Hi Mike,

Thanks for answering my question. I re- read the article you gave. I’m assuming the two verses I mentioned must have used a non- aion word for ‘eternal’ to make it into Young’s literal?
1) Regarding the question about 2Pe 2 discussion of certain individuals being ‘destroyed’ instead of punished or corrected. (There really isn’t an article which addresses this discrepancy, I would like more if you can.)
2) For those that still need ‘only the cross of Christ’ or the schoolmaster… I would like to answer the question of ‘what’s so bad about being in the 2nd resurrection?’ (I have Paul’s explanation of why we should not desire to sin more so grace can more abound… what is tangible concerning the fiery trial. Weeping and gnashing of teeth can be quite subjective to a listener?
I’m worried about causing someone to stumble by removing the fear of punishment by telling them it won’t matter. After all, it is Christ that said fear no one except God. For some, I do not want to remove fear by only explaining that certain people get cake while those outside eat bread longer… then receive cake, too, at the end.
So please if you could, discuss 1) the places where the bible mentions destruction of some and 2) also this topic of what is so bad about being the second group where Christ can say that it is better to enter into life maimed than be in the second group with all your limbs? Why?

Thanks, Mike,
K____

Hi again K____,

In the sense that Christ is the propitiation for all, the second resurrection is truly “not so bad.” Being in the white throne judgment is far better than the false doctrines of either eternal death or everlasting fire. If you are concerned about removing the fear people have, then give them the fear the Bible gives; give them the fear of the ‘fire’ of the lake of fire. But that ‘fire’ is God’s judging Word. It is not literal fire. This is demonstrated right here in the chapter of God’s Word you reference:

Deu 33:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand [ went] a fiery law for them.

Of course, this agrees with how Paul uses this word ‘fire:’

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. [ The “lake of fire”]

There is a reward for being in the first resurrection. Rev 2 and 3 enumerates seven times what is that reward. Seven times we are told “blessed is he that overcometh…” With each blessing is another reward. This, of course, means nothing to those who have been given no appreciation for their “blessing” or their “birthright.” Such people will sell their birthright for a bowl of pottage. They are not responsible for their lack of appreciation. God is responsible. Nevertheless, we must all give an account for the choices we are caused to make. We may consider this to be unjust, but as with Job, God is not impressed with our self- righteousness:

Rom 9:11 (For [ the children- Jacob and Esau] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Rom 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

“Not of works” means not of our own works or of our own fabled “free” will. Paul explains in this same chapter:

Rom 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [ have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth.

According to God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation, nothing is done because of our wills. Our wills are caused by God either showing us mercy or hardening our hearts. And it was all determined “before the world began… while we are in our mothers womb… having done neither good nor evil:”

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called [ us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

So if the blessings of ruling and reigning with Christ for “one thousand years” and the blessing of being the ‘fire’ of the lake of fire, instead of being its fuel, has no appeal to you, then that is the way God has predestined it to be. But there are those in whom He has placed a great desire to “strive for the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.”

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

There are those who dismiss this verse and say ‘upward calling’ as if the word “prize” were not even there. These same people fail to distinguish between “receiving a reward” and suffering loss in “fire” in 1Co 3. All of this is of God. We are told Esau was not responsible for selling his birthright. That had been determined before he was ever born:

Rom 9:11 (For [ the children – Jacob and Esau] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

Now as for the verses you reference:

Deu 33:27 The eternal God [ is thy] refuge, and underneath [ are] the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy [ them].

