During a recent interview, actor and filmmaker Kirk Cameron revealed that he no longer believes in an eternal Hell. This view, called Annihilationism, is growing in popularity in modern theological circles. But what does the Bible have to say?
For non-Christians, one of the toughest Christian truths to comprehend is the doctrine of Hell. Those outside of a relationship with Christ struggle to comprehend Hell's existence and often ask questions similar to: "How can a good and loving God send people to a place like Hell?"
However, recent generations have seen those within the Church ask the very same question.
Last week, during an episode of his podcast, actor and filmmaker Kirk Cameron joined the growing number of believers who have embraced a belief called annihilationism.
Annihilationism, also known as conditional immortality or conditionalism, states non-Christians will cease to exist—in other words, will be annihilated—immediately after death or after the Last Judgment. In this belief, all of the wicked, including unbelievers, fallen angels/demons, and Satan will be destroyed, rather than face eternal punishment in Hell.
Cameron's reasoning for his theological shift is one commonly argued by many proponents of annihilationism. He said the conversation around Hell is "uncomfortable" because God's character doesn't align with a willingness to eternally punish anyone. On the podcast, Cameron and his son James argue that mankind's sin is "finite," so it deserves a finite punishment. They and other believers in conditional immortality also appeal to some biblical language (especially around words like "death," "perish," and "destroy") to illustrate their point.
But rather than trust Cameron's word on the subject or the teachings of theologians who support annihilationism (more on them later), this article will dive into the doctrine and where it falls short biblically.
What Annihilationism Claims
To begin critiquing annihilationism as a doctrine, one must give a thorough definition.
A helpful page on John Hendryx's monergism.com writes that conditionalism "asserts that only those with saving faith in Christ will be granted eternal life, while the unsaved will suffer a second death, permanently perishing and ceasing to consciously exist. Proponents argue that human beings have been mortal since the Fall, with eternal life as a gift granted exclusively to the redeemed...advocates suggest that while the wicked are resurrected for judgment, they are not raised to life eternal, but instead to 'eternal punishment' as a final, irreversible destruction."
Within this belief is a denial of eternal conscious torment as judgment for sin, along with an argument that the Lord would not allow eternal suffering (or any similar eternal punishment) for anyone, even the most lost of sinners.
Annihilationists argue that the human soul is not immortal. Instead, they contend that salvation in Christ grants immortality (hence the doctrinal name of "conditional immortality"). This is how conditionalists reconcile Creation with Eternity: they state that it is by design that all human souls perish and cease to exist, but by God's great mercy and grace, that changes for the elect.
Supporters of the doctrine of conditional immortality do not deny that God will judge sin or that sinners will be punished by that judgment. Instead, they cite Revelation 21:8 to argue that the unrepentant will receive a "second death," either immediately following the first or after an eventual Judgment Day.
It is also important to distinguish annihilationists from those who deny the existence of Hell altogether. Universalists (those who believe all people will find some form of Heaven because Hell doesn't exist) and atheists (those who claim to not believe in any deity, souls, or any afterlife—including Hell) are different and are, in every sense, not Christians.
Some prominent figures, both in church history and in modern theology, held to beliefs that mirrored annihilationist doctrine.
Second-century theologian Justin Martyr wrote in his First Apology, "He who lives righteously is immortal, but he who lives wickedly is punished with eternal fire," indicating that he believed that both immortality and eternal fire are real but that they are separate. This line of thinking has caused many to argue that he was one of the first conditionalists, as he seemed to argue that eternal fire was an end, in contrast to right immortality.
In his write-and-response debate book with liberal Christian David Edwards, Anglican pastor John Stott said plainly, "I am a conditionalist." He added, "Emotionally, I find the concept intolerable and do not understand how people can live with it without either cauterizing their feelings or cracking under the strain." Stott also argued that 1 Timothy 6:16 (God "alone has immortality"), Romans 2:7 (the Lord "will give eternal life" to believers), and John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life") support his position.
Theologian Edward Fudge wrote The Fire that Consumes, a book that is about exactly what it sounds like it is about. Fudge's premise was, in his own words, "The Bible consistently teaches that the final punishment of the wicked is death" and that that death "is not eternal life in hell, but the end of life itself." He used Matthew 10:28 (God is the One "who can destroy both soul and body in hell") as one of his chief proof texts.
Where Annihilationism Falls Short Biblically
Despite all of the alleged biblical and moral evidence for annihilationism, Scripture actually teaches something very different. The viewpoint now held by John Stott, Kirk Cameron, and others is one that does not mesh with true, biblical theology.
