The word forever in the Bible never means eternity.

• The Hebrew word olam“for a long time." See Deuteronomy 13:16. It would be great foolishness to think that olam“forever." Consider Genesis 21:33. Consider Psalm 9:5 with 9:7.

  • The Greek word aiones “for a long time" (Lk. 1:70). It would be great foolishness to think that aiones“forever." (Lk. 1:33).

  • Here we should use the plain sense rule of interpretation. Is it even possible to have a conversation about eternity if the Bible never speaks of eternity?

    
    

• The 4,000 years of the Old Testament never revealed anything about Hell.

  • In truth, that doesn't matter. The Hebrew Scriptures clearly taught that the soul went to Sheol and awaited a coming day of judgment. This day of wrath would be disastrous for the wicked and reward for the righteous. See Daniel 12:2, Isaiah 66:24.

  • There are many doctrines which are fully developed in the New Testament and unknown in the Old. The fact that the Old doesn't give the clarity of the New is not an issue.

    
    

• “the full counsel of God" and he never spoke about eternal damnation.

  • The reference comes from Acts 20:27, with Paul speaking to the Ephesians. It tells us that Paul spoke both the Kingdom and the Grace gospel to the Ephesians. Compare Ephesians 1:11 (Kingdom) and 2:8-9 (Grace).

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 certainly speaks of everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. What does everlasting mean in 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 5:1, etc.?

    
    

• The book of Revelation is symbolic, so the Lake of Fire is not a lake of fire.

  • “Are there really four horses that will come riding over the hill?"

  • “prove too much." Is there really a Second Coming (on a white horse)? A New Jerusalem? A group of 24 Elders?

    
    

• God is a consuming fire, but His fire does not consume anything physical.

  • God as a consuming fire is found in Hebrews 12:29, as quoted from Deuteronomy 4:24, and also Deuteronomy 9:3.

    • Hebrews 12:29 -- in reference to service in the coming Kingdom (se v. 28).

    • Deuteronomy 4:24 -- in reference to making graven images.

    • Deuteronomy 9:3 -- in reference to the defeat of the Anakim by God's power.

      
      

  • Reference is typically made of the burning bush, where the Angel of the Lord is present in fire, but the bush is not consumed (Ex. 3:2-4).

  • The problem with this basis for universalism is two-fold.

    • The passages are totally unrelated to what God can and will do in the Lake of Fire.

    • This basis proves that the Lake of Fire can be a place where the fire continually burns but the contents are not consumed.

      
      

• Genesis 12:3 must come true; therefore, the Lake of Fire cannot be reality.

  • The problem with this is they only want part of Genesis 12:3 to be fulfilled: in thee shall all families of the earth shall be blessed. There is another part to this verse: God will curse them that curseth thee.

  • The second (greater) problem is that in Abraham all the families of the earth have been blessed: *We have the Savior**!* Through Jesus Christ either Kingdom salvation or Grace salvation has been made available to all families.