Unquenchable Fire

[Hobie]

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:43, 44.

Some ask what is the unquenchable fire that scripture speaks about that burns the wicked? Doesn't that mean it will never go out? Of course, it doesn't. To quench means to extinguish or put out. No one will be able to put out the fire of hell. That is the strange fire of God. No one will be able to escape from it by extinguishing it.

We see it also in “But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath-day, and not bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” Jeremiah 17:27. But is it still burning today, we need to read and see how the Bible uses the word "quench." It does not mean fire that will never go out. Isaiah says of that fire, "Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor a fire to sit before it." Isaiah 47:14. After it has accomplished its work of destruction, that fire will go out.

 

[Zeke]

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:43, 44.

Some ask what is the unquenchable fire that scripture speaks about that burns the wicked? Doesn't that mean it will never go out? Of course, it doesn't. To quench means to extinguish or put out. No one will be able to put out the fire of hell. That is the strange fire of God. No one will be able to escape from it by extinguishing it.

We see it also in “But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath-day, and not bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” Jeremiah 17:27. But is it still burning today, we need to read and see how the Bible uses the word "quench." It does not mean fire that will never go out. Isaiah says of that fire, "Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor a fire to sit before it." Isaiah 47:14. After it has accomplished its work of destruction, that fire will go out.

Eastern symbolism and metaphor in regards to the lower conscience, Jerusalem below and above equal two sates of conscience awareness, Galatians 4:25-26, just like John 21:6, the left and right side of the boat is metaphor, as is the number of fish when added 153 equals 9 for conscience, 144 same, those conscience of Christ in them, not a strict head count of literal ( Rev 1:10) interpretations, Christ's words were spirit John 6:63, and should be discerned that way.

Your still thinking from the left side, thunder and lightning with no spiritual catch, the whispers of the right side are not being heard, 1 Kings 19:12.


Just like Jacob is a state of mind so is Israel metaphoric, portrayed in one man's transcendence Gen 32:30, yet dramatized also into sons, tribes, nation, etc...


Hebrews 1:1-2, Galatians 4:1, the implications of being a Son isn't grasped with mortal minded theologies mesmerized and entranced with a christ of flesh 2 Cor 5:16 instead of the one in them Matt 7:23, not all but most of western creeds and confessions have no concept of who they are, or where the kingdom and temple is located spiritually Luke 17:21, 2 Cor 13:5.

 

[Hobie]

Eastern symbolism and metaphor in regards to the lower conscience, Jerusalem below and above equal two sates of conscience awareness, Galatians 4:25-26, just like John 21:6, the left and right side of the boat is metaphor, as is the number of fish when added 153 equals 9 for conscience, 144 same, those conscience of Christ in them, not a strict head count of literal ( Rev 1:10) interpretations, Christ's words were spirit John 6:63, and should be discerned that way.

Your still thinking from the left side, thunder and lightning with no spiritual catch, the whispers of the right side are not being heard, 1 Kings 19:12.


Just like Jacob is a state of mind so is Israel metaphoric, portrayed in one man's transcendence Gen 32:30, yet dramatized also into sons, tribes, nation, etc...


Hebrews 1:1-2, Galatians 4:1, the implications of being a Son isn't grasped with mortal minded theologies mesmerized and entranced with a christ of flesh 2 Cor 5:16 instead of the one in them Matt 7:23, not all but most of western creeds and confessions have no concept of who they are, or where the kingdom and temple is located spiritually Luke 17:21, 2 Cor 13:5.

It is quite clear, the fire has a purpose and it finishes once that is done. No one can deliver themselves from its flame by putting it out, but finally not a coal will be left.

Jeremiah prophesied that Jerusalem would burn with a fire that could not be quenched, but it burned down to ashes. We see it described in 2 Chronicles 36:19-21:

'19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.
20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:
21 To fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.'

You can see how the Bible uses the word "quench." It does not mean fire that will never go out. It only means what it says, "unquenchable." It can't be quenched.

Now what about the expressions "eternal" "everlasting" which are used to describe the fires of hell? There is absolutely no contradiction when we allow the Bible to supply its own definition of terms.

The fact is that eternal fire does not mean a fire that will never go out. The same expression is used in Jude 7 concerning the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha.

"Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

It is quite obvious that Sodom is not still burning today. So we can see once it achieves its purpose, it finishes.

 

[Zeke]

It is quite clear, the fire has a purpose and it finishes once that is done. No one can deliver themselves from its flame by putting it out, but finally not a coal will be left.

Jeremiah prophesied that Jerusalem would burn with a fire that could not be quenched, but it burned down to ashes. We see it described in 2 Chronicles 36:19-21:

'19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.
20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:
21 To fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.'

You can see how the Bible uses the word "quench." It does not mean fire that will never go out. It only means what it says, "unquenchable." It can't be quenched.

Now what about the expressions "eternal" "everlasting" which are used to describe the fires of hell? There is absolutely no contradiction when we allow the Bible to supply its own definition of terms.

The fact is that eternal fire does not mean a fire that will never go out. The same expression is used in Jude 7 concerning the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha.

"Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

It is quite obvious that Sodom is not still burning today. So we can see once it achieves its purpose, it finishes.

Looks like your sorta agreeing with scripture being metaphoric about the conscience state of the mortal/flesh minded son of man John 3:6, who does perish Romans 7:21-22, after all things become new from the inside out Matt 23:26, Galatians 4:21-30 is about that old man of this world becoming a new man of eternal promises, not two separate flesh and blood siblings portrayed in allegory Galatians 4:24.

