Q&A Home > H > Hell Does the Coptic Church hold onto Origen's view about 'the eventual emptying of hell'? Unfortunately Origen fell into a great error when he argued that rather than eternal punishment, hell is a way-station, a place of purification on the eventual and finally inevitable journey to heaven. He denies the eternity of punishment. Today, the Universalists adopt Origen's teaching that in the end all the damned, at least all human souls will attain beatitude (apokatastasis ton panton, restitutio omnium, according to Origen). This is definitely against the teaching of our Coptic Church. The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches also reject this teaching. In 553 A.D. an anathema was issued as follows: "If anyone says or thinks that the punishment of demons and of impious men is only temporary, and will one day have an end, and that a restoration [apokatastasis] will take place of demons and of impious men, let him be anathema."
The Holy Bible is quite clear in teaching the eternity of suffering in hell. The torments of the sinners shall last forever and ever. "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched" (Mark 9:43,45,47).
"And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name" (Rev 14:11).
"The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Rev 20:10).
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