Previous articles in this set: The Plainness of God, Language of Condemnation, Hacking at Branches.

Some instances of "Eternal, Endless, Everlasting, Punishment, Torment and Damnation" in the scriptures:

"For behold, there is a wo pronounced upon him who listeth to obey that spirit; for if he listeth to obey him, and remaineth and dieth in his sins, the same drinketh damnation to his own soul; for he receiveth for his wages an everlasting punishment, having transgressed the law of God contrary to his own knowledge." (Mosiah 2:33)

"And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy are the devil and his angels; and they shall go away into everlasting fire, prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end." (2 Nephi 9:16)

"O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel! For he delivereth his saints from that awful monster the devil, and death, and hell, and that lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment." (2 Nephi 9:19)

"But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation." (Mark 3:29)

"Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul." (Alma 42:16)

"Wherefore, he saves all except them—they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, which is eternal punishment, to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched, which is their torment."1 (D&C 76:44)

What if "endless torment" is not something that we wait to receive after this life, but rather a quality which endures currently? Would you look about the world and measure that most of the earth is in "eternal torment". Would you say that there are some who are able to love despite their circumstances?

If you understand what the Holy Ghost is, then what is denying the Holy Ghost? What causes mankind to now be in such a state of "eternal" torment without ceasing? What is it that we are constatly denying? What do those who profess religion constantly deny to themselves and others?2

Another question. What is the opposite of Eternal Damnation? Do the same rules apply to "Eternal, Endless and Everlasting" Life? Is it speaking about the quality of something obtained at a time, rather than its duration? If we can be saved from Eternal Damnation, Can we fall from Eternal Life?

If we take a longer view, who are his saints? Who does he deliver from death and hell? Who does he make pure and Holy and love and say "forbid them not, for such is the kingdom of heaven?" If this is true, then is our natural state to love? Is it only after enduring in a toxic environment that we fall and confuse who we really are?

 

Notes

1. See how expressly this verse written in 1832 screams out, repeatedly, the terms the Lord revealed in 1829.

The Lord says to Cain: "For from this time forth thou shalt be the father of his lies; thou shalt be called Perdition; for thou wast also before the world." (Moses 5:24) Cain was perdition before, yet he was here, again. Another opportunity to learn and gain experience, another opportunity for God to show forth his love to Cain and bear his soul.

2. "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." (Matthew 23:13)


See Also

Telestial Redemption and Woman