Kirk Cameron no longer believes in eternal punishment

In a recent episode of his show, Kirk Cameron publicly announced a change in his long-held views on Hell. Previously accepting the view of eternal conscious torment for the wicked, he now rejects it — calling such a fate “cruel and unusual punishment.”

Cameron argues that the Bible, especially in its Old Testament writing, does not depict the souls of the wicked as immortal. Instead, the only souls promised eternal life — immortality — are those granted to believers.

Cameron’s shift reflects this framework: Hell, in his new view, is not an eternal “pain chamber,” but the final end for those outside redemption.

As expected, Cameron’s announcement has sparked intense debate. Some readers of the original article — and commenters on related forums — have pushed back, pointing to verses such as Matthew 25:46 (which contrasts “eternal punishment” with “eternal life”) as evidence for traditional eternal-torment doctrine. One commenter wrote,

“Jesus spoke those words. Eternal and eternal. Seems pretty cut and dried to me.”

Complete article:

Kirk Cameron no longer believes in eternal punishment

(OPINION) In a recent episode of his show, Kirk Cameron publicly announced a change in his long-held views on Hell. Previously accepting the view of eternal conscious torment for the wicked, he now rejects it — calling such a fate “cruel and unusual punishment.” Cameron argues that the Bible...

endtimeheadlines.org

 

[Walter]

How I wish he were correct, for the sake of my family. But he is not.

How in the world can anyone read the words of Jesus, and entertain this nonsense.

Not only that, but I think this belief of hell not being eternal subconsciously changes the degree of the appreciation of Jesus’ sacrifice. It lowers it just a bit. And it lowers Him just a bit too.

Because the truth is that the eternal God came out of eternity and into time, to rescue eternal beings from eternal punishment. Changing the eternal factor on the human side wrecks the equation.

I believe that God is merciful to unsaved humanity. After all, we are all created in His image.

 

[Walter]

Matthew 10:28 :And I give to them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
( The implication here is that we are saved from eternal death).

 

[Everlasting Life]

That's John 10:28, I believe. Here's the context:

Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.The Father and I are one.”

25-30

The sheep of Jesus listen to His voice, that is:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. John 6:47


“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

Matthew 7:13

That narrow gate?:

Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

John 6:29

 

[Andiamo]

I believe that God is merciful to unsaved humanity. After all, we are all created in His image.

What were you saved from?

 

[1LoverofGod]

I believe that God is merciful to unsaved humanity. After all, we are all created in His image.

Yes, God is merciful to the unsaved, but God is Righteous and Holy, and has the right to judge the unsaved who refuse to repent and accept salvation through His Son Jesus Who is The Only One Who can save them.
In God's Mercy, He has been longsuffering and holding back from executing His Righteous judgement upon the entire world for 2 thousand years. But there is a set Day of The Lord and Judgement will come to the unrepentant unsaved.



"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
John 3:16

1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),
2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men"

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

 

[mattfivefour]

Matthew 10:28 :And I give to them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
( The implication here is that we are saved from eternal death).

Yes. And His mercy is in Christ. Ia person rejects that mercy, then they will suffer the consequences. God's Word could not be more clear.

 

[1LoverofGod]

**Jesus taught eternal punishment in Hell ....


42 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
43 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—
44 where ‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—
46 where ‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
Mark 9:42-46


41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’
45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:41-46

 

[Walter]

Yes, his leanings toward legalism/Calvinism are troubling.

That helps explain why Kirk Cameron has trouble with God’s holiness. Calvinists logically are led to believe that God determines who goes to heaven and to hell. How awful to see someone you love reject Jesus for any of us, but it must be horrifying for Calvinists who believe that God determines them to go to hell.

Romans 9:22-23: But what if God, wanting to show His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and so that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,

This is God's word.I do not take "destruction" as being in eternal torment, "burning"? forever and ever. I don't read that here. The Greek word for destruction is " apoleia", which can also mean " perish" or " die".

 

[Walter]

What were you saved from?

DEATH.

 

[Walter]

Yes, God is merciful to the unsaved, but God is Righteous and Holy, and has the right to judge the unsaved who refuse to repent and accept salvation through His Son Jesus Who is The Only One Who can save them.
In God's Mercy, He has been longsuffering and holding back from executing His Righteous judgement upon the entire world for 2 thousand years. But there is a set Day of The Lord and Judgement will come to the unrepentant unsaved.



