We have been examining the claims of critics who deny the biblical teaching of eternal hell.  Often, those who deny central Christian doctrines will deny that the major English versions of Scripture are well-translated.  They must argue this way because all the conservative English translations show that the duration of punishment and torment in hell for unbelievers is the same as the duration of heaven for believers – namely eternal.  So, in this segment, we will look at Tracy’s claims that the original languages deny eternal hell.

We have been examining critics who deny what the Bible teaches about the eternality of hell.  Since the Bible explicitly states that those in the Lake of Fire “will be tormented day and night forever and ever,” those who deny this teaching cannot rationally defend their position.  In all cases, their arguments commit one or more logical or hermeneutical fallacies.  A study of these can help us avoid error and remain faithful to what the Bible teaches.

In a previous article, I examined the biblical teaching of hell.  Though it is unpleasant (as is necessarily the nature of punishment), it demonstrates the perfect justice of God.  We all have a tendency to minimize how heinous our sin really is, and how holy God is.  We cannot fully appreciate salvation in Christ until we recognize just how severe a punishment we really deserve.  Many people reject the idea of unbelievers spending eternity in the Lake of Fire, but such rejection is always due to emotional preferences, not biblical exegesis.  Consequently, a few people posted on Facebook their disagreements with my article.  Here are two of them along with my response.

If the Genesis Flood really occurred, what evidence would we look for? We read in Genesis 7 and 8 that “the fountains of the great deep” were broken up and poured out water from inside the earth for 150 days (5 months). Plus, it rained torrentially and globally for 40 days and nights. (“The floodgates [or windows] of heaven were opened.”) No wonder all the high hills and the mountains were covered, meaning the earth was covered by a global ocean. (“The world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished,” 2 Peter 3:6.) All air-breathing life on the land was swept away and perished.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:18-20)

Transhumanism is the attempt to artificially improve humans: to enhance their physical and/or mental abilities either by genetic modification, by incorporating technology, or a combination of the two.  The World Economic Forum is vigorously pursuing transhumanism with the goal of creating a better society by actually modifying the individuals.  The idea is that genetically or technologically enhanced humans might have extraordinary athletic abilities, extremely high intelligence, resistance to disease, and lengthened lifespans.  Is such a goal possible?  If so, is it something that we should pursue?  What are the scientific and moral implications?