: aión = an age, a limited period of time
Aiónios = related to that age, lasting for an age
So the verse really says:
“These shall go away into age-during correction…”
And the word for “punishment” is kolasis — a Greek term used for pruning, not torment.
True translation:
“They shall go into an age-lasting correction, but the righteous into age-lasting life.” 3. JESUS SPOKE OF JUDGMENT — TO RESTORE, NOT DESTROY
“For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”
— Luke 9:56
“The Father judges no one but has committed all judgment to the Son…”
— John 5:22
But then look at the Son:
“I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”
— John 12:47 Wait — is there contradiction?
No. Judgment is part of the saving process.
The fire and judgment Jesus spoke of are instruments of correction, discipline, and divine love — not vengeance. 4. THE “AGES” TO COME — GOD’S PLAN OF RESTORATION
“That in the ages to come, He might show the exceeding riches of His grace…”
— Ephesians 2:7
Time is not ending with this life.
God has a plan for the ages — plural — and those ages are not filled with torture, but with grace, healing, and restoration.
Summary:
Jesus never taught eternal torment.
He used fire as a symbol of purification, not punishment.
He spoke of age-during judgment, not never-ending damnation.
His mission was not destruction, but restoration.
The coming ages of God are for the unfolding of His grace, not unending wrath. 1. THE SECOND DEATH IS NOT THE END — IT’S THE BEGINNING OF REAL DEATH TO SELF
“This is the second death, the lake of fire.”
— Revelation 20:14
Notice: This is after death and hell are cast into the Lake of Fire.
Let that sink in:
Hell itself is not final — it gets destroyed in the fire!
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
— Revelation 20:14 If the Lake of Fire is “hell after hell” — why is hell destroyed in it?
Because the Lake of Fire is not a literal burning pit, but the fiery presence of God Himself — a refining fire, not a torturing one. 2. THE FIRE IS GOD HIMSELF — NOT A COSMIC FURNACE
“For our God is a consuming fire.”
— Hebrews 12:29 God is not in the fire — He IS the fire.
His fire refines, it does not destroy without purpose.
This fire burns away the wood, hay, and stubble — but leaves the gold, silver, and precious stones.
“The fire shall try every man’s work… If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Even those who suffer the fire — shall be saved.
3. THE “SECOND DEATH” MEANS THE DEATH OF THE ADAMIC MAN
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power…”
— Revelation 20:6
This shows the second death is a power — not a location.
It is the death of the carnal man.
The second death burns away the sin nature, not the soul.
It’s the death of death itself — the last enemy (1 Cor. 15:26).
The overcomers are those in whom Adam is already being consumed by fire. For them, the second death has no dominion, because they’ve already died in Christ. 4. THE LAKE OF FIRE LEADS TO LIFE — NOT ETERNAL TORTURE
“Behold, I make all things new.”
— Revelation 21:5 Directly after the Lake of Fire scene, God begins the new creation.
The fire clears the way for new heavens and a new earth.
The Lake of Fire is not an end, but a transition into all things made new.
“The Spirit and the Bride say, Come… and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
— Revelation 22:17
If the wicked are eternally damned, why is the invitation still open?
5. THE FIRE IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RESTORATION
“He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”
— Malachi 3:3
God’s fire is always:
Purposeful
Refining
Restorative
Even Sodom — one of the most infamous judgments in Scripture — is promised restoration:
“When I bring again the captivity of Sodom and her daughters…”
— Ezekiel 16:53 What man destroys, God restores — even through fire.
CONCLUSION: The Second Death Is the Death of Sin — Not the Soul
The Lake of Fire is not a torture chamber.
It is the fiery love of God, purging all that is not Christ.
The Second Death is the final end of Adam, not the eternal agony of souls. God’s judgment is just — and His justice always leads to mercy.
“Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
— James 2:13 SECTION 5: THE PAGAN ORIGINS OF ETERNAL TORMENT — HOW HELL ENTERED THE CHURCH
“The doctrines of men have made the Word of God of none effect.” — Mark 7:13
If eternal conscious torment is not what the original languages teach…
And if Jesus never taught it using the actual Greek and Hebrew meanings…
Then where did the idea of hellfire and unending punishment come from?
