Annihilationism?

Posted By: Daryl

Annihilationism? - 06/09/11 02:15 AM

Is Annihilationism an official belief of the SDA Church?

I would say it is based on the definition below:

Quote:
Definition for annihilationism:
Annihilationism is the minority Christian doctrine that sinners are destroyed rather than tormented forever in "hell" or the lake of fire. It is directly related to the doctrine of conditional immortality, the idea that a human soul is not immortal unless it is given eternal life. .... More »
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annihilationism Source
Wikipedia - Merriam-Webster

Which one of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs would be used to substantiate that this is an official belief of the SDA Church?
Posted By: Daryl

Re: Annihilationism? - 06/09/11 02:42 AM

Here it is again and more:
Quote:
Web definitions
Annihilationism is the minority Christian doctrine that sinners are destroyed rather than tormented forever in "hell" or the lake of fire. It is directly related to the doctrine of conditional immortality, the idea that a human soul is not immortal unless it is given eternal life. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annihilationism

annihilationist - A person who believes that eternal punishment is the annihilation of both the body and the soul
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/annihilationist

The doctrine that the finally impenitent will be totally annihilated after death
www.innvista.com/culture/religion/diction.htm

The teaching that when a person dies, he is annihilated, most often this doctrine is applied to the wicked, thereby negating eternal hell fire. This is contradicted by the Bible in Matt. 25:46 which says “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. ...
www.spiritrestoration.org/Theological_Terms/A_Prior_%20to_B…
Posted By: Mountain Man

Re: Annihilationism? - 06/09/11 06:39 PM

We believe sinners will be annihilated after the Millennium - not immediately after they die. They will be resurrected mind, body, and soul. Each will suffer punishment in duration and in intensity proportionate to their sinfulness and then they will die eternally.

Quote:
This was the position of the human race after man divorced himself from God by transgression. Then he was no longer entitled to a breath of air, a ray of sunshine, or a particle of food. And the reason why man was not annihilated was because God so loved him that He made the gift of His dear Son that He should suffer the penalty of his transgression. {FW 21.2}

The world was in rebellion against him, and he might have swept away all rebellion by annihilating those who were in resistance to his will; but instead of this, he set before men the value of life, the attractions of the heavenly world, and he invites every son and daughter of Adam to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. {ST, July 17, 1893 par. 7}

But not so when the great controversy shall be ended. Then, the plan of redemption having been completed, the character of God is revealed to all created intelligences. The precepts of His law are seen to be perfect and immutable. Then sin has made manifest its nature, Satan his character. Then the extermination of sin will vindicate God's love and establish His honor before a universe of beings who delight to do His will, and in whose heart is His law. {DA 764.3}

The whole universe will have become witnesses to the nature and results of sin. And its utter extermination, which in the beginning would have brought fear to angels and dishonor to God, will now vindicate His love and establish His honor before the universe of beings who delight to do His will, and in whose heart is His law. {GC 504.1}

To sin, wherever found, "our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:29. In all who submit to His power the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if men cling to sin, they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which destroys sin, must destroy them. {DA 107.4}
Posted By: Rosangela

Re: Annihilationism? - 06/09/11 10:12 PM

Quote:
Is Annihilationism an official belief of the SDA Church?

Yes, according to the definition you quoted:

Quote:
Annihilationism is the minority Christian doctrine that sinners are destroyed rather than tormented forever in "hell" or the lake of fire. It is directly related to the doctrine of conditional immortality, the idea that a human soul is not immortal unless it is given eternal life. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annihilationism
Posted By: Daryl

Re: Annihilationism? - 06/15/11 05:01 PM

Which of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the SDA Church are being used to substantiate this?
Posted By: Rick H

Re: Annihilationism? - 09/14/19 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Daryl
Which of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the SDA Church are being used to substantiate this?


Number 27, take a look:

The millennium is the thousand-year reign of Christ with His saints in heaven between the first and second resurrections. During this time the wicked dead will be judged; the earth will be utterly desolate, without living human inhabitants, but occupied by Satan and his angels. At its close, Christ with His saints and the Holy City will descend from heaven to earth. The unrighteous dead will then be resurrected, and with Satan and his angels will surround the city; but fire from God will consume them and cleanse the earth. The universe will thus be freed of sin and sinners forever. (Rev. 20; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; Jer. 4:23-26; Rev. 21:1-5; Mal. 4:1; Eze. 28:18, 19.)
Posted By: Rick H

Re: Annihilationism? - 09/14/19 10:27 PM

Now lets take a look at what the Bible says will happen to the Wicked...

