Is heaven/hell really supposed to last for all eternity?

Question

I am an atheist, just thought I'd mention that now.

Can anyone truly grasp the concept of eternity? Its forever! An infinity amount of time! Does it make any sense that we should be punished or rewarded for the rest of eternity for the decisions we make during our relatively short time on earth? What kind of a system is that? Would heaven really be such a wonderful place after you've been there for 3 million years? Would hell really be so bad after a few eons of the same thing over and over again? Sounds to me like, eventually, people would become numb to either the grandeur of heaven or the sorrow of hell and just be bored. Bored for the rest of eternity.

Just my two cents on the subject.

Answer 1

Great question. The answers are many, but I will confirm for you what is the fundamentalist interpretation of this. For starters, "hell" in the Old Testament of the Bible literally refers to a burning pile of trash, not some place of torment. The Hebrew word for hell is "Gehenna". In the New Testament, the word is "Hades" or "Sheol', which refers to a state of non-existence. Anotherwords, you cease to exist, or what is more commonly referred to by Bible scholars as "man's eternal resting place".

Most scholars agree that the term "eternity" or "forever" as used in these contexts is a hyperbole meaning "a long time". The Bible says in the Old Testament that "God is a God of justice". The New Testatement states that "God is love". Punishing, let alone severely torturing, human beings would be in stark contrast to this.

Whatever "hell" is and however "long" it lasts for, most scholars agree on one thing: "hell" metaphorically represents a status of being permanently separated from God and his love. This could be as simple as ceasing to exist such as in death, or as gruesome as Michelangelo's paintings may depict in the Sistine Chapel.

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell—you see, I have friends in both places."
—Mark Twain

"I don't believe in an afterlife, so I don't have to spend my whole life fearing hell, or fearing heaven even more. For whatever the tortures of hell, I think the boredom of heaven would be even worse."
—Isaac Asimov

"If there is no hell, a good many preachers are obtaining money under false pretenses."
—William A. Sunday

Answer 2

Here's a short article on hell.
What is Hell? Is it a place of torment? Or just a person's grave?

* The Bible has several words that are translated as 'hell': The Greek word 'Hades' (equivalent to the Hebrew word 'Sheol') means the grave, pit, or poetically, the abode of the dead. This is not a place of torment, because "the dead know not any thing" (Ecclesiastes 9:5).
* Another word translated 'hell' is 'tartaroo'. This word is only used once in the Bible (2 Peter 2:4). Strong's lexicon says that it is the deepest abyss of hell. 2 Peter says it is a place where the sinning angels are imprisoned until judgement. That's not specifically a place of torment either (God doesn't punish before judgement). Apparently, not all the sinning angels are put there, because we still see evidence of demons and evil spirits — sinning angels — right up until Christ returns to the earth.
* Thirdly, there is 'Gehenna'. This is a real, down to earth place that people can go to and come back from without having to die first. It means, the 'valley of Hinnom'. It has become a refuse pit, a dump. It is just outside Jerusalem. It's not exactly a choice vacation spot; though a lot of people do go there just to say they've been to hell and back!

However, there is a place/time that is not called hell directly, but most certainly is a place of torment — it is the “lake of fire.” It is also called the second death (Revelation 20:14) — the death from which there is no resurrection. All those who refuse to repent of their sinning ways will be left there to be burned up — completely destroyed and become as though they never existed (Obadiah 1:16).

Jesus used the term 'Gehenna' as a type of this “lake of fire.” Gehenna was where the dead criminals were thrown and burned. The Lake of Fire, the anti-type of Gehenna, will be the place where spiritual criminals (unrepentant sinners) will be thrown. This is the place where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 22:13) — torment. But the torment is not forever, as is popularly believed — for a loving God does not delight in the torment or even distruction of the wicked (Eze 33:11), but the wicked (who do not turn) will be completely destroyed in the Lake of Fire (Matthew 10:28), even to become ashes beneeth the feet of the saints (Malachi 4:3).