Let’s uncover the trail — step by step.
1. HELLFIRE DIDN’T BEGIN WITH JESUS — IT BEGAN IN PAGAN RELIGIONS
Centuries before Christ, cultures like the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans all had versions of the afterlife involving fiery torture, dark pits, and tormented souls.
Babylonians had Irkalla, a shadowy underworld.
Greeks believed in Tartarus, a realm of punishment beneath Hades.
Romans adopted Tartarus and merged it with their own gods.
Zoroastrianism taught dualism — two equal gods (good vs. evil), and a hell where wicked souls burned forever. These were not biblical concepts. They were pagan afterlife myths designed to control behavior through fear.
2. EARLY CHRISTIANITY TAUGHT A VICTORIOUS SAVIOR — NOT AN ETERNAL TORTURER
In the first few centuries after Christ:
Church fathers like Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Gregory of Nyssa believed in the ultimate reconciliation of all souls.
They taught that hell was corrective — a refining fire, not a place of endless conscious torment.
“The consuming fire is not eternal punishment but a purifying flame.”
— Origen (3rd Century)
This view was called Apokatastasis — the restoration of all things (see Acts 3:21).
3. HELL ENTERED THE CHURCH THROUGH ROME — AND RELIGIOUS CONTROL
When Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in the 4th century, things changed.
The Church married the State — and control became key. What better way to control people than by threatening them with eternal fire?
Augustine (5th century) became a key architect of eternal hell doctrine.
He twisted the meaning of Greek words like aionios (age-during) into “eternal.”
He taught that God predestined some to heaven and others to eternal hell — a fatalistic, fear-based gospel.
The Church used this doctrine to:
Force mass conversions
Control morality
Justify inquisitions and executions
It had nothing to do with Jesus’ actual words.
4. THE KING JAMES BIBLE ENFORCED THE TRANSLATION ERROR
When the King James Bible was translated in 1611, the translators were under the rule of King James — head of the Church of England.
Political loyalty and theological conformity were required.
They mistranslated four Greek and Hebrew words into one word: “hell”.
These included: Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, and Tartarus — each with very different meanings.
Instead of honest translations, they inserted the fiery eternal hell narrative — and it stuck.
Religious institutions loved it, because it kept people in fear.
5. JESUS NEVER TAUGHT PAGAN HELL — HE TAUGHT CORRECTION, RESTORATION, AND KINGDOM
Jesus never once described:
A burning pit of eternal torment
A devil torturing souls
A place where God abandons the lost forever
Instead, Jesus taught: Gehenna — a metaphor for judgment and purification
Age-lasting correction (kolasis aionios)
The kingdom of God, not the fires of eternal doom CONCLUSION: HELLFIRE IS NOT GOSPEL — IT’S ROMAN RELIGION The doctrine of eternal torment is not a revelation — it’s a perversion.
It twists the nature of God.
It contradicts the work of the cross.
It insults the blood of Jesus.
It comes from pagan myth, religious control, and mistranslation.
The early Church knew the truth.
Jesus is the Savior of the world — not the torturer of the masses. 1. Sheol (Hebrew — Old Testament) Used in: Genesis, Psalms, Job, Isaiah
Translation: “The grave,” “the unseen,” or “realm of the dead”
Examples:
“The wicked shall be turned into Sheol.” (Psalm 9:17)
“Jacob said, I will go down into Sheol to my son mourning.” (Genesis 37:35) Key Insight:
Sheol was not a place of torment. It was simply the grave, the place of the dead — both righteous and unrighteous.
David expected to go to Sheol (Psalm 16:10)
Jesus was said to go to Sheol (translated Hades in Greek) in prophecy (Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:27) There is no fire, no torment. Sheol is a shadowy realm of death, not hellfire. 2. Hades (Greek — New Testament) Used in: Matthew, Acts, Revelation Translation: “The unseen,” “the grave,” “death realm”
Examples:
“And in Hades, he lifted up his eyes being in torment…” (Luke 16:23)
“Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14) Key Insight:
Hades is the Greek counterpart to Sheol — a temporary holding place of the dead, not the final destination. It was not eternal.
