The Fire That Consumes : A Biblical and Historical Study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment

While carefully examining the complete teaching of Scripture on the subject of Final Punishment, Fudge defends the view that the destiny of the unsaved will be final destruction, rather than eternal conscious torment in hell as defended by the traditional view. The 3rd edition of this meticulous and compelling book takes a close look at the traditionalist critics, and brings an overview of developments in the last thirty years. Evangelical Christians affirm together that a dreadful destiny awaits those who reject God's grace throughout life. According to the traditional view, that destiny will involve unending conscious torment in hell. However, believers are increasingly questioning that understanding, as both unbiblical and inconsistent with the character of God revealed in the Scriptures and in the man Jesus Christ. This book examines the complete teaching of Scripture on the subject of final punishment. It concludes that hell is a place of total annihilation, everlasting destruction, although the destructive process emcompasses conscious torment of whatever sort, intensity and duration God might require in each individual case. - Publisher info A seminal treatise, newly revised and updated, that offers a coherent and comprehensive defence of the view that the fate of the unsaved is not eternal torment but final destruction.