What occurs after death? – A question answerable only via Bible consultation. Does there remain a consciousness after death?
Despite the clarity of the Holy Script some do not subscribe to the idea of eternal consciousness in hell. Concerning Thayer’s definition of “olethros,” translated “destruction” in 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Homer Hailey wrote,
“Thayer defined the word to mean, ‘ruin, destruction, death’; and then added his comment, ‘the loss of life of blessedness after death, future misery’ (443). His opinion is the point at issue. Read again the four passages from the apostle [1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; 1 Timothy 6:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:9]. Does any of the four passages suggest ‘future misery?’ or is such a meaning inherent in the Greek word itself? It seems not” (Hailey, Homer. God’s Judgements and Punishments. Pg. 160).
What Hailey does not consider is the other facets of this punishment of destruction in scripture. Specifically in 2 Thessalonians 1:6, “since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you.” The Greek word “thlipsis,” translated “tribulation,” is defined by Strong as, “oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits.” Can the unconscious or annihilated be oppressed, afflicted, or distressed?
Concerning Jesus’ parable of the tares (cf. Matthew 13:36-43), Hailey wrote,
“Considered strictly from the words of Jesus, and what He intended to teach, is there anything in these figures from which we can conclude that one who is cast into the fire continues consciousness or suffers beyond the point of having been burned up?” (Hailey, Homer. God’s Judgments and Punishments. Pg. 144).
His assertion is of course, no. However, consider Jesus’ words, “There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42). Do the annihilated and unconscious wail? Do they gnash their teeth?
The overwhelming evidence in scripture concerning posthumous events points toward a consciousness of the punished. Do not be of the number who suffer eternally with full consciousness!
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