Words that God uses to prove the impossibility of ‘eternal’ and ‘hell.’
Is hell in the belly of a fish? Are three days and three nights equal to forever?
Words are important in scripture and without applying proper meaning to these words, God’s message to humanity is lost.
I am going to review a few instances of specific Hebrew and Greek words that are mistranslated in modern bibles to mean ‘hell’ and ‘eternal’ but actually mean the opposite. This can be done with all instances that appear to teach eternal hell, but for times sake, just a few will be reviewed.
- Jonah and the Belly of the Fish
We all know the story of Jonah trying to escape God and being swallowed by the great fish. I am going to quote from the New King James Version for illustration.
In Jonah 2:6 it says:
New King James Version
I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD, my God.
The word ‘forever’ in the above verse is the Hebrew word ‘olam,’ Strong’s #5679 and it means ‘long duration.’ However, the King James version puts ‘forever.’ This means that Jonah was in the belly of the fish forever!
However, Jonah 1:17 says that Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, not forever. So, we know for certain that Jonah was delivered from the great fish and did what God instructed. Therefore, we know with certainty that he was not in the fish forever. This proves the NKJV mistranslated the word ‘olam.’ It cannot mean forever.
So back to my original question: Are three days and three nights equal to forever? Of course not. Also, Jonah 2:2 says that Jonah was in ‘hell.’ My other question: Is hell in the belly of a fish? I think you know the answer to that.
More importantly, the Hebrew word ‘olam’ has Greek equivalent words that are used in the New Testament which supposedly describe eternal hell. These words ‘aion and aionion’ can be proven to disprove eternal hell.
- ‘Aion’ and ‘Aionion’ do not mean eternal
Let’s take a look at Matthew 25:41 and Matthew 25:46 in the King James:
New King James Version (Matthew 25:41)
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
New King James Version (Matthew 25:46)
And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
There it is…eternal hell proven by the onward christian soldier! Not so fast. The word ‘everlasting’ is Strong’s word 166 ‘aionion’ and is the Greek equivalent to the word ‘olam’ that we already determine does not mean forever. However, lets explore the usage of this word elsewhere in the New Testament to prove that it does not mean everlasting.
One of the best ways to determine a word’s meaning is to see how it is used throughout scripture. The word ‘aionion’ is translated in the NKJV to mean ‘everlasting and eternal.’
However, ‘aionion’ is the adjective form of the word ‘aion,’ Strong’s word #165. Aion means ‘age.’ So, how can the adjective for of ‘aion’ mean something different than the noun form? Its like saying that hourly means something different than hour. No, hourly is the adjective form of hour and means the same thing. Therefore, ‘aionion’ is the adjective form of ‘aion’ which means ‘age,’ then how is it translated to mean everlasting or eternal?
Okay, specific usage:
Let’s look at Titus 1:2 in the KJV.
New King James Version (Titus 1:2)
in hope of eternal (aionion 166) life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time (aionion 166) began…
In the above verse, the Greek word ‘aionion’ is used to mean ‘eternal’ and ‘time.’ How can this be? Eternal is the absence of time and yet in the very same sentence is used to mean time itself. Here you see the inconsistency of the KJV translators. They actually have a word mean the opposite of itself in the very same sentence.
If ‘aionion’ means ‘eternity’ then how can something happen before eternity began? Its not possible because eternal is the absence of time and nothing can happen before eternity began. Therefore, this word cannot mean eternity.
Okay, back to Matthew 25:46.
Let’s present this verse in the King James Version:
King James Bible
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
New King James Version
And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
There it is…this verse proves eternal hell, right? Wrong. Let see what this verse actually says.
First, the Greek word used in this verse to mean everlasting (eternal) is ‘aionion’ and is the Hebrew equivalent ‘Olam.’ Olam cannot mean eternity or everlasting because elsewhere used in scripture, the account of Jonah in the fish, it represents a period of time. Aionion is the adjective form of the base word ‘aion’ which means age. Based on usage of these words in other verses prove that this word cannot mean eternal. It should be translated as age-long. This also makes sense because when Jesus was on earth He was referring to the 1000 year millennial kingdom and not eternity. Thus, the age-long spans across the length of that kingdom.