Even Hades is cast into the lake of fire — proving it is not the end.
Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 1:18) — He’s in charge, not Satan. Hades is not a place of eternal damnation. It’s a realm of the dead awaiting judgment. 3. Gehenna (Greek — New Testament) Used in: Matthew 5, 10, 23; Mark 9; Luke 12 Translation: “Valley of Hinnom,” a burning garbage dump outside Jerusalem
Examples:
“Fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” (Matthew 10:28)
“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off… better to enter life maimed than be cast into Gehenna.” (Mark 9:43) Key Insight:
Gehenna was a real place — a defiled valley outside Jerusalem where garbage and corpses burned. Jesus used it as a metaphor for judgment.
No mention of eternal torment
No devils with pitchforks
It represented temporal judgment, not unending torture Gehenna is about the burning away of the flesh, not everlasting punishment of the spirit. 4. Tartarus (Greek — One-time use in 2 Peter 2:4) Used in: 2 Peter 2:4 Translation: “A prison for angels,” drawn from Greek mythology
Example:
“God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus…” (2 Peter 2:4) Key Insight:
Tartarus appears only once — and refers to fallen angels, not humans. It’s a place of temporary restraint, not a lake of fire. Tartarus is never used in reference to the final destiny of people. It’s not a fiery hell.
THE TRUTH IS CLEAR:
Word Meaning Eternal? For Humans? Fire?
Sheol The grave / realm of the dead 
No Yes No
Hades Greek realm of the dead No Yes (symbolic)
Gehenna Physical garbage dump (metaphor) No Yes Yes (earthly)
Tartarus Prison for fallen angels No No No Not one of these words refers to eternal conscious torment. Not one teaches that God tortures souls forever. Jesus never taught it. The apostles never preached it.
What we’ve been told as “hell” is a mixture of mistranslations, pagan ideas, and fear-based theology. 1. God’s Judgment Brings Righteousness — Not Eternal Torment
“When Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.”
— Isaiah 26:9
God does not destroy to annihilate — He judges to teach. His fire is not random wrath — it’s a refining fire.
Like a purifier of silver, He burns away the dross.
Like a potter, He remakes the clay.
His judgments are not eternal vengeance — they are tools for transformation. 2. God’s Fire Is a Purifying Fire — Not a Torture Chamber
“Our God is a consuming fire.” — Hebrews 12:29
“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” — Malachi 3:3
Religion says God’s fire destroys people forever.
But Scripture says God’s fire burns away sin and impurity — not people.
Gold is refined in fire. (1 Peter 1:7)
The chaff is burned, but the wheat remains. (Matthew 3:12)
Every man’s work will be tested by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:13) Fire is for purging, not punishing.
It burns up what is false so what is true can remain. 3. Judgment Comes “According to Their Works” — Not Endless
“The dead were judged according to their works.” — Revelation 20:12
“He will render to every man according to his works.” — Romans 2:6
If hell were endless, there could be no such thing as judgment “according to works.”
Everyone would receive the same penalty — infinite torture — regardless of how they lived.
But God is just. His judgments are measured, not infinite. They fit the crime — not exceed it infinitely.
Even human courts understand this: punishment must be proportional to the crime. And God’s justice is infinitely more fair than man’s. 4. God’s Justice Leads to Mercy and Restoration
“For the Lord will not cast off forever. But though He causes grief, He will have compassion…” — Lamentations 3:31–32
“In wrath, remember mercy.” — Habakkuk 3:2
God’s wrath is not eternal — His mercy is.
Wrath is for a moment — mercy is for all generations. (Psalm 103:8–9)
Judgment gives way to grace.
Fire gives way to restoration.
God judges not to destroy — but to bring all things back to Himself. 5. Jesus IS the Judge — And He’s Also the Savior of All
“The Father has committed all judgment to the Son.” — John 5:22
“We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL men, especially of those who believe.” — 1 Timothy 4:10
Jesus is not a courtroom judge with a gavel — He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
He judges as a Great Physician, not an executioner.
His goal is healing, not harm.
His plan is redemption, not revenge.