Job 21:30 King James Version (KJV)
"30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath."

Psalm 37:10 King James Version (KJV)
"10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be."

Psalm 37:20 King James Version (KJV)
"20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away."

Psalm 37:28 King James Version (KJV)
"28 For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off."

Psalm 37:38 King James Version (KJV)
"38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off."

Psalm 73:17-18 King James Version (KJV)
"17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction."

Psalm 92:7 King James Version (KJV)
"7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:"

Psalm 104:35 King James Version (KJV)
"35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord."

Psalm 145:20 King James Version (KJV)
"20 The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy."

Proverbs 2:22 King James Version (KJV)
"22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it."

Nahum 1:9-10 King James Version (KJV)
"9 What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry."

Malachi 4:1King James Version (KJV)
"4 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."

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 King James Version (KJV)
"8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"

2 Peter 2:6 King James Version (KJV)
"6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;"

2 Peter 2:9-12 King James Version (KJV)
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

2 Peter 3:7 King James Version (KJV)
"7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."

2 Peter 3:9-10 King James Version (KJV)
"9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. "

Revelation 20:9 King James Version (KJV)
"9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them."

Revelation 21:8 King James Version (KJV)
"8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
Posted By: Rick H

Re: Annihilationism? - 09/14/19 10:27 PM

And the words of Christ...

Matthew 7:13 King James Version (KJV)
"13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:"

Matthew 10:28 King James Version (KJV)
"28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

Matthew 13:40-42 King James Version (KJV)
"40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

Matthew 25:41 King James Version (KJV)
"41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"

Luke 13:3 King James Version (KJV)
"3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

John 3:14-16 King James Version (KJV)
"14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Posted By: James Peterson

Re: Annihilationism? - 09/15/19 09:57 PM

why would anyone believe the wicked are going to burn forever and ever? it says so in the Revelation, but it also says that death and hades are going to be cast in the lake of fire. how does one pick up death and the grave with the hand to throw them away?

this debate lends itself to a deeper discussion about literary interpretation, something that lay people are not qualified to address; hence martin luther's backtrack about the bible in the hand of the common man. he strongly advocated for it at first, but seeing the strange and weird being espoused as TRUTH caused him to seriously rethink the idea

perhaps sda need to revisit the doctrines its theologically unqualified founders sought to lay down as denominational pillars every five years or so in light of recent scholarship lest they end up like the jews: murdering the innocent, unable to see that the old covenant had given way to the new
Posted By: Rick H

Re: Annihilationism? - 02/15/20 08:31 AM

I am seeing this idea that the pillars of Adventist beliefs and our doctrines supported by the testimonies and anchored soundly in the scripture, be cast aside, thrown away, discarded and they be "revisited" as they are from "theologically unqualified founders". It is being pushed subtly or even stronger by those who claim they are Adventist or "in the church", and yet want all the solid foundation Adventism is anchored on be swept away and dashed into pieces. Satan is angry that the truth given to us still stands and is using his old tactics to conquer and divide from within. We need to stand firm and more fully grasp what God gave His remnant church and people in these last days as many will come with what is claimed as 'new light' or higher 'scholarship' to sweep it all away. We need to follow what God says, not man and not be taken in or shaken off the path so near to the end.
Posted By: APL

Re: Annihilationism? - 02/15/20 09:02 PM

anhilated due to God, Satan, or Sin.[/quote]
Quote
Job 1:16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and has burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.
Posted By: APL

Re: Annihilationism? - 02/16/20 04:41 AM

Originally Posted by Rick H
I am seeing this idea that the pillars of Adventist beliefs and our doctrines supported by the testimonies and anchored soundly in the scripture, be cast aside, thrown away, discarded and they be "revisited" as they are from "theologically unqualified founders". It is being pushed subtly or even stronger by those who claim they are Adventist or "in the church", and yet want all the solid foundation Adventism is anchored on be swept away and dashed into pieces. Satan is angry that the truth given to us still stands and is using his old tactics to conquer and divide from within. We need to stand firm and more fully grasp what God gave His remnant church and people in these last days as many will come with what is claimed as 'new light' or higher 'scholarship' to sweep it all away. We need to follow what God says, not man and not be taken in or shaken off the path so near to the end.

