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Annihilationism?

Skywalker

Well-Known Member
What do people think of Annihilationism?

Of God simply annihilating those he doesn't approve of, as opposed to sending them to Hell?

Of extinguishing them for all eternity, rather than torturing them for all eternity?

I think it is more in keeping with the notion of a compassionate and merciful God

And (coming at it from a Christian perspective which I know others here won't share) there is a biblical basis for it:

Annihilationism - Wikipedia

Annihilationism is wishful thinking. Rob Bell: Populating Hell | Good Fight Ministries

What kind of deterrent would it be to tell a group of potential serial killers, rapists and child molesters that they need not worry about repenting or going to prison for the rest of their lives, or suffering the death penalty because they have already been forgiven? If this fact holds true, all they would need to do is tell the judge they will receive his love later. However, if they still end up in prison for some reason, they still can – on their own accord later – change their minds and the judge would freely let them out and even pay for an awesome vacation to the Bahamas or another island paradise! What a deal!

Logically, this kind of mindset would only encourage criminals to continue on with their wicked and perverse thoughts and deeds. However, Rob Bell is offering this same type of counterfeit hope of post mortem salvation, which is absolutely foreign to the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. Tragically, this deceiving and licentious doctrine will prove to be a powerful satanic attack that will actually help to swell the population of Hell. Many of those who might otherwise repent, will sadly buy into Bell’s lie and take his false doctrine to its practical conclusions. Wrong doctrine leads to wrong living and could potentially lead many straight to Hell for all eternity.

Rob Bell is promising his vast audience eternal life, even if they choose to continue in their sin and earthly rebellion against God. This is essentially the false doctrine that God rebuked the false prophets of spreading in the days of Ezekiel:

“And you have encouraged the wicked by promising them life, even though they continue in their sins.” –Ezekiel 13:22b
 

Hockeycowboy

Witness for Jehovah
Premium Member
It doesn't just believe that. Science can actually present evidence of it so solid that nobody can reasonnably argue against it.

For Common Descent? No way!

If it was so “solid”, there’d be no effort to overhaul evolution...but there is, due to the MS’s inadequate - inept? - ability to explain the evidence...

See “The Explanatory Deficits of the Modern Synthesis,” by Gerd Müller.

You’ve been hoodwinked, my friend.
 

epronovost

Well-Known Member
For Common Descent? No way!

If it was so “solid”, there’d be no effort to overhaul evolution...but there is, due to the MS’s inadequate - inept? - ability to explain the evidence...

See “The Explanatory Deficits of the Modern Synthesis,” by Gerd Müller.

You’ve been hoodwinked, my friend.

The extended evolutionary synthesis still support common descent and still support the bulk of the MS theory of evolution. What Gerd Muller and 14 others have suggested is to add to MS, not radically change it nor fallsify it. There is no possible reasonnable doubt for common descent due to evidence in genetics variation. Note that extended evolutionary synthesis isn't widely accepted yet since it was developped only 12 to 15 years ago though it made some good points.
 

Brian Haines

New Member
What do people think of Annihilationism?

Of God simply annihilating those he doesn't approve of, as opposed to sending them to Hell?

Of extinguishing them for all eternity, rather than torturing them for all eternity?

I think it is more in keeping with the notion of a compassionate and merciful God

And (coming at it from a Christian perspective which I know others here won't share) there is a biblical basis for it:

Annihilationism - Wikipedia


It is a good question. One thing to consider is that it seems Jesus taught rather clearly that (1) there would be a resurrection of all people, both good and evil (John 5:28-29), and that the results of being judged in that moment were eternal life or eternal destruction, which Jesus describes as unending torment (Mark 9:43-45). It seems clear that the writers of the NT believed that all men woudl receive an imperishable body on the day of resurrection (1 Cor. 15), and that because of this those who were not with God would be left behind to suffer eternally
 

blü 2

Veteran Member
Premium Member
What do people think of Annihilationism?

Of God simply annihilating those he doesn't approve of, as opposed to sending them to Hell?

Of extinguishing them for all eternity, rather than torturing them for all eternity?

I think it is more in keeping with the notion of a compassionate and merciful God
The list on your Wikipedia link omits one of the most famous examples, "... should not perish but have everlasting life".

