Endless Time

[Craig]

        Hi Ray,
         
        About 10 years ago, I asked a German Brother in Christ what Colosians 1:1~20 meant.  He explained it to me, and so I've been on the road to recovery from a lot of bad Bible teaching, and learning the truth of God's grace.  Thank you for your time and efforts to preach God's word.
         
        I'm a little confused over 1 point I've read so far in your writings.
         
        If the greeks had no concept of "forever" as we do, then how did they come up with the eternal hades that you claim is the Christian hell?  It seems to be a contradiction...
         
        In Christ,
         
        Terry

         
        Dear Terry: Just because no word from any nation or language on earth possessed a word that meant "endless time" or as we say "eternity" today, does not mean that they did not understand the concept that something would not end. We are told in the Psalms that God's life has no END, and in the Greek New Testament in Luke, that God's Kingdom will "have NO END." But they did not have a word for it. Likewise, the pagans spoke of things that "would not END." Of course the word "eternity" also means not having a BEGINNING either. And the ancients certainly had not such word with such a meaning. Then again, the pagans also contradicted their own teaching by sometimes saying the their "hell" would end, and other times that it would not end. The same is true is many modern heathen nations. Most nations no longer teach that "hell" is eternal. But the Christians will absolutely not give it up.
        God be with you,
        Ray