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BOOK REVIEW: Four Views on Hell 2nd edition

...ctrine of Hell’ (CDH): “It is by no means obvious that an offense against an infinite being must be punished by the sorts of torments envisioned by CDH. One might sin more or less gravely against such a being, and in that case it does not seem that just any sin against an infinite being would merit eternal, continuous, and excruciating pain.”2 Spiegel adds that “human guilt is at most maximally great, not infinitely great”3, meaning that human guilt is still finite: “Finite guilt, however great, presumably does not warrant endless punishment in the form of ECT.” (Spiegel, op. cit. 41) He adds that, under the ‘Status Principle’, even the...

An Examination of Conditional Immortality (Part One)

...The Real Hell. A Case for Conditional Immortality (aka Annihilationism) We are often taught that our souls, human souls, are inherently immortal. But where does this idea come from, because it’s never actually stated in Scripture that this is so. This is an Hellenistic philosophical assumption brought into the text (mainly from Plato’s influence) which can taint our interpretations. If we look at 1 Timothy 6:16 we can see that it is God alone who is immortal: It is he [God] alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen. Any other mention of immortality or e...

Kirk Cameron And The Biblical Case For Annihilationism

...matters. Hell is tragic not because it is endlessly painful, but because it represents the ultimate loss of life and existence itself. If our evangelism depends upon defending a particular model of punishment rather than proclaiming the risen Christ, then the problem lies not with annihilationism, but with our priorities. Even Paul points to the resurrection as being the central point of his preaching, and if that isn’t true then our faith is pointless and we will all perish in death, not just sinners: 1 Corinthians 15:14–19…and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. We are even found to be...

Rob Bell's “Love Wins” (Review)

...Book review on Rob Bell's “Love Wins” (originally written March 2013) This book was quite openly condemned by some prominent Christian leaders when the book was first announced back around Spring 2011, mainly mainly accusing Bell of being a universalist and denying the existence of Hell. Lots of leaders formed opinions about the book and thus lots and laypeople took on various opinions as their own without much insight or research. The problem was that these leaders hadn't even READ the book! It wasn't released yet at the time. They decided their opinions based on the blurb and promo video which posed provocative questions about the doctrine of Hell. Th...

So, where are we going?

...On judgement ...there is only the Spiritual realm, ...and to which one either serves God in heaven or resides in Hell awaiting Judgment. Is it as simple as that? This is an actual quote from someone during an online discussion on the subject, but this is not anything against who ever said it, but rather a response to the prevailing view behind it that people generally seem to adhere to. The topic of Hell in itself is a rather large subject that is much more complex that you might initially think, and is a topic I intend to cover here soon as a series. Anyway, back to the subject at hand. A lot of Christians would say that Hell is the 'final destin...

An Examination of Conditional Immortality (Part Two)

...ethinking Hell: Readings in Evangelical Conditionalism: The background to Rev 14:11 is to be found in this picture of Sodom’s destruction and to the oracle of Edom’s destruction in Isa 34:10ff. “Isaiah says ‘its smoke will rise forever,’ telling us that Edom’s destruction is not only certain (not quenched) and complete (smoke rising) but also irreversible. The desolation will be unending.” The torment experienced in the presence of the angels and of the Lamb refers to the moment of judgment, not to the eternal state. What continues after their tormenting judgment and destruction is the sign of their extinction — the rising smoke; this is the...