There is a fire that burns forever. What/who does fire most often represent?
- the burning coals that pass over Abraham's covenantal sacrifice represents God
- the fire burning up Sodom represents God
- the burning bush speaking to Moses represents God
- the pillar of fire leading Israel across the wilderness represents God
- the fire falling from heaven burning up Elijah's sacrifice represents God
- the holy spirit falling on the disciples at Pentecost like tongues of fire represents God
- the verses you quote that reference fire, in them the fire represents God
If those are all too subtle for you:
Hebrews 12:28-29
"Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;
for our God is a consuming fire."
But nowhere is it suggested that the eternal fire requires bodies as fuel to burn, in case you're suggesting that. God is the consuming fire. It is He who will burn up and permanently destroy those who reject him. They're not going to burn forever. He does burn forever. In Revelation, Satan and death are thrown into the fire, and they are gone forever. Satan doesn't control the fire. It will eventually consume and destroy him.
Lastly, the options are eternal death or eternal life. If people were burning forever, wouldn't they have eternal life too? They would be suffering, but still alive. That makes no sense. The Bible makes very clear "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." Saved from what? Death. Specifically, death that comes from meeting the eternal fire known as God. They will be burned up like refuse and gone forever.
The story of the Bible is about the offer of life, in the place of death. The wages of sin are death, not eternal suffering. None of the verses you mention talk about eternal suffering.
- Paul
