S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Please note, as a ministry, GotQuestions.org rejects conditional immortality / conditionalism / annihilationism. We truly and fully believe that hell will be eternal conscious punishment for all wh...

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June 11 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

James R

It is encouraging to see that although Gotquestions does not support the conditional immortality view, here is a reasonably accurate account of the key aspects. The serious student of this topic should read 'The Fire That Consumes' by Edward Fudge.

To my reading of the bible, conditional immortality captures the essence of God's interaction with man with greater clarity and honesty than the 'traditional' view. The mercy of God is so great that he will not torment those who have lived a life apart from Christ for ever, but simply destroy them. This aligns with his heart so much more than the prospect of an infinite penalty for finite sins. The punishment for sin is permanent death, so it will be.

If the new heavens and earth are to be truly without pain, tear or wickedness, then there is no place, even in the farthest reaches of the universe for a torture chamber holding billions of people.

It boils down to this: the idea of an immortal spirit/soul has a lot to answer for. It is out of this essentially pagan philosophy that eternal concious torment is the only logical prospect for the wicked dead. But, if you can dispense with this Greek notion (actually birthed out of the Babylonian religions), you are free to embrace conditional immortality and all its straightforward scriptural support.

October 10 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report