Did you know that JWs and SDAs usually don't fear hell because of annihilationism?

Question

(note: i'm actually an agnostic with an Adventist background)

In annihilationism, you either get eternal life or cease to exist. So JWs and and SDAs aren't asking for much since you can basically take your life away at will (both physically and spiritually).

actually the question was supposed to say they don't promote fear

If what they believe is true, it wouldn't be scary since annihilation means no misery or memory there after

Answer 1

It seems useful to mention that the bible does NOT teach that a "soul" is some immortal otherworldly entity that exists apart from a physical body. Instead, in the bible "a soul" is simply "a life"; at death a person's "soul" or "life" returns to Jehovah in that life originates from God, and all future prospects for a resurrection of that life rest with Jehovah God.

(Job 12:9-10) The hand of Jehovah itself has done this, In whose hand is the soul of everyone alive And the spirit of all flesh of man

(Ezekiel 18:4) The soul that is sinning - it itself will die.

(Ecclesiastes 9:10) there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol ["hell"]

(Acts 3:23) Indeed, any soul that does not listen to that Prophet will be completely destroyed from among the people.


The bible teaches that after Armageddon, there will be a resurrection of nearly all humans who have ever died, to a restored paradise earth. The graves will be emptied!

(John 5:26-29) For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted also to the Son to have life in himself. ...the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out

(Acts 24:15) There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.


Now, regarding the so-called "hell", it is interesting to reflect on the fact that the Old-English word "hell" merely meant "underground". Some rural folks still refer to the practice of "helling potatoes" which refers to the fact that they are buried, and has nothing to do with cooking. Re-read Scriptures that use the term "hell" and note that the vast majority make perfect sense when the word "underground" is substituted.


This is not perfectly consistent, because there are actually three different Greek words that English bible translations commonly translate as "hell", including the King James Version. Those terms are "Tartarus", "Hades", and "Gehenna".


Tartarus
The bible never uses the term "Tartarus" in connection with humans, but only in connection with demonic former angels. Since only spirit creatures are involved, "Tartarus" seems to be a CONDITION rather than a PLACE. The word “Tartarus” is also used in pre-Christian heathen mythologies. In Homer’s Iliad this mythological Tartarus is represented as an underground prison ‘as far below Hades as earth is below heaven.’ In it were imprisoned the lesser gods, noteworthy in that the bible and other ancient literature consistently uses the term "Tartarus" exclusively in connection with superhuman creatures.

(2 Peter 2:4) God did not hold back from punishing the angels that sinned, but, by throwing them into Tartarus, delivered them to pits of dense darkness to be reserved for judgment


Hades
The term "Hades" is not a fiery place of torture, but rather the common grave of mankind (the state of being dead). The bible plainly teaches that Jesus himself was in "Hades" after his impalement but before his resurrection. Also, the bible teaches that "death and Hades" will be destroyed forever after God resurrects everyone (and "empties" Hades.

(Acts 2:22-33) Jesus the Nazarene... fastened to a stake by the hand of lawless men and did away with. But God resurrected him... David says respecting [Jesus], ‘...you [Father] will not leave my soul in HADES... [David] was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath that he would seat one from the fruitage of his loins upon his throne, he saw beforehand and spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he forsaken in HADES nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God resurrected, of which fact we are all witnesses. Therefore because he was exalted to the right hand of God

(Revelation 20:13-14) Death and Hades gave up those dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds. And death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire.


Gehenna
The bible term "Gehenna" refers to death without hope of resurrection. Interestingly, the bible term "Hades" ("hell") is destroyed in Gehenna once that grave has been emptied by resurrections. The grave will no longer be needed since humans will then live forever! The term "Gehenna" is synonymous with other bible terms such as the "second death [different from first death allowing resurrection]" and with the "[metaphorical] lake of fire [which destroys the dead one's remembrance]".

