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1 « F u t u r e Puitisfimeitt Endless? A * ^ = - B ï . I L A . T® ffæ @ y B®ffisa ©g ffiâM® Institute ©S Bo@s Jksngeîes i ESUS CHRIST plainly taught that there was to be a literal hell and that this hell would be a place o f conscious suffering, suffering far beyond that experienced by any one here in this present life, but we are faced tonight by another question of utterly futile and an utter waste o f time. All we know about the future is what God has been pleased to tell us in His Word. The Bible, as we’ have seen, is beyond a question the .Word of God, and therefore' what it has.to,say on this subject, or any other. subj ect, is true and absolutely sure, and in a question o f this character one: ounce o f God’s revelation is worth more than a thousand tons o f man’s speculation. The whole question then is, what does the Bible teach in regard, to this matter? I. What the Bible Teaches Regarding the Endlessness of Future Punishment. 1. T o find out exactly' what the Bible
great importance, is this future conscious suffering o f the impenitent to. be endless? There are many who believe in future pun ishment of. a very severe and awful char acter, and who indeed believe in a literal hell o f awful conscious suffering, but they deny, or at least doubt, that this future hell will be a place o f endless conscious suffering. Many o f them admit and teach that the suffering may go on for a long time, and perhaps for thousands of years, but they hold that, it will end at last and that all men will ultimately pome to repent ance, accept Jesus Christ, and be saved. What is the exact truth about the matter? We cannot decide .this by asking what the majority o f supposedly reliable theologians believe, for majorities are often wrong and minorities are often right. Neither can we decide it by reasoning as to what such a being as God is must, do. It is impos sible for finite and foolish men such as we are, and such as the wisest philpsophers and theologians are, to judge what an Infinitely wise and Infinitely holy God must do. All reasonings by finite men as to what an Infinitely wise God must do are
teaches as to the endlessness o f future pun ishment let us turn first o f all to the words o f our Lord Jesus Himself in Matt. 25:46 (R. V .), “And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into- eternal life.” The first question that con fronts us in studying this passage is what the word aionios (aionion) which is here translated “eternal” means. The best Greek- English dictionary o f thé New Testament is Thayer’s. In this dictionary Thayer àfter a careful study o f the'word, its derivation and its usage, gives these three definitions, of the word; and these three only: (1) “Without beginning or end, that which always has been and always will be.” (2) “Without beginning.” (3) “Without end, never to cease, everlasting.’ It is fre-
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