"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
John 3:16

1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),
2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men"

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Yes I agree. The judgment of God is righteous and just. I can't think of a worse judgement than not living forever with Jesus.
You brought up John 3:16, another good example. If we believe on Jesus Christ, we will not perish, but go on into eternity with Him. Those who refuse to repent and believe will "perish". It does not say " that whosoever believes in Him will not go on to eternal fiery torture ". To perish is to perish, otherwise God would not say this.

 

[Everlasting Life]

......the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,...

2 Peter 2:9


Hebrews 10:28-30 speaks of those who die without mercy because of rejection of Moses' law. Then, speaks of a worse than death punishment for those who reject God's merciful grace found in Jesus, because the sinners privilege and exposure to truth is much more greater than Moses'. This is one who tramples the Son of God under foot, counts His blood as common, and insults the Holy Spirit. This passage seems to testify of more than death and destruction for those who reject God the Son, Who willing allowed Himself to die in order to rescue humanity from their own sin:



Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
Hebrews 10:28-30

Additionally the world's messaging (as influenced by satan, the father of lies) is that there's nothing to fear in regards to death, that one simply doesn't exist anymore. This is a red flag to me, for the world message of lies upon lies are in opposition to God's Word.


In regards to Romans 9, I think a more important focus is that God, in His grace bears patiently with those not responding to Jesus Christ, of whom He would be justified to immediately deal with in judgement. This showcases His attribute of great patience and grace in giving ample time for souls to place faith in Jesus.

C.R. Erdman comments:

"God's sovereignty is never exercised in condemning men who ought to be saved [for we are all born in sin, only Jesus was the sinless Son of Man], but rather it has resulted in the salvation of men who ought to be lost."

Therefore, as I'm understanding, God does not prepare vessels of wrath for destruction.... that is, our own sin makes us prepared for God's righteous judgment (but God prepares a place of destruction and wrath for those vessels choosing to stay in their sin), unless........ one calls upon the Lord Jesus in faith for God's merciful Salvation. Then, God prepares that trusting vessel for mercy and glory.

This sets up the subsequent chapter to focus on the most important, that those who place faith in Jesus have found Godly righteousness imputed to the sinner, covering them so God sees Jesus' righteousness instead of sin.... which God removes as far as the East from the West. This is the most important focus.

As Hebrews seems to indicate, in light of such incredible treasure, freely and lovingly offered, those who foolishly refuse, despite God's gracious patience and abundant mercy extended through Jesus Christ, await a worse than death future.

 

[Walter]

Yes, God is merciful to the unsaved, but God is Righteous and Holy, and has the right to judge the unsaved who refuse to repent and accept salvation through His Son Jesus Who is The Only One Who can save them.
In God's Mercy, He has been longsuffering and holding back from executing His Righteous judgement upon the entire world for 2 thousand years. But there is a set Day of The Lord and Judgement will come to the unrepentant unsaved.



"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
John 3:16

1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),
2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men"

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Yes I agree. The judgment of God is righteous and just. I can't think of a worse judgement than not living forever with Jesus.
You brought up John 3:16, another good example. If we believe on Jesus Christ, we will not perish, but go on into eternity with Him. Those who refuse to repent and believe will "perish". It does not say " that whosoever believes in Him will not go on to eternal fiery torture ". To perish is to perish, otherwise God would not say it.

 

[1LoverofGod]

Yes I agree. The judgment of God is righteous and just. I can't think of a worse judgement than not living forever with Jesus.
You brought up John 3:16, another good example. If we believe on Jesus Christ, we will not perish, but go on into eternity with Him. Those who refuse to repent and believe will "perish". It does not say " that whosoever believes in Him will not go on to eternal fiery torture ". To perish is to perish, otherwise God would not say this.

Jesus Himself used the words "everlasting punishment". How else can "everlasting" punishment be defined other than what it means, conscious never ending, eternal punishment.?..

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’
45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:41-46

 

[mattfivefour]

Much has been put on the Greek apollumi (ἀπόλλυμι) in this thread. The fact is that, in isolation, that word is a poor translation and does not accurately capture the meaning of the Greek. Even without knowing Greek it is possible to gain a proper understanding of the word by comparing this verse with other verses on the fate of the lost. But in the interest of time, let me point out that ἀπόλλυμι refers not so much to an "ending" but to a "losing“.

