No that is not true. Jesus is forever both God and man in One Person.
So who died ?
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch… And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 4:1,3
And you know this how? You have been there and heard it? You know exactly what the state of the dead is? How do you know that once the wicked see the reality of their actions, they will not be willing to repent? Once they see the beauty of God and the futility of sin, will they not desire to be with Christ and accept His chastizement?
The fire does not burn for eternity ... quenched means it can't be put out .... not that it burns forever (throughout eternity)
The Catholic church did/does promote burning in hell for eternity ... many protestant ones as well. Many of the early protestants were those who had left the catholic church and disagreed with various teachings of the catholic church.
The bible wasn't available to the common man for a long time ... much less available in all the different languages. So ... many of the early protestants still had "baggage" from previous teachings ... and to this day many protestants are still carrying this "baggage". God gives new light to every generation.
The "burn in hell forever" belief is a "spin off" from another belief and that is that we have an immortal soul ... that is ... something that continues to consciously exist after our earthly death. This teaching is straight out of Egypt and is not what His word teaches. All are indeed dormant (know nothing) in the grave until His return and the 1st resurrection happens.
The "burn in hell for eternity" is one of the most terrible teachings there is .... many turn away from God because of it ... they turn away from the idea of a God that would do such a thing ... and rightfully so. God is NOT a torturer.
We humans know instinctively torture of any kind is not "ok" ... much less for eternity ... no way a loving God would do this. Yes, there will be multitudes that are annihilated at the very end, necessary to eradicate sin forever (for eternity). This is not what the Lord desires .... but he does not violate anyone's free choice decision and gives them over to their desires.
I know EXACTLY what you are saying ... bothered me for many years of my life until I studied it out myself and found the truth.
Always remember only HE knows the heart and desires as many as possible will enter His kingdom.
Thank the Lord He is bringing you to the truth and may He continue to do so. Amen.
Many verses about asleep in the grave ... if you want them ... let me know. Many have posted them many many times.
May the Lord give everyone light as we study His word. Amen.
Where have I ever said anything about "eternal torment?" What I have done, more than once, is quote Matthew 25:46, i.e. "eternal punishment." and other verses, spoken by Jesus, which you have ignored. Evidently they don't fit your narrative. See e.g. my [post #56], above.You keep saying this.....give me a quote from Jesus where he discusses eternal torment. You can't.
What exactly is YOUR "narrative?"Where have I ever said anything about "eternal torment?" What I have done, more than once, is quote Matthew 25:46, i.e. "eternal punishment." and other verses, spoken by Jesus, which you have ignored. Evidently they don't fit your narrative. See e.g. my [post #56], above.
I am 72 years old and have been a born again Christian most of my life. Until a few years ago, I had never heard of the theology of annihilationism. I had been taught that the unbeliever suffers eternally in the fires of Hell. I've always had a problem with that and I've talked to God about it. I just have a lot of trouble believing that a just and righteous God would have someone suffer for eternity simply because they chose to to live their life without Jesus as Lord. I was riding a train from St Louis, MO to Kansas City, MO when I read about annihilationism for the first time. I was fascinated and I read the complete article and the scriptural references that really seemed to show that unbelievers are annihilated in Hell, not left to burn in the fire for eternity.
I know this is a very controversial subject and I know that most people reading this do not accept the teaching of annihilationism. After studying it thoroughly for years, I can only say that I am 90% convinced of its reality. I believe all the study on this subject breaks down to two important questions:
#1 - It is obvious that there is a fire in Hell that cannot be quenched and burns for eternity according The Word. The annihilationist simply says that although the Fire is eternal, that does not mean that the unbeliever will continually burn in the fire and never burn up. ***Rather, the person, (body, soul, and spirit) are thrown into the fire and only suffer long enough for their body, soul, and spirit to be totally annihilated.
#2 - As I understand it, suffering for eternity in Hell was a theology created by the Catholic church to frighten the people into serving the church and avoiding this eternal punishment. Also, the Old Testament seems to describe Hell as simply going into darkness and then into eternal sleep.
I'm not a good enough Bible student to set forth the scriptures that are in question here. There are many articles on the internet that show in detail why some believe in annihilationism over eternal suffering. I know God is eternal and we cannot put Him in a box of our own belief system but when I study all of the other attributes of God, the idea of making the spirits of people suffer for eternity has never seemed to me to fit with His other attributes. All I can do is hope that the annihilationists are right because I don't want to think about people who were actually pretty good people suffering for eternity. We all know some very gentle, loving people who simply have decided they don't need Jesus but otherwise live a moral life. Do you understand what I'm saying?
Their physical bodies will be burned up, when Jesus comes with flaming fire, to destroy the wicked, at His return.
Your clue is that their bodies will be ASHES. Spirits have no flesh to burn up and turn to ashes,
Very noble sentiments, indeed. But how many people do we all see on almost a daily basis who will not be saved unless they call on Jesus? In some Muslim countries Christians are being slaughtered regularly. In Turkey recently an ancient Christian church was converted to a Muslim mosque. The seven churches in Revelation were all in what is modern Turkey.Maybe it would be better to ponder this. It is God's Will that No One perish, but that all come unto repentance.
Now ask yourself: "how important is the Will of God?"
If God Wills that no one perish.....Why think about anyone perishing?
Lets focus on the Joys of Heaven instead. Amen.