Second, the Greek word Kolasis (Strong’s word 2851) is translated in the KJV to mean ‘punishment.’ However, this word actually means ‘correction.’ The deep meaning of Kolasis is defined as trimming bushes so that they grow back evenly or grow back better. This word has a purpose of correction to the one being afflicted with it.
Like a parent correcting a child. It may not be pleasant but it is for the good of the one being corrected. It is not a vindictive eternal punishment with no chance of ever coming out of it.
So, this is what Matthew 25:46 actually says:
And these shall go away into agelong correction, but the righteous into agelong life.
There is no mention of eternal life in scripture as God deals with humanity in ages of time, not eternity. Believers are given ‘aionion’ or ‘age-long’ life, not eternal life.
Are you saying we don’t live forever, Scott? No…of course we do. But, we live forever because we put on immortality. This is discussed in 1 Corinthians 15:53-55. You see, believers are given immortality early so at the end of the ages, they continue to be immortal. Those not given ‘aionion life’ will put on immortality at the consummation when the ‘second death, the lake of fire’ is abolished. This is at the conclusion of the ages.
TWO ETERNITIES?
Another proof that ‘aionion’ and ‘aion’ cannot mean eternal is in Revelation 11:15. The KJV and many other translations say that Jesus will reign forever and ever.
New King James Version
Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
Why is it necessary to say ‘forever and ever?’ Are there two eternities? No. The Greek words translated by King James Version to mean ‘forever and ever’ are actually ‘ages of the ages’…Strong’s word 165. See, we are in the third wicked age as Paul describes. There are two glorious ages to come: The 1000 year kingdom where Christ rules on earth and after that, the new heavens and the new earth age. So, it makes sense that Christ will reign for the next two ages. However, it does not make sense that Christ would reign for the next two eternities.
On top of that, Christ’s reign cannot be forever because 1 Corinthians 15: 25, 28 say that Christ’s reign ends. How can Christ reign forever and ever if His reign comes to an end?
For He must be reigning until He should be placing all enemies under His feet. The last enemy is being abolished: death. –1 Corinthians 15:25
Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all. –1 Corinthians 15:28
You see, Jesus Christ reigns so well in the last two ages, the ages of the ages, that He perfects all creation to the point that no creature even needs to be ruled over anymore. That’s why His reign ends. Death is abolished and all creation vivified. Then, at this point, God will be All in all. Christ, with all creation, is subjected to God. Christ cannot and does not reign forever. Therefore, the words ‘forever and ever’ in Revelation 11:15, are a mistranslation just like every time forever or eternal is used to describe life in hell or anywhere else.
Alright, so the words ‘aion’ and ‘aionion’ do not mean eternal, unending, nor forever. Well, maybe there is no Greek word that means ‘unending, forever’ so the translators just used ‘age’ and ‘age-long’ to mean unending. Is this true? NO.
There is a word in Greek that means ‘unending.’ It is Strong’s word 562 aperantos and it means ‘unending, endless.’
…nor yet to be heeding myths and endless genealogies… –1 Timothy 1:4
So, if there is an exact word that means unending, why would God use a word that means ‘age, pertaining to an age’ to describe endless punishment? He had a word that meant endless. Answer: God didn’t use the word aperantos or ‘endless’ because He was not talking about something that was endless. God used aion and aionion to describe things that lasted for an age or ages. God does not make mistakes, translators do.
TRANSLATION ERROR!
I could go on an on with every single scripture that religious people use to prove the concept of eternal hell, but I encourage my readers to study the meaning and context of all scripture for themselves to determine what is true.
Another one and I’ll leave you with this one: Psalms 139:8
New King James Version
If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
This verse is talking about God. Is God in hell? This verse according to King James is saying, yes. But, the word is actually ‘sheol’ and God is there because He is everywhere. The only place God is not are places that don’t exist!
Grace and peace.
Saved ignoble 
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