SemperFiDawg
Political Forum Arbiter of Truth (And Lies Too)
A concise excerpt from
http://www.gotquestions.org/annihilationism.html
Warning!!! Some viewers may find this article lacking in that it doesnt cite any Pagan, Neo-pagan, Athiestic, or pantheistic sources. Nor does it cite Elvis, Aliens, Illumanati. There is no mention of Roswell or of a conspiracy theory among the early reformers to boost church attendance. The only source cited is Scripture. I realize the concept of using Scripture to interpret Scripture is a foreign concept to some and downright detestable to others, but it's pretty much agreed upon to be the most accurate method (Sorry Google and Wiki faithful). Now on with it.
If any of you guys would like to actually critique any of these three points ...you know....using just Scripture, it would be refreshing.
http://www.gotquestions.org/annihilationism.html
Warning!!! Some viewers may find this article lacking in that it doesnt cite any Pagan, Neo-pagan, Athiestic, or pantheistic sources. Nor does it cite Elvis, Aliens, Illumanati. There is no mention of Roswell or of a conspiracy theory among the early reformers to boost church attendance. The only source cited is Scripture. I realize the concept of using Scripture to interpret Scripture is a foreign concept to some and downright detestable to others, but it's pretty much agreed upon to be the most accurate method (Sorry Google and Wiki faithful). Now on with it.
Question: "Is annihilationism biblical?"
Answer: Annihilationism is the belief that unbelievers will not experience an eternity of suffering in CensoredCensoredCensoredCensored, but will instead be “extinguished” after death. For many, annihilationism is an attractive belief because of the awfulness of the idea of people spending eternity in CensoredCensoredCensoredCensored. While there are some passages that seem to argue for annihilationism, a comprehensive look at what the Bible says about the destiny of the wicked reveals the fact that punishment in CensoredCensoredCensoredCensored is eternal. A belief in annihilationism results from a misunderstanding of one or more of the following doctrines: 1) the consequences of sin, 2) the justice of God, 3) the nature of CensoredCensoredCensoredCensored.
In relation to the nature of CensoredCensoredCensoredCensored, annihilationists misunderstand the meaning of the lake of fire. Obviously, if a human being were cast into a lake of burning lava, he/she would be almost instantly consumed. However, the lake of fire is both a physical and spiritual realm. It is not simply a human body being cast into the lake of fire; it is a human’s body, soul, and spirit. A spiritual nature cannot be consumed by physical fire. It seems that the unsaved are resurrected with a body prepared for eternity just as the saved are (Revelation 20:13; Acts 24:15). These bodies are prepared for an eternal fate.
Eternity is another aspect which annihilationists fail to fully comprehend. Annihilationists are correct that the Greek word aionion, which is usually translated “eternal,” does not by definition mean “eternal.” It specifically refers to an “age” or “eon,” a specific period of time. However, it is clear that in New Testament, aionion is sometimes used to refer to an eternal length of time. Revelation 20:10 speaks of Satan, the beast, and the false prophet being cast into the lake of fire and being tormented “day and night forever and ever.” It is clear that these three are not “extinguished” by being cast into the lake of fire. Why would the fate of the unsaved be any different (Revelation 20:14-15)? The most convincing evidence for the eternality of CensoredCensoredCensoredCensored is Matthew 25:46, “Then they [the unsaved] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” In this verse, the same Greek word is used to refer to the destiny of the wicked and the righteous. If the wicked are only tormented for an “age,” then the righteous will only experience life in heaven for an “age.” If believers will be in heaven forever, unbelievers will be in CensoredCensoredCensoredCensored forever.
Another frequent objection to the eternality of CensoredCensoredCensoredCensored by annihilationists is that it would be unjust for God to punish unbelievers in CensoredCensoredCensoredCensored for eternity for a finite amount of sin. How could it be fair for God to take a person who lived a sinful, 70-year life, and punish him/her for all of eternity? The answer is that our sin bears an eternal consequence because it is committed against an eternal God. When King David committed the sins of adultery and murder he stated, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight…” (Psalm 51:4). David had sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah; how could David claim to have only sinned against God? David understood that all sin is ultimately against God. God is an eternal and infinite Being. As a result, all sin against Him is worthy of an eternal punishment. It is not a matter of the length of time we sin, but the character of the God against whom we sin.
If any of you guys would like to actually critique any of these three points ...you know....using just Scripture, it would be refreshing.