No One Burns Forever
“See, the day is COMING, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be STUBBLE; the
day that comes shall BURN THEM UP, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them NEITHER
ROOT NOR BRANCH [total annihilation]. And you shall TREAD DOWN THE WICKED,
for they will be ASHES” (Mal 4:1,3).
The belief that the unsaved burn forever is not an apostolic doctrine,
But rather, something that’s far from biblical, and purely of pagan origin.
Without a doubt, it’s a dreadful deception, a hoax — in other words, heresy,
Simply the work of a cunning devil who always loves to paint God monstrously.
And to be honest, God would be a monster if He let folk burn eternally,
A God who would put folk off, hence why Satan has perpetrated such, obviously.
And why Christians shouldn’t aid and abet Satan via preaching such wrong in God’s name,
For all who do, badly portray the God of love, and will clearly share in the blame.
Even an earthy judge realizes that punishment should not exceed the offence,
Hence why when we read Scripture, we need to think logically, apply common sense.
Were God — who is also our Judge — to act so unwisely, unjustly, unfairly,
His wisdom and judgment would be subject to question throughout all eternity.
If unsaved loved ones burned forever, it would reopen wounds continually,
Thus, the saved would hardly be at peace, and more likely beset by anxiety.
After all, could such a God truly be trusted given such a revengeful streak?
And what hypocrisy, given we’re not to harbor grudges, and should turn the other cheek.
Yes, there is a fire that destroys the unsaved, a coming fire — that is, post Christ’s return,
A “lake of fire,” according to Scripture, but not one that will continually burn.
It’s a fire that comes down from Heaven and forms a consuming lake, temporary hell,
Which will utterly and justifiably destroy all still under Satan’s spell.
“...The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:14,15, NIV).
The term “unquenchable fire” refers to the nature of the fire, not its duration,
It’ll only be extinguished after it has completed its fiery extermination.
The wicked will become stubble and ashes, we’re told, trodden under, effectively,
In other words, they’ll not exist in any form, they will completely cease to be.
An “unquenchable fire” befell Jerusalem too, we’re told — twice, BC and AD,
But are those fires still burning? No! “Unquenchable” is used metaphorically.
And, an “eternal fire” befell Sodom and Gomorrah, destroying them completely,
An “example” of what will happen to the unsaved, we’re told, incidentally.
And clearly, that fire that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah has stopped burning also,
Not literally an “unquenchable” or “eternal” fire — not even still aglow.
And nor will the fire that destroys the wicked remain aglow, nor burning furiously,
For it’s a fire that’s also described via words that are used metaphorically.
“Tormented day and night” is also metaphoric symbolism, and there’re more,
Which, at the end of the day, simply convey something God doesn’t want us to ignore.
That is, that He is coming back soon, very soon, and doesn’t want to see us lost,
For paradise, and, “Down, down, down in a burning ring of fire,” is what such could cost.
It is interesting that the verse preceding “Tormented day and night forever”
Says, “Fire came down from Heaven and consumed them,” thus, how could they burn forever?
Such creative speech is designed to convey a permanent result, finality,
And not a fire that literally continues forever, ridiculously.
Yes, it’s only the “lake of fire” that one could label hell — a coming End-time fire,
Not some currently burning fire, nor some place — no, that’s just heresy, or satire.
Satire? Yes, all those jokes one hears about some current hell, and those portrayals one sees,
Which misrepresent God, mock the consequences of rebellion, and Satan please.
The use of the word “hell” in Scripture hasn’t helped matters either, it must be said,
For where “hell” appears the translators could’ve inserted “grave” in its place instead.
But like those Hellenistic Jews influenced by the Greeks, translators have also erred,
And via their bias, it seems, have inserted “hell,” which God’s truth has distorted and blurred.
And more holes can be found in this hell-fire doctrine that has filled so many with fear,
A doctrine that does nothing for the Gospel, a lie God never intended we hear.
Yes, a doctrine that just doesn’t make sense, for God never acts sadistically,
But rather, when the sword must fall, so to speak, acts decisively, justly and swiftly.
Hence why certain passages or texts must be interpreted with the greatest of care,
Lest, as in this case, parishioners and potential converts falsehood get to hear.
After all, if the unsaved burn forever, they effectively live eternally,
Which is contrary to Scripture, for only the righteous receive eternity.
But tell me, why would God forever taint His universe with a wretched hell-fire,
Effectively immortalizing sin, sorrow and suffering, and pleasing the Liar?
That is, the old serpent, who would’ve achieved some sort of victory,
The smoke of torment rising twenty four seven, the unsaved screaming in agony.
No, no one burns forever, and nor is there some currently burning hell, believe me,
Such is nonsensical, dreadful and macabre, and it doesn’t gel biblically.
And were it true, why would God’s Word speak of a coming day of judgment, warningly,
Given that many unsaved ones are already burning in hell, supposedly?
The doctrine of an eternally burning hell is a demonic invention,
One that most likely inspired past burnings at the stake, I feel compelled to mention.
And who knows what else it has inspired, often in the name of God, undoubtedly,
For the influence of such a doctrine must surely be far reaching, even subtly.
Why would a God who respects our freedom to chose which path we’ll take, rightly or wrongly,
Punish us via an eternal burning, simply because we chose incorrectly?
And tell me, why did the Mosaic law forbid unlimited retaliation,
(Which is more in keeping with the God I know, than the devil’s hell-fire creation)?
Yes, the God I know, is gracious, longsuffering, slow to anger, compassionate,
And when it comes to fallen humanity, His concern is deep and passionate.
Such He proved on Calvary where He bore our sins, shed His blood, suffering terribly,
That we might be saved, freed from Satan’s grip, and via the Spirit’s power gain the victory.
Yes, amazing grace, grace that is even displayed in the slowness of His return,
For it’s His desire that even more be saved, never His desire that any burn.
Yes, He is love itself — boundless, unconditional, unsurpassed love — love I trust,
Hence why I’ll never believe in an eternal burning hell, for my God is JUST.
By Lance Landall
“For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He
may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act
[it’s foreign to His nature to destroy]” (Isa 28:21, KJV).
You might also like to read my poems "The Lake Of Fire" and "It's Simply A Parable".
