A lie by Satan about the word forever as used in the bible has caused countless people to hate and turn away from God for centuries. The idea that a merciful God will burn lost souls forever is too much for them to imagine and they hate God for it.

It all stems from a huge, purposeful misinterpretation by uninspired men. In the bible the word forever has different meanings depending on context.

Meaning 1. A time without end, eternity.
Meaning 2. When something is destroyed, it is gone forever.

Here is where the confusion begins. The word forever as used in the Lake of Fire or Hell simply means the lost in hell will burn until they are consumed thus, they will be gone forever. Never to exist again. Not to burn continuously forever.

Example: You set a sheet of paper on fire. It will burn until it’s all consumed and that particular sheet of paper will never exist again, it’s gone forever.

Example: The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were burned with eternal fire, yet they are not burning today, they are gone forever.

A different forever, meaning 1. The redeemed of God, will live forever, a time without end, eternity.