Before getting into the "why," it should be noted that annihilationist theology does not exclude someone from faith. In other words, one is not disqualified from being a Christian for believing that the Lord destroys those outside of right standing with Him instead of believing that their sin sends them to Hell for all eternity. Conditional immortality is heterodox, meaning it does not conform to the accepted, right theology of the Christian Church. However, it is not full and complete heresy. Heresy is beyond heterodoxy and requires one contracting foundational teaching in such a way that the entire faith of that person is invalid.
However, this doctrine is still an important one to get "right" and should not be something that Christians chalk up to preference or even minor conviction.
Belief in an eternal Hell is biblical.
In determining the validity of any theological doctrine, the most important thing to do is to check within the Bible itself.
Matthew 25:46 says, "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Seemingly very clearly, Jesus' words to His disciples showed that those in right standing with God enter into eternal life (the same phrase used to describe Heaven in other parts of Scripture), while those who lack Christ's imputed righteousness will enter into an eternal punishment.
The Old Testament also speaks of the eternal reality of Hell. The prophecy in Daniel 12:2 says, "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."
In Revelation 14:11, John describes Hell and states that "the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night."
Similar language is in Mark 9:48, where Jesus describes the eternal torment of Hell by quoting Isaiah: "where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched."
The Lord provides a sobering insight into Hell in Luke 13:28: "In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out." Not only is Hell real and eternal, but part of the torment in Hell is the fact that the unrepentant will see the glory of Heaven from a distance without ever being able to experience it.
It is acceptable for Christians to say that this doctrine is difficult. It is not acceptable for Christians to dismiss God's Word simply because they don't like what it says, and (like it was for Stott and Cameron) that is often the starting place for those who venture into the world of conditionalism.
The Bible teaches of an eternal soul for all mankind.
In order for an eternal Hell to be of any consequence to the lost, the lost must also have eternal souls. Why else would Jesus have given so many warnings about Hell during His ministry?
He taught in John 5:25-29, "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself. And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment."
Death comes for all mankind, but when it does, the soul does not disappear.
Luke quoted Paul in Acts 24:15, saying, "there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust." This also completely goes against the idea that the soul only becomes immortal if redeemed. Immortality is certain, but the final destination of one's eternal soul is determined by that person's standing before God.
Even the well-known verse Matthew 16:26 implies that both the saved and the lost have an eternal soul. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?"
God's Word shows that the lost will have their eternal souls punished in an eternal Hell.
The Lord is good (Psalm 100:5), and mankind is sinful (Romans 3:23). That sin offends God and separates man from the designed relationship that He created them to have with Him. That is the entire reason why salvation is needed.
Despite the incorrect doctrine of conditional immortality stating that God's character would not allow for Him to punish anyone for all eternity, Scripture shows a differing reality.
Paul, in Ephesians 2, declares that all people (prior to a relationship with Christ) are "dead" and "children of wrath," which, when paired with Romans 2's assertion that wrath will be poured out on nonbelievers in Hell as part of his "righteous judgment," shows the grim reality for anyone not in Christ.
Though it is God's design and consistent with His character, He doesn't take joy in the damnation of the lost.
In Ezekiel 18:32, the Lord speaks, "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live." God's character and commitment to justice necessitate sin being punished. Still, in His love and compassion for those made in His image, the Father gave His Son to provide an avenue for His people to "turn and live."
Final Verdict
Though some Christians, including actor Kirk Cameron and theologians like John Stott, Edward Fudge, and Justin Martyr, argue that eternal punishment isn't a reality, Hell is, indeed, very real, and it is the final home for those who exit this life without a right relationship with God.
To argue otherwise typically involves placing emotion or an incorrect appeal to morality above God's own standard set in His Word. Emotion cannot trump Truth, and the Lord's morality will always be above any that man can produce.
All mankind is destined for an eternity in Hell because of the effects of sin. Only salvation in Christ changes this reality for a person. No matter what, though, the human soul, as one made in God's Image, is eternal. Even after death, the soul lives on. For those who are in Christ, this eternal life is alongside Him in Heaven. For those who are not, eternity will be much less pleasant but just as real.
The doctrine of an eternal Hell does not diminish the magnitude of God's love for us or undermine His goodness. In fact, it actually demonstrates both, showcasing how holy and just that He is, while highlighting how great His love must be to have covered the divide that sin created between the Lord and His creation.
Annihilationism, conditionalism, conditional immortality, or any other name linked to this doctrine is a grave error that should be rejected.