What is conditional immortality? Conditional Immortality (which is also sometimes called annihilationism and conditionalism) is the position that only those who have trusted in Christ will be granted continued, eternal existence in the afterlife. Upon our physical death, according to the majority of conditionalists, we enter a state of soul sleep where we are unconscious. Then sometime in the future, the person is resurrected, reunited with his physical body, and is then judged. The wicked are annihilated (either right away or later after a duration of punishment) and only those who have put their faith and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus will be granted physical immortality and will then live forever.

“Conditionalism is the view that life or existence is the Creator’s provisional gift to all, which will ultimately either be granted forever on the basis of righteousness (by grace, through faith) or revoked forever on the basis of unrighteousness. Evangelical conditionalists believe that the saved in Christ will receive glory, honor, and immortality, being raised with an incorruptible body to inherit eternal life (Romans 2:7). The unsaved will be raised in shame and dishonor, to face God and receive the just condemnation for their sins. When the penalty is carried out, they will be permanently excluded from eternal life by means of a final death (loss of being; destruction of the whole person; Matthew 10:28).”¹http://www.rethinkinghell.com/about/statement

Is there a difference between annihilationism and conditionalism?  It depends on the definitions. But, among many who hold to conditionalism, there is a distinction. Annihilationism is the condition of nonexistence that awaits the damned.  Conditionalism is the state that awaits the redeemed; they are to receive immortality on the condition of their faith in Christ.  But, conditionalists affirm the annihilation of the wicked.

“…conditionalism emphasizes what awaits the redeemed, namely, eternal life and immortality…annihilationism is about what awaits the damned, namely, the eternal punishment of destruction in hell. Such is their perishing, the permanent end to the conscious existence of the whole person.”²rethinkinghell.com/explore/ introduction/ what is annihilationism?

Conditionalists have various arguments they employ to support their position. Generally, the arguments fall under these main categories:

1. God alone possesses immortality and the Bible only ascribes immortality to the redeemed.
2. Eternal life is associated only with the redeemed.
3. According to Scripture, unbelievers are said to be destroyed; therefore, they will not exist anymore.
4. Eternal conscious torment is not proportional to the finite sins committed by people.
5. God is too good and loving to punish someone forever in eternal conscious torment.
6. Eternal conscious torment benefits neither God nor the one being punished.
7. The Greek word for “eternal” actually means age; therefore, the wicked are punished for an age, not forever

Each of these arguments has their strengths and weaknesses and are addressed here on CARM.

CARM’s position is that conditional immortality is not biblical.  The wicked will experience eternal, conscious torment due to their sin against God and their rejection of Jesus.

• Matthew 13:41–42, “The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
• Matthew 25:41, “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;”
• Matthew 25:46, “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
• 2 Thessalonians 1:9, “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,”
• Revelation 14:10–11, “he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
• Revelation 20:10, “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

 

Return to Annihilationism Page