Rethinking Hell

Rethinking Hell PDF Author: Christopher M. Date
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1630871605
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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Book Description
Most evangelical Christians believe that those people who are not saved before they die will be punished in hell forever. But is this what the Bible truly teaches? Do Christians need to rethink their understanding of hell? In the late twentieth century, a growing number of evangelical theologians, biblical scholars, and philosophers began to reject the traditional doctrine of eternal conscious torment in hell in favor of a minority theological perspective called conditional immortality. This view contends that the unsaved are resurrected to face divine judgment, just as Christians have always believed, but due to the fact that immortality is only given to those who are in Christ, the unsaved do not exist forever in hell. Instead, they face the punishment of the "second death"--an end to their conscious existence. This volume brings together excerpts from a variety of well-respected evangelical thinkers, including John Stott, John Wenham, and E. Earl Ellis, as they articulate the biblical, theological, and philosophical arguments for conditionalism. These readings will give thoughtful Christians strong evidence that there are indeed compelling reasons for rethinking hell.

Rethinking Hell

Rethinking Hell PDF Author: Christopher M. Date
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1630871605
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 344

Get Book Here

Book Description
Most evangelical Christians believe that those people who are not saved before they die will be punished in hell forever. But is this what the Bible truly teaches? Do Christians need to rethink their understanding of hell? In the late twentieth century, a growing number of evangelical theologians, biblical scholars, and philosophers began to reject the traditional doctrine of eternal conscious torment in hell in favor of a minority theological perspective called conditional immortality. This view contends that the unsaved are resurrected to face divine judgment, just as Christians have always believed, but due to the fact that immortality is only given to those who are in Christ, the unsaved do not exist forever in hell. Instead, they face the punishment of the "second death"--an end to their conscious existence. This volume brings together excerpts from a variety of well-respected evangelical thinkers, including John Stott, John Wenham, and E. Earl Ellis, as they articulate the biblical, theological, and philosophical arguments for conditionalism. These readings will give thoughtful Christians strong evidence that there are indeed compelling reasons for rethinking hell.

Conditional Immortality

Conditional Immortality PDF Author: Douglas Barry
Publisher: Createspace Independent Pub
ISBN: 9781482698053
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 86

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Book Description
A growing number of well-known Christian leaders, such as Dr. David R. Reagan, John R. Stott, Greg Boyd, Roger Forster (co-founder of the March for Jesus events), Philip Hughes, Michael Green, Stephen Travis, and Clark Pinnock have declared support for part, or all, of the biblical doctrine of "conditional immortality." Even the British Bible translator, William Tyndale, also defended Conditional Immortality during his lifetime. Also, the very well respected scholar F.F. Bruce states, "Eternal conscious torment is incompatible with the revealed character of God" so he chose to write the forward to an excellent evangelical book on this topic called, "The Fire that Consumes" by Edward Fudge. While some call it annihilationism, simply stated, "Conditional Immortality" is the biblical belief that the "immortality" of the soul is not inherent (Greek philosophers thinking) but conditional (Biblical thinking) upon receiving the gift of everlasting life through faith in Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew). It is part and parcel of the gospel. God alone has immortality -- anyone else becomes immortal only as a result of God's gracious gift (1 Timothy 6:16, Romans 2:7). For centuries, church theologians have wrongly assumed the Greek doctrine of the immortality of all souls. Therefore, it is no wonder that the message of immortality has been completely dropped from modern preaching. I ask you, when have you ever heard a message offering "immortality" as part of the gospel presentation? It is almost never done, because today most people falsely assume the soul is already immortal. Yet, immortality through Jesus (Yeshua) alone is what the Jewish Apostle Paul preached: * (He/Jesus), has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2 Timothy 1:9b-10) Paul clearly links immortality to the gospel. Paul did not believe the Greek philosophy of his day which taught the immortality of all souls. Before the Messiah, Jesus, came, no one had a chance at immortality because of sin. If they did, then Paul's statement would make no sense. Why would immortality come through the gospel if all had it from birth? The gospel would not have brought about immortality - since all had it. But immortality is uniquely and only with believers... Here is an actual comment (one of many) gotten after reading this scriptural argument: *Thank you so much for the wealth of solid biblical insight you have given. I grew up attending several different denominations of Christian churches, and I was taught the traditional view of hell. All the churches I have attended as an adult have taught the traditional view. I've always wondered why the word, "perish" didn't actually mean "perish" or "be destroyed." I was taught that it meant "be eternally tormented." I have always wondered why the Bible said eternal life was a gift if it was something we already were going to have no matter where we ended up. Now I know I was right to question these things. Paul never preached about eternal torment, only of the gift of eternal life one could receive by putting their faith in Jesus. How sad it is that so many people only hear of a God that will send them to hell where He will torment them eternally instead of the God who gives eternal life as a gift because of His great love. -- Heidi So read this book to see how unbiblical the concept of the immortality of the unsaved soul is. Immortality is reserved only for those who put their faith in Jesus. All the rest are destroyed (not preserved) (see Matthew 10:28) after a period of time. They will suffer no more and no less than their sins deserve - then will be destroyed forever. God is just and Holy.... but not cruel

