A reader sent me the following:
Bart Ehrman’s ViewIn his book “Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife,” Ehrman outlines the following regarding Jesus’ teachings:
- The Teaching of Annihilation: Ehrman argues that when Jesus spoke of eternal fire or a furnace, he meant that the wicked would be burned up and cease to exist—not that they would be tortured forever. [1, 2]
- The Meaning of Gehenna: Ehrman notes that Jesus frequently warned people about “Gehenna”. Rather than an underworld of demons and torture, Gehenna referred to the Valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem, which was historically used as a place to burn refuse and the bodies of executed criminals. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- No Immortal Soul: Ehrman stresses that Jesus’ Jewish worldview assumed that humans are mortal and that eternal life is a gift granted only to the righteous. The wicked simply do not inherit eternal life. [1, 2]
James Tabor’s ViewTabor holds a highly similar historical and contextual perspective, emphasizing the apocalyptic context of Jesus’ ministry: [1]
- Destruction, Not Torture: Tabor highlights that ancient Jewish apocalyptic texts viewed the “hellfire” as the final destruction of the wicked. As Tabor often tells his students, “You don’t torture garbage.” [1, 2]
- Gehenna as a Metaphor: Tabor explains that Jesus used Gehenna as a powerful visual metaphor for being discarded, rotting, and being consumed by fire and worms. It represents permanent death and exclusion from the coming Kingdom of God, rather than an ever-burning torture chamber. [1]
- Later Development: Tabor points out that the concept of an underworld of eternal, conscious torment was gradually introduced into Christian theology later, largely influenced by Greek philosophical ideas of the immortal soul. [1, 2]
Bart Ehrman was an evangelical Protestant and now seems to be more of an agnostic. James Tabor was part of the old Worldwide Church of God and has tended to distance himself from the COGs.
Before going further, what about mercy?
Notice some scriptures and comments in our free online e-book Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation:
Mercy is so important, that the English term ‘mercy’ is shown 282 times in the NKJV of the Bible and 289 in the Douay-Rheims Bible.
Notice, for one other example, how Jesus referred to it in Matthew 23:23:
23 … the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.
Mercy is one of the weightier matters of the law. It is more important than most realize.
It has been claimed that “The Mercy Seat of the Holy of Holies was the earthly representation of the very Throne of GOD in heaven” (Armstrong HW. Plain Truth, June 1967). The expression ‘mercy seat’ is used 28 times in the Bible (NKJV). It is shown as a place that God speaks from (Exodus 25:22).
Does God have a mercy seat because He expects to mainly provide eternal condemnation at the white throne judgment of Revelation 20 like many seem to think?
Obviously, since there is a mercy seat (cf. Exodus 25:17-22; Hebrews 9:5), this is a clue that God plans to have mercy.
While judgment will happen in Revelation 20:11-12 and people will be found guilty (as “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” per Romans 3:23), it will not be for eternal condemnation.
Why? Because, God will plead with His handiwork (Jeremiah 25:31), and mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13).
Is not that what mercy is for?
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines mercy as:
compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power
also: lenient or compassionate treatment …
a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion
Furthermore, mercy is not just for those who are truly Christians in this age.
While God has mercy on those called now, God will also have mercy on those not called to be firstfruits in this age.
But, this teaching is hard for many to understand now as Romans 11:30-33 teaches:
30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Notice that God’s plan ‘has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all’. Also notice that Paul is teaching that God’s mercy and judgment is apparently not easy for most to figure out.
Is it someone’s fault that they were born in an area that no one knew or taught Christ? Or if Christ was taught, He and God’s plan were not properly taught?
God knew that most would not at first obey, but that He has a plan to have mercy on them.
Thus it should be clear that God INTENTIONALLY is allowing some to be disobedient now, so that they will get mercy later and that those called now (the firstfruits) will have mercy now.
And God has done this so that He might have mercy on all–this apparently could not have happened any better way. The only way for God to have mercy on ALL is for salvation to be offered to all in a manner they can properly comprehend.
Yet, these concepts are offensive to many.
Because of their traditions, miseducation, biases, and pride, many cannot accept that God is so merciful.
Most who followed Jesus were offended after He spoke and turned away from Him, despite seeing miracles (see John 6:1-66). Most will not believe what we in the Continuing Church of God point out that the Bible teaches–this includes most who claim to believe the Bible.
Yet, it is only those who intentionally reject God’s mercy, who will be destroyed in the lake of fire, the second death (Revelation 20:14) to put them out of their misery (cf. Revelation 21:4).
God will mercifully end the existence of those who are better off gone!
But, does the Bible teach that the unrepentant will continue to burn in eternal torment?
No.
While there is the fact of a “consuming fire” in Hebrews 12:29, a CONSUMING FIRE, consumes, burns things up. Here is more from the free e-book Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation:
[C]onsistent with Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:28, the wicked who will not repent and support God’s Kingdom will be condemned (John 5:28-29), burnt up (Revelation 20:14), annihilated, totally destroyed:
1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. …
9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. …
20 But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. …
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off. (Psalm 37:1-2,9-10,20,38)
4 You love all devouring words, You deceitful tongue. 5 God shall likewise destroy you forever; (Psalm 52:4-5)
2 As smoke is driven away, So drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God. (Psalm 68:2)
1 “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts,
“That will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. 3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 4:1-3)The Bible calls this the ‘second death’:
11… He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. (Revelation 2:11)
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14)
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)
Thus, it is a type of death, but permanent. Note: The fact of the boy God had Elijah raise (1 Kings 17:17-22), Lazarus who Jesus raised from the dead, (John 11:11-44), and all those who were raised after Jesus was executed (Matthew 27:52-53) shows that human beings can physically die more than once. For those who have been resurrected to physical life prior to the 21st century, their experiencing physical death again is NOT the second death of Revelation 20:14 and Matthew 10:28. THE SECOND DEATH IS DEFINED IN REVELATION 20:14 AS WHEN DEATH AND HADES ARE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. It is not a reference to any humans who, after being resurrected, die again.