The first word ‘eternal’ is the Hebrew word ‘qedem.’ Here is how it is translated and where it is found:

H6924
/
qedem / qe dma h
Total KJV Occurrences: 99
east, 42
Gen 3:24, Gen 10:30, Gen 11:2, Gen 12:8 (2), Gen 13:11, Gen 25:6, Gen 28:14, Gen 29:1, Exo 38:13 (2), Lev 1:16, Num 2:3, Num 3:38, Num 10:5, Num 23:7, Num 34:10-11 (2), Num 35:5, Jos 7:2, Jos 15:5, Jos 18:20, Jos 19:13, Jdg 6:3, Jdg 6:33, Jdg 7:12, Jdg 8:10-11 (2), 1Ki 4:30, 2Ch 4:10, Job 1:3, Isa 2:6, Isa 11:14, Jer 49:28, Eze 8:16 (2), Eze 11:23, Eze 25:4, Eze 25:10, Eze 45:7, Jon 4:5, Zec 14:4
old, 17
Neh 12:46, Psa 44:1, Psa 55:19, Psa 68:33, Psa 74:2, Psa 74:12, Psa 77:5, Psa 77:11, Psa 78:2, Psa 119:152, Psa 143:5, Jer 46:26, Lam 1:7, Lam 2:17, Lam 5:21, Mic 5:2, Mic 7:20
eastward, 11
Gen 2:8, Gen 13:14, Gen 25:6, Lev 16:14, Num 34:3, Num 34:11, Num 4:15, Jos 19:12, 1Ki 7:39, 1Ki 17:3,
2Ki 13:17
before, 10
2K 1 19:32, Psa 68:25, Psa 95:2, Psa 139:5, Pro 8:22, Isa 9:12, Isa 37:33, Jon 4:2, Mic 6:6 (2)
ancient, 8
Deu 33:15, 2Ki 19:25, Isa 19:11, Isa 23:7, Isa 37:26, Isa 45:21, Isa 46:10, Isa 51:9
side, 4
Num 2:3, Num 34:11, Eze 11:23, Jon 4:5
afore, 1
Psa 129:5-6 (2)
aforetime, 1
Jer 30:20
eternal, 1
Deu 33:27
ever, 1
Pro 8:23
everlasting, 1
Hab 1:12
forward, 1
Job 23:8
past, 1
Job 29:2

It should obviously have been translated ‘ancient’ or ‘the God before you’ instead of ‘eternal.’
The word translated everlasting in this verse is the Hebrew word ‘olawm:’ Here is how it is translated in the KJV and where it appears:

