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Annihilationism

In Christianity, annihilationism (also known as extinctionism or destructionism)[1] is the belief that after the Last Judgment, all damned humans and fallen angels including Satan will be totally destroyed and their consciousness extinguished rather than suffering forever in Hell. Annihilationism stands in contrast to both the belief in eternal torment and to the universalist belief that everyone will be saved. Partial annihilationism holds that unsaved humans are obliterated but demonic beings suffer forever.[2][3]

Annihilationism is directly related to Christian conditionalism, the idea that a human soul is not immortal unless given eternal life. Annihilationism asserts that God will destroy and cremate the wicked, leaving only the righteous to live on in immortality. Thus those who do not repent of their sins are eventually destroyed because of the incompatibility of sin with God's holy character. Seventh-day Adventists posit that living in eternal hell is a false doctrine of pagan origin, as the wicked will perish in the lake of fire.[4][5][6][7] Jehovah's Witnesses believe that there can be no punishment after death because the dead cease to exist.[8]

The belief in annihilationism has appeared throughout Christian history and was defended by several Church Fathers, but it has often been in the minority.[9][10] It experienced a resurgence in the 1980s when several prominent theologians including John Stott[11] argued that it could be held as a legitimate interpretation of biblical texts by those who give supreme authority to scripture. Earlier in the 20th century, some theologians at the University of Cambridge including Basil Atkinson supported the belief. Twentieth-century English theologians who favor annihilation include Bishop Charles Gore (1916),[12] William Temple, 98th Archbishop of Canterbury (1924);[13] Oliver Chase Quick, Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury (1933),[14] Ulrich Ernst Simon (1964),[15] and G. B. Caird (1966).[16]

Some annihilationist Christian denominations were influenced by the Millerite/Adventist movement of the mid-19th century. These include the Seventh-day Adventists, Bible Students, Christadelphians and various Advent Christian churches. Additionally, some Protestant and Anglican writers have also proposed annihilationist doctrines. The Church of England's Doctrine Commission reported in 1995 that Hell may be a state of "total non-being", not eternal torment.[17]

Annihilationists base their belief on their exegesis of scripture, some early church writings, historical criticism of the doctrine of Hell, and the concept of God as too loving to torment his creations forever. They claim that the popular conceptions of Hell stem from Jewish speculation during the intertestamental period,[18] belief in an immortal soul which originated in Greek philosophy and influenced Christian theologians, and also graphic and imaginative medieval art and poetry.

  1. ^ Bible Student and Religious Outlook. 1913.
  2. ^ McLaughlin, Corey J. (23 May 2017). "Revelation 20:10...a Devil of a Dilemma for Advent Christians". ADVENT CHRISTIAN VOICES. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  3. ^ Dear, Joseph (30 December 2015). "A PRIMER ON REVELATION 20:10". Rethinking Hell. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  4. ^ "In Defense of the Faith".
  5. ^ "Punishment of the Wicked in Light of the Cross". 6 June 2013.
  6. ^ "Signs of the Times".
  7. ^ "Seventh-day Adventists Believe... The Millenium and the End of Sin: 27-26.HTM".
  8. ^ David A. Reed, Answering Jehovah's Witnesses: Subject by Subject, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1997).
  9. ^ L. E. Froom, The Condionalist Faith of our Fathers (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald, 1965–1966). PART IV.
  10. ^ Glenn Peoples (26 May 2013). "History of Hell: Hell before Augustine".
  11. ^ Edwards, D. L. & Stott, J. Essentials: A Liberal–Evangelical Dialogue London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1988, pp. 313–320.
  12. ^ Gore, The Religion of the Church Oxford: Mowbray, 1916, pp. 91f.
  13. ^ Temple, W., Christus Veritas London: Macmillan, 1924, p. 209
  14. ^ Quick, O. C., Doctrines of the Creed London: Nisbet, 1933, pp. 257f.
  15. ^ Simon, Ulrich, The End is Not Yet Welwyn: Nisbet, 1964, pp. 206f.
  16. ^ Caird, G. B., The Revelation of St John the Divine London: A. and C. Black., 1966, pp. 186f., 260
  17. ^ "England: Doctrine Commission Report on the Mystery of Salvation". www.anglicannews.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  18. ^ Crockett, Four Views on Hell, pp. 52–53 (he accepts the traditional view)[page needed]

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Annihilationismus German Neniigeco EO Anikilazionismo EU Annihilationismi Finnish Annihilationnisme French Annihilationismo IA Anihilasionisme ID 霊魂消滅説 Japanese Annihilationisme Dutch Annihilasjonisme NB

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