Heaven & Hell: What Does the Bible Really Teach?

Heaven & Hell: What Does the Bible Really Teach? PDF Author: United Church of God
Publisher: United Church of God
ISBN: 0557682290
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 127

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Book Description
Most people believe the Bible teaches that we will go to either heaven or hell at death. They might be surprised at what it really says! -- Inside this booklet: -- The Biblical Truth About the Immortal Soul -- The History of the Immortal-Soul Teaching -- The Spirit in Man -- Will a Loving God Punish People Forever in Hell? -- Lazarus and the Rich Man: Proof of Heaven and Hell? -- Are Some Tortured Forever in a Lake of Fire? -- Will the Torment of the Wicked Last Forever? -- Does the Bible Speak of Hellfire That Lasts Forever? -- Is Heaven God's Reward for the Righteous? -- Ancient Pagan Belief in Heaven -- Paul's Desire to "Depart and Be With Christ" -- Did Elijah Go to Heaven? -- Was Enoch Taken to Heaven? -- The Thief on the Cross -- Are There Saved Human Beings in Heaven? -- The Resurrection: God's Promise of Life After Death -- Your Awesome Future

Immortality Or Resurrection?

Immortality Or Resurrection? PDF Author: Samuele Bacchiocchi
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description
Http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/books/immortality_resurrection/ What Christians believe about the make-up of their human nature largely determines what they believe about their ultimate destiny. Historically, most Christians have believed that human nature consists of a material, mortal body and a spiritual, immortal soul. This belief, known as dualism, is largely derived from Greek philosophers who regarded the body as temporary and evil but the soul as eternal and good. Dualism has led Christians to envision a destiny where immortal souls survive the death of the body and spend eternity either in the bliss of paradise or in the torment of a fiery hell. During the Middle Ages the belief in the afterlife was promoted through literary and artistic representations of hell as a place of absolute terror where the damned writhe and scream forever, and of paradise as a beatific place where the saints bask in eternal glory. Today, the belief in conscious existence after death is propagated through the polished image of mediums and psychics, the sophisticated "scientific" research into near-death experiences, and the popular New Age channeling with the alleged spirits of the past. These various methods are very successful in making people believe Satan's lie that no matter what they do, they "shall not die" (Gen 3:4) but become like gods by living for ever. The outcome is that according to a recent Gallup Poll 71 per cent of Americans believe in some forms of conscious life after death. In recent years the traditional dualistic view of human nature and destiny has come under massive attack by Biblical scholars, philosophers, and scientists who find such a view contrary to Scripture, reason, and science. In Immortality or Resurrection? Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi builds upon recent research and challenges Christians to recover the Biblical wholistic teaching that the body and soul are an indissoluble unit, created, redeemed, and ultimately restored by God. Immortality or Resurrection? is a most important book for today. With compelling Biblical reasoning, it unmasks the oldest and possibly the greatest deception of all time, namely, that human beings possess immortal souls that live on forever. It will help you understand how this deceptive teaching of innate immortality has fostered a whole spectrum of erroneous beliefs that have affected adversely Christian thought and practice. Most important of all, this book will increase your appreciation for God's glorious plan for your present life and future destiny.

