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The Battle for Hell
Is belief in hell necessary for true, evangelical faith? Is the doctrine of hell the teaching of the Scripture? The Battle for Hell surveys and evaluates the growing belief in the doctrine of annihilationism among evangelicals. Instead of non-Christians suffering forever in an eternal hell, a growing number of scholars hold that the non-Christian will be obliterated into non-existence. Moore critiques this doctrine of annihilationism with the presupposition that many Christians have misunderstood the nature of hell. The book also provides exegetical evidence from Scripture that will help to address the tough emotional struggles many people have with the doctrine of hell.
118 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1996
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August 13, 2024
A DEFENSE OF THE TRADITIONAL DOCTRINE, AND REJECTION OF ANNIHILATIONISM
Author David George Moore wrote in the Preface to this 1995 book, "Recently, a number of evangelical scholars have commented on their belief in the annihilation of the unrepentant. Instead of non-Christians suffering forever in an eternal hell, a growing number of scholars hold that the non-Christian will be obliterated into non-existence... The implications of this study are far-reaching... In the fifth chapter, I share some of my own personal struggles with the traditional doctrine of hell." (Pg. ix)
He begins by stating, "hell is a brutal reality that challenges the Christian's commitment at the deepest level of his being. The prospect of this horrible reality has caused several evangelical leaders to reconsider their views of hell. A belief that the Bible is teaching an eternal, conscious suffering of the impenitent in hell is no longer held by these individuals. As an alternative to the traditional teaching on hell, the doctrine of annihilation is being posited as the proper view of Scripture. It should be noted that universalism, the belief that everyone will be saved in the end, has not yet made any significant inroads within evangelism." (Pg. 1)
He suggests, "it is helpful to remember that the word 'destruction' needs to be looked at as ONE of three images used to portray hell. Other images are punishment and privation, exclusion, or banishment. Kendall Harmon [in his article in 'Universalism and the Doctrine of Hell: Papers Presented at the Fourth Edinburgh Conference'] wisely observes how annihilationists like Edward Fudge [in The Fire That Consumes: A Biblical and Historical Study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment] tend to emphasize the metaphor of destruction to the exclusion of the other two." (Pg. 21)
Addressing Mt 25:31-46, he comments, "why would Christ if wanting to teach annihilation of the wicked use such language that would lead his Church astray?... Additionally, how would Christ's words about Judas in Matt 26:24c ('It would have been good for that man if he had not been born') make any sense if annihilation were true?" (Pg. 24) He observes, "Fudge and [Clark] Pinnock are probably conceding more than they think with the view that some suffering will take place as a result of God's judgment. This clearly shows that they do not entirely object to unbelievers consciously suffering for their sins." (Pg. 32-33)
He notes in the concluding chapter, "It has been nearly thirteen years since I sat down in a McDonald's restaurant pondering the horrific ramifications of Matt 7:13-14... I started to observe more closely the people that were eating lunch that day. I saw caring mothers with their children, elderly people enjoying one another's company, and just plain ol' Americans sharing lunch with a spouse, business partner, or friend. Could most of these folks be headed to hell?... Though Scripture gives us some reasons for things such as an eternal hell, the complete picture is unavailable to us here on earth... we could not comprehend what [God] was saying in our present, fallen state... I can bank on the fact that everything He does will be marked with righteousness and kindness." (Pg. 73-75)
Moore's book (which was positively commended by annihilationist Clark Pinnock, it should be noted) will be of definite interest to anyone studying the issues of hell, annihilationism, universalism, and related matters.
Author David George Moore wrote in the Preface to this 1995 book, "Recently, a number of evangelical scholars have commented on their belief in the annihilation of the unrepentant. Instead of non-Christians suffering forever in an eternal hell, a growing number of scholars hold that the non-Christian will be obliterated into non-existence... The implications of this study are far-reaching... In the fifth chapter, I share some of my own personal struggles with the traditional doctrine of hell." (Pg. ix)
He begins by stating, "hell is a brutal reality that challenges the Christian's commitment at the deepest level of his being. The prospect of this horrible reality has caused several evangelical leaders to reconsider their views of hell. A belief that the Bible is teaching an eternal, conscious suffering of the impenitent in hell is no longer held by these individuals. As an alternative to the traditional teaching on hell, the doctrine of annihilation is being posited as the proper view of Scripture. It should be noted that universalism, the belief that everyone will be saved in the end, has not yet made any significant inroads within evangelism." (Pg. 1)
He suggests, "it is helpful to remember that the word 'destruction' needs to be looked at as ONE of three images used to portray hell. Other images are punishment and privation, exclusion, or banishment. Kendall Harmon [in his article in 'Universalism and the Doctrine of Hell: Papers Presented at the Fourth Edinburgh Conference'] wisely observes how annihilationists like Edward Fudge [in The Fire That Consumes: A Biblical and Historical Study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment] tend to emphasize the metaphor of destruction to the exclusion of the other two." (Pg. 21)
Addressing Mt 25:31-46, he comments, "why would Christ if wanting to teach annihilation of the wicked use such language that would lead his Church astray?... Additionally, how would Christ's words about Judas in Matt 26:24c ('It would have been good for that man if he had not been born') make any sense if annihilation were true?" (Pg. 24) He observes, "Fudge and [Clark] Pinnock are probably conceding more than they think with the view that some suffering will take place as a result of God's judgment. This clearly shows that they do not entirely object to unbelievers consciously suffering for their sins." (Pg. 32-33)
He notes in the concluding chapter, "It has been nearly thirteen years since I sat down in a McDonald's restaurant pondering the horrific ramifications of Matt 7:13-14... I started to observe more closely the people that were eating lunch that day. I saw caring mothers with their children, elderly people enjoying one another's company, and just plain ol' Americans sharing lunch with a spouse, business partner, or friend. Could most of these folks be headed to hell?... Though Scripture gives us some reasons for things such as an eternal hell, the complete picture is unavailable to us here on earth... we could not comprehend what [God] was saying in our present, fallen state... I can bank on the fact that everything He does will be marked with righteousness and kindness." (Pg. 73-75)
Moore's book (which was positively commended by annihilationist Clark Pinnock, it should be noted) will be of definite interest to anyone studying the issues of hell, annihilationism, universalism, and related matters.
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