The human soul is NOT eternal

The human soul

Many teachers out there teach that the human soul is inherently eternal, and consequently the souls of the wicked must also always exist which leads to the doctrine of Eternal Suffering. But is this true?

Some ask the inevitable question, “how can a God of love subject anyone to such a terrible fate? Let’s see if this idea of eternal suffering is true by looking at the very scriptures that these teachers use to support their teaching. Before we begin though, let’s think this hypothesis through.

First off, how are the wicked alive if they are cut off from the God of the living? Do they have another life power source apart from God? Or do they get to keep the breath that gave them life in the first place. If so, why does it say that the spirit goes back to God who gave it in Ecclesiastes 12:7?

and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

And what happens when you forfeit your soul, does it mean you keep it?

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? … For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? (Mark 8:36)

These scriptures answer our sensible questions regarding what eternal judgement must entail.

Are these just isolated scriptures taken out of context though? Let’s read on and discover more scriptures that tell a completely different story to the Doctrine of Eternal Suffering.

First we will investigate if the human soul is eternal as many assume.

  • the soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:20)
  • 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 hell.(Matthew 10:28)

This is enough to answer anyone who believes that the human soul never dies. We have to clear witness scriptures that teach that the human soul can actually die. But there is more. In fact there is a wealth of teaching about the possible destruction and death of the human soul and the destruction of the wicked. After all, do we not already hold to the fact that eternal life is for the righteous soul ONLY.

  • for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
  • hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
  • But transgressors will be altogether destroyed; The posterity of the wicked will be cut off.
  • He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.
  • What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath–prepared for destruction?
  • And death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 
  • They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
  • I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
  • I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
  • For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
  • and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
  • Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
  • Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
  • They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power
  • By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
  • For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Anyone who denies that the wicked will be destroyed, perish, forfeit their soul, die, or thrown into the Second Death that also destroys the present earth and heaven simply deny scripture and prophecy regarding what is taught on Eternal Judgment. In the Book of Revelation. we clearly read that Death and Hell are thrown into the Lake of Fire, and we know that the SAME fire that destroys the heavens and earth also destroys the wicked.

This teaching that says that both the righteous and wicked will have their soul exist for all eternity is clearly not aligned with scripture. But how important is the correct belief on Eternal Judgement? Well it is is one of the foundational doctrines of the true faith. See Hebrews 6:

1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. 4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. 9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case–things that accompany salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Viewing 20 posts - 261 through 280 (of 732 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #789329
    DavidL
    Participant

    “Hell is separation from God… a lot of people say, ‘Well my God He’s a loving God, and there is no hell, He wouldn’t put you in hell, and He wouldn’t do this and that.’ let me tell you something, that’s all nice and everything, but hell is real, and you know who put you there – YOU…He has a law for you to follow, and if you don’t follow it, you’re going to be in hell.”

     

    #789335
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    Hell exists. I don’t think anyone here is denying that.

    Revelation 20:14
    Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

    But Death and Hell is subjected to the Second Death, the Lake of Fire. That is the same fire that burns up the old heavens and earth.

    It is written somewhere that Death has been swallowed up in victory.

    #789343
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi,

    Hades, as shown in Lk 16, is a waiting place for those who have died, till the judgement.

    After the judgement there is no further need for it.

    But the lake of fire remains.

    #789351
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    Scripture says that Hell is thrown into the Lake of Fire. The same fire that destroys the ungodly is the fire that burns the heavens and earth.

    2 Peter 3:7
    By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

    And then this promise is given:

    But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

    So the wicked will perish and we see that this fire is so consuming that it also destroys the elements.

    But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare

    But then after everything is destroyed in this way, God creates a new Heavens and Earth where righteousness and the righteous dwell.

    Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

    But then some argue that the human soul cannot be destroyed because he made man as an eternal creature. Thus his soul cannot be destroyed and this fire and will instead, perpetually burn and suffer the flame for all eternity. But scripture teaches differently to this idea of eternal suffering in Hell. Besides contradicting what we just read about the destruction of the ungodly in the above verses, it is clear from this verse that everything is destroyed and a new creation comes into being. However, even more condemning for the ‘eternal soul’ view is the following scripture. It clearly shows that God in his mercy spared man the fate of living forever because of his sin.

    And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

    Clearly God the merciful  stopped man from eating the tree of life after he sinned, thus sparing him from living forever. God is well able to destroy man’s soul too and he will certainly do this very thing to the wicked. This is all written. We either accept it or doubt it.

    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 hell.

    The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

     

    #789414
    kerwin
    Participant

    T8,

    Abaddon is the Angel of the Abyss according to the above. That brings up another name though, “Abyss“.

    The Abyss sounds like a synonym of wither Sheol or Abaddon.

    Abandon is mentioned in OT.   The angel of the NT name but Hades also bears the name of Hades the place he rules.

