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 - 461 through 480 (of 732 total)
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    Posts
  • #795323
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

    Kerwin.

    When we are absent from the body are we present with the Lord or not?

    Is there a third stage not mentioned here? What is it?

    #795324
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    Instantly?

    I cannot say for sure. It seems to be that way when you read a number of scriptures.

    I do know for sure that the dead in Christ rise before them which are alive and remain. So why do they not rise at the same time?

    We are not told specifically how much before though, in that scripture at least. It doesn’t negate being instantly with the Lord.

    And if death is no consciousness at all including no sleep, then either way, we will be with the Lord straight after we die from our perspective.

    The only way this is not true is if we die, we sleep and are conscious during that sleep.

    #795325
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi t8,

    Time is not relevant.

    To sleep in death is to wake and meet the Lord in the air at his return

    #795326
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    Yes that is one explanation and a good one at that.

    #795327
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    But why the two timings?

    The dead are ahead of the living when they meet the Lord.

    Why is that?

    Surely it would happen to all in the same moment, but it says otherwise.

    #795372
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi t8,

    Good question.

    God’s ways are not ours.

    #795400
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    It says in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. And that the dead rise before.
    So it is quick, and the dead precede the living. Thus we cannot rule out that those who are away from the body are present with the Lord.

    Given that the timing for the living is different to the dead, it fits with the idea that the dead are with Christ now.

    #795404
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi T8,

    You think so?

     

    There is a RESURRECTION of the dead.

    And it occurs in the twinkling of an eye, but with an order.

    So there is no evidence that some have already risen before that day.

    #795435
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    If time does not mean much to an unlimited God, then why cannot those who are absent from the body be with the Lord Jesus in eternity and then at some point, all will meet the Lord in the clouds here near Earth. For all we know, all time could be a moment with God. Or a thousand years as one day. What if he took all with him in one day?

    You said it yourself, “Time is not relevant”.

    So if it is not relevant, then from an eternal point of view, the dead could be with Christ now in eternity.

    Perhaps we rely to much on our earthly perspective? Even Einstein said time works differently in the physical universe depending on your speed.

    All I know is that the dead precede the living and the graves of many broke open when Jesus rose from the grave.

    We also know that if he was raised that he will take others with him.

    But as you say, even if it happens at the end and the dead are not sleeping or if sleeping is an unconscious state, then when we die, we will awake immediately and be with the Lord from our perspective.

    I am certainly not going to say that the dead are not with Christ though.

    #795436
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi t8,

    There is no mention of men being in heaven and then returned to the air of earth.

    If we have the Spirit of Christ then we are already with him now, and with him in the heavenly realms.

    col 3.1-3

    #795438
    NickHassan
    Participant

    hi t8,

    Where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name I am there amongst them.

    #795442
    kerwin
    Participant

    T8,

    When we are absent from the body are we present with the Lord or not?
    Is there a third stage not mentioned here? What is it?

    My point is that is does not say “When we are absent from the body are we present with the Lord” but instead says “we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” Of the two choices he gives he is stating that he prefers to be with the Lord even if it means he has no body.

    #795443
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi ,

    We know that the new heavenly body is given at the time of resurrection.

    We know we will not be naked.

     

    So we wait in sleep till the trumpet calls.

    #795444
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi t8,

    Yes some tombs were opened and some were raised.

    But there is record of what happened with them

    #795445
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi t8

    2 Corinthians 5:4
    For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

     

    This happens at the resurrection

    #795466
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    My point is that is does not say “When we are absent from the body are we present with the Lord” but instead says “we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” Of the two choices he gives he is stating that he prefers to be with the Lord even if it means he has no body.

    So there is a another state or interim stage. No body and not with Christ?

    #795468
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    This happens at the resurrection

    How long does the resurrection last? The dead rise first then we who are alive and remain.

    What proof is there that it is a matter of seconds or moments between the two.

    And why the need for that?

    #795470
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi T8,

    No information available.

    But it is the DAY of the lord

    #795473
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    So if you cannot answer that, then you also cannot say for sure that the dead do not rise way before those that are alive and remain.

    After all, you say the Day of the LORD, but a day to God is like a thousand years and you said something along the lines that time is irrelevant to a timeless God.

    In one day, God created the dry land, continent/s above the water and large bodies of water were called “seas” and the ground named “land.”

    In another day, he created all plant life both large and small.

    Was this the twinkling of an eye? Did it take a thousands years per day? Was it a millenium? Does it matter to a timeless infinite God?

    So it is possible that in the twinkling of an eye refers to the amount of time that we are changed from mortal to immortal and if we do not have the info to know the difference with the time between the dead who precede the living, then no one here can absolutely say that the dead in Christ are not with Christ now.

    After all, how can the term “Dead in Christ” mean they are not with CHRIST and yet be DEAD? They must be with Christ or in him surely.

    #795474
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi T8,

    Does God divide the living and the dead in Christ?

    Are there divisions again such as there was between jew and gentile?

    Do those who were dead in Christ have an advantage over those who were yet alive.

     

    Would not their joy be the same?

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