But I noticed that our Lord, while stressing the terror of hell with unsparing severity usually emphasizes the idea not of duration but of finality. Consignment to the destroying fire is usually treated as the end of the story--not as the beginning of a new story.

C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain


Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them, in like manner giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Jude 1:7













MISSION STATEMENT This blog is devoted to presenting biblically based evidence which argues for the extinction of the wicked as oppossed to their eternal torment in a place called hell. The usual case for extinction follows a familiar pattern: the wicked will be resurrected, suffer for a time in the lake of fire, then be extinguished. This blog takes a different view. It is the assertion here that all of the language in the Bible that refers to torment is in fact referring to earthly torment endured during the tribulation. The argument proceeds as follows: The Bible teaches a period of earthly torment (Mark 13:19, Rev. 4:10, 1 Thess. 5:2-3, Rev. 9:4-5), from which the just are exempt (Rev. 7:2-3, 9:4-5, 14:9-11), that consists of Christ shutting the door (Gen. 7:16), weeping (Amos 8:10, Zeph. 1:14), fire and brimstone (Rev. 9:18, 9:2, Isaiah 34:9, Malachi 4:1), smoke going up forever (Isaiah 34:8-10), and a form of retributive justice (Jer. 16:18, 17:18, Rev. 18:16, Psalm 69:27-28, 59:13, 83:17), which ends in extinction (Malachi 1:4, Obadiah 1:16, Psalm 37:20, Rev. 20:11-14, Matt. 25:46, Luke 12:48).



















Thursday, January 20, 2011

2 Thessalonians 1:9

What is the nature of hell, and of the God who sends people there? Is it a separation to which God reluctantly--even tearfully--casts the hopelessly unrepentant? Or has He made the wicked for this very day as "vessels of wrath fitted to destruction?" (Romans 9:22). That depends on who you ask. Shirley Guthrie sees God as a relucant avenger: "...even if you 'make your bed in hell' God will still be there--the God who is for and not against you. You will never be able to escape the relentless love of God in Jesus Christ that is for hell-bent people just like you." Jonathan Edwards had a slightly different tack, warning "God will be so far from pitying you when you cry to Him, that He will only laugh at you."



Whereas hell can be conceived in any number of ways, there seems to be general consensus that hell is the absence of God. This verse finds Biblical support from 2 Thessalonians 1:9, which states "who shall be punished with everlasting fire from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power." This verse can be understood in two ways: 1) as fire that issues from God's presence, and destroys His enemies, or 2) as a fire tormenting the wicked as they are consigned to eternal separation from God.



It is only the second interpretation that will be treated here, as it poses certain logical inconsistencies. In this interpretation, the wicked will exist forever away from God and the "glory of His power." Here's where the problem comes in: Isn't the glory of God's power always in view when He's dispensing His wrath? Who is more subject to the glory of God's power than one who is being continually crushed by it? Doesn't the Bible describe the wicked as "vessels of wrath"? (Romans 9:22) Look at Exodus 24:17: "And the sight of the glory of God was like devouring fire on top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel." This verse states that the glory of God is like a devouring fire--the very fire Rev. 20:10 says will torment the wicked. If this is true, then how can the wicked be away from this aspect of God? We cannot say that the wicked, while enduring the wrath of God for breaking the law of God are away from the very glory pictured as fire and depicting the wrath that comes with His law. Moreover, Rev. 14:7 states: "Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come." This verse is actually announcing the judgment described in verse 10, which clearly takes place in the presence of God and is to His glory. This theme is also found in Psalm 77:10: "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee."

The outpouring of God's wrath demonstrates His glory. Look at Gen. 8:22: "For the scripture saith unto Pharoah, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that My name might be declared throughout all the earth."

Given all of these facts it should be evident that this interpretation of 2 Thessalonians 1:9 as a place where the wicked are held in torment away from God's presence simply does not stand up to thorough scrutiny.
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