“ANNIHILATIONISM” TO ESCAPE HELL: ANOTHER DOCTRINE OF THE DEMONS (& JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES & OTHERS)

Annihilationism is the false teaching that when a person dies he is annihilated thus negating eternal hell fire. This is contradicted by the Bible in many places such as Matthew 25:46 which says "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Also, degrees of punishment will be given on the Day of Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). If all, or only the wicked are annihilated, then degrees of punishment would be pointless. Larry Wessels, director of Christian Answers of Austin, Texas/ Christian Debater (YouTube channel: CANSWERSTV at http://www.youtube.com/user/CAnswersT... with 19 playlists on numerous topics; websites: http://www.BIBLEQUERY.ORG, http://www.HISTORYCART.COM, http://www.MUSLIMHOPE.COM) presents Pastor Jackson Boyett of Dayspring Fellowship of Austin, Texas (http://www.DAYSPRINGCHAPEL.ORG). Type "JACKSON BOYETT" into the YOUTUBE search box to see many other videos by Pastor Boyett. More on the subject of "annihilationism" can be seen at our playlist "Dealing with Hell, Lake of Fire, Unpopular Bible Doctrines" at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=.... The Greek word for "everlasting" is aionios. The word means ageless-without beginning, without ending, or both. It is used in Romans 16:26 of God :"the everlasting [aionios] God." This use of the word should clearly show us the meaning of the word "everlasting." The Greek scholar A.T. Robertson says of the word: "It comes as near to the idea of eternal as the Greek can put it in one word. It is a difficult idea to put into language." The very same word (aionios) is used to describe the future life of the righteous and the future punishment of the wicked in Matthew 25:46: "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." If punishment of the wicked is limited, we may likewise limit the life of the righteous! But such cannot be done. This phrase, "for ever and ever" (eis tous aionas aionon), occurs 20 times in the New Testament: of God-16 times; of saints' future blessedness-1 time; of punishment of the wicked and Satan-- 3 times. Death is never an annihilation, or a ceasing to exist. It is always a separation. The second death is the final and eternal separation of the unsaved in the "lake of fire" (Rev 20:11-15). That the second death is not annihilation see Revelation 19:20 and 20:10. Neither does "destruction" mean annihilation. Something can be destroyed without being annihilated. There is much destruction of property, goods, buildings, etc., in war, but such things are not annihilated. The unsaved still exist and will exist for all eternity in the "lake of fire." They experience "destruction" of peace, joy, and hope. Some time ago, Dr. Erwin Lutzer, head pastor of Moody Church in Chicago , IL debated Dr. Clark Pinnock of McMaster Divinity College on "Open Line," a radio broadcast of Moody Broadcasting Network. Dr. Lutzer defended the historic and orthodox view of eternal, conscious torment for the damned while Dr. Pinnock defended the popular annihilationist view that the damned cease to exist in eternity. Dr. Erwin Lutzer: "As I wrestle with the text of Scripture I do not think there is any fair, honest way to interpret the passages other than that of eternal, conscience torment. The annihilationists...would say that when people are thrown into hell the fire consumes them and they are annihilated. Revelation 14:9-11 it says, "...If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name." Now notice here that the fire did not consume these folks. It says that they are tormented by the fire forever and ever, they have no rest day or night; and the strongest language that the Greek language has here when it uses the words "forever and ever," literally into the "ages of the ages," the same words that are used for God who exists from all eternity, are used here to refer to their torment "day and night forever and ever." So I realize that Dr. Pinnock and others may have, if I may say so, ingenious ways to interpret the passage differently, but I really don't think you can be fair to the text and do it and of course this is only one among many of such texts which really do not allow for alternate interpretations. Dr. Clark Pinnock (response): "That is a very difficult text for my position, I admit that freely."

Larry Wessels, director of Christian Answers of Austin, Texas/ Christian Debater (YouTube channel: CANSWERSTV at http://www.youtube.com/user/CAnswersT… with 19 playlists on numerous topics; websites: http://www.BIBLEQUERY.ORG, http://www.HISTORYCART.COM, http://www.MUSLIMHOPE.COM) presents Pastor Jackson Boyett of Dayspring Fellowship of Austin, Texas (http://www.DAYSPRINGCHAPEL.ORG). Type “JACKSON BOYETT” into the YOUTUBE search box to see many other videos by Pastor Boyett. More on the subject of “annihilationism” can be seen at our playlist “Dealing with Hell, Lake of Fire, Unpopular Bible Doctrines” at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=….

The Greek word for “everlasting” is aionios. The word means ageless-without beginning, without ending, or both. It is used in Romans 16:26 of God :”the everlasting [aionios] God.” This use of the word should clearly show us the meaning of the word “everlasting.” The Greek scholar A.T. Robertson says of the word: “It comes as near to the idea of eternal as the Greek can put it in one word. It is a difficult idea to put into language.” The very same word (aionios) is used to describe the future life of the righteous and the future punishment of the wicked in Matthew 25:46: “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” If punishment of the wicked is limited, we may likewise limit the life of the righteous! But such cannot be done. This phrase, “for ever and ever” (eis tous aionas aionon), occurs 20 times in the New Testament: of God-16 times; of saints’ future blessedness-1 time; of punishment of the wicked and Satan– 3 times.

Death is never an annihilation, or a ceasing to exist. It is always a separation. The second death is the final and eternal separation of the unsaved in the “lake of fire” (Rev 20:11-15). That the second death is not annihilation see Revelation 19:20 and 20:10. Neither does “destruction” mean annihilation. Something can be destroyed without being annihilated. There is much destruction of property, goods, buildings, etc., in war, but such things are not annihilated. The unsaved still exist and will exist for all eternity in the “lake of fire.” They experience “destruction” of peace, joy, and hope.

Some time ago, Dr. Erwin Lutzer, head pastor of Moody Church in Chicago , IL debated Dr. Clark Pinnock of McMaster Divinity College on “Open Line,” a radio broadcast of Moody Broadcasting Network. Dr. Lutzer defended the historic and orthodox view of eternal, conscious torment for the damned while Dr. Pinnock defended the popular annihilationist view that the damned cease to exist in eternity.

Dr. Erwin Lutzer: “As I wrestle with the text of Scripture I do not think there is any fair, honest way to interpret the passages other than that of eternal, conscience torment. The annihilationists…would say that when people are thrown into hell the fire consumes them and they are annihilated. Revelation 14:9-11 it says, “…If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.” Now notice here that the fire did not consume these folks. It says that they are tormented by the fire forever and ever, they have no rest day or night; and the strongest language that the Greek language has here when it uses the words “forever and ever,” literally into the “ages of the ages,” the same words that are used for God who exists from all eternity, are used here to refer to their torment “day and night forever and ever.” So I realize that Dr. Pinnock and others may have, if I may say so, ingenious ways to interpret the passage differently, but I really don’t think you can be fair to the text and do it and of course this is only one among many of such texts which really do not allow for alternate interpretations.

Dr. Clark Pinnock (response):
“That is a very difficult text for my position, I admit that freely.”