His purpose is to correct all that has gone wrong — not lock it in forever. LET THE FIRE FALL — FOR RESTORATION, NOT RUIN
The lake of fire is real — but it is not what we’ve been told.
It is not the end.
It is not Satan’s lair.
It is the fiery presence of Christ — purging sin, refining souls, and preparing creation for glory.
“Behold, I make all things new.” — Revelation 21:5 SECTION 8: THE LAKE OF FIRE — THE FINAL CLEANSING, NOT FINAL DAMNATION
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” — Revelation 20:14
The Lake of Fire.
To the religious world, it’s the most terrifying verse in the Bible — a symbol of endless torment, the eternal dungeon of the damned.
But to those with eyes to see and ears to hear, this fiery lake reveals the greatest mystery of God’s restorative judgment. It is not the end of hope, but the beginning of the end of death, sin, and all opposition to God’s glory. WHAT IS THE “SECOND DEATH”?
“This is the second death…” — Revelation 20:14
Most people assume the “second death” means eternal separation from God.
But Scripture never says that.
What is it then? The first death is physical. The second death is spiritual cleansing — the final removal of everything that opposes God’s nature.
It is the death of the carnal mind.
It is the fire that destroys the sin — not the sinner.
It is God saying, “What I didn’t burn out in your first life, I’ll finish in this one.” WHAT IS “THE LAKE OF FIRE”?
“Our God is a consuming fire.” — Hebrews 12:29
“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” — Matthew 3:11
Religion says: “It’s literal lava.”
But let’s look at the two key words:
Fire = Divine purification
Brimstone (Greek: theion) = Divine sulfur used in temple cleansing rituals The Lake of Fire is the presence of God’s holy fire.
It is the divine furnace that finishes the work.
It is not an endless sentence — it is a corrective age for the rebellious, just like fire purifies gold.
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest… it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” — 1 Corinthians 3:13
Even Paul says some will be saved, yet so as by fire.
Because God’s fire doesn’t destroy the gold — it removes the dross. WHO GOES INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE?
“The fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable… shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.” — Revelation 21:8
This is not a list of those who will suffer eternally — it’s a list of those who need cleansing.
Note the phrase: “shall have their part…”
Each has a portion — a measured season of judgment — not endless torment. THE LAKE OF FIRE COMES BEFORE GOD MAKES ALL THINGS NEW
After the lake of fire, what does Revelation say next?
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth… And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make ALL things new.” — Revelation 21:1, 5
If the lake of fire was eternal hell — why would God say “all things” are made new right after?
Because it’s not final destruction — it’s final transformation. THE OVERCOMERS ESCAPE THE SECOND DEATH
“He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.” — Revelation 2:11
“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power.” — Revelation 20:6
Those who overcome in this life are not touched by the fire — because the fire already burned within them. They died to self daily. They walked through the furnace now, not later. They are purified sons, conformed to the image of Christ.
THE DIVINE CONCLUSION: RESTORATION, NOT RUIN
The Lake of Fire is not a horror story — it’s the final act of redemption.
It is not the last word of judgment — it is the first word of the new creation.
“Then comes the end… when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God… that God may be All in All.” — 1 Corinthians 15:24, 28 Hell doesn’t win. Jesus doesn’t lose the majority of mankind. The fire of God finishes what the blood of Jesus began. PART 3: The Great Mistranslation — When “Eternal” Didn’t Mean Eternal INTRODUCTION: How a Single Word Distorted the Gospel
For centuries, the Church has built its doctrine of hell, judgment, and salvation on a handful of English words — “eternal,” “everlasting,” and “forever.”
But what if those words don’t actually mean what you’ve been told?
What if they were mistranslated from the original Greek and Hebrew — and the fear-based theology of eternal damnation was founded on a flawed foundation?
This section will open your eyes to the truth behind the Greek word “aionios” and the Hebrew word “olam.”
These two words are the real culprits behind the illusion of “eternal torment.”