(I've never worked out why anyone would want everlasting life anyway ─ to do what, exactly?
)
 

Skywalker

Well-Known Member

God didn't just die on the cross so that we could be forgiven of our sins, but also that we could come before Him. 'For the Life of the World' Explores the Purpose of Salvation - Chuck Colson, Daily Devotional

Ask your neighbors the meaning of life, and you’re liable to get lots of replies, depending on their worldview. You might get blank stares, or hopes about family and career. An honest atheist might bring up the old bumper sticker, “He who dies with the most toys wins.”

But a Christian would say our purpose is to know and love God. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism states, man’s chief end is to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Well, that’s right, but what does that mean?

It’s certainly true that part of our purpose is to be saved from sin. But if that were it, wouldn’t God just rapture us immediately into heaven? Or is there something more to our life on this earth here and now?
 

Skywalker

Well-Known Member
As Woody Allen is said to have said, Eternity is very long, especially towards the end.

So in a line, if Chuck gets everlasting life, what does he propose to do with it exactly?

Why do the details matter? Isn't it more important for people to search the Bible being real and to have a relationship with God? A Christian Review of the Movie, “Heaven is for Real”

God did at times speak to the saints in the Old Testament through dreams and visions, because the completed Word of God was not yet given. With the completion of the book of Revelation in 96 A.D., we have the finished and completed Word of God today. When someone claims to have seen a vision or had a dream, I don't disbelieve them, but I know that it didn't come from God as a message to others. Hebrews 1:1-2 plainly teaches that God speaks to us through His Son, the Word of God (John 1:1-3,14; Revelation 19:13; John 6:63). If you want to hear God speak audibly, then read the Bible out loud!

I don't need some stupid movie to encourage, convince and warm my heart about Heaven. I'll tell you what excites me a whole lot more about Heaven than religious films, and that is documentable history, archaeology, science and the thousands of unearthed manuscripts of the holy Bible which support the divine nature of the Scriptures. Besides all that I have God's Holy Spirit living inside me as a born-again child of God (Romans 8:9). It's a shame that people won't believe the Bible unless someone claims to have had a vision, an experience or a dream.
 

blü 2

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Why do the details matter? Isn't it more important for people to search the Bible being real and to have a relationship with God? A Christian Review of the Movie, “Heaven is for Real”
You mean you want to get to heaven without knowing what you're doing? Signing up to eternity in an autocracy that's also a theocracy? No prospectus, no vote, no breeding or other life path, ever-increasing overcrowding, no purpose, no deadlines, compulsory adoration, all day every day forever ─ no, they're not selling anything I want.

I'd be surprised if anybody who thought about it would want it either.
 

Skywalker

Well-Known Member
You mean you want to get to heaven without knowing what you're doing? Signing up to eternity in an autocracy that's also a theocracy? No prospectus, no vote, no breeding or other life path, ever-increasing overcrowding, no purpose, no deadlines, compulsory adoration, all day every day forever ─ no, they're not selling anything I want.

I'd be surprised if anybody who thought about it would want it either.

The Bible does talk about the future because the Bible is there to teach us more about God. I agree your statement about God does reveal things to us about the future regarding what we will be doing. 2 Timothy 3:15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. There are different interpretations of what the new heaven and new earth will be but there are some things that are revealed. What will we be doing in Heaven? What will we do in Heaven? | GotQuestions.org

Question: "What will we be doing in Heaven? What will we do in Heaven?"

Answer:
In Luke 23:43, Jesus declared, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in paradise." The word Jesus used for "paradise" is paradeisos which means "a park, that is, (specifically) an Eden (place of future happiness, paradise)". Paradeisos is the Greek word taken from the Hebrew word pardes which means "a park: - forest, orchard" (Strong’s). Jesus said, "Today you shall be with me "en paradeisos," not "en nephele" which is Greek for “in clouds.” The point is that Jesus picked and used the word for "a park." Not just any park but "the paradise of God" or park of God (Revelation 2:7) which for us will be a place of future happiness. Does this sound like a boring place? When you think of a park, do you think of boredom?
 

blü 2

Veteran Member
Premium Member
There are different interpretations of what the new heaven and new earth will be but there are some things that are revealed. What will we be doing in Heaven? What will we do in Heaven? | GotQuestions.org
Different interpretations? That means no one actually has a clue, doesn't it?

Do you seriously think anything like a real heaven, however well or ill defined, could possibly exist outside of your imagination?

Where? How? Why?

And you still haven't told me what you intend to do forever.

Maybe you should make yourself somewhat more familiar with physics and with human psychology?
 

Skywalker

Well-Known Member
Different interpretations? That means no one actually has a clue, doesn't it?

Do you seriously think anything like a real heaven, however well or ill defined, could possibly exist outside of your imagination?

Where? How? Why?

And you still haven't told me what you intend to do forever.

Maybe you should make yourself somewhat more familiar with physics and with human psychology?

The meaning of life is to have a relationship with God. I don't think God is looking for perfect people, but for people who are going to seek Him. You also have to strive. The idea of heaven is about walking with God in the Garden of Eden like Adam and Eve did. The fall of humanity happened for the same reason the fall of the angels happened-people wanted to be their own god, thinking it will lead to freedom, when all it leads to is being enslaved to our pride and arrogance.
 

blü 2

Veteran Member
Premium Member
The meaning of life is to have a relationship with God. I don't think God is looking for perfect people, but for people who are going to seek Him. You also have to strive. The idea of heaven is about walking with God in the Garden of Eden like Adam and Eve did. The fall of humanity happened for the same reason the fall of the angels happened-people wanted to be their own god, thinking it will lead to freedom, when all it leads to is being enslaved to our pride and arrogance.
The meaning of life is to survive long enough to reproduce your species ─ and since we're gregarious primates, maybe to take pride in leaving the tribe better off than when we arrived.

If you doubt it, consider that the only reason any of us are here is because in each case every single one of our ancestors back across three and a half billion years or more of life on earth did exactly that ─ survived long enough to reproduce.

But meanwhile, back at our topic, you're not answering my questions. What, exactly, do you intend to do forever?
 

Skywalker

Well-Known Member
The meaning of life is to survive long enough to reproduce your species ─ and since we're gregarious primates, maybe to take pride in leaving the tribe better off than when we arrived.

If you doubt it, consider that the only reason any of us are here is because in each case every single one of our ancestors back across three and a half billion years or more of life on earth did exactly that ─ survived long enough to reproduce.

But meanwhile, back at our topic, you're not answering my questions. What, exactly, do you intend to do forever?

The idea of heaven has to do with the meaning of life is to know God. What will we be doing in Heaven? What will we do in Heaven? | GotQuestions.org

Jesus said, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve" (Matthew 4:10). It’s interesting to note that Jesus did not say "praise and serve." Even the briefest examination of the word praise in the Bible quickly shows it’s a verbal thing and is for the most part singing. Worship, however, is from the heart. Worship manifests itself in praise. Serving God is worship, and Scripture is clear we will serve God in heaven. "His servants will serve Him" (Revelation 22:3).
 

Skywalker

Well-Known Member
You keep ducking the question.

What do YOU intend to do forever in heaven?

Why?

The concept of heaven in the Bible is about service and God's glory. What will we be doing in Heaven? What will we do in Heaven? | GotQuestions.org

We are unable to fully serve God in this life due to sin, but in heaven "every curse will no longer be" (Revelation 22:3). We will not be under the curse of sin any longer, so everything we do will be worship in heaven. We will never be motivated by anything other than our love for God. Everything we do will be out of our love for God, untainted by our sin nature.
 

danieldemol

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
What do people think of Annihilationism?

Of God simply annihilating those he doesn't approve of, as opposed to sending them to Hell?

Of extinguishing them for all eternity, rather than torturing them for all eternity?

I think it is more in keeping with the notion of a compassionate and merciful God

And (coming at it from a Christian perspective which I know others here won't share) there is a biblical basis for it:

Annihilationism - Wikipedia
Well I don't believe in the Bible so that's not much of a selling point.

What if instead of torturing people or annihilating them God reforms them, wouldn't that be compatible with the mercy of God?
 

blü 2

Veteran Member
Premium Member
The concept of heaven in the Bible is about service and God's glory.
That's all vague in the extreme.

Please describe a typical day in heaven as you foresee it for yourself. In specifics, not all these entirely unspecific assertions.

And in your own words, please ─ no links or videos or the like.
 

Skywalker

Well-Known Member
That's all vague in the extreme.

Please describe a typical day in heaven as you foresee it for yourself. In specifics, not all these entirely unspecific assertions.

And in your own words, please ─ no links or videos or the like.

Revelation 22:3

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.

Revelation 2:7

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God

1st Corinthians 13:12

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but qhen face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
 

blü 2

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Revelation 22:3

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.

Revelation 2:7

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God

1st Corinthians 13:12

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but qhen face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
Now here you are in Heaven and it's, let's say, Tuesday.

What are you actually going to do this Tuesday? Watch TV? Take in a movie? Go to choir practice?

What?

Please address the question this time.

And if you don't know the answer, just say "I don't know".
 
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