Is Hell Really Forever?

Now that I've established what and where hell is, does it really last forever? Some Christians argue that a kind and compassionate God could never send people to hell for the rest of eternity.

One scripture verse they use to bolster their claim is 1 Timothy 2:4 (KJV), which says of God,  "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." What these people fail to understand is that this is only God's wish for humanity. Though he wants all people to be saved, he gave us a choice in the matter.

These proponents of hell being for a set time and not forever also twist what Christ said in John 3:16 (KJV) which reads, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." But they overlook what he said in the next three verses. People don't want to come to the light because their deeds are evil.

As the minister of the sick house church I once attended claimed, some people believe that the word "forever" doesn't mean for the rest of eternity. Even a casual search in a concordance would show that all uses of "forever" mean exactly that. In fact, repetitions such as in Revelation 20:10 (KJV) reinforce the eternal period's length. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

The truth is that nobody is good except God. As Paul wisely pointed out in Romans 3:10 (KJV), "As it is written, 'There is none righteous, no,  not one:'" How then can anybody claim to be good on their own terms? The truth is that they can't.

And if "forever" doesn't mean forever but a period of time, what does that do to the biblical promises that say we'll be with God forever? Proponents of hell's limited time never seem to consider that aspect of their argument.

Because of heresies such as this, I feel compelled to write my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? The most important aspect of our lives is where we will end up after death. I want nobody to end up in hell because nobody warned them about this important matter. Sadly, many people either reject God or think they can please him with their own righteousness.