Study the word in all of its forms and appearances --primarily in Scripture, but also in ancient secular writings-- and it speaks of being lost, being separated, being unrecoverable. We see this echoed in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 where the apostle speaks of those who reject Christ, saying they (literally) "will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power." Here, based on the ancient uses of the word, we see that this eternal destruction "away from the presence of the Lord" speaks not of destruction as in a death but destruction in the sense of separation and loss. Were death --that is to say cessation of being-- what the apostle had in view here, surely he would not have used the adjective "eternal" to modify apollumi. It would have been redundant, in fact ridiculously so: after all, death IS everlasting by its very nature, since it means life is over.

No, a complete and honest scriptural study of the fate of the saved and the fate of the lost (apart from our own personal preconceptions) leads to the conclusion that we will continue to exist outside of time-- but that those who are saved will exist in the presence of God and those who are lost will exist completely cut off from God and the glory of His power. I cannot imagine the horror of such an existence! But as they persistently and willfully chose to reject God in this life, He gives them that for eternity.

I might not like that. I would not want my worst enemy to suffer that. But my likes or dislikes, my ideas, my human values, are irrelevant. God is good and all that He ever does is perfect. And although we may at times think some things are not right, when we get to Heaven in our glorified bodies we will see that ALL God has ever done is absolutely perfect. So let's not use our flawed humanity to judge God and alter His Word a little to soothe our human sensitivities. For in doing so we risk taking the terror of rejecting God out of the eyes of man. God intended Hell to appear a place of terror. Telling someone you won't suffer really but will just cease to exist is not filling them with terror: in fact for many it would be a relief. Reject God here, live my life my way, do what I want, fulfill all my desires, and then just go off into nothing.

Sorry, that message is not of God. I have to be honest-- it is of Satan.

 

[1LoverofGod]

Much has been put on the Greek apollumi (ἀπόλλυμι) in this thread. The fact is that, in isolation, that word is a poor translation and does not accurately capture the meaning of the Greek. Even without knowing Greek it is possible to gain a proper understanding of the words by comparison with other verses on the fate of the lost. But in the interested of time, let me point out that ἀπόλλυμι refers not so much to an "ending" but to a "losing“.

Study the word in all of its forms and appearances --primarily in Scripture, but also in ancient secular writings-- and it speaks of being lost, being separated, being unrecoverable. We see this echoed in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 where the apostle speaks of those who reject Christ, saying they (literally) "will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power." Here, based on the ancient uses of the word, we see that this eternal destruction "away from the presence of the Lord" speaks not of destruction as in a death but destruction in the sense of separation and loss. Were death --that is to say cessation of being-- what the apostle had in view here, he would not have used the adjective "eternal" to modify apollumi. It would have been redundant, in fact ridiculously so: after all, death IS everlasting by its very nature, since it means life is over.

No, a complete and honest scriptural study of the fate of the saved and the fate of the lost (apart from our own personal preconceptions) leads to the conclusion that we will continue to exist outside of time-- but that those who are saved will exist in the presence of God and those who are lost will exist completely cut off from God and the glory of His power. I cannot imagine the horror of such an existence! But as they persistently and willfully chose to reject God in this life, He gives them that for eternity.

I might not like that. I would not want my worst enemy to suffer that. But my likes or dislikes, my ideas, my human values, are irrelevant. God is good and all that He ever does is perfect. And although we may at times think some things are not right, when we get to Heaven in our glorified bodies we will see that ALL God has ever done is absolutely perfect. So let's not use our flawed humanity to judge God and alter His Word a little to soothe our human sensitivities. For in doing so we risk taking the terror of rejecting God out of the eyes of man. God intended Hell to appear a place of terror. Telling someone you won't suffer really but will just cease to exist is not filling them with terror: in fact for many it would be a relief. Reject God here, live my life my way, do what I want, fulfill all my desires, and then just go off into nothing.

Sorry, that message is not of God. I have to be honest-- it is of Satan.

