. One to the universality of heaven's occupants, one to the duration of hell, and one to the nature of salvation. Those who are none of his are described in verses 29-30: “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. I have been thinking a good deal of late, on the last verse of the third chapter of John. I have been thinking a good deal of late, on the last verse of the third chapter of John. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Hell, Hades, and the Afterlife ... Posted in: FAQs Tagged: annihilationism, conditional immortality, death and hell, eternal torment, immortality, universalism All Biblical evidence can fit annihilationism. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. He wrote a book around 400 pages teaching this. I once again just finished reading the Olivet Discourse. It is not my intention to enter into all the complexities of biblical eschatology and apocalyptic literature here. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window). And indeed, many Christians have experience this love and mercy first-hand throughout their lives. The knowledge of what God will do in the future (24:1–35) must have a profound effect upon God’s people in the present (24:36–25:46). And in verses 12-13 we read: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Without getting into the fine detail of what ‘standing firm’ entails exactly, it is clear that not all will be saved. I’m surprised to hear that some “Christians” believe in universalism and annihilationism when scripture says otherwise. It is found in Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21. But if we bought their argument, then we certainly would have a problem here, for the very same Greek word is twice used here for ‘eternal’ in verse 46. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. It deals with what will happen at the end of the age (Matt. This is a major set of teachings which Jesus gave on the Mount of Olives. As Craig Blomberg puts it, “The physical judgment of unrepentant Israel is epitomized by the destruction of the temple (24:15-20), but there is a coming judgment of all nations or peoples for which every human must prepare (25:31-46).”, David Turner offers a helpful approach to this section of scripture: “The Olivet Discourse makes it clear that biblical prophecy is more than mere prediction. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Even if figurative language is being used here, it is hard to square such suffering with annihilation. Those three pieces offer plenty of scriptural support for the twin truths that not all mankind will be saved, and that hell is real and a place of eternal torment. So Choose Life, Choose Jesus and His atoning sacrifice for your sins and mine. Many people are asking, “Where is our culture heading?” This website is devoted to exploring the major cultural, social and political issues of the day. He wiped them out rather than tormenting them for eternity. (being tormented day and night for ever and ever.) And the door was shut. Verses 10-12 certainly make this clear: “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The first one claims that everyone will be saved while the second one claims that the lost will simply be annihilated, and not suffer endless punishment. Or the fact that the eternal fire is prepared for the devil and his angels, and that seems to be only ones there in the back of the book. Traditionalists are correct to use Matthew 25:46 to refute universalism. Purchase from Bill Muehlenberg Purchase at Amazon.comPurchase at Koorong.com, Purchase from Bill Muehlenberg Purchase at Amazon.com Purchase at Koorong.com, Purchase from Bill Muehlenberg Purchase at Amazon.com Purchase at Koorong.com. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. Annihilationism vs Traditionalism TRADITIONALISM ANNIHILATIONISM Perish: Eternally tortured in hell Perish: To . Both do not like the idea that an all loving and all merciful God would punish a human being in Hell for all of eternity. Annihilationism? Learn how your comment data is processed. The main reason I believe in annihilationism and not universalism is the simple fact that the Bible says the unrighteous will perish , be destroyed in body and soul (Matthew 10:28), die (Romans 6:23), and be burned to ashes (2 Peter 2:6). google_ad_client = "ca-pub-8064619561175324"; For many, annihilationism is an attractive belief because of the awfulness of the idea of people spending eternity in hell. And those who have so rejected the image of God which Christ renewed. ECT and Universalism fit a few of the verses well about death/afterlife. The Mayflower, America, and the Rewriting of History, The Great Reset, the Vatican, and “Inclusive Capitalism”, billmuehlenberg.com/2011/03/12/against-universalism/, billmuehlenberg.com/2014/12/04/against-annihilationism-part-one/, billmuehlenberg.com/2014/12/04/against-annihilationism-part-two/, billmuehlenberg.com/2017/06/07/two-humanities-two-destinies/, Religion, Society, Politics, Family & the Culture Wars. Even though he doesn’t come out nearly as strong in favor of Universalism (or Ultimate Reconciliation) as Pinnock does for Annihilationism, Bell could have still expressed the same concerns as Pinnock about the consequences of challenging the traditional view. Mark 9; 48 NIV. Yet, universalists could hold that God will utterly destroy, in body and soul, those who are not saved, because they believe everyone will be saved! Tags: Africa (36) Apologetics (762) Theodicy (80) Article Reviews (1,397) Asia (50) Book Reviews (560) Christianity (3,277) Notable Christians (103) Anyone who is aware of how the annihilationists argue will note that they try to claim that some of the Greek words employed in this regard do not actually mean eternal (see my article above for more on this). 24:3). google_ad_height = 250; Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 24:4-5: “Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. I may reply to some of your comments but will not be able to respond to all. Happy writing! Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. google_ad_slot = "5932219409"; They shall be abhorrence to all flesh. Matthew 10.28 — Why Annihilationism is not Universalism March 18, 2011 Guest Contributor Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Mark 9.43. It is hard to square the notion of all being saved with this idea of many being deceived. google_ad_width = 250; Off course, as you write above, that there are many many verses that speak about hell fire and the lake of fire spoken of in the book of Revelation. I was thinking the other day that Annihilationism is quite in keeping with the idea of God wiping out the entire population in a flood. Many thanks for helping to make this ministry possible and helping it to continue. Next we have the parable of the bags of gold, and again we have the two classes of people. Author Topic: Annihilationism vs Universalism (Read 6240 times) 0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. This also clearly refers to two humanities, to two types of people, and to two destinies. Eternal Punishment vs. Universalism And Annihilationism John 3: 36 Charles Henry Mackintosh. Sure, plenty of people – including plenty of Christians – no longer like the idea of hell and choose not to believe in it, but it is clear that Jesus did wholeheartedly adhere to it. In the case of annihilationism, the concept is, ”Well, if I sin too much, and I don’t accept Jesus before I die, then I’ll just take a forever dirt nap.” For universalism, the argument is, “If I sin too much, and I don’t accept Jesus before I die, the Big Guy will give me another chance. Later the others also came. Annihilationism vs. Universalism? And if thy hand offend thee cut it off; it better for thee to enter into Life (eternal life) maimed, than having two hands to go to hell, into the fire that shall NEVER BE QUENCHED. CultureWatch is a faith ministry and I get no salary. . Upon the Day of Judgment, he is \"re-created\" to be judged and then he is immediately annihilated. According to Traditionalists, the Bible doesn't actually mean what it says. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! google_ad_height = 200; Houseologie – A Study of House of and Home. There is no idea of only one humanity. Annihilationism and Universalism are agreed that one day there will be no evil. See this article for much more detail on this: billmuehlenberg.com/2017/06/07/two-humanities-two-destinies/, And we also have a number of references to the idea of suffering and torment – not just temporary punishment but eternal punishment. John 3:36. I say this because the Bible’s final three chapters present the eternal state of affairs. Some instead will grow cold. Please have a read of those for much more detail on these matters. Derek Ouellette — April 17, 2011. 782 Words 3 Pages. Featured The Universalist Story is Not a Realistic Story (Annihilationism vs. Universalism) Discussion in ' Controversial Christian Theology ' started by Mark Corbett , Jul 31, 2017 . It offers reflection and commentary drawing upon the wealth of wisdom found in the Judeo-Christian tradition. In Christian theology, universal reconciliation (also called universal salvation, Christian universalism, or in context simply universalism) is the doctrine that all sinful and alienated human souls—because of divine love and mercy—will ultimately be reconciled to God. In yesterday's post I talked about cherem in the Old Testament. Isaiah 66.24 (says) And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against Me; (against God) the worms that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be … Annihilationism, Universalism and the Angelic Problem. But this seems to be another clear indication of two humanities, and not just one. . I was listening to the book of Isaiah this morning on CD and when I came to the last chapter it spoke to me about the very similar article that you just wrote about, “Universalism and Annihilationism “. Annihilationism, Universalism and the Angelic Problem, Universalism? For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Messiah,” and will deceive many’.”. However, we still can glean some theological certainty here, especially on the two issues set before us. The belief in Annihilationism has appeared throughout Christian history and was defended by several church fathers, but it has often been in the minority. But R. Kent Hughes is quite correct to say that this is “one of the most difficult texts in the New Testament. The reason for conflation may be because they are somewhat related. Universalism, annihilationism, and inclusivism all speak to different questions. /* ucadsmallsq */ A reflection on Rob Bell’s latest book, by CT managing editor Mark Galli, The Godhead: Dyohypostatic Theology vs. Miahypostatic Theology. Study of it requires a proper humility and a willingness to admit that we do not know everything.” Quite right. Eternal Punishment v Universalism and Annihilationism. The case for two humanities and the reality of hell is obviously found throughout Scripture, not just in two chapters in Matthew. . All up, the passages presented here seem to give a pretty clear message: there are two sorts of people and two eternal destinies. (not quenched means, not extinguished, wont be put out, eternal fire. These types of descriptions for the fate of the unrighteous are repeated in other verses. See more on this here: billmuehlenberg.com/2011/03/11/on-hell/. google_ad_client = "ca-pub-8064619561175324"; The Olivet Discourse vs Universalism and Annihilationism Coming Home: My Testimony, Part 1 Love Is Not the Same as Acceptance Categories. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Some enter the joy of the Lord while others face a destiny of torment and suffering. As Robert Mounce puts it, “The essential problem is that Matthew seems to move back and forth between an impending crisis (the fall of Jerusalem), and the end of the age when Jesus would return in judgment.”. The whole "What happens to us after we die" question has never really kept me up at night, I'm a Christian mostly because I just want to follow Christ. As Leon Morris comments, “The last of Jesus’ major discourses in this Gospel is largely concerned with judgment and the conduct expected of the follower of Jesus in view of the coming judgment.”, The judgment spoken of is two-fold. In many standard theologies, universalism and annihilationism are treated as very close positions--theological "first cousins"--so to speak. Problem is – as the annihilationists know 😉 , one of those beliefs is false, namely the one on which eternal torment and universalism agree. Evangelical pastors who flirt too much with universalism should consider a new career. Comments which are simply attacks on myself, or are done in bad taste, or use rude language, or are possibly defamatory will not be posted. - John Flavel “You’re creating a Christian message that’s warm, kind, and popular for contemporary culture. Eternal Torment and Universalism are agreed that immortality will be given to all. 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