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The Kingdom of God, however, will last forever. And the only ones who will enter into it are those who will keep it wonderful and exciting for eternity. If it wasn't such a great place to be, why is God, who's already been there forever, say, "Enter into the joy of your lord" (Matthew 25:21, 23)?

Answer 3

Yes. Heaven and hell will last forever. I do understand the concepts of eternity and infinity.

Weren't you graded on tests in school? You either passed or failed. There was no in between.

I didn't make up the "system" but I sure will do or believe whatever I need to in order to step over the threshold of eternity without fear. The more one studies the Bible in its entirety the more the treasures within can be discovered. This treasure includes the means to a totally new reality.

Heaven will be a most exciting place no matter how many eons one spends there. You are merely influenced by your limited interpretation of the words "heaven" and "hell".

It is inconceivable to the mind of men what amazing things God has prepared for those who love Him and seek Him with all their hearts.

And there's my thousand bucks on the topic! : )

Answer 4

I am Christ indwelt, just thought I'd mention that now. Eternity is not a concept but a fact. Eternity is not time and time is not eternity. You see when time is over eternity will be. Number 2 I've never been bored when I have alot of people that love me around. Most of the time I usually need a nap or it's just about bed time. In heaven you won't have to sleep you won't need a nap. Can you imagine how good at sports we will become. Heaven wil be awsome we wil never be bored. As for hell I don't know I'm on my way to heaven and I'm not looking back!!!!!!

Answer 5

Christian here: I don't believe that hell is eternal, that would be a punishment that would be unbelievable to conceive from a loving God. I do believe Heaven is eternal. I've study scripture for many years and I don't believe the bible teaches that hell is forever. When I was a boy I remember going outside our farm on a summer day before a storm..I love that feel, that smell in the air..I just knew a storm was coming..I could just feel it coming...that's how I feel about heaven..I just know it's coming for me...and I really hope for you!

Answer 6

With God...a moment is like a thousand years and a thousand years but a moment.
I don't believe boredom will enter into heaven...Although the Bible does not give us details on this specifically, I don't think that we will have the same concept of time as we do in this life. Now we mark the seasons, the years, the months and the days...everything takes place along this linear notion of time. Perhaps in heaven, there will be no day and no night. ...no passing of time as we know it now. We will exist with God always and just continue to BE. THANK GOD FOR HIS GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE!

Answer 7

I don't think so, I beleive that hell is a reform school, to which once you get out you are sent back to earth to try again. As for heaven, I've been there before, and desided to come back because it does get boring after a while. Sure you get to do anything you ever dreamed of, including flying without wings and sex, but eventually even that gets boring. I was there for about 1800 years, then desided to come back, at least I like to think it was my decision. Sometimes I think maybe god has a mission for me to accomplish, but I can't be sure.

Answer 8

Yes.

Eternity is timeless. There will no longer be linear time.

And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things therein, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should BE TIME NO LONGER:” (Rev. 10:6, KJV)

A timeless eternity with our loving Heavenly Father? Sign me up.
A timeless eternity with a loving, innumerable family of God? Party on, Wayne.

The billions of planets in the universe? They're ours.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Revelation 21:7


That;s just a couple things one can imagine. He says that we cannot even fathom those things He has prepared for us.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Corinthians 2:9

Answer 9

Yes they are eternity! You will only have agony in the bowles of the earth and Heaven here on earth - It is not suppose to make you unhappy to think of spending your eternity in Heaven - supposed to give you peace of mind. Said that the new Heaven here on earth will be several stories and several miles - able to eat anything you want - no sickness/death/diseases/war/violence/hate/spite/envy - sounds like Heaven to me!!@

Answer 10

What if eternity was so wonderful that you both could not comprehend the eternal aspect of it, and, you were never tired of it. An eternity like that would only be created by an all powerful (cause he has to make it), all knowing (he has to make it good for everyone), loving (because he makes it that good), eternal (his creation cannot outlast him) god. I guess that would be my contrasting two cents worth