Conditional Immortality
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Conditional Immortality teaches that those who reject God through Christ ultimately choose to exist apart from him. In complete separation from God, their existence cannot continue without his life-sustaining presence.
Conditional Immortality’s Foundational Principles:
#1: Definition of Life: Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). In this statement, Jesus explained that life means being with God. This aligns with Genesis 2, where God formed the adam from the ground and then breathed into him the breath of life, making him a living being. Everlasting life, as Jesus said earlier, is rooted in God’s love (John 3:16).
#2: Definition of Death: Death is, at its core, separation from God. From humanity’s exile from Eden to the final judgment in Revelation 20, the Bible portrays death as the ultimate break from God’s truth, goodness, and beauty—qualities found only in relationship with him. This separation, chosen by the unbeliever, leads to inevitable death, as only God sustains life. Isaiah 59:2 reminds us that iniquities build barriers between people and God, while Paul assures us that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). God’s warnings of death come from a heart of love and mercy, urging people to embrace life with him.
#3: Current Age of Life and Death: After the flood, God promised that ultimate destruction would not occur until his restoration plan was complete. God, unwilling for anyone to perish, sustains life for all—even those who reject him—to provide opportunity for relationship. However, a time will come when no one else will choose to come to him. At that point, final judgment will occur, and those who reject him will exist fully separated from God. Without his sustaining presence, their existence cannot continue.
#4: The Second Death: The second death is the final judgment for rejecting relationship with God. In complete separation from God, without his life-sustaining presence, the human soul cannot continue to exist. Revelation 20:14 states, “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire,” and Revelation 21:4 assures us, “There will be no more death.” If death—separation from God—ends, nothing remains separated from him. Thus, rebellious souls cease to exist.
#5: Depictions of State of Ultimate Rejectors: The Bible uses vivid imagery to describe death as separation from God—darkness, fire, weeping and gnashing of teeth, destruction, and perishing. These images reflect the anguish and finality of rejecting God’s sustaining presence. Yet, not once does the Bible state that humans will be tormented forever. The penalty for sin—death, or separation—can never be overcome, but conscious, tormented existence is not part of the biblical picture.
#6: One Difficult Verse—Rev 20:10: Revelation 20:10 states, “The devil . . . was thrown into the lake of fire . . . to be tormented day and night forever and ever.” However, the Greek can also be understood as, “The devil . . . was thrown into the lake of fire . . . to test the worth (good or bad) of his deeds for age upon age.” This interpretation aligns with Hebrews 2:14, which speaks of Satan’s ultimate destruction—not everlasting torment. The lake of fire, like a refining fire, burns off the bad, leading to Satan’s complete end.