H5769
/
o la m
Total KJV Occurrences: 438
ever, 269
Gen 3:22, Exo 3:15 (2), Exo 12:14, Exo 12:17, Exo 12:24, Exo 14:13, Exo 19:9, Exo 21:6, Exo 27:21, Exo 28:43, Exo 29:28, Exo 30:21, Exo 31:17, Exo 32:13, Lev 6:18, Lev 6:22, Lev 7:34, Lev 7:36, Lev 10:9, Lev 10:15, Lev 16:29, Lev 16:31, Lev 17:7, Lev 23:14, Lev 23:21, Lev 23:31, Lev 23:41, Lev 24:3, Lev 25:46, Num 10:8, Num 15:15, Num 18:8, Num 18:11, Num 18:19 (2), Num 18:23, Num 19:10, Deu 5:29, Deu 12:28, Deu 15:16-17 (2), Deu 23:3, Deu 23:6, Deu 28:46, Deu 29:29, Deu 32:40, Jos 4:7, Jos 8:28, Jos 14:9, 1Sa 1:22, 1Sa 2:30, 1Sa 3:13-14 (2), 1Sa 13:13, 1Sa 20:15, 1Sa 20:23, 1Sa 20:42, 1Sa 27:12, 2Sa 3:28, 2Sa 7:13, 2Sa 7:16 (2), 2Sa 7:24-26 (3), 2Sa 7:29 (2), 1Ki 1:31, 1Ki 2:33 (2), 1Ki 8:13, 1Ki 9:3, 1Ki 9:5, 1Ki 10:9, 2Ki 5:27, 2Ki 21:7, 1Ch 15:2, 1Ch 16:34, 1Ch 16:36 (2), 1Ch 16:41, 1Ch 17:12, 1Ch 17:14, 1Ch 17:22-24 (3), 1Ch 17:27 (2), 1Ch 22:10, 1Ch 23:13 (2), 1Ch 23:25, 1Ch 28:4, 1Ch 28:7-8 (2), 1Ch 29:10 (2), 1Ch 29:18, 2Ch 2:4, 2Ch 5:13, 2Ch 7:2-3 (2), 2Ch 7:6, 2Ch 7:16, 2Ch 9:8, 2Ch 13:5, 2Ch 20:7, 2Ch 20:21, 2Ch 30:8, 2Ch 33:4, Ezr 9:11-12 (3), Neh 2:3, Neh 9:5 (2), Neh 13:1, Job 41:4, Psa 5:11, Psa 9:5, Psa 9:7, Psa 10:16, Psa 12:7, Psa 21:4, Psa 29:9-10 (2), Psa 30:12, Psa 33:11, Psa 37:18, Psa 37:28, Psa 41:12, Psa 44:8, Psa 45:2, Psa 45:6, Psa 45:17, Psa 49:8 (2), Psa 49:11, Psa 52:8-9 (2), Psa 61:4, Psa 66:7 (2), Psa 72:17, Psa 72:19, Psa 73:26, Psa 75:9, Psa 77:7, Psa 78:69, Psa 79:13, Psa 81:15, Psa 85:5, Psa 89:1-2 (2), Psa 89:4, Psa 89:36-37 (2), Psa 102:12, Psa 103:9, Psa 104:5, Psa 104:31, Psa 105:8, Psa 107:1 (2), Psa 111:4-5 (2), Psa 111:8-10 (3), Psa 112:6, Psa 117:2, Psa 118:1-4 (4), Psa 118:29, Psa 119:44, Psa 119:89, Psa 119:98, Psa 119:111, Psa 119:152, Psa 119:160, Psa 131:1-3 (3), Psa 135:13, Psa 136:26, Psa 138:8, Psa 145:1-2 (2), Psa 145:21, Psa 146:6, Psa 146:10, Psa 148:6, Pro 27:24, Ecc 1:4, Ecc 2:16, Ecc 3:14, Isa 30:6-8 (3), Isa 32:14, Isa 32:17, Isa 34:10, Isa 34:17, Isa 40:8, Isa 47:7, Isa 51:6, Isa 51:8, Isa 57:16, Isa 60:21 (2), Jer 3:12, Jer 7:7 (2), Jer 17:4, Jer 17:25, Jer 25:5 (2), Jer 31:40, Jer 33:11, Jer 35:6, Jer 49:33, Jer 51:26, Jer 51:62, Lam 3:31, Lam 5:19, Eze 37:25 (2), Eze 43:7, Eze 43:9, Dan 12:3, Dan 12:7, Hos 2:19, Joe 2:2, Joe 3:20, Oba 1:10, Jon 2:6, Mic 2:9, Mic 4:5, Mic 4:7, Zec 1:5, Mal 1:4
everlasting, 64
Gen 9:16, Gen 17:7-8 (2), Gen 17:13, Gen 17:19, Gen 21:33, Gen 48:4, Gen 49:26, Exo 40:15, Lev 16:34, Lev 24:8, Num 25:13, Deu 33:27, 2Sa 23:5, 1Ch 16:17, Psa 24:7, Psa 24:9, Psa 41:13 (2), Psa 93:2 (3), Psa 100:5, Psa 103:17 (2), Psa 105:10, Psa 106:48 (2), Psa 112:6, Psa 119:142, Psa 119:144, Psa 139:24, Psa 145:13, Pro 8:23, Pro 10:25, Isa 24:5, Isa 26:4, Isa 33:14, Isa 35:10, Isa 40:28, Isa 45:17, Isa 51:11, Isa 54:8, Isa 55:3, Isa 55:13, Isa 56:5, Isa 60:19-20 (2), Isa 61:7-8 (2), Isa 63:12, Isa 63:16, Jer 20:10-11 (2), Jer 23:40, Jer 31:3, Jer 32:40, Eze 16:60, Eze 37:26, Dan 9:24, Mic 5:2 (3), Hab 3:6
old, 26
Gen 6:4, Deu 32:7, Jos 24:2, 1Sa 27:8, Job 22:15, Psa 25:6, Psa 119:52, Ecc 1:10 (2), Isa 51:9 (2), Isa 58:11-12 (2), Isa 61:4, Isa 63:9, Isa 63:11, Jer 2:20, Jer 6:16, Jer 28:8, Lam 3:6, Eze 25:15, Eze 26:20 (2), Amo 9:11, Mic 7:14, Mal 3:4
perpetual, 22
Gen 9:12, Exo 29:9, Lev 3:16-17 (2), Lev 24:9, Lev 25:34, Num 19:21, Psa 78:66, Jer 5:22, Jer 18:16, Jer 23:40, Jer 25:9, Jer 49:12-13 (2), Jer 50:5, Jer 51:39, Jer 51:57, Eze 35:5, Eze 35:9, Eze 46:14, Hab 3:6, Zep 2:9
never, 16
Jdg_2:1, 2Sa 12:10, Psa 30:5-6 (2), Psa 55:22, Psa 71:1, Psa 119:93, Pro 10:30, Isa 14:20, Isa 25:2, Isa 63:19, Eze 26:21, Eze 27:36, Eze 28:19, Joe 2:26-27 (2)
evermore, 15
2Sa 22:51, 1Ch 17:14, Psa 18:50, Psa 37:27, Psa 86:12, Psa 89:28, Psa 89:52, Psa 92:8, Psa 106:31, Psa 113:2, Psa 115:18, Psa 121:8, Psa 133:3, Eze 37:26, Eze 37:28
ancient, 6
Psa 77:5, Pro 22:28, Isa 44:7, Jer 18:15 (2), Eze 36:2
world, 4
Psa 73:12, Ecc 3:11, Isa 45:17, Isa 64:4
always, 3
Gen 6:3, 1Ch 16:15, Jer 20:17
long, 3
Psa 143:3, Ecc 12:5, Isa 42:14
alway, 2
Job 7:16, Psa 119:112
any, 1
Lev 25:32
beginning, 1
Isa 64:4
continuance, 1
Isa 64:4-5 (2)
end, 1
Isa 45:17
eternal, 1
Isa 60:15
lasting, 1
Deu 33:15 (2)
time, 1
Jos 24:2
without, 1
Isa 45:17

Where this word is quoted in the New Testament, it is translated with the Greek word aion or aionios. You have read the letter on those words. ‘Olawm,’ like ‘aion’ is a period of time with a beginning and an end. It may be very long or it may be very short, but in any case, it has nothing to do with eternity.

You also reference Rom 1:20:

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [ even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

“Eternal” here is the Greek word ‘aidios.’ Reread this letter to see how this word is used in God’s Word: http:// iswasandwillbe. com/2006010802. php
As far as being destroyed versus being an overcomer is concerned, I am afraid you are missing the point that no flesh and blood can enter the kingdom of God:

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

So even the flesh and blood of the overcomers is destroyed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye:”

1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [ must] put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where [ is] thy sting? O grave, [ Greek ‘hades’ – Same Greek word translated ‘hell elsewhere. Why not here?] where [ is] thy victory?

I hope you can see that the fear we need is the fear that Joseph’s brothers had as they experienced the torment of the justice he meted out to them when they came and worshipped at his feet. This is the Biblical type of being “tormented day and night in the presence of the Lamb…”

Gen 42:21 And they said one to another, We [ are] verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
Gen 42:22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
Gen 42:23 And they knew not that Joseph understood [ them]; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.

This is the ‘fire’ of the lake of fire. It may sound like nothing now, but it will seem like a lifetime to those who must endure that less desirable judgment.
I have been given a desire to strive for the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus. It is all of God. I am fully aware of this, but it is He who causes me to want to excel in His service.
I hope this all is of some help.
Mike