FOREVER AND EVER by J. D. Rice

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 2, 1880

FOREVER AND EVER.

By J. D. Rice

THE terms “forever,” and “forever and ever,” are generally understood to have but one meaning, and that is, “eternity of duration,—time without end.” And so deeply has this idea become rooted in the popular mind, that to question it is considered heresy. And when they read that the wicked are to be tormented in the lake of fire day and night forever and ever (Rev. 14:10, 11; 19:20; 20:9, 10, 14, 15), they think the matter is settled beyond controversy, that the wicked live eternally in the flames of fire, notwithstanding the Scriptures plainly declare that this lake of fire, caused by the igniting and melting of this earth, shall cause the “perdition” (destruction—Webster), and the “second death” of the ungodly. Rev. 20:9, 14, 15; 2 Pet. 3:7, 10, 12; Prov. 11:31. That here they shall be “destroyed together,” Ps. 37:38; Isa. 1:28-31; burned up root and branch, Mal. 4:1; destroyed “soul and body,” Matt. 10:28; “be as though they had not been,” Obd. 16; cease to exist, be “cut off,” Ps. 37:9, 10, 34, 38; and then that the saints shall inherit the earth, as sin and sinners and the effects of sin are forever wiped away, and the earth is purified for their everlasting abode. See Rev. 20:15; 21:1-5; 2 Pet. 3:6, 7, 13; Ps. 37:9-11, 34; Matt. 5:5, etc. It is then that the ashes of the wicked are mingled again with the dust which the saints tread upon. Mal. 4:3.

Now if these terms always meant an eternity of duration, then we could not harmonize the declaration of Rev. 14:11; 20:10, with the facts which we have just presented; and we have not presented a tithe of the evidence which goes to substantiate these facts. But if the Scriptures warrant us in giving a limited application to the use of the word, then this great stumbling-block is removed, and harmony restored to the word of God; and we can see how they can be tormented “forever and ever,” and yet be burned to ashes and die, cease to be, or exist. Is it thus used? Let us see.

In Ps. 9:7 we read: “But the Lord shall endure forever.” We know this is unlimited, for God is “from everlasting to everlasting.” Ps. 90:2. See also Lam. 5:19; Dan. 4:34; 7:19, 28, etc., where the word expresses eternity of duration. But we need not multiply texts upon this point, for none, I think, deny that it is thus used. But in Jonah 2:5, 6, we read of his experience when swallowed by the “great fish.” He says: “I went down to the bottom of the mountains, the earth with her bars was about me forever.” How long was that? “Three days and three nights; chap. 1:17. It is evidently limited in its application here.

Again we read in Ex. 21:1-6, of the Hebrew servant who was to be released at the end of seven years, but if he chose rather to stay with his master, then his master was to take him to the door-post and bore his ear through with an awl; and the record states, “he shall serve him forever.” How long could that be? No longer than he should live. Thus it represents his lifetime only, and that of course was indefinite, as life is uncertain.

This list might be greatly extended, if space allowed; but sufficient has been given to show that it does not always mean eternity, as used in the Bible. The word itself is indefinite, and the time which it expresses is to be determined by the connection in which it is used. When applied to eternal things, such as God, the holy angels, the inheritance of the saints, etc., we know it signifies eternity. But when applied to things of this life and its probationary state, and things which God plainly declares shall come to an end, it is limited to that time. Its application can extend no farther than the things to which it is applied, or, as Dr. Adam Clarke says, it means as long as a thing considering the surrounding circumstances can exist.

Forever, comes from the Greek word, aion, and is thus defined by Greenfield: “Duration, finite or infinite, unlimited duration, eternity; a period of duration, past, present, or future; time, age, lifetime; the world, universe.”

Similar to this, is the testimony of Schrevelius, Liddell and Scott, Parkhurst, Robinson, Wahl, Cruden, etc., who are standard authorities. These are unanimous in giving their definitions to this word as we have presented it, and shown it to be used in the Bible. With these facts before us, we need have no difficulty in harmonizing the statement that they shall be “tormented day and night forever and ever,” with the declaration that they shall be burned up and come under the power of the “second death,” and that they or their place shall not be (Ps. 37:10), but the place where they are “burned up” (the earth, 2 Pet. 3:7-13), shall be made new for the righteous to dwell in forever.

J. D. RICE.