ANNIHILATIONISM (Santamaria)

[This is a preview of our new eBook on annihialationism or "no hellers" - ed]
Annihilationism

(also called conditional immortality or destructionism) is the theological view that the wicked will not suffer eternal conscious torment in hell, but will ultimately be destroyed—annihilated—so that they no longer exist. This view contrasts with traditional eternalism, which holds that all people live forever—either in heaven or in hell—and that the damned experience conscious punishment forever.

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CORE TENETS OF ANNIHILATIONISM:

Immortality is Conditional
Human beings are not inherently immortal; only those who are saved in Christ receive eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). The unsaved do not continue in eternal torment—they perish.

The Final Punishment Is Destruction, Not Endless Torment
Verses such as:

“The wages of sin are death” (Rom. 6:23)

“They will be destroyed” (Phil. 3:19; 2 Thess. 1:9)

“Fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). They are interpreted to mean total obliteration of the wicked.

God’s Justice and Mercy
Annihilationists argue that eternal conscious torment is inconsistent with the justice and character of God, who is both just and merciful.

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KEY BIBLICAL PASSAGES USED BY ANNIHILATIONISTS

Verse	Annihilationist Interpretation
John 3:16	The wicked “perish” rather than suffer eternally.
Malachi 4:1-3	The wicked are like stubble, burned up, leaving “neither root nor branch.”
Matthew 10:28	God destroys both soul and body in hell.
Romans 6:23	“The wages of sin is death,” not unending torment.
2 Thessalonians 1:9	“Everlasting destruction” implies cessation of existence.
Revelation 20:14–15	The “second death” is the final annihilation.

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MAJOR HISTORICAL AND MODERN PROPONENTS

Name	Notes
Arnobius of Sicca (4th c.)	Early church fathers taught that the wicked perish.
Edward Fudge	Author of The Fire That Consumes, a modern defense of annihilationism.
John Stott	Influential Anglican theologian who expressed openness to the view.
Clark Pinnock	Argued for conditional immortality as more biblical and ethical.
Seventh-day Adventists	Officially hold to annihilationism and conditional immortality.
Christadelphians	Reject inherent immortality; believe the wicked cease to exist.

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CRITIQUES OF ANNIHILATIONISM

Tradition of Eternal Conscious Punishment

Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, and most of church history affirm eternal torment.

Revelation 14:11 and 20:10 speak of smoke rising “forever and ever.”

Nature of the Soul

Classical theology teaches that the soul is naturally immortal, and thus cannot be destroyed.

Severity of Sin

Critics argue that the gravity of sin against an infinite God warrants infinite punishment.

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COMPARISON TABLE

Doctrine	Eternal Torment (Traditional)	Annihilationism	Universalism
Fate of the wicked	Eternal conscious punishment	Final destruction	Eventual salvation of all
View of the soul	Inherently immortal	Conditionally immortal	Inherently immortal
Justice of God	Punishment fits sin's gravity	Punishment ends in death	Mercy ultimately triumphs
Main proponents	Augustine, Calvin, Edwards	Fudge, Stott, Adventists	Origen, Gregory of Nyssa, Rob Bell

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Old School Baptists—particularly the Primitive Baptists of the 19th century—firmly rejected Annihilationism as a heretical departure from the biblical doctrine of eternal punishment. They upheld eternal conscious torment for the wicked as a solemn and foundational truth of divine justice, based on a plain reading of Scripture and their historic confessions.