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In Christianity, annihilationism (also known as extinctionism or destructionism)[1] is the belief that after the Last Judgment, all damned humans and fallen angels including Satan will be totally destroyed, cremated, and their consciousness extinguished rather than suffering forever in Hell. Annihilationism stands in contrast to both the belief in eternal torment and the belief that everyone will be saved ("universalism"). However, it is also possible to hold to a partial annihilationism, believing unsaved humans to be obliterated or cremated, but demonic beings to suffer forever.[2][3]
Annihilationism is directly related to Christian conditionalism, the idea that a human soul is not immortal unless given eternal life. Annihilationism asserts that God will destroy and cremate the wicked, leaving only the righteous to live on in immortality. Thus those who do not repent of their sins are eventually destroyed because of the incompatibility of sin with God's holy character. Seventh-day Adventists posit that living in eternal hell is a false doctrine of pagan origin, as the wicked will perish in the lake of fire.[4][5][6][7] Jehovah's Witnesses believe that there can be no punishment after death because the dead cease to exist.[8]
The belief in annihilationism has appeared throughout Christian history and was defended by several Church Fathers, but it has often been in the minority.[9][10] It experienced a resurgence in the 1980s when several prominent theologians including John Stott[11] argued that it could be held as a legitimate interpretation of biblical texts by those who give supreme authority to scripture. Earlier in the 20th century, some theologians at the University of Cambridge including Basil Atkinson supported the belief. Twentieth-century English theologians who favor annihilation include Bishop Charles Gore (1916),[12] William Temple, 98th Archbishop of Canterbury (1924);[13] Oliver Chase Quick, Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury (1933),[14] Ulrich Ernst Simon (1964),[15] and G. B. Caird (1966).[16]
Some annihilationist Christian denominations were influenced by the Millerite/Adventist movement of the mid-19th century. These include the Seventh-day Adventists, Bible Students, Christadelphians and various Advent Christian churches. Additionally, some Protestant and Anglican writers have also proposed annihilationist doctrines. The Church of England's Doctrine Commission reported in 1995 that Hell may be a state of "total non-being", not eternal torment.[17]
Annihilationists base their belief on their exegesis of scripture, some early church writings, historical criticism of the doctrine of Hell, and the concept of God as too loving to torment his creations forever. They claim that the popular conceptions of Hell stem from Jewish speculation during the intertestamental period,[18] belief in an immortal soul which originated in Greek philosophy and influenced Christian theologians, and also graphic and imaginative medieval art and poetry.
^Bible Student and Religious Outlook. 1913.
^McLaughlin, Corey J. (23 May 2017). "Revelation 20:10...a Devil of a Dilemma for Advent Christians". ADVENT CHRISTIAN VOICES. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
^Dear, Joseph (30 December 2015). "A PRIMER ON REVELATION 20:10". Rethinking Hell. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
^"In Defense of the Faith".
^"Punishment of the Wicked in Light of the Cross". 6 June 2013.
^"Signs of the Times".
^"Seventh-day Adventists Believe... The Millenium and the End of Sin: 27-26.HTM".
^David A. Reed, Answering Jehovah's Witnesses: Subject by Subject, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1997).
^L. E. Froom, The Condionalist Faith of our Fathers (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald, 1965–1966). PART IV.
^Glenn Peoples (26 May 2013). "History of Hell: Hell before Augustine".
^Edwards, D. L. & Stott, J. Essentials: A Liberal–Evangelical Dialogue London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1988, pp. 313–320.
^Gore, The Religion of the Church Oxford: Mowbray, 1916, pp. 91f.
^Temple, W., Christus Veritas London: Macmillan, 1924, p. 209
^Quick, O. C., Doctrines of the Creed London: Nisbet, 1933, pp. 257f.
^Simon, Ulrich, The End is Not Yet Welwyn: Nisbet, 1964, pp. 206f.
^Caird, G. B., The Revelation of St John the Divine London: A. and C. Black., 1966, pp. 186f., 260
^"England: Doctrine Commission Report on the Mystery of Salvation". www.anglicannews.org. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
^Crockett, Four Views on Hell, pp. 52–53 (he accepts the traditional view)[page needed]
to a partial annihilationism, believing unsaved humans to be obliterated or cremated, but demonic beings to suffer forever. Annihilationism is directly...
existence and personal identity by avoiding eternalism (or absolutism) and annihilationism (and nihilism). In the early Buddhist texts, there are two aspects...
taught by William Marrion Branham, including his eschatological views, annihilationism, oneness of the Godhead, predestination, eternal security, and the...
Toronto (1993), and Brunel University (1997). Stott tentatively held to annihilationism, which is the view that the final state of the unsaved, known as hell...
and do not continue and are not conscious after death. Therefore, annihilationism includes the doctrine that "the wicked" are also destroyed rather than...
and do not continue and are not conscious after death. Therefore, annihilationism includes the doctrine that "the wicked" are also destroyed rather than...
between bodily death and resurrection. These Christians also hold to Annihilationism, the belief that subsequent to the final judgement, the wicked will...
Clark Pinnock, Greg Boyd. The Seventh-day Adventist Church holds annihilationism. Seventh-day Adventists believe that death is a state of unconscious...
immortality" of the soul. Conditionalism is practically synonymous with annihilationism, the belief that the unsaved will be ultimately destroyed, rather than...
rebirth (eternalism) and "death is final and there is no rebirth" (annihilationism). A common presentation style of the path (mārga) to liberation in...
years?" This is fully in line with Adventist teaching, which promotes annihilationism. Carson endorsed Seventh-day Adventist theology, which includes belief...
Walsh Jonas Wendell Ellen G. White James White John Thomas Theology Annihilationism Conditional immortality Historicism Intermediate state Premillennialism...
Company, vol. 43, no. 40, October 3, 1912 p. 1354 Millennial Dawnism: The Annihilation of Jesus Christ by I.M. Haldeman, 1913; "Pastor" Russell's Position and...
unrighteous will be destroyed in Hell rather than suffering eternally (annihilationism). Believers will inherit eternal life either in Heaven, or in a Kingdom...
"eternalism" (sassatavada, the idea that some essence exists eternally) and "annihilationism" (ucchedavada, the idea that we go completely out of existence at death)...
The Buddha rejected this and the opposite concept of ucchedavada (annihilationism) on both logical and epistemic grounds. He proposed a Middle Way between...
beliefs are inappropriate and dangerous, stated Buddha, because such annihilationism views encourage moral irresponsibility and material hedonism; he tied...
concerned, your own self and the entire world dissolve into nothingness." Annihilationism, a Christian doctrine of a soul being destroyed by God Anattā Christian...
Walsh Jonas Wendell Ellen G. White James White John Thomas Theology Annihilationism Conditional immortality Historicism Intermediate state Premillennialism...
Walsh Jonas Wendell Ellen G. White James White John Thomas Theology Annihilationism Conditional immortality Historicism Intermediate state Premillennialism...
woman, Elisabeth Elliot. In The Road to Hell, Pawson is critical of Annihilationism, the teaching that the punishment of hell is not eternal. He teaches...
darkness" verses are a subset of Protestant discussion on hell and annihilationism. Other views include those of Zane C. Hodges who controversially suggested...
as dependent origination, the "middle way" between eternalism and annihilationism, the "five aggregates", the "three unwholesome roots", the Four Noble...
in repentance after death, as well as conditional immortality and annihilationism.', Streeter, et al., 'Immortality: An Essay in Discovery, Co-Ordinating...
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