We’ll walk verse by verse, language by language, and shatter the false eternity built by man’s religion — and replace it with the glorious vision of God’s age-during, redemptive judgments. THE WORD THAT SHOOK THE WORLD: “AION”
Let’s begin with the Greek word “aion” (αἰών) — often translated into English as:
“eternal”
“everlasting”
“forever”
“world”
“age”
But here’s the shocking truth:
“Aion” does not mean “never-ending” by definition.
It literally means: an age, a bounded period of time.
Even Greek lexicons confirm it:
Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon:
“Aion – a period of time, an age… a cycle of time marked out by its own characteristics.” Liddell & Scott:
“Aion – lifetime, life, age, generation; a long but limited duration.”
So why did English translators render it as “eternal” or “everlasting”?
Because when translation is influenced by theology — doctrine corrupts definition.
“AIONIOS” – ADJECTIVE OF AN AGE, NOT OF ENDLESSNESS
If “aion” is the noun (age), then “aionios” is the adjective.
It means: “belonging to an age,” or “age-during.”
It does not mean eternal by nature — and never did in classical Greek.
Let’s examine a few Scriptures:
MATTHEW 25:46 — “EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT”?
“These shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.” — KJV
The word for both “everlasting” and “eternal” here is “aionios.”
But if “aionios” means age-lasting, not endless, then this verse reads:
“These shall go away into age-during correction, but the righteous into age-during life.”
The judgment and the life are both age-based experiences, not permanent fixed fates. The context is clear: Jesus is speaking about the age to come (see Matthew 24–25).
It is a Millennial judgment for correction — not a final sentence of unending doom. HOW “AION” IS USED IN SCRIPTURE
Let’s walk through some examples that prove it means a limited time:
Luke 1:70 — “Since the world began”
“As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began [aion].”
Do prophets exist since eternity? No. They existed since a specific age began. Romans 12:2 — “This present world (age)”
“Be not conformed to this world [aion], but be transformed…”
You can’t be conformed to eternity — but you can be conformed to the mindset of a specific age. 1 Corinthians 2:6 — “The princes of this world (age)”
“Which none of the princes of this world [aion] knew…”
Are there princes ruling eternity? Of course not. This refers to a limited time system. “AIONIOS” FIRE — IS GOD’S FIRE ETERNAL?
“Suffering the vengeance of eternal fire [aionios fire].” — Jude 1:7
This verse refers to Sodom and Gomorrah.
Are they still burning? No. The fire is not eternal in duration, but eternal in source. It was fire from God — not hellfire. It was judgment during an age — not forever.
Even Jesus said Sodom would be restored in the age to come! (See Ezekiel 16:53, Matthew 11:24) THINK: IF “AIONIOS” MEANS ETERNAL…
…then how can Scripture speak of:
The end of the age (Matthew 24:3)
Mysteries hidden from ages (Colossians 1:26)
Satan being bound for an age (Revelation 20:3)
Because ages end.
Aionios is age-related, not never-ending. PART 3 – SECTION 3: “FOREVER AND EVER” — A MISTRANSLATED MYTH A Phrase that Sounds Eternal… But Isn’t
One of the most feared phrases in all of Scripture is this one:
“Forever and ever.”
It sounds unbreakable. Irrevocable. Eternal.
But here’s the shocker… The original Greek phrase is “eis tous aionas ton aionon” — literally:
“unto the ages of the ages.”
Not eternity. Not infinity. Not never-ending.
Just a plural form of time-bound ages. BREAKING IT DOWN: WHAT “EIS TOUS AIONAS TON AIONON” ACTUALLY MEANS
Let’s parse this phrase word by word:
Eis = into, unto, toward
Tous aionas = the ages (plural of aion)
Ton aionon = of the ages (plural genitive) So when your Bible says “forever and ever,” it’s literally saying:
“into the ages of the ages” — not “for all eternity.”
This phrase is used in places of glory (God’s reign) AND in places of judgment (beast, lake of fire).
It never means without end. It only describes depth or intensity within a time-based realm. EXAMPLES: IS “FOREVER AND EVER” REALLY FOREVER? Revelation 14:11 — Smoke of torment ascends forever and ever?
“The smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever…”
The Greek: “eis aionas aionon”
But if “aion” = age, and “aionas aionon” = ages of the ages…
This simply means: a long, divine, age-lasting judgment.
