eternal conscious torment – Page 2 – Grace Evangelical Society

Hollywood’s Hell

October 1, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - annihilationism, conditionalism, demons, devil, ECT, eternal conscious torment, Hell, lake of fire

Most people get their theological education from Hollywood. Show of hands—how many people think that Satan is the boss of hell? You know the image. It’s played as a joke—hell is where Satan rules, and the name of the game is torturing people. That’s his job and demons are his underlings. For example, that’s the

The Rich Man, Lazarus, and Samuel

January 24, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Abraham’s Bosom, annihilationism, conditionalism, ECT, eternal conscious torment, Hades, Hell, Sheol

One of the central texts in the debate over hell is Luke 16—the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Actually, whether or not this is a parable is part of the debate. People who deny eternal conscious torment deny that Jesus’ story depicts a real situation. For example, many annihilationists want to deny it

Where Did Abraham Go When He Died (Gen 25:8-9; Luke 16:22-23)?

January 22, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Abraham, annihilationism, conditionalism, ECT, eternal conscious torment, Hell, Paradise

I am about a third of the way into writing my book about hell, tentatively entitled, Final Punishment: A Biblical Case for Conscious Eternal Torment. I’m hoping to finish by the 2019 National Conference. There is so much interesting Biblical information about death and the afterlife in the Bible. The picture is far more complicated

Eternal Existence vs Eternal Life

July 3, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - annihilationism, conditionalism, ECT, eternal conscious torment, Hell, immortality of the soul

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

Tartarus — 2 Peter 2:4

May 21, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - annihilationism, conditionalism, ECT, eternal conscious torment, Fallen Angels, Hell, Tartarus

The Bible is much stranger than people allow. That’s where theology can go wrong—by trying to make it less strange than it is. I have been exploring the topic of “hell” in a series of blog posts, explaining the Biblical reasons that lead me to accept eternal conscious torment (ECT) over and against annihilationism and

Annihilationism, ECT, and the Biblical Definition of Death

April 30, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - annihilationim, annihilationism, conditionalism, Death, ECT, eternal cons, eternal conscious torment, Hell

I’ve been exploring the debate between annihilationism and eternal conscious torment (ECT) in a series of blog posts. One of the disagreements between the two views is over the meaning of death. Many proponents of annihilationism understand death to mean the cessation of existence, especially conscious existence. They say that when someone dies, the whole

Where the Worm Does Not Die — Mark 9:48; cf. vv 44, 46

April 23, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - annihilationism, conditionalism, ECT, Edward Fudge, eternal conscious torment, Gehenna, Hell

Jesus described the state of those in Gehenna with these terrifying words, “Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48). I’ve been comparing the eternal conscious torment (ECT) view with annihilationism in a series of blog posts. How does each view deal with this verse? The Annihilationist Interpretation Edward

John Gerstner and Gehenna

April 4, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - annihilationism, conditionalism, ECT, Eternal Concious Torment, eternal conscious torment, Gehenna, Hell, John Gerstner

I am researching the topic of eternal conscious torment (ECT) for a series of blog posts, and a possible book(let). While there are many modern books defending annihilationism and universalism, there are few defending ECT. And none (that I know of) are written from a Dispensational, Free Grace perspective. One popular ECT book is John

The Dead Still Exist — Revelation 20:12-15

April 3, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - annihilationism, conditionalism, ECT, eternal conscious torment, Hell, last judgment, life after death, Revelation

Annihilationists agree with the eternal conscious torment view (ECT) that some people will be forever separated from God. However, annihilationists say that separation involves being put out of existence. They strongly deny the wicked will be tormented forever. Which view is true? I have been exploring this question in a series of blog posts. Consider

Does Fire Always Consume? — Revelation 19:20 and 20:10

March 29, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - annihilationism, conditionalism, ECT, eternal conscious torment, Hell

The unhappy flipside of the promise of life is that if you do not believe in Jesus, you will perish (John 3:16). In fact, Jesus said unbelievers are condemned already (John 3:16, 18). Traditionally, that is known as “going to hell.” Most of what we think concerning hell comes to us from Roman Catholic art