Hi Laura!
The fact remains that scripture nowhere teaches annihilation, period. The main on-going problem with this, is because people don't understand the meaning of death in God's word, because they don't study it. Life and death are both eternal conscious states of existence based on an individuals state of being with God. For those who are in Christ, they have been reconciled to God through faith in His Son, having forgiveness of sin and eternal life. For those who do not believe, they simply remain condemned. And if they die in that state, then their record is sealed. Consider the following scripture:
"And they (wicked) will go away into
eternal punishment, but the righteous into
eternal life.” - Matt.25:46
The word "aionios" which is defined as " without end, never to cease, everlasting" is used for both the wicked and the righteous in the verse above and therefore must retain the same meaning. As an example, if you say that eternal punishment for the wicked refers to annihilation, then for those who are in Christ, would also have to mean temporary eternal life. The word has to mean the same for both. So, since eternal/aionios life is never ending, then eternal/aionios punishment for the wicked must also be never ending. The word cannot mean unending for one and temporary for the other. By the way, in order for a person to experience eternal punishment, one would have to be existing. You people need to start listening and considering that there people whom the Holy Spirit reveals this information to and stop supporting thosee false teachings.
"And I saw
the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened."
There will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked where both groups will receive indestructible bodies. The righteous for eternal life in kingdom of God. But for the wicked, an indestructible body mete for their never ending punishment. If you will notice, even after the unrighteous dead are resurrected at the great white throne judgment, they are still referred to as "the dead" which is in reference to their state of being with God, i.e. they are dead in the sins to Him. Then there is the following:
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A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand,
10they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.
They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”
< This is clearly figurative language as hell and hades are both thrown into the lake of fire--which the Angel states FOUR times IS the Second DEATH> That is why it is figurative--Hades and Hell are not Matter!
In order for a person to be tormented in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb, one would have to be existing. It also states that they will be tormented and will have no rest day and night, which again infers ongoing existence.
Why do people continue to buy into the false teachings that are out there?