    #789419
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    Thanks kerwin.

    #789421
    terraricca
    Participant

    t8

    & The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

    those words cannot be applied unless you remove the grace of God through Jesus ,but the sin against the spirit of truth cannot be forgiven ,and so when the curse of the dead of Adam has been removed then those words will apply without mercy for then it would justice

    #789440
    kerwin
    Participant

    T,

    A path for forgiveness existed under the covenant of Mt. Sinai.

     

    #789518
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    Yeah terraricca, the soul that sins will die, BUT the free gift of God is eternal life. This is God’s grace as you say.

    The first birth is destined for death. The second birth is from above and from the Spirit of God, it is life eternal.

    We must be born again.

     

    #789527
    terraricca
    Participant

    t8

    yes ,once we have received the spirit of truth we cannot receive it twice ,and for that reason it would be a sin against the holy spirit of truth and no one can be saved twice this sin will result in permanent dead ,for Christ will not die another time for those that have rejected the grace of God son ,

    #789528
    terraricca
    Participant

    K

    T,

    A path for forgiveness existed under the covenant of Mt. Sinai.

    not so ,the law condemn anyone that lives ;and showed the need for something more to be needed ,and that the promise to the patriarch was the sacrifice for the sins of man ,this path was understood by the prophets of old

    #789530
    Grasshopper
    Participant

    Romans 8:1-2

    “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”

    ~~~~~~~~~
    Grasshopper

    #789568
    kerwin
    Participant

    T,

    Leviticus 4:20 speaks of such forgiveness.  God gives a greater gift under the covenant of Christ.

    #789581
    carmel
    Participant

    God will destroy the wicked and that they will perish

    t8,

    Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever “– therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

    Where does it say in the above scripture that GOD WILL DESTROY SOULS!

    Now read scripture and reflect:

    Genesis 1:26 And he said: Let us make man to our image and LIKENESS:….

    Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the slime of the earth: and breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul.

    Now

    The MAN who is mentioned in these two verses of scripture has nothing to do
    with the man who is mentioned in the scripture you posted!

    Due to the fact that God created HIS KIND OF MAN in his image, and the most important,

    And LIKENESS!

    THEREFORE SOULS ARE ETERNAL LIKE GOD!

    So to me it is sufficient enough to believe that souls are eternal, and also to ignore all other indications, and statements which definitely are not in a way related to a complete eradication of souls.

    Peace and love in Jesus
    Charles

    #789587
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    I think two things are happening here in this conversation, so I would like to add my 2 cents worth. (1 cent for each point, lol) )

    No man is saved by the Law because we all fall short of it. We have all broken God’s commandments at some point.

    However, this does not mean that all under the Law are condemned to destruction. No way. Was Moses perfect? No. Was he condemned to destruction? No. All those who were faithful under the Law and those who only had the law written in their hearts (conscience) can be saved because of the death of our messiah who died for all mankind and for all time.

    Romans 2:11-13
    11 For there is no partiality with God.
    12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
    13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.… 

    Notice that it doesn’t say that you have to be perfect under the law or sinless, rather that if you were or are under the Law, then you must be a doer of the Law. And we already know that Christ died for mankind, and we are made perfect by him. Our shortfall is covered by him so to speak. This is true for us today and for all mankind.

    If Christ did not die for us, then there would be no salvation because there is no one perfect. We have all sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Thus, our souls would die if it were not for the free gift of salvation.

    So those who were doers of the Law in times past are also saved by the grace of God.

    #789589
    kerwin
    Participant

    carmal,

    Your words contain a red herring fallacy.

    #789599
    terraricca
    Participant

    k

    Leviticus 4:20 speaks of such forgiveness. God gives a greater gift under the covenant of Christ.

    Lev 4:20 and do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.
    Lev 4:21 Then he shall take the bull outside the camp and burn it as he burned the first bull. This is the sin offering for the community.

    No ,this is only another sacrifice that shows the need for some bigger to come for each time they would sin they have to make a sacrifice ,this says it all ,while after Christ no more sacrifice to be given only the cleaning of our selves in side of our soul

    #789608
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    Yes the blood of bulls provided atonement until the greater sacrifice was made.

    Hebrews 10:
    3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.
    4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
    5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME;

    #789615
    kerwin
    Participant

    T,

    My claim is that there is forgiveness under the Law of Moses and essential point of the evidence I presented is “and they will be forgiven”.  In other words if they make the sacrifices as the Law commands they will be forgiven their sins.  That is what I claimed.

    #789616
    kerwin
    Participant

    @t8,

    3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.

    Is the writer of Hebrews implying that being reminded of your sins year after year is a evil occurrence?

    If not, then what do you believe he means?

Viewing 20 posts - 261 through 280 (of 732 total)
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