Hell Debate, Part 1: Chris Date Makes the Case for Annihilationism

What does the Bible actually say happens to the lost? Chris Date of ​Rethinking Hell joins the show to lay out the biblical case for annihilationism / conditional immortality, the view that the unsaved are resurrected, judged, and then die a second death rather than suffering consciously forever. ABOUT THE EPISODE: Chris spent his first years as a believer firmly convinced of eternal conscious torment, until an interview with the late Edward Fudge sent him back to the text. What followed was months spent trying to defend the traditional view and failing to find a version of it that held up exegetically. In this conversation, he walks through why. A lot of believers are quietly wrestling with the doctrine of hell right now, caught between a traditional view that many find hard to square with the character of God and a universalism that abandons judgment altogether. Chris argues conditionalism is neither of those things: it takes judgment seriously while insisting the Bible describes that judgment as death, not endless suffering. Wherever you land on after watching, Chris's closing word is worth sitting with: this is a debate the creeds leave open, and how we treat brothers and sisters who land differently matters as much as the conclusion we reach. 0:00 – Introduction 0:54 – Chris Date's Testimony 6:49 – Defining Conditional Immortality 14:50 – Tree Of Life Motif 19:37 – Why Hell Debate Now 35:37 – Daniel & Matthew 25 42:22 – Matthew 10:28 Apollumi 49:47 – 2 Thessalonians 1:9 57:21 – Revelation 20 Lake Fire 1:13:35 – Partial Conditionalism Debate 1:20:46 – Rethinking Hell Resources 1:30:52 – Closing Thoughts: Atonement ABOUT THE GUEST: Rethinking Hell: https://rethinkinghell.com/ Chris Date's website: https://www.chrisdate.info/ Chris Date's journal articles: https://www.chrisdate.info/journal-articles RESOURCES MENTIONED: Edward Fudge, The Fire That Consumes: https://www.amazon.com/Fire-That-Consumes-Historical-Punishment/dp/1608999300 Edward Fudge, Hell: A Final Word: https://www.amazon.com/Hell-Final-Edward-W-Fudge/dp/0891121498 Edward Fudge & Robert Peterson, Two Views of Hell: https://www.ivpress.com/two-views-of-hell Rethinking Hell: Readings in Evangelical Conditionalism: https://rethinkinghell.com/rethinkinghell-book/ A Consuming Passion: Essays on Hell and Immortality in Honor of Edward Fudge: https://rethinkinghell.com/aconsumingpassion-book/ Concerning Hell (Copan, Date & Huff, IVP Academic): https://www.amazon.com/Concerning-Hell-Theological-Philosophical-Historical/dp/1514004976 Subscribe to The Remnant Radio newsletter and receive our FREE introduction to spiritual gifts eBook. Plus, get access to: discounts, news about upcoming shows, courses and conferences - and more. Subscribe now at TheRemnantRadio.com. Support the show ABOUT THE REMNANT RADIO: The Remnant Radio exists to equip believers who are hungry for the radical middle of both Word and Spirit. Subscribe for twice-weekly content on theology, church history and the gifts of the Spirit. 📧 SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER 📚 COURSES & CONFERENCES 🛒 SHOP MERCH 💝 SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY: • Leave a Tip • Become a Patron • Make a Tax-Deductible Donation 🌐📧 Check Out Our Church Pages Josh's Church Miller's Church Rowntree's Church