What is the fate of the wicked?
One of the main arguments I've encountered against Christianity is a rejection of the idea of eternal torment (wicked suffering forever in the lake of fire). In the past, I have defended that view since it is, far and away, the most accepted view among contemporary evangelicals. I still feel I can defend that view somewhat adequately. But the more I study, the more I realize that this idea isn't quite as 'concrete' as I was taught.
The Bible says very little about what the wicked experience after the future Day of Judgment. Throughout church history, there have been 3 major views that have been accepted by many believers at different times. Below, I will give a quick analysis of each view. Since the 'eternal torment' view is well accepted, I will critique it. And then I will show the arguments for the 2 alternative views.
CRITIQUE OF THE 'ETERNAL TORMENT' VIEW
It seems a vast majority of evangelicals believe that those who are unsaved when they die will face an eternity of torment. In other words, they will suffer for their sins forever. Where evangelicals debate is what hell will be like. Will there be a literal fire? Will there be literal darkness? How can there be a literal fire and literal darkness at the same time? And so on.
But, in history, this is not where the debate was at. In the early centuries of Christianity, there were 3 strongly supported views regarding the future (or lack thereof) for the unsaved: Universalism, Annihilationism, & the Eternal Torment view. Since the latter is so firmly established in most minds, it's probably necessary to point out some of the problems with this view before expecting people to seriously consider any alternatives.
Problems with the 'Eternal Torment' View
1. It's based on a few passages in symbolic parts of Scripture
2. God didn't warn Adam & Eve of eternal torment
3. The Bible nowhere claims that unsaved people live forever
4. Many feel this view doesn't match with God's love
5. For some, the punishment seems to outweigh the crime
THE UNIVERSALIST VIEW
Most modern evangelicals cringe at the thought of 'all people' being saved (although I'm not sure why this would make us cringe). But many Bible believing Christians of the past believed this view. Why? Instead of stating their reasons, I'll post the Scriptures they tend to bring up:
Additionally, it is argued that of the six main Christian schools known to exist in the first four centuries, four taught universalism (Alexandria, Edessa, Antioch and Caesarea); while only one taught annihilationism (Ephesus); and one taught eternal torment (Rome).
Those who take this view often believe that dead unbelievers suffer for their sins until judgment day, at which point they confess Jesus as Lord and enter paradise.
CONDITIONAL IMMORTALITY
God alone is immortal (1 Tim. 6:16). I think most Christians agree with that statement. Fewer Christians recognize that the eternal torment view, then, involves God actually keeping people alive so as to punish them eternally. Many Christians throughout history, however, have taken another approach. They believe that, on Judgment Day, the wicked are annihilated.
The term 'annihilated' is actually too strong. According to this view, men simply aren't expected to exist beyond death. Men must seek immortality (Romans 2:7). It can only be found in Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Eternal life is the gift of God for believers (Romans 6:23), but the words used to describe the fate of the wicked are death, destruction, consumed & perish (Matt. 10:28/ Rom.2:12). Can you find any verse in Scripture that boldly asserts that the wicked live forever?
Could it be that the Greek philosophy of mankind's immortality creeped into some branches of early Christianity and was utilized by the Institutional church in history to keep people in line?
This view doesn't deny the existence of a place of suffering. It simply denies that the wicked continue to suffer beyond Judgment Day. At that point, according to Annihilationists, the wicked simply lose their God given gift of life.
...............
Because the Bible does not 'shout' 1 particular view (in my opinion), I choose to remain silent on this issue insofar as boldly advocating 1 perspective over another. Growing up, I only heard the 'eternal torment' view and so it is very difficult for me to reject it. That being said, lately I find the annihilationist view to have more Scriptural support than the other 2 views.
The Bible says very little about what the wicked experience after the future Day of Judgment. Throughout church history, there have been 3 major views that have been accepted by many believers at different times. Below, I will give a quick analysis of each view. Since the 'eternal torment' view is well accepted, I will critique it. And then I will show the arguments for the 2 alternative views.
CRITIQUE OF THE 'ETERNAL TORMENT' VIEW
It seems a vast majority of evangelicals believe that those who are unsaved when they die will face an eternity of torment. In other words, they will suffer for their sins forever. Where evangelicals debate is what hell will be like. Will there be a literal fire? Will there be literal darkness? How can there be a literal fire and literal darkness at the same time? And so on.
But, in history, this is not where the debate was at. In the early centuries of Christianity, there were 3 strongly supported views regarding the future (or lack thereof) for the unsaved: Universalism, Annihilationism, & the Eternal Torment view. Since the latter is so firmly established in most minds, it's probably necessary to point out some of the problems with this view before expecting people to seriously consider any alternatives.
Problems with the 'Eternal Torment' View
1. It's based on a few passages in symbolic parts of Scripture
2. God didn't warn Adam & Eve of eternal torment
3. The Bible nowhere claims that unsaved people live forever
4. Many feel this view doesn't match with God's love
5. For some, the punishment seems to outweigh the crime
THE UNIVERSALIST VIEW
Most modern evangelicals cringe at the thought of 'all people' being saved (although I'm not sure why this would make us cringe). But many Bible believing Christians of the past believed this view. Why? Instead of stating their reasons, I'll post the Scriptures they tend to bring up:
1 John 2:2
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 Timothy 4:10
(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
Romans 5:18
Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.
Colossians 1:20
and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Isaiah 45:23
Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear
Additionally, it is argued that of the six main Christian schools known to exist in the first four centuries, four taught universalism (Alexandria, Edessa, Antioch and Caesarea); while only one taught annihilationism (Ephesus); and one taught eternal torment (Rome).
Those who take this view often believe that dead unbelievers suffer for their sins until judgment day, at which point they confess Jesus as Lord and enter paradise.
CONDITIONAL IMMORTALITY
God alone is immortal (1 Tim. 6:16). I think most Christians agree with that statement. Fewer Christians recognize that the eternal torment view, then, involves God actually keeping people alive so as to punish them eternally. Many Christians throughout history, however, have taken another approach. They believe that, on Judgment Day, the wicked are annihilated.
The term 'annihilated' is actually too strong. According to this view, men simply aren't expected to exist beyond death. Men must seek immortality (Romans 2:7). It can only be found in Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Eternal life is the gift of God for believers (Romans 6:23), but the words used to describe the fate of the wicked are death, destruction, consumed & perish (Matt. 10:28/ Rom.2:12). Can you find any verse in Scripture that boldly asserts that the wicked live forever?
Could it be that the Greek philosophy of mankind's immortality creeped into some branches of early Christianity and was utilized by the Institutional church in history to keep people in line?
This view doesn't deny the existence of a place of suffering. It simply denies that the wicked continue to suffer beyond Judgment Day. At that point, according to Annihilationists, the wicked simply lose their God given gift of life.
...............
Because the Bible does not 'shout' 1 particular view (in my opinion), I choose to remain silent on this issue insofar as boldly advocating 1 perspective over another. Growing up, I only heard the 'eternal torment' view and so it is very difficult for me to reject it. That being said, lately I find the annihilationist view to have more Scriptural support than the other 2 views.
posted by matthew at 11:14 AM
1 Comments:
Hello Matthew. Nice thesis on the fate of the wicked.
I would humbly add that many, such as Strong and Vine tell us that aionios can mean eternal when used of God, the life of the believer, Holy Spirit and I guess, torment of the unbeliever. They say that since God is eternal that His eternalness forces itself upon the adjective "aionios" thus making it "eternal." The major problem with this scenario is that they are making the noun modify the adjective. Everyone that went to school was taught that the adjective modifies the noun. Therefore, the adjective aionios should modify the noun "God" and modify the "life of the believer" and "spirit." They then quote Romans 16:26 "the eternal God" to prove their point. But really it should be "the aionios God" or Anglicized: "The eonian God." The adjective eonian just tells us about that which is pertaining to the eons. Therefore God is the God pertaining to the eons. He is over them, directing them, subjecting humanity to the goal He has in each eon. Likewise, the life of the believer is called "eonian life." Their life is pertaining to the eons to come. They do not have eternal life because of the word aionios. They have unending life due to putting on immortality.
These wordsmiths have broken this very important rule of language and have thus caused untold damage to God's word. They have thus left a black mark on God's character of being a just and holy God to one of being a diabolical monster who tortures people endlessly for the sole reason of not giving a cup of water to one of Christ's brethren (Matthew 25:46). Is that really the kind of God we can love, worship and adore? Yet we can love a loveable God who tells these nations that they are going to enter into eonian chastening, which is the chastening pertaining to that eon, which is the 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth. Christ will rule over them with an iron rod. Just as Israel was in the furnace of fire in Egypt for 400 years, thus now it is these nation's turn to enter into the fire of trials. The fires were not literal in Egypt and neither are they literal in Matthew 25:31-46.
One more thing, Paul told Timothy to charge and teach these things (1 Tim.4:11). What things? That God IS the Saviour of all mankind, especially (not exclusively) them that believe" (1 Tim.4:10) and that "God will have all mankind to be saved . . . for Christ gave Himself a ransom for all" (1 Tim.2:4-6).
We are often told to hush when talking about these things. Paul told Timothy to charge and teach it. The young need to hear it as well as the seasoned, mature believers.
Tony Nungesser
http://www.saviour-of-all.org
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