The context is symbolic (beasts, marks, fire) — and drawn from Isaiah 34, where “smoke ascends forever” over Edom, which is no longer burning today. Revelation 20:10 — Devil tormented forever and ever?
“…tormented day and night forever and ever.”
Again: eis tous aionas ton aionon
But if the devil is destroyed (Hebrews 2:14)
If death is abolished (1 Corinthians 15:26)
If God becomes All in All (1 Corinthians 15:28)
Then torment can’t last forever — because even death and hell are destroyed (Revelation 20:14). THE MISTAKE OF ENGLISH TRANSLATION
English Bibles turned age-based phrases into infinite declarations.
This corrupted the understanding of:
God’s plan for judgment
The duration of correction
The purpose of the ages
The final restoration of all Even the phrase “forever and ever” was once translated differently:
Tyndale Bible (1526): “world without end”
Young’s Literal Translation: “to the ages of the ages”
Modern English just ran with tradition — not truth. THINK: WOULD GOD USE AGE-WORDS TO DESCRIBE ETERNITY?
If God meant forever, He had Greek words for that:
aidios (eternal, unperishing — used sparingly)
akatalytos (indestructible)
endless (aperantos — Hebrews 7:16)
But Scripture never uses these to describe hell, torment, or damnation.
Why?
Because those judgments aren’t eternal — they are age-during and purpose-driven. PART 3 – SECTION 4: “OLAM” — THE HEBREW WORD THAT NEVER MEANT FOREVER INTRODUCTION: The Old Testament’s Mistranslated Twin
Just like “aion” in Greek was mistranslated as “eternal,” so too was its Hebrew counterpart — “olam.”
Most Christians assume that if something is said to last “forever” in the Old Testament, it means eternally without end.
But that assumption crumbles under the weight of truth.
Let’s dive deep and dismantle the myth of “olam.” WHAT IS “OLAM”?
In Hebrew, the word olam (עוֹלָם) means:
“A long duration of time”
“An age”
“A time hidden beyond the horizon”
“An indefinite, but not infinite, period”
It literally comes from the root ‘alam, meaning “to conceal, hide.”
So olam describes a span of time whose end is out of view, not endless. Think of “olam” as looking down a road that disappears into the horizon.
You don’t see the end — but that doesn’t mean it’s endless. EXAMPLES THAT EXPOSE THE TRUTH
Exodus 40:15 — “A priesthood forever”
“…their anointing shall surely be an everlasting (olam) priesthood…”
But the Aaronic priesthood ended.
Jesus became the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron (Hebrews 7:11–12). So the “eternal priesthood” clearly wasn’t eternal. Jonah 2:6 — “I went down to the bottom of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me forever (olam)…”
“…yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.”
Jonah said he was in the belly of the fish forever — but it was only three days (Jonah 1:17). Olam ≠ eternity. It was a season of judgment.
1 Samuel 1:22 — “That he may appear before the Lord, and there abide forever (olam).”
But in verse 28, the same writer says:
“As long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord.”
So “forever” = as long as he lives, not eternity.
Micah 4:5 — “We will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever (olam va’ed).”
Yet Revelation 21:3 says God will dwell with men, and all things will be made new.
So even in Israel’s devotion, olam didn’t mean infinite — just the age or covenant they were under. THE RESULT OF MISTRANSLATING “OLAM”
By translating olam as “eternal” or “everlasting,” the translators:
Misrepresented temporary laws as eternal (e.g., circumcision, feasts, priesthood)
Confused covenants that ended with ones that were meant for a season
Laid the groundwork for eternal hell theology in the New Testament
But God has ages within His plan — not one eternal heaven or hell.
These ages were purposed for redemption, growth, judgment, and eventual reconciliation. THE GLORY OF HARMONY
When we realize both olam (Hebrew) and aion (Greek) speak of ages, not eternity:
Hell becomes corrective and temporary
Judgment becomes restorative, not final
God’s love becomes unstoppable
The cross becomes cosmic and complete
Universalism?
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Awesome 
thank you!
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Awesome thank you!
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