Wow, you posted this at the same time I posted a question on the meaning of destruction in the greek apóllymi and apṓleia in the Bible questions section.
Holy Spirit must have led us both to post on the same subject simultaneously unknowingly,
But God knew

 

[Andiamo]

. I can't think of a worse judgement than not living forever with Jesus.

Me too, but that’s because we love Him. Remembering how I thought as an unbeliever, being in flames for all eternity would certainly sound worse to me than living without Christ. Or simply not existing at some point.

 

[Walter]

......the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,...

2 Peter 2:9


Hebrews 10:28-30 speaks of those who die without mercy because of rejection of Moses' law. Then, speaks of a worse than death punishment for those who reject God's merciful grace found in Jesus, because the sinners privilege and exposure to truth is much more greater than Moses'. This is one who tramples the Son of God under foot, counts His blood as common, and insults the Holy Spirit. This passage seems to testify of more than death and destruction for those who reject God the Son, Who willing allowed Himself to die in order to rescue humanity from their own sin:



Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
Hebrews 10:28-30

Additionally the world's messaging (as influenced by satan, the father of lies) is that there's nothing to fear in regards to death, that one simply doesn't exist anymore. This is a red flag to me, for the world message of lies upon lies are in opposition to God's Word.


In regards to Romans 9, I think a more important focus is that God, in His grace bears patiently with those not responding to Jesus Christ, of whom He would be justified to immediately deal with in judgement. This showcases His attribute of great patience and grace in giving ample time for souls to place faith in Jesus.

C.R. Erdman comments:

"God's sovereignty is never exercised in condemning men who ought to be saved [for we are all born in sin, only Jesus was the sinless Son of Man], but rather it has resulted in the salvation of men who ought to be lost."

Therefore, as I'm understanding, God does not prepare vessels of wrath for destruction.... that is, our own sin makes us prepared for God's righteous judgment (but God prepares a place of destruction and wrath for those vessels choosing to stay in their sin), unless........ one calls upon the Lord Jesus in faith for God's merciful Salvation. Then, God prepares that trusting vessel for mercy and glory.

This sets up the subsequent chapter to focus on the most important, that those who place faith in Jesus have found Godly righteousness imputed to the sinner, covering them so God sees Jesus' righteousness instead of sin.... which God removes as far as the East from the West. This is the most important focus.

As Hebrews seems to indicate, in light of such incredible treasure, freely and lovingly offered, those who foolishly refuse, despite God's gracious patience and abundant mercy extended through Jesus Christ, await a worse than death future.

When you said:
"This passage certainly testifies of more than death and destruction for those who reject God,...."
But the verse itself does not go into any specifics of what " worse punishment" is. However in the context of Hebrews 10, when we get to the last verse we read :

V.39 But we are not of those shrinking back to destruction, but of faith, to the saving of the soul.
Now we see yet again the warning of "destruction" ( to die), if not for the saving of the soul ( from death).

And sure, in Romans 9 I would agree that we as sinners literally prepared ourselves for destruction. But v.22 is still saying what it's saying regardless of who is responsible.

 

[Walter]

Wow, you posted this at the same time I posted a question on the meaning of destruction in the greek apóllymi and apṓleia in the Bible questions section.
Holy Spirit must have led us both to post on the same subject simultaneously unknowingly,
But God knew

Yes God knew. I believe that God is leading us to a deeper understanding of these " hot topics". Going to read your post now.

 

[Walter]

Wow, you posted this at the same time I posted a question on the meaning of destruction in the greek apóllymi and apṓleia in the Bible questions section.
Holy Spirit must have led us both to post on the same subject simultaneously unknowingly,
But God knew

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9:
and to give you who are being afflicted rest along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall pay a penalty—eternal destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might,

I see eternal " destruction" like it is rendered in the Greek: Strong's #3639
Greek: ὄλεθρος
Transliteration: olethros
Pronunciation: ol'-eth-ros
Definition: From ὄλλυμι ollumi a primary word (to destroy; a prolonged form);
ruin that is death punishment: - destruction.
KJV Usage: destruction (4x).

There is no indication of any continuous activity.

 

[Andiamo]

Jesus Himself used the words "everlasting punishment". How else can "everlasting" punishment be defined other than what it means, conscious never ending, eternal punishment.?..

This is what I would like to know.
Walter, I so wish you are right, you have no idea.