Now, the permanent second death, is not eternal torturing like many claim. Jesus came so we would not have to PERISH, but have eternal life:
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, (Hebrews 9:27)
Jesus did not come so that people would not experience physical death—He came to help prevent the second death (Revelation 20:14).
And since the Apostle Paul was inspired to write that it is appointed for people to die (Hebrews 9:27), the PERISHING in John 3:16 has to do with what happens after the resurrections.
James 5:11 states:
1 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord–that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
Permanent torment is not merciful nor very compassionate–but putting the wicked permanently out of their misery is. God is very compassionate and merciful.
Nahum 1:12 teaches:
12 Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more;
Thus, this prophetic book is teaching that there is not a permanent, torturing affliction.
Revelation 21:4 teaches:
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
There will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. Thus, there will not be an ever-burning torment and torture of sinners throughout eternity. All things will become new.
Remember that Malachi 4:1-3 teaches that the wicked (those who will not repent) will be burned up and will be ashes (see also Luke 13:1-3; Matthew 10:28). This is not an everlasting torment, but a destruction of those that refuse God.
The terms immortal and immortality are not found in the Old Testament (NKJV).
Now let’s notice what the Book of Ecclesiastes records:
5 For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, (Ecclesiastes 9:5)
Interestingly, Ezekiel recorded:
4 Behold, all souls are Mine;
The soul of the father
As well as the soul of the son is Mine;
The soul who sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:4).
Notice that Ezekiel says that souls that sin shall die.
The “soul,” nephesh in Hebrew, is a reference to the “life” or the “life essence”–that which makes us living beings. The same term is used of animals in the Bible–actally it is used for non-humans more than humans in the Old Testament (e.g. Genesis 1:20,21,24).
Just like animal “souls” die, so do human “souls.”
But since it is appointed unto men once to die (Hebrews 9:27), is this talking about the first or second death (Revelation 2:11;20:6,14;21:8)?
Well, notice the next several verses from Ezekiel:
5 But if a man is just And does what is lawful and right; 6 If he has not eaten on the mountains, Nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, Nor defiled his neighbor’s wife, Nor approached a woman during her impurity; 7 If he has not oppressed anyone, But has restored to the debtor his pledge; Has robbed no one by violence, But has given his bread to the hungry And covered the naked with clothing; 8 If he has not exacted usury Nor taken any increase, But has withdrawn his hand from iniquity And executed true judgment between man and man; 9 If he has walked in My statutes And kept My judgments faithfully — He is just; He shall surely live!” Says the Lord God. NKJV (Ezekiel 18:5-9).
Ezekiel is obviously talking about the first death.
Why?
Notice that the just man shall live. This is in contrast to the one who practices sin, who shall die. And, think about this point, the just man was already alive, hence the fact that he shall live shows that God will resurrect him so that he can live forever.
Ezekiel basically continues and again warns:
20 The soul who sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:20).
Twice Ezekiel was inspired to write that souls shall die.
These writings in the Old Testament seem to set the stage for the writings in the New Testament.
The New Testament teaches many of the same basic doctrines as the Old Testament, but tends to expand on them.
Jesus confirmed that souls can and will be destroyed when He taught with a Protestant and Roman Catholic translation below:
28 And do not be afraid of those killing the body, and are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. (Matthew 10:28, Literal Standard Version)
28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. (Matthew 10:28, New American Bible)
If souls were truly immortal, then they could not be destroyed. Consistent with Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:28, the wicked who will not repent and support God’s Kingdom will be condemned (John 5:28-29), burnt up (Revelation 20:14), annihilated, totally destroyed according to the Hebrew scriptures:
1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. … 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. … 20 But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. … 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off. (Psalm 37:1-2,9-10,20,38)
4 You love all devouring words, You deceitful tongue. 5 God shall likewise destroy you forever; (Psalm 52:4-5)
2 As smoke is driven away, So drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God. (Psalm 68:2)
1 “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stallfed calves. 3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 4:1-3)
The Bible calls this the ‘second death’ (Revelation 2:11).
That death is the end, annihilation.
It will be the merciful end for those who refuse to accept the truth and love of God.
While the Bible does teach of judgment, it teaches love and mercy.
The Apostle James was inspired to write:
13 … Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13)
Oddly, most who profess Christianity seem not to understand what that means–but you can!
Some items of related interest may include:
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair?, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.The Last Great Day: Shemini ‘Azeret What is the ‘eighth day’ of the Feast? What does it help picture? A sermon on this topic is also available: Shemini Azaret: The Last Great Day.
The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have.
What Happens After Death? Is death like sleep, or is that a cultic idea? Can you speak to the dead? Here is a link to a related sermon: What really happens after death?
The Second Death The New Testament speaks of something called the “second death.” Who will be subject to it? How does it end? Here is a link to a related sermon: First death, Second death.
Study the Bible Course Lesson 15: What is “Hell”? What are the different words translated as “hell” in English? Does Gehenna mean something different than Hades. What happens? What about worms dying not?Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection; here is a message in Spanish: Me Está Llamando Dios Hoy? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.