 

[oatmeal]

Hell in your verses is the gehenna where garbage is burnt to its total destruction. The fire does not stop till the fire completely consumes all garbage. Thirst can be quenched without consuming all the water in existence. But the fire is not satisfied till all evil is completely destroyed

 

[ioy1273]

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:43, 44.

Some ask what is the unquenchable fire that scripture speaks about that burns the wicked? Doesn't that mean it will never go out? Of course, it doesn't. To quench means to extinguish or put out. No one will be able to put out the fire of hell. That is the strange fire of God. No one will be able to escape from it by extinguishing it.

We see it also in “But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath-day, and not bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” Jeremiah 17:27. But is it still burning today, we need to read and see how the Bible uses the word "quench." It does not mean fire that will never go out. Isaiah says of that fire, "Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor a fire to sit before it." Isaiah 47:14. After it has accomplished its work of destruction, that fire will go out.

Has your tongue ever offended you?

 

[Hobie]

Hell in your verses is the gehenna where garbage is burnt to its total destruction. The fire does not stop till the fire completely consumes all garbage. Thirst can be quenched without consuming all the water in existence. But the fire is not satisfied till all evil is completely destroyed

Very true

 

[WeberHome]

Re: Unquenchable Fire

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Regardless of the duration of the fire spoken of in Rev 20:10-15, it's still a very disagreeable way to lose one's life seeing as how that passage depicts a mode of death akin to a foundry worker falling into a kettle of molten iron.

And what if death in the lake of brimstone isn't immediate? The Bible doesn't really say how long it takes for people to expire in the lake. For all we know, they might have to simmer in there for years and years before finally passing away. That's not an unreasonable question because fire resistance is adjustable.

Take for example Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were subjected to fire so hot that it killed the guards that threw them in it, yet they themselves suffered no harm. Their clothes didn't' burn either nor even smelled as if they'd been in a fire. (Dan 3:20-27)

And then there's the bush that Moses encountered. Though it was in flames, the bush didn't burn up. (Ex 3:2)

But even after people pass away in the lake, their corpse will remain intact as nourishment for a curious species of fire-proof worm. (Isa 66:23-24)

A worm that thrives in brimstone is pretty amazing, but not unreasonable. The 4-inch Pompeii worm lives in sea water temperatures of 176° Fahrenheit: hot enough to kill salmonella and sanitize an egg. So I guess if God could create a worm like the Pompeii, it shouldn't be too difficult for Him to create worms that like it even warmer.

Now the really big question is: What if people will somehow be conscious inside their corpse while it's cooking in the lake and nourishing the worms?
_

 

[Hobie]

.
Regardless of the duration of the fire spoken of in Rev 20:10-15, it's still a very disagreeable way to lose one's life seeing as how that passage depicts a mode of death akin to a foundry worker falling into a kettle of molten iron.

And what if death in the lake of brimstone isn't immediate? The Bible doesn't really say how long it takes for people to expire in the lake. For all we know, they might have to simmer in there for years and years before finally passing away. That's not an unreasonable question because fire resistance is adjustable.

Take for example Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were subjected to fire so hot that it killed the guards that threw them in it, yet they themselves suffered no harm. Their clothes didn't' burn either nor even smelled as if they'd been in a fire. (Dan 3:20-27)

And then there's the bush that Moses encountered. Though it was in flames, the bush didn't burn up. (Ex 3:2)

But even after people pass away in the lake, their corpse will remain intact as nourishment for a curious species of fire-proof worm. (Isa 66:23-24)

A worm that thrives in brimstone is pretty amazing, but not unreasonable. The 4-inch Pompeii worm lives in sea water temperatures of 176° Fahrenheit: hot enough to kill salmonella and sanitize an egg. So I guess if God could create a worm like the Pompeii, it shouldn't be too difficult for Him to create worms that like it even warmer.

Now the really big question is: What if people will somehow be conscious inside their corpse while it's cooking in the lake and nourishing the worms?
_

Well, that is why you have to decide now whether to follow Christ or the deceiver Satan.

Malachi 4:1,3. "For behold the day is coming burning like and oven, and all the proud, yes allude wickedly shall be as stubble. And the day that is coming shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts,that shall leave them neither root nor branch. . . You shall trample the wicked for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet."

These verses tell us that the wicked will be burned up, burned to ashes.

 

[WeberHome]

Re:

Re:

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These verses tell us that the wicked will be burned up, burned to ashes.

Those same people will be resurrected and burned to death yet one more time at the great white throne event depicted at Rev 20:11-15. Except the next time they won't be burned to ashes; their corpse will survive as nourishment for a curious species of fire-proof worm.

● Isa 66:23-24 . . From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me," says The Lord. And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.
_

 

[Hobie]

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Those same people will be resurrected and burned to death yet one more time at the great white throne event depicted at Rev 20:11-15. Except the next time they won't be burned to ashes; their corpse will survive as nourishment for a curious species of fire-proof worm.

● Isa 66:23-24 . . From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me," says The Lord. And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.
_

When the New Jerusalem comes down, the Wicked will meet their end and perish, and they will be separated from God eternally, so thus the text. It is clear that some passages in the Bible state that fire will burn “forever”, and we can see the application till the Wicked are consumed. But also logic alone tells us that if hell burns the Wicked forever “on the breadth of the earth,” it would be impossible for God to create a new earth.

And if God kept sinners alive to endure eternal burning, He would fail in His mission to rid the world of sin. Instead, He would perpetuate sin, and that is not what scripture tells us.