(Matthew 10:28) And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be in fear of him that can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

(Revelation 20:13-14) Death and Hades gave up those dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds. And death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_08.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19970515/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050501/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_04.htm

Answer 2

The only acceptable and or beneficial fear is the one of displeasing our Creator! And His name happens to be Jehovah God! Hell means the grave which stems from the word Sheol in Hebrew and Hades in Greek. What is your question?
Oh yes! About fear or no fear about being annihilated? There is no fear there; as you say, one would feel nothing at all... no memory, no pain, nothing but the deepest of sleep. So this is not the point. Serving God, simply means to live a much better and happier life today and the assurance of the real life which He promises all who go on enduring until His Kingdom rules on earth as it is already in heaven.
And you are right! Jehovah God doesn't promote fear whatsoever... Only love! He is a God of love, power, wisdom and justice. He is Eternal and can grant us eternity like no one else ever could. He's there for us for the asking as He always grants prayers asked with a sincere heart and for a good motive, such as for the accomplishment of His will... which really is what is best for all of us anyhow... and as long as we ask in the name of our King and Savior, Christ Jesus, He will be only too happy to prove what an Answerer of Prayer, He truly can be. The same way we like our kids to believe that we can do what it is that they ask of us, He also wants us to have a minimum of faith that He can do what it is that we ask of Him. Without faith, it is written that it is impossible to please Him. And all we need to do to get it is cultivate it a little more every day... Galatians 5: 21, 22; John 4: 24; 6: 44; 1 Thessalonians 5: 17, 21.

Answer 3

It is very hard to understand the question because it is poorly written.

All I saw was something to do with hell. And to those making up garbage about Jehovah's Witnesses, we do believe in heaven and hell.

Want to find out more? Visit http://www.watchtower.org and type your question or term word into the search box. You will be honest and truthful information from there instead of a worldly forum filled with lies about the witnesses. Why not go to their website, and better yet; call up a kingdom hall in your area and ask for a personal Bible study. It's free and it will answer all your questions you have about witnesses or what happens when people go to hell. Asking this forum you're bound to get a lot of junk just as you can see from the answers to your garbled questions.

God Bless

Answer 4

Okay, lets get things straight. JWs do not believe in either hell or heaven. For us hell is just your grave, so there is no fiery torment after you die. The bible teaches that death is the price for sin, so once you die you have paid your sins so there is no need for a fiery torment. And heaven is only for the annointed ones who are only 144,000, and we take this number literally. The rest of the people who have been obedient to Jehovah, and have stayed strong in persecution will be enjoying everlasting life in paradise on Earth. That is why we do not fear death for we see it as a temporary slumber which later will be awaken to enjoy everlasting life. We do not see the future as bleak and horrible, but instead we embrace and take great delight in it for we know things will get better soon.

Answer 5

You can study the bible yourself and find out that Hell is the common grave of mankind..and in the king james version of the bible you will see that even Jesus went there for 3 days....and yes man can be delivered from hell. rev 20:13...we all go there when we die...the only hope for the dead is a resurrection to life.

Answer 6

Hey, I'm an atheist with an Adventist upbringing! Wow! Small, stupid world!

And no, they don't fear Hell, per se. But, there's the threat of /not/ going to Heaven. Which would preclude you from some kind of really good plastic surgery and life on the beach or something.

Answer 7

You might be interested to realize that many Christians consider that Heaven and Hell are relational rather than positional;i.e. that heaven is near God and Hell is being away from. This changes many of these concepts as to "going to"

Answer 8

it is basically my humble opinion, yet once I have been on the recieving end of the two of those declarations, it may make me uncomfortable, and alter my relationship with the guy asserting. you may have large affection for the brothers and sisters without asserting an impossible love. i will make sure the 2d subject as a reaction, from an older brother to a youthful sister who cas a weigh down on HIM, to difuse the placement, and nevertheless leave her together with her dignity intact. quite, re-interpreting the two eventualities, the comparable applies for the 1st, if a brother shows activity in a sister who would not be prepared for despite reason, to date the brother, this could be a thank you to enable him down hardship-free. i could hardship although, subsequently, proper to the respond making hinm reassess his option to flow to the MTS. would not desire to make sure that ensue.

Answer 9

Interesting...you were an Adventist yet did not realize the Bible texts which support what we believe. We do not condone suicide nor do we condone spiritual suicide...the Bible is plain and more simple than some would like to make it.

Answer 10

that's a good one. but with out memory, we are doomed to make the same mistakes all over again. speaking from experience from attending many different churches, there will be memory, but the tears will be dried, from a revelation seminar study :)

Answer 11

Well what would there be to be afraid of? I mean the biggest fear is death right? Every little fear is somehow connected to that one. So if we had eternal life, then what would there be to be afraid of?