What Does the Bible Say About Annihilationism?
Annihilationism (or conditional immortality) is the belief that the wicked will not suffer eternal conscious torment but will ultimately cease to exist. According to this view, only the saved will receive immortality, while the unrepentant will be permanently destroyed. This article explores what the Bible says about annihilationism, examining key Scriptures, theological arguments, and the implications for Christian doctrine. (See also: [Response] Annihilationism: Why I'm Not Convinced, Gavin Ortlund, Truth Unites.)
We will consider five major biblical themes related to annihilationism:
Scriptural language of destruction
The meaning of “eternal punishment”
Fire and judgment in biblical imagery
The justice of God and the fate of the wicked
The challenge of Revelation and traditional doctrine
1. The Bible Often Describes Final Judgment Using the Language of Destruction
Supporters of annihilationism point out that the Bible frequently describes God's judgment using terms like “destroy,” “perish,” and “consume.” These words suggest an end to existence rather than ongoing torment.
Malachi 4:1 describes the wicked as stubble consumed in fire, leaving “neither root nor branch.”
Psalm 37:20 says, “But the wicked will perish... they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.”
Matthew 10:28 says God can “destroy both soul and body in hell,” a key verse for annihilationist interpretations.
Proponents argue that these verses point to irreversible loss of life and consciousness rather than endless suffering.
2. “Eternal Punishment” May Refer to the Permanence of the Outcome, Not the Process
One of the strongest challenges to annihilationism is Matthew 25:46, which says the wicked “will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Traditional interpreters argue that this parallel structure requires both the punishment and life to be eternal in duration.
Annihilationists respond by emphasizing that eternal punishment could refer to the result being eternal, not the experience. That is, the punishment—death and non-existence—lasts forever. This interpretation maintains the parallelism without requiring conscious torment.
3. Biblical Imagery of Fire Often Points to Destruction, Not Torment
Annihilationists argue that the Bible uses fire primarily as a metaphor for destruction. In the Old Testament, divine fire typically consumes what it touches.
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire from heaven (Genesis 19), and Jude 7 calls this an example of “eternal fire,” though the cities no longer exist.
Hebrews 10:27 speaks of “a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries,” echoing Isaiah and other prophetic warnings.
In this view, fire does not symbolize eternal pain but swift and total annihilation. Annihilationism argues this better fits the biblical usage than the image of perpetual burning without end.
4. God’s Justice and the Proportionality of Punishment
Advocates of annihilationism believe their view better reflects the Bible’s teaching on the justice of God. If God punishes sin proportionally, it seems unjust for finite sins to merit infinite conscious torment.
They also appeal to Romans 6:23, which says “the wages of sin is death,” not “eternal torment.” Death, in this framework, is understood as the end of life, not ongoing punishment.
This perspective maintains that God's character is both holy and just, and that the final destruction of the wicked upholds divine justice without distorting God’s mercy or fairness.
5. Revelation’s Challenges and the Tradition of Eternal Torment
Critics of annihilationism often point to Revelation 14:9–11 and Revelation 20:10, which describe torment that goes on “forever and ever.” Traditional interpreters see this as proof of eternal conscious suffering.
Annihilationists offer several counterpoints:
These texts are highly symbolic and apocalyptic.
The torment language may apply specifically to institutions or figures like the beast and false prophet, not to all unredeemed people.
Revelation also uses “second death” to describe the lake of fire, which may align better with annihilation.
Historically, the doctrine of eternal torment has been dominant in church tradition, but annihilationism contends that the Bible deserves priority over tradition, especially where the two appear to conflict.
Conclusion: Does the Bible Teach Annihilationism?
While annihilationism remains a minority view within Christian history, it draws on a number of compelling biblical themes. The Bible repeatedly uses language of death, destruction, and perishing to describe the fate of the wicked. Annihilationists argue that this language should be taken seriously, especially in light of God’s justice and the nature of divine punishment.
Though passages like Matthew 25 and Revelation 14 are central to the traditional view, they remain open to alternative interpretations. Whether or not one accepts annihilationism, the conversation challenges believers to revisit Scripture with fresh eyes and to reflect deeply on how God's holiness, love, and justice intersect in the final judgment.
Bible Verses about Annihilationism:
Psalm 37:20, "But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away."
Malachi 4:1, "'For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze,' says the Lord of hosts, 'so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.'"
Matthew 10:28, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
2 Thessalonians 1:9, "They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might."
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
Obadiah 1:16, "For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been."
Psalm 1:6, "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."
Matthew 7:13, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many."
Hebrews 10:27, "But a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries."