ARE THE 28 FB a creed? they are being used that way!
Posted By: Rick H

Re: Annihilationism? - 02/16/20 07:25 AM

They try to provoke members and bring confusion by posting offensive insults, absurdities etc.., and deliberately try to get a response by attacking the Adventist church or its beliefs. And I am seeing these things spreading like a cancer in the SDA and SDA sections of religious forums, subtly or directly.
Posted By: Rick H

Re: Annihilationism? - 02/19/20 10:56 AM

Here is a study that reads almost as a personal testimony, that I came across on this, and its from a non-SDA...

"There are numerous scriptures that seem to clearly indicate that there is no eternal life for the wicked (not even in Hell). Here are quite a few that I found from the PC Study Bible after doing a search for the words "eternal life" in the concordance...

Matt 19:16?"And someone came to Him and said, 'Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?'"

This man spoke of obtaining eternal life. It wasn't as if he already possessed it. Preachers today would probably say to him "Son, you already have eternal life; it's just a matter of where you will spend it." But Jesus never said that.

Matt 19:29-30?"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life."

They will inherit eternal life. This indicates that not everyone has it already.

Matt 25:46?"These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

This verse admittedly uses the phrase "eternal punishment," but it is juxtaposed against the phrase "eternal life." Death by annihilation in the Lake of Fire could certainly be called "eternal punishment" because it is eternal in its consequences. Death on earth is only temporal because everyone will be raised again at the resurrection. Death in the Lake of Fire, however, is eternal: there is no reversing it and no coming back from it. If Jesus meant for the punishment to last eternally, he probably wouldn't have contrasted it with the phrase "eternal life" which is clearly meant only for believers. If Jesus had intended what most churches believe he did with this verse, he should have said, "Both the righteous and the unrighteous will go away to eternal life, but the unrighteous will spend it being tortured while the righteous spend theirs in paradise."

John 3:16?"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

This is the most quoted verse in the Bible and also one of the clearest accounts on the annihilation of the wicked. "...Whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John didn't write that "...whoever believes in Him shall not have everlasting life in torment, but rather have everlasting life in Heaven." The way most churches interpret this, they mentally replace the very clear word "perish" with something that means nearly the opposite: "never perish."

John 3:36?"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

John 4:14?"...but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

John 5:24?"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."

Once again, the words "eternal life" and "life" are associated strictly with the righteous. The word "death" is reserved for the unrighteous, who will not go to Heaven. It takes a good bit of theological gymnastics to continually reinterpret these divinely inspired Words of God to mean the exact opposite of their natural meanings. Since when does "death" mean "eternal life away from God"? If John intended to say that, he should have used almost any other word instead of "death."

John 6:40?"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

John 6:47?"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life."

John 6:54?"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

John 6:68?"and Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.'"

John 10:28?"and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."

Rom 5:21?"so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Rom 6:23?"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

This is another very popular verse which is quite clear in its teaching. "The wages of sin is death (not eternal life in torture), but the gift of God is eternal life..."

Gal 6:8?"For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."

Once again, "eternal life" is from the Spirit and "corruption" is reaped from the flesh.

Titus 3:7?"so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

1 John 3:15?"Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."

No murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Most Christians claim that all people, saved and unsaved, have eternal life abiding in them, but this is certainly not what the scriptures teach.

1 John 5:11?"And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."

Eternal life is only in God's son. The unrighteous do not have the gift of eternal life.

All of the above scriptures were reached in a search for the words "eternal life" in the PC Study Bible. The search actually returned 42 occurrences of the phrase in the NASU version of the Bible. I did not incorporate every single verse because many were essentially repeats of verses I did include (for instance, some of the Gospels record virtually the same teachings of Jesus) and a few others were slightly less clear. However, in the entire Bible, there is not a single verse that records anything to the affect that "everyone has eternal life; it's only a matter of where each will spend it." Yet this is what most of the church today believes."...https://www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com/documents/death/hell-torment-or-annihilation.php#.XkzF_cJYa1s
Posted By: Daryl

Re: Annihilationism? - 02/19/20 04:34 PM

I find that interesting coming from a non-SDA.
Posted By: Rick H

Re: Annihilationism? - 02/20/20 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Daryl
I find that interesting coming from a non-SDA.

I am finding many are coming to the realization of the biblical truths on their own, seems they are being brought to it by the Holy Spirit.
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