Tom,
Someone expressed interest in hearing comments on this so I thought I’d throw it back up on the table.
We often interpret “eternal” or “for ever” to be synonymous with infinity, which is without end. However I thought about this question and wondered if this might be helpful when trying to explain the quality of eternal life or eternal damnation.
I’ve lately been positing the idea that the words “eternal” damnation is somewhat fitting. I’m speaking in terms that indeed death is eternal (both first and second death) if God himself does not intervene. Even in this life, when one dies that is it, except God should raise him from the dead. Thus death is forever, unless God should give life back.
So when people quote that hell is forever (I don’t need to quote all the passages) might it help them to ask the following?
Before Adam and Eve had disobeyed did they have eternal life?
If they say yes, then the obvious response would be: How then can eternal life come to an end?
If they say no, then the obvious response would be: Then death was present before their act of disobedience?
If seems to force them to re-evaluate what “eternal” means.
Any thoughts?
Aug