Hell Under Fire

Hell Under Fire PDF Author: Zondervan,
Publisher: Zondervan Academic
ISBN: 0310831288
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 266

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Book Description
Of all the teachings of Christianity, the doctrine of hell is easily the most troubling, so much so that in recent years the church has been quietly tucking it away. Rarely mentioned anymore in the pulpit, it has faded through disuse among evangelicals and been attacked by liberal theologians. Hell is no longer only the target of those outside the church. Today, a disturbing number of professing Christians question it as well. Perhaps more than at any other time in history, hell is under fire. The implications of the historic view of hell make the popular alternatives, annihilationism and universalism, seem extremely appealing. But the bottom line is still God’s Word. What does the Old Testament reveal about hell? What does Paul the apostle have to say, or the book of Revelation? Most important, what does Jesus, the ultimate expression of God’s love, teach us about God’s wrath?Upholding the authority of Scripture, the different authors in Hell Under Fire explore a complex topic from various angles. R. Albert Mohler Jr. provides a historical, theological, and cultural overview of “The Disappearance of Hell.” Christopher Morgan draws on the New Testament to offer three pictures of hell as punishment, destruction, and banishment. J. I. Packer compares universalism with the traditional understanding of hell, Morgan does the same with annihilationism, and Sinclair Ferguson considers how the reality of hell ought to influence preaching. These examples offer some idea of this volume’s scope and thoroughness.Hell may be under fire, but its own flames cannot be quenched by popular opinion. This book helps us gain a biblical perspective on what hell is and why we cannot afford to ignore it. And it offers us a better understanding of the One who longs for all people to escape judgment and obtain eternal life through Jesus Christ.

The Fire That Consumes

The Fire That Consumes PDF Author: Edward William Fudge
Publisher: Lutterworth Press
ISBN: 0718841042
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 416

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Book Description
While carefully examining the complete teaching of Scripture on the subject of Final Punishment, Fudge defends the view that the destiny of the unsaved will be final destruction, rather than eternal conscious torment in hell as defended by the traditional view. The 3rd edition of this meticulous and compelling book takes a close look at the traditionalist critics, and brings an overview of developments in the last thirty years.

The Fire That Consumes

The Fire That Consumes PDF Author: Edward William Fudge
Publisher: Paternoster Publishing
ISBN: 9781842273043
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The paper in this volume are organized in three parts: scriptural, contextual and theological. The central question being addressed is: how do Christians living in contexts, where Islam is a majority or minority religion, experience, express or think of the Cross? This is, therefore, an exercise in listening. As the contexts from where these engagements arise are varied, the papers in drawing scriptural, contextual and theological reflections offer a cross-section of Christian thinking about Jesus and the Cross.

The Book of Immortality

The Book of Immortality PDF Author: Adam Gollner
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1439109435
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 416

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Book Description
An exploration of one of the most universal human obsessions charts the rise of longevity science from its alchemical beginnings to modern-day genetic interventions and enters the world of those whose lives are shaped by a belief in immortality.

The Nature of Hell

The Nature of Hell PDF Author: Evangelical Alliance. Commission on Unity and Truth among Evangelicals (ACUTE)
Publisher: Paternoster Publishing
ISBN: 9780953299225
Category : Christianity
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Evangelicals have traditionally held that unbelievers will be condemned without exception to eternal conscious punishment. However, increasing numbers of evangelical thinkers are declaring sympathy for conditional immortality - a position which emphasizes that God's final punishment for sin is death rather than everlasting torment and that God's promise of a re-created universe cannot be squared with the classical understanding of hell. This is a form of the more general doctrine of annihilationism, which sees hell as a realm of destruction rather than endless retribution. For some, this shift represents a dangerous dilution of evangelical faith. For others it offers a much needed corrective to a harsh misunderstanding of God's purposes. These and related issues are tackled in this report that aims to be biblical and pastoral and to be accessible to interested lay people as well as to theological specialists.

Reasonable Faith

Reasonable Faith PDF Author: William Lane Craig
Publisher: Crossway
ISBN: 1433501155
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 418

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Book Description
This updated edition by one of the world's leading apologists presents a systematic, positive case for Christianity that reflects the latest work in the contemporary hard sciences and humanities. Brilliant and accessible.