The Shepherd’s Chapel, founded by Arnold Murray, teaches a form of annihilationism, the belief that the wicked, rather than suffering eternal conscious torment in hell, will be completely destroyed or cease to exist after judgment. This doctrine, often tied to conditional immortality, asserts that only the righteous receive eternal life, while the unrighteous face total destruction. While this view may appeal to some due to its perceived alignment with a loving God, it diverges from historic Christian orthodoxy and, upon close examination, fails to withstand biblical scrutiny. This article refutes the Shepherd’s Chapel’s annihilationist stance, drawing on Scripture, theological reasoning, and the broader Christian tradition to affirm the eternality of hell’s punishment.
Understanding Annihilationism and Shepherd’s Chapel’s Position
Annihilationism posits that after the final judgment, the wicked are not subjected to eternal suffering but are instead eradicated, their consciousness extinguished. Shepherd’s Chapel aligns with this view, teaching that the lake of fire results in the complete destruction of the unsaved, leaving only the righteous to inherit eternal life. This position is often supported by their interpretation of biblical terms like “destruction,” “perish,” or “death” as literal cessation of existence, and it is tied to their broader theological framework, including conditional immortality, which denies the inherent immortality of the soul.
Biblical Evidence for Eternal Conscious Punishment
The traditional Christian doctrine of hell as eternal conscious torment is rooted in clear biblical passages that describe the fate of the wicked. One of the most compelling texts is Matthew 25:46, where Jesus declares, “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” The Greek word aionion (eternal) is used for both the punishment of the wicked and the life of the righteous. If aionion denotes an unending duration for the righteous in heaven, consistency demands the same for the punishment of the wicked. To argue, as annihilationists do, that “eternal punishment” means a one-time act of destruction rather than ongoing torment is to impose an inconsistent interpretation on the text. The parallelism in Matthew 25:46 strongly suggests that the punishment is as enduring as the life.
Revelation 14:11 further supports this view: “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image.” The phrase “forever and ever” and the description of relentless torment (“no rest, day or night”) directly contradict the idea of annihilation, which implies an end to existence. Similarly, Revelation 20:10 describes the devil, beast, and false prophet being “tormented day and night forever and ever” in the lake of fire. Since Revelation 20:14–15 places the wicked in the same lake of fire, there is no textual basis to assume their fate differs from that of Satan or the beast.
Annihilationists often cite passages like 2 Thessalonians 1:9, which speaks of “eternal destruction,” to argue for cessation of existence. However, “destruction” (olethros in Greek) does not necessarily mean annihilation but can refer to ruin or loss of well-being, consistent with ongoing punishment. The context of being “away from the presence of the Lord” suggests a state of separation and suffering, not non-existence. Likewise, passages like Matthew 10:28 (“fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell”) are misinterpreted by annihilationists to mean extinction. The term “destroy” (apollumi) often indicates ruin or loss, not necessarily obliteration, and the spiritual nature of the soul in hell implies a punishment beyond physical consumption.
Theological and Moral Considerations
Annihilationism falters when examined theologically. The Shepherd’s Chapel’s view assumes that the soul is not inherently immortal, a position tied to conditional immortality. However, Scripture affirms that all humans, saved and unsaved, are resurrected to face judgment (John 5:28–29; Acts 24:15). The wicked are described as receiving bodies suited for eternity, just as the righteous do (Revelation 20:13). If God grants eternal existence to the saved, it follows that He sustains the existence of the unsaved for their eternal punishment, as their sin warrants.
The moral argument for annihilationism, often emphasized by its proponents, claims that eternal torment is disproportionate to finite sins and incompatible with God’s love. Shepherd’s Chapel’s teachings echo this sentiment, suggesting that a loving God would not allow eternal suffering. Yet, this overlooks the infinite holiness of God. Psalm 51:4 illustrates that sin is ultimately against God, whose eternal and glorious nature demands a proportionate consequence. As J.I. Packer notes, the gravity of sin is measured not by the duration of the act but by the infinite worth of the God offended. Annihilation, far from being a just punishment, could be seen as a release from accountability, undermining the seriousness of rejecting an infinitely holy God.
Historical and Patristic Perspective
While Shepherd’s Chapel and other annihilationists point to occasional support in early church history, such as from certain Church Fathers, the overwhelming consensus of historic Christianity affirms eternal conscious punishment. The traditional view is evident in the teachings of Jesus (Matthew 25:46), the Apostolic Fathers, and creeds like the Westminster Confession, which states that the wicked “shall be cast into eternal torments, and punished with everlasting destruction” (Chapter 6, Article 6). By the 6th century A.D., eternal torment became the “semiofficial position” of the church, as noted by theologian Clark Pinnock. While figures like Origen explored alternative views, such as universal reconciliation, annihilationism remained a minority position and was often rejected as heretical. Shepherd’s Chapel’s reliance on selective interpretations ignores this robust historical consensus.
Problems with Shepherd’s Chapel’s Broader Theology
The annihilationist stance of Shepherd’s Chapel is compounded by other theological errors, such as modalism (denying the Trinity) and the serpent seed doctrine, which further undermine their credibility. Their rejection of eternal punishment aligns with a broader tendency to reinterpret Scripture to fit preconceived notions, often dismissing passages that contradict their views. For instance, their claim that the lake of fire annihilates the wicked ignores the clear language of eternal torment in Revelation 14:11 and 20:10. Such selective exegesis weakens their position and highlights the need for a consistent hermeneutic that respects the full counsel of Scripture.
Conclusion
The Shepherd’s Chapel’s doctrine of annihilationism fails to align with the biblical witness, which consistently describes the punishment of the wicked as eternal and conscious (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 14:11; 20:10). Theologically, it underestimates the gravity of sin against an infinitely holy God and contradicts the historic Christian understanding of hell. While annihilