Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

The question sounds as if it might be referring to the doctrines of either universalism (where everyone is saved) or annihilationism (where, by my understanding, the redeemed experience eternal life in heaven, but the unredeemed cease to exist, rather than being subjected to eternal punishment).

I would say that neither of these positions (and particularly universalism, since it encompasses both Unitarianism and non-Christian religions) would be categorized as a "mainstream" Christian belief.

As far as I am aware, denominations or groups that subscribe to annihilationism include Seventh-Day Adventists and other Advent Christian churches; Bible Students; Christadelphians; Jehovah's Witnesses; and the Worldwide Church of God. Additionally, the Church of England's Doctrine Commission stated in 1995 that "[h]ell is not eternal torment", but "non-being".

January 07 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Aurel Gheorghe

Anyone trying to teach there is no hell have to ignore a large portion of the Bible. Although the very popular doctrine of a present and forever burning hell is not Scriptural, the hellfire is very real. 

2 Peter 2:9 (KJV) makes it abundantly clear that no one is burning in hell today - God reserves the wicked’s punishment until the judgment day. 

Jesus said that the judgment will take place on the last day and only then everyone will receive their reward (Matt 13:40, 41, 42; John 12:48). Daniel knew that also (Daniel 12:2). 

Talking about the last day judgment Jesus said: “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment (John 5:28, 29). Both the unsaved and the saved who have died are in their graves “sleeping” until the resurrection day. They are not in heaven with the Lord, and no one is burning in hell right now. 

The Bible teaches that there are only two options: perish or everlasting life (John 3:16). Please note, Jesus never said eternal life in hell - to perish mean to cease to exist.

The wicked will die the second death in hellfire - death is the opposite of eternal life (Rev 21:8). If the wicked lived forever in hell, they would be immortal, but this is impossible because God alone is immortal (1 Tim 6:16). 

When Adam & Eve were driven from the Garden, an angel guarded the tree of life so that they would not eat of the tree and live forever (Gen 3:22, 23, 24). 

Moreover, the Bible doesn’t say how long the wicked will be punished before receiving death in the fire, but God has said that all will be punished according to their deeds – meaning that some will suffer longer than others (Rev 22:12; Matt 16:27; Luke 12:47, 48). 

Finally, the Word of God doesn’t say that the wicked will suffer forever in hell – eventually the hellfire will go out and “no coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before.” (Isaiah 47:14). Ashes will all that is left of the wicked (Malachi 4:1, 3) – that’s what the Scriptures says! 


God promised us that there will be no more death, sorrow, pain or crying (Rev 21:1, 4). Having somewhere in God’s universe a place where the lost are being tortured for eternity would be exactly the opposite of what God have promised.

January 13 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report