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 - 601 through 620 (of 732 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #822071
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi Miia,

    Rev 21

    And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,’ Behold  the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God, Himself shall be with them and be their God’

    God’s mercy has been fully expressed and His anger is expiated.

    The meek shall inherit the earth.

    #822082
    Miia
    Participant

    Yes but if God does not stay angry forever, and God is love then there will be no people alive in hell for eternity.

    #822128
    Jodi
    Participant

    The wicked will be DESTROYED they well become ASHES, existing no more for all of eternity.

    Scripture tells us that the DEAD know NOTHING, they cannot praise God in the grave, so neither can they deny or sin against Him.

    Ecclesiastes tells us that all is vanity if one believes that they are different from the animals, what is made of dust returns to the dust.

    #822129
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi,

    The body of Adam was fashioned from the dust of planet earth.

    God blew into the man of dust and he became a living soul.

     

    The breath of God gave Adam his soul and his spirit.

    #822130
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi,

    The body of Adam was fashioned from the dust of planet earth.

    God blew into the man of dust and he became a living soul.

     

    The breath of God gave Adam his soul and his spirit.

    Fear Him Who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

    #822132
    Jodi
    Participant

    “Gehenna” or “Gehenna of fire”. “This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned”.

    Jesus used the local place called Gehenna to describe the destruction of the wicked. They will become ashes, both body and mind, as there is no such thing as an immortal soul, to think otherwise scripture tells us is vanity and is to follow Plato and the early false Christian Church established by pagan converts who loved to mix in pagan beliefs. This is where false doctrines come in such as the trinity, immortal souls, eternal torture of the wicked, fallen angels, and demons as rebellious spirits.

    #822133
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi Jodi,

    So you say.

    But you have yet to say who Jesus Christ is to you.

    The end of your intellectual exercise seems to be that you make him the mouthpiece for superstition.

     

    Is that what you mean?

    #822135
    Jodi
    Participant

    Hi Nick,

    I have written directly on this forum that people believe superstitions from PAGANS, and have understood Jesus’ words INCORRECTLY by applying PAGAN superstitions, instead of what the bible teaches.

    But you actually know this!! You know that the issue comes down to different definitions. I combine scripture to form an understanding, and look at the original meaning to words, I do not read a word in the bible and rely on a traditional Christian doctrine.

    The word hades for instance, does it represent the traditional Christian doctrine, one like Plato of a soul being eternally tormented, or does it represent the grave where people perish, or a fiery pit where people are reduced to ashes?

    #822138
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi Jodi,

    Read and believe the words of Jesus Christ about Hades and the bosom of Abraham in Luke 16.

    Know that he is speaking of the waiting places and not the Lake of fire or Gehenna.

    Read and believe his words from the Spirit in Rev 20.13.

    Hades is thrown into the lake of fire.

     

    We are not told to fear Hades but to fear the One Who has the power to destroy soul and body in Gehenna.

    #822152
    GeneBalthrop
    Participant

    Nick…do yourself a favor go look up the word Hades. THE WORD HADES CAME FROM GREEK MYTHOLOGY, JUST ANOTHER PAGAN WORD USED IN SCRIPTURES.

    THE WORD “HELL” IS SIMPLY THE GRAVE. God can destory our complete being by simply leaving us in the grave, and not raising us back to life if he so chooses to. Fear God is a true statement he “only” has power to raise us up from the grave OR (hello’s) when we die, just as he did JESUS.

    Peace and love to you and yours. …..gene

    #822153
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi Gene,

    Hades is a word used by God in scripture.

    Do you deny scripture?

    #822160
    GeneBalthrop
    Participant

    Nick, I did a word search, and the word Hades according to e-Sword is not once found in scriptures brother.

    Peace and love to you and yours………gene

    #822162
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi Gene,

    Any KJV based translation uses HELL for Hades, Gehenna etc.

    Poor translation of the words from the manuscripts which has confused many.

    #822163
    GeneBalthrop
    Participant

    Nick…..Yes there has been a lot of pagan platonic teachings that has infected the church, the word Hell simply means the grave. Not some place where people are still alive as pagans believed. When a person dies they are dead until the resurection, just as Jesus said he was, dead, and now alive for evermore, after his resurection, the same applies to us.

    Peace and love to you and yours. ……gene

    #822168
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi Gene,

    When Jesus died he was yet alive in the Spirit and he visited the spirits in prison.1peter3.

    And of course Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all who lived in the Spirit are yet alive.

     

    Surely you know this if you too have been given of the Spirit of life?

    #822169
    GeneBalthrop
    Participant

    Nick…. What i have been given is the “spirit of truth” which is from the FATHER, AND IF HIM WHO RAISED JESUS FROM THE GRAVE ABIDES IN ME, HE THAT RASIED JESUS FROM THE DEAD SHALL ALSO RAISE MY “MORTAL” (DEAD) BODY FROM THE GRAVE.

    The dead “souls” spirits have returned to him who gave it, there bodies went back to the earth, they are dead souls and have not been resurected yet, the only one that has been resurected and came back to life from the grave is Jesus, all the rest in the grave are dead, but their spirits rest in the boosm of the Father. They are no longer living “souls”. Don’t you believe Jesus when he said he was “dead” and “now” is alive. Dead means not alive Nick it means “dead” . You present him as if he never really died, but scripture and Jesus says he did “die”. And Jesus also said after he was resurected he was “not” a spirit. Because spirits do not have flesh and bone bodies as he had and has, spirits are what is in bodies. Why can’t you understand that brother?

    Peace and love to you and yours. ……gene

    #822170
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi Gene,

    Do you not agree with scripture when it speaks of those in Christ who sleep in death?

    Some were wakened as with Moses and Elijah on the mountain with the Lord.

    Then there was Nathan who was wakened and spoke with king Saul?

    Then Jesus Christ appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus.

    Do you not believe Jesus visited the spirits in prison?

    The first death for those in Christ is an illusion.

    #822266
    Proclaimer
    Participant

    Clearly, the human soul is not eternal. Thus man can perish and be no more and the spirit can return to God who gave it.

    The Spirit is what gives life. If God takes it back, then what makes a person alive?

    #822269
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi T8,

    before the rope breaks you have to be filled with the waters of eternal life.

    Then rivers of life can flow from you.

    #822274
    NickHassan
    Participant

    Hi T8,

    Those given a share of the Spirit are yet alive,

    Abraham, Isaac and Jacob the Lord Jesus offered as examples

Viewing 20 posts - 601 through 620 (of 732 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

© 1999 - 2024 Heaven Net

Navigation

© 1999 - 2023 - Heaven Net
or

Log in with your credentials

or    

Forgot your details?

or

Create Account