...and I also see you are using Daniel 12:2 ESV as part of your evidence to prove there will be everlasting torment for all of the condemned.
“
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt”. However, the word “
shame” here can be seen simply describing the shame of those being judged and condemned. At the same time the words “
everlasting contempt” can also be seen describing the contempt that will be forever shown for all who are condemned to everlasting punishment, be it a punishment of an everlasting literal death or be it one of everlasting torment. But I see nothing here to say those words can only mean everlasting torment.
I also see you using Matthew 25: 41 and 46 ESV as part of your evidence to prove there will be everlasting torment for all of the condemned. Here we are told, 41“
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
46“
And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”.
I have often seen others also quoting this like it was sound evidence serving to prove that every condemned soul will suffer everlasting torment. I agree the word “
punishment” in this context should be understood to be a punishment lasting forever, but I also see the words “
eternal punishment” can be seen to mean an everlasting punishment of everlasting “death”
i.e. an everlasting cessation of life, just as easily as they can be seen to mean an everlasting punishment of everlasting torment. I have though also seen others who will not accept the original Greek word for punishment (kolasis) in Matthew 25:46 is being used to describe merely punishment, they argue instead that it’s meaning should be more correctly translated as “torment”. However, the meaning of this word “kolasis” has been expounded well by Dr. Spiros Zodhiates who is recognised by many evangelical Christians as an authority in the Koine Greek language. His mother tongue was Greek and it is worth seeing a brief history of his life and work presented here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiros_Zodhiates in order to see why I believe his understanding of this word “kolasis” should not be ignored.
Zodhiates informs us that this word “kolasis”, from “kolazo”, does in fact mean, to punish; punishment, when viewed in the context of Matthew 25:46. Whilst at the same time in
1 John 4:18 he tells us that the word “kolasis” used there, can be seen to mean “
torment” conveying the notion of “
punishment for the correction and bettering of the offender”. He then goes on to explain that Matthew 25:46 however does not refer to temporary corrective punishment and discipline, but has more the meaning of “timoria”, found in
Hebrews 10:29 (a noun meaning punishment, satisfying the inflicter’s sense of outraged justice, as defending his own honor or that of a violated law). So according to Zodhiates, with this word “kolasis” when it is found in these two contexts there can be seen two different meanings being applied to it even though they are related. Also, the
KJV, NKJV, ASV, NASB, ESV and
NIV are regarded by many as probably the best translations we have from the Koine Greek and in Matthew 25:46 these versions all use the same word to explain the original meaning in this verse and that word chosen is “punishment” not “torment”.
I still cannot see then a good reason why the meaning of “kolasis” in Matthew 25:46 should not be seen as meaning “punishment”, or as another commentator puts it, “
punishment that “fits” (matches) the one punished”. Neither then can I see a good reason why the original words, “aionios kolasis” in this verse, should not also be seen as anything other than a description of everlasting punishment –
Anything ranging from everlasting death as in the literal meaning of the word to everlasting torment, depending on the gravity of the offence caused by each condemned soul and on how little or how great their understanding of God and His goodness was.
Despite what many learned Christians might say about this verse then, the fact remains that death
(as meaning a cessation of life) is also a punishment, and everlasting death therefore would be an everlasting punishment. According to Scripture men’s souls can die and do die, and although we are told they will all be made to live again
(for glory or for the judgement) a soul can also be completely destroyed by God in
Gehenna (the final place of punishment of the ungodly), if or when God so wills,
Matthew 10:28.