This passage is used to "prove" the eternal torment* of the wicked. It is argued, that since the same Greek word, "aionios" is used for the duration of life for the righteous as for the punishment of the wicked, therefore the wicked are subject to eternal conscious torment.

Let us first remember the basic principle of Biblical interpretation, which requires unclear texts to be explained on the basis of those which are clear and not viceversa...

Correct understanding and discernment of this passage is as follows:

The punishment is indeed everlasting, but it is not conscious eternal torment. The punishment will be a final and complete cutting off. (Psa. 37:9, 34). Life eternal is reserved for the righteous, but the wicked are to die "the second death" (Rev. 21:8) which in Scriptural terms means to be without thoughts - the death (decomposition, destruction) of the spirit or soul. (Psa. 146:3,4; Eccl. 9:5). The word "everlasting" is used of a result, not a process. Similarly, "eternal judgment" (Heb. 6:2) and "eternal redemption" (Heb. 9:12) do not mean that judgment and redemption will continue throughout eternity, but rather that their results are eternal.

For example, Jude 7 says that Sodom and Gomorrah underwent "a punishment of eternal [aionios] fire." It is evident that the fire that destroyed the two cities is eternal, not because of its duration but because of its permanent results.

Endless duration is never expressed or implied in the Old Testament simply by the use of the word Aión or any of its derivatives, but obtains such a meaning where it acquires that meaning from the subject connected with it.

1 Sam. i:22, "But Hannah went not up: for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide forever." The remaining of Samuel in the temple was to be "forever" (aiónos)

Schleusner defines usage: "Any space of time whether longer or shorter, past, present or future, to be determined by the persons or things spoken of, and the scope of the subjects; the life or age of man. Aiónios, a definite and long period of time, that is, a long enduring, but still definite period of time."

Aión only expresses the idea of endlessness when connected with what is endless, as is God. For example, the word great is an illustrative word. Great applied to a tree, or mountain, or man, denotes different degrees, all finite, but when referring to God, it has the sense and meaning of infinite. Infinity does not reside in the word great but it has that meaning when applied to God. It does not impart it to God, it derives it from Him. What great is to size, aiónios is to duration.

* The word defined as “torment” in most English Bibles (from the Greek ba´sa•nos) means (in the context it is used) to be held under restraint; actually in eternal death from which there is no remedy. It does not of itself refer to a conscious suffering or awareness, but a condition from which one cannot deliver oneself.  Just as the smoke which rises from the process of something burning can not be brought back to re-assemble that which was destroyed by fire - its destruction is complete and does not reverse itself.

It should be noted, however, that this does not preclude the fact of a conscious suffering between this period of physical death and Judgement in the Lake of Fire, which is described as the second death, which is the death (destruction) of the soul.

If we want deliverance, we have NOW AT THIS TIME the invitation of Yeshua/Jesus to his FREE PARDON from the punishment of Hell and the second death, and receive instead LIFE ETERNAL in His presence.

For more on this please go the following link...

http://www.wrestedscriptures.com/b03hell/matthew25v46.html

Please listen to this mp3 interview of a man who spent 23 minutes in Hell.... You owe it to yourself to listen to Bill Wiese's testimony before you turn away from Yeshua's grace which is offered TO ALL who freely receive..... Or watch below video.

Mathew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him [God] which is able to destroy [apollumi] both soul and body in hell [gehenna].”

Jude 1: 13 Wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved forever.

Rom 6:23--"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
 

1 John 3:15--"Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." 

No murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Many Christians claim that all people have eternal life abiding in them, but this is certainly not what the scriptures teach. In the entire Bible, there is not a single verse that records anything to the affect that "everyone has eternal life; it's only a matter of where each will spend it." Yet this is what most of the church teach today.

The same can be said of words like "immortality." This word appears five times in the Bible, and in each one, it is said only of God or of the righteous.

Rom 2:6-7--"[God] will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life..."

1 Cor 15:53--"For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality."
 

The word translated into "immortality" in the above scriptures comes from the Greek word 'aphtharsia' which means 'unending existence'...

I can hear you say, but what about Revelation 14: 9 -11 which talks about their torment being night and day and forever?

"If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." (Rev. 14:9-11emp add.)

This scripture clearly tells us that this is a specific judgment on those who took the mark of the beast and worshipped him." For some reason this obvious detail is frequently overlooked by "traditionalists".
 

The verses also state this will take place "in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb." This should prove that this penalty is not an unending, conscious, torturous existence, because observing such a punishment is not the destiny that Yeshua or the angels will choose to spend all of eternity. Such a concept is a rather grotesque, if not ludicrous, representation of our eternity with our heavenly Father, His making of all things new, and His promise in the book of Hebrews to remember our sins (and thus the consequence) no more. 

This passage, therefore, would indicate that those people who are still alive at Christ's second coming, and who have worshipped the Beast and received his mark, will be tormented and destroyed, in the presence of Jesus and the angels, by burning sulphur raining down from Heaven.

The words "torment" and "tormented" in Revelation 14:10, 11 and 20:10 as stated previously, come from the Greek root words basanizo and the related basanismos. Friberg's Analytical Lexicon says that basanisthesontai means "strictly, rub upon the touchstone (βάσανος), a Lydian stone used to test the genuineness of metals; hence, test or make proof of anything . . ."

When we read that those people who accept the mark of the beast will be "tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb," and that "the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever," we can now understand this Scripture as follows: Those who accept the mark of the beast will be tested and tried for genuineness (basanisthesetai) with fire and divine incense (theio) in the presence of the holy angels and Christ. The smoke of their testing and trying (basanismou) will go up for a long, indefinite time (eis aionas aionon).

The book out of which this scripture (Rev.14:11) comes also has one of the clearest illustrations of "annihilation in Hell" in the entire Bible. It foretells the final destruction of both death and Hell itself, presumably including its inhabitants.

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death.

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Nobody need perish 'in hell' ... Salvation and eternal life is totally by grace.... and is freely offered to EVERYONE!

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance

Rom 11:29 For the free gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30 For as you also then disbelieved God, but now have been shown mercy through their disbelief, 31 even so these also have not believed now, so that through your mercy they may also obtain mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in unbelief, so that He might show mercy to all.

Deu 30:19 I call Heaven and earth to record today against you. I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, so that both you and your seed may live,

Want to know how you receive that life and mercy? Hey, its free.... and its the best gift you'll ever receive.

Question of the month: What is meant by 'fasting'?

Answer: Fasting is not the act of simply depriving the body of food; rather it describes the concept of feeding the spirit, in priority to feeding the body... In other words, as we can feast our body with food, to do the opposite and focus primarily on feeding the spirit is the act of fasting, and the fruit thereof is a strengthening of one's faith.

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