Annihilationism is the doctrine that those whom God deems wicked in the end will cease to exist rather than suffer conscious eternal punishment in hell’s fire.  This doctrine is taught by the Seventh Day Adventists, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Christadelphians, and others.  

The concept of Annihilation is not the same as that of Ultimate Reconciliation.  Teachers of this will claim that some will go to the lake of fire for a certain period of time but eventually be rescued and restored to live in Paradise.  In examining how the Bible refutes the doctrine of Annihilation it will also be simultaneously demonstrated how the Bible refutes the doctrine of Ultimate Reconciliation.  

Jesus made it clear that the eternal lake of fire was created for the devil and his angels.  He also made it clear that humans who oppose God’s authority and don’t live in accordance with the light of truth will be cast into the everlasting fire with the devil and his angels.

Matthew 25:41-46: “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: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat (food): I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

It is evident that the unending punishment for persistence in wickedness is put in contrast to the unending blessedness of the righteous who will inherit salvation (it has been talked about in other studies how eternal life is a quality of life; and it can only be one’s guaranteed, ultimate possession after a favorable verdict from God on Judgment Day regarding whether one entered into and endured on the narrow way to life in Christ until the end).

Jesus did not speak in vain when He spoke about a narrow gate that must be entered and a constricted, narrow way that must be followed in order to inherit eternal life; and when He spoke of a broad gate and a broad way which leads to destruction.  He did not warn in vain of the need to be so severe in parting from sin in order to avoid the eternal fire of hell that He would liken this to plucking out an eye or cutting off a hand or a foot.  It is no wonder that Proverbs 14:9 states: “Fools make a mock at sin.”

Mark 9:42-48: “And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.  And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”

The top priorities which Jesus mentioned in the “Our Father” prayer actually implicitly demonstrate the fitting condemnation of those who don’t continually account that they owe their existence to the God of heaven, don’t continually seek the glory of His name, and don’t continually live in accordance with His rightful, sovereign claim on their life by being subject to His commandments.

Some might argue for Annihilationism based upon passages regarding the wicked being destroyed by God’s judgment in this life.

Malachi 4:1: “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.”

There is obviously still Judgment Day and eternal hell-fire on the other side for the wicked who die in their sins.  The Bible even makes it clear that Sodom and Gomorrah’s judgment in this life was intended to preview the eternal torment of hell.

Jude 7: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

I’ve heard someone contending for Annihilationism trying to say that these cities are not still burning.  Yes, and that truth destroys the Annihilationist’s own contention.  The cities are not still burning.  Therefore, it must be the wicked people who were in these cities which will burn eternally.

Some use verses about the wicked just simply dying in general to contend for Annihilationism.

Psalm 146:3-4: “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.  His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”

Rather than prove Annihilationism, this is saying that man shouldn’t be trusted over God because no man can deliver himself from death nor accomplish everything he wants to while living.  

Echoing the same truths, we read in Ecclesiastes 9:5-6: “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.  Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.”

This is by no means excluding a judgment and consequences on the other side of death.  Those who try to use Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 to prove Annihilationism are especially foolish due to how the very book which they are resorting to concludes with a summary which utterly refutes what the Annihilationists try to claim in bringing up Ecclesiastes 9:5-6.

We read in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

Ecclesiastes overall makes statement after statement implying that judgment must be on the other side of physical death (especially the statement in Ecclesiastes 7:18 that he that fears God shall come forth of them all- along with the constant emphases throughout the book that all die and that the timing of the natural deaths of many do not reflect the righteousness or wickedness of their deeds).

Many say that the Old Testament (or Tanakh) does not explicitly teach eternal punishment for the wicked- yet they are dead wrong.

Isaiah 66:24: “And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.” 

We’ve already looked at the clear lessons which Jesus taught that are directly derived from this passage in Mark chapter 9.

Daniel 12:2-3: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

Is it reasonable then to believe also that God intended the vast multitude of threats of His judgment right in the Law of Moses, and throughout the Old Testament (such as the following), as solid implications of eternal judgment on the wicked who turn against Him.

Deuteronomy 32:35: “To me belongeth vengeance and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.”

Psalm 73:18-20: “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.  How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment!  they are utterly consumed with terrors.  As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.”

Jesus also associated weeping and gnashing of teeth with being cast into hell’s fire at least seven times in the Gospel accounts.  This is more proof against Annihilationism and proof that eternal suffering is the lot of those who die in their sins.  

Hell’s fire will also obviously not be equally as horrible for all who are sent there.  

Matthew 23:14: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”

Romans 2:5 says: “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God…”

If Annihilationism were true, it would be impossible to store up yet more wrath on Judgment Day.  All sinners would rather (in that case) get the same punishment.

Shortly afterwards in Romans 2:9 it is seen that tribulation and anguish will be rendered to persistent evildoers whom God will condemn in His impartial judgment.

Note that those who die in the Lord rest from their labors while the wicked who drink of the wrath of God are tormented and have no rest day nor night.

Revelation 14:9-13: “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.”

The Annihilationist might say “no rest day nor night” is only for those who worship the beast and receive his mark at the very end of time.  

But why would God be harder on those who die in sin at the hardest time to be faithful to Jesus than He would be on the wicked at other times?  And what warrant do the Annihilationists have to make such a claim- especially with all the Scriptural evidence in the other direction considered?  

Note that the wicked are put without the gates of the city (the New Jerusalem) in eternity.  They don’t cease to exist.

Revelation 22:12-15: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”

Those set without are in the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:7-8: “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  But the fearful (i.e. the cowardly concerning righteousness), 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.”

Those condemned to the lake which burns with fire and brimstone will have had their chance to repent and walk in truth in order to obtain God’s mercy.  

Who can comprehend the regret which they will have?

Jeremiah 8:20: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”

Prepare now to meet your God.