In my discussions with annihilationists, one of the conceptual roadblocks I’ve encountered is an inability to distinguish between eternal existence and having eternal life.
Some annihilationists reason this way: “To have eternal life means to exist forever. Only believers have eternal life, therefore only believers will exist forever. Since unbelievers lack eternal life, they will not exist forever. Therefore, they will cease to exist, i.e., be annihilated.”
The basic mistake there is to confuse eternal existence with eternal life.
Eternal life includes the idea of unending existence, but goes beyond it. It means being born-again (John 3:6), being a partaker of God’s own nature (2 Pet 1:4), knowing God (John 17:3), and fellowshipping with Him forever on the new heavens and the new earth.
Unbelievers do not have eternal life. That is, they are not partakers of the divine nature, etc. However, whether or not they have unending existence is a different issue. I believe they will exist eternally in the Lake of Fire (for more, see here and here).
I recently came across a blog by William Lane Craig where he tried to explain this distinction to someone asking about annihilationism. I was glad to read him make the same point I have often made:
The most fundamental failing of your argument is the failure to appreciate that everlasting existence is not the same as everlasting life. The damned in hell have everlasting existence but not everlasting life. In the New Testament everlasting life is not bios (physical life, from which our word biology derives), but rather zōē (spiritual life). The damned, even if they have physical life, having been resurrected, do not have zōē. They are, in fact, spiritually dead and will remain so forever (see here).
Jim Poulos
There is a principle of returning to the original setting of words and of phrases deriving meaning from the original context.
The phrase ‘eternal life’ or ‘everlasting life’ would be an enlistment of the Greek world and Greek mind into the original Hebrew world of this phrase. Yes, the originally was using a Greek phrase, ‘zoe aionion.’ But its use was formulated with the Hebrew mind not the Greek mind. The two words mean ‘life’ (zoe) and ‘age’ (aionion or eon).
The phrase would be understood by the Hebrew mind as ‘life of the age to come.’ The idea of a ‘new age’ dawning was Israel’s hope and is even to this day. This understanding keeps God’s rule in perspective and makes relevant now and into the future.
For Consideration and discussion.
Dan Coggins
In Revelation 20:12ff the “dead stand” before the LORD with no question as to their condition or destination. Apparently the issue is degree of punishment. (Matt. 10:15; 11:22) They continue to exist “away from the presence of the LORD and the glory of His power” (2 Thess. 1:9; Luke 16:19-31). Thus the definition/explanation of death as separation is consistent to the end, their end (final destination) in fact. (Matt. 7:23 & 25:41)
EternallySaved
I am glad that you wrote this article and the distinction was made. This is important. Eternal existence vs eternal life. Amen. We get eternal life when we believe in Jesus Christ alone for it.
John W Reed
Excellent points and a well made distinction. The whole ceasing to exist nonsense is just a view some hold to because they can’t reconcile God’s absolute goodness, mercy, loving kindness, and tender mercies, and His being Love with the reality that ultimately He is also a righteous judge. God’s not mad at anyone, Jesus Finished Work dealt with the sin of mankind. People must receive the free gift. If they reject the free gift, they sadly are accepting eternal separation from God.
Jeff Ayers
Eternal Separation From God is a statement (and concept) not found in the Bible. The issue is Aionian life is the age or eon to come. Matthew 25 sheds a lot of light on this issue. Matt 25:41 is not the GWTJ and the threat of being cast into an “eternal hell” and 25:46 is not a promise of never-ending life in heaven. Both are in the context of sheep-goat judgement at the second coming prior to the millennium for those who visit, give a drink, clothe the least of these, Christ’s brethren etc. and a curse for those who didn’t