Q n A about Heaven #9
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3250
Q n A about Heaven #9
What about the teaching called Annihilationism?
Some theologians, even eminent ones, teach or subscribe to this modern phenomenon.
Annihilationism often refers to the view that everyone survives death and participates in the final resurrection, but the judgment passed on unbelievers is not eternal torment but extinction.
This squares up with their theological understanding that their interpretation does not contradict scripture because the result of the judgment on unbelievers - annihilation - also lasts forever.
But there are biblical passages that refute it ( Mat.25:41; Mark 9:48; Rev.14:9-11; Rev.20:10 ).
Jesus clearly taught in Matthew 25:46 that the consequences of rejecting Him were eternal: "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous unto eternal life ".
The write Ron Rhodes commented: "Let us be clear on this: punishment entails suffering. And suffering necessarily entails consciousness...
There is no way that annihilationism or extinction of consciousness can be forced into that passage".
Abba Father, there will always be theological arguments as our finite minds cannot understand nor comprehend fully Your ways which are admittedly higher than ours. When we read that there will be no more tears in Heaven, some believers object that we should at least be allowed to cry for happiness in Heaven. That argument is to bring our earthly sentiments to bear on our future joy in heaven when such joy is virtually indescribable ( 1 Peter 1:6-9 ).
