Word based mystic
New member
This is the problem with founding a position on a single word or verse. It doesn't necessarily convey the breadth intended. For example, when we were dead in trespasses and sin, were we actually dead in the sense you are reading here? Are the "filthy dreamers" of Jude 1:12 "twice dead" and therefore not in existence?
I know what Jesus says about fewer stripes. And I know you probably think that it is impossible to have degrees of punishment if all are in the same fire. The fire spoken of is far more than just fire as we understand it - this is just an analogy for our understanding (seeing through a glass darkly and all that). I have no problem believing that the punishments God metes out are utterly just.
But if someone is actually dead, how does that work in terms of varying punishments? Are some just mostly dead?
Eternal life is a quality as well as a duration. Life more abundantly...
i accepted and discussed that punishment has different degrees
and it actually proves that some that sinned greater shall suffer longer before (perish) [appollumi] to be utterly destroyed.
otherwise they would all be getting the same punishment never ending.
unquenchable fire does not define that which it (destroys)
the idea of the wicked soul as being immortal, indestructible, imperishable soul is hinging on the word forever.
which means till the end of the age, messianic age, period of time.
some will hinge it on unquenchable.
but God is a consuming fire
the eternal substance of the fire shows it is birthed out of and may imply it Is Gods consuming fire that does the destruction.
the fire is eternal
wicked are hay and stubble burned up by the (consuming) fire.
assigning attributes that are not evident in scripture is speculative.