When He returns the 1st resurrections happens .... those alive on earth at that time are destroyed (heavens disappear & earth burned up_
Jesus is going to descend from the skies as visibly, as tangibly, as He ascended (see Acts 1:11). Revelation says, “Every eye will see him” (1:7). Paul tells us “the Lord Jesus [will be] revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels” (2 Thessalonians 1:7). And Peter says, “The heavens will disappear with a roar” and the earth will be burned up (2 Peter 3:10).
Jesus Himself described the event: “‘As lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. The Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds the sky, with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:27, 30).
Your clue is that Jesus is an example of what happens ...
Luke 24:39
Berean Study Bible
Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
1 John 3:2
English Standard Version
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
There is nothing immortal about us .... we become immortal when He returns and we are changed ... that's the whole point about Jesus and all that He did/does for us .... making/changing us into a immortal state of being and spending eternity with Him ... and that happens when He returns.
Likewise ... those in the 2nd resurrection (from the grave) will NOT receive immortality ... they DO NOT live forever (burning in hell or otherwise) and are destroyed ... for eternity
When He returns the 1st resurrections happens .... those alive on earth at that time are destroyed (heavens disappear & earth burned up_
No one is given immortality - the spirit is already eternal, and cannot be destroyed, anymore than God, who is a spirit, could be destroyed.
Scripture plainly states that the body and soul is destroyed in hell - conspicuously missing is it saying the spirit is destroyed.
Scripture clearly says the damned are conscious and in torment for eternity.
And FYI the earth is not totally burned up and destroyed- one fourth of the earth is burned up.
Just as the earth was destroyed by water, per scripture, but is the same planet, the earth will be cleansed by fire, then restored to edenic condition, but is the same planet.
Read Zechariah 14 and you will see that after Jesus returns and destroys the armies of the nations that are attacking Jerusalem, the people left alive from those nations, will come into Jerusalem each year to worship God, who establishes His home there for eternity.
Therefore the world can’t have been completely burned up and destroyed when Jesus returns in verse 5 of Zechariah 14.
Also if you buy into annihilationism, you also no doubt believe that hell is the grave,which can be completely be disproved by scripture
Scripture plainly states that the body and soul is destroyed in hell - conspicuously missing is it saying the spirit is destroyed.
Scripture clearly says the damned are conscious and in torment for eternity.
And FYI the earth is not totally burned up and destroyed- one fourth of the earth is burned up.
Read Zechariah 14 and you will see that after Jesus returns and destroys the armies of the nations that are attacking Jerusalem, the people left alive from those nations, will come into Jerusalem each year to worship God, who establishes His home there for eternity.
No one is given immortality - the spirit is already eternal, and cannot be destroyed, anymore than God, who is a spirit, could be destroyed.
I would suggest some further study on this topic....
Neither in the Old Testament nor the New Testament does ruach or pneuma refer to an intelligent entity capable of existence apart from the body....
SPIRIT
Judges 15:19; Ecclesiastes 12:7;
Luke 10:21
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word ruach occurs 377 times and is translated "wind ... .. breath," or "spirit" (Genesis 8: 1), "life principle" (Genesis 6:17; Genesis 7:22), "courage" (Joshua 2:11), "vitality" or "strength" (Judges 15:19), "disposition" (Isaiah 54:6), and "moral character" (Ezekiel 11:19).
I am 72 years old and have been a born again Christian most of my life. Until a few years ago, I had never heard of the theology of annihilationism. I had been taught that the unbeliever suffers eternally in the fires of Hell. I've always had a problem with that and I've talked to God about it. I just have a lot of trouble believing that a just and righteous God would have someone suffer for eternity simply because they chose to to live their life without Jesus as Lord. I was riding a train from St Louis, MO to Kansas City, MO when I read about annihilationism for the first time. I was fascinated and I read the complete article and the scriptural references that really seemed to show that unbelievers are annihilated in Hell, not left to burn in the fire for eternity.
I know this is a very controversial subject and I know that most people reading this do not accept the teaching of annihilationism. After studying it thoroughly for years, I can only say that I am 90% convinced of its reality. I believe all the study on this subject breaks down to two important questions:
#1 - It is obvious that there is a fire in Hell that cannot be quenched and burns for eternity according The Word. The annihilationist simply says that although the Fire is eternal, that does not mean that the unbeliever will continually burn in the fire and never burn up. ***Rather, the person, (body, soul, and spirit) are thrown into the fire and only suffer long enough for their body, soul, and spirit to be totally annihilated.
#2 - As I understand it, suffering for eternity in Hell was a theology created by the Catholic church to frighten the people into serving the church and avoiding this eternal punishment. Also, the Old Testament seems to describe Hell as simply going into darkness and then into eternal sleep.
I'm not a good enough Bible student to set forth the scriptures that are in question here. There are many articles on the internet that show in detail why some believe in annihilationism over eternal suffering. I know God is eternal and we cannot put Him in a box of our own belief system but when I study all of the other attributes of God, the idea of making the spirits of people suffer for eternity has never seemed to me to fit with His other attributes. All I can do is hope that the annihilationists are right because I don't want to think about people who were actually pretty good people suffering for eternity. We all know some very gentle, loving people who simply have decided they don't need Jesus but otherwise live a moral life. Do you understand what I'm saying?
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality.
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