![]() ![]() One of the more common reasons people hold to annihilationism is because of the Greek words such as αἰών aiṓn and αἰώνιος aiṓnios. ![]() Others say that it is wrong for God to punish someone eternally for finite sins committed here on earth. Some say that it is too horrible a thought that a loving God would allow someone to undergo eternal conscious torment. There are various reasons annihilationists hold to their positions. Comparing Eternal Punishment and NonexistenceĮternal non-existence does not occur in timeĮternal non-existence is not completed in time But since they don’t, they’re not the same thing. If they were, then they would have the same attributes. Eternal punishment is not the same thing as eternal nonexistence. To affirm their position, annihilationists shift the definition from the action of God’s judgment to the result. Punishment is an action of God that occurs in time. But, this is problematic since punishment is experienced and nonexistence is not. They equate eternal punishment with eternal nonexistence. But this is problematic because if the person is judged by his sin, which is breaking the law, and the law requires punishment, then why isn’t he saved after he fulfills the requirement of the law by his punishment? Shifting the definitionĪnnihilationists consider the action of God annihilating a person to be Eternal Punishment. After the appropriate length of time of his suffering has been completed, he is annihilated. On the Day of Judgment, he is awakened and faces the sentencing of God who assigns him a period of suffering that is in proportionate to the level of sin that he committed on earth. Then others teach that upon the death of a person, he enters a state of soul sleep. In addition, how does a person who is alive exist without there being any activity? That is what life is. But it is also problematic in that it ties the existence of the soul with that of the physical body and implies the soul is a property of the physical. This avoids the problem with the first view dealing with continuity. Then on the Day of Judgment, he is awakened to face God’s judgment and is annihilated. This is a condition where the person still exists, but is unconscious, has no experiences, and is unaware. Other annihilationists teach that upon death people go into a state of soul sleep, with no activity, and will gradually be destroyed. This is why criticism of this position is that the second person is an exact duplicate of the first person. ![]() ![]() Without a continuous existence, this is difficult to defend. It is a logical difficulty to assert that the person who completely ceases to exist is actually the same person who is re-created. But, this is problematic because there is no continuity between the person who first was created and then was re-created. Upon the Day of Judgment, he is “re-created” to be judged, and then he is immediately annihilated. Some annihilationists believe that once a person dies, his soul instantly ceases to exist. There is instant annihilationism and gradual annihilationism. Different annihilationists have slightly different ideas about the order of how it works. In other words, God will cause them to cease to exist. Annihilationism is the philosophical teaching that all people who have not trusted in Christ as Savior will, upon the Day of Judgment or sometime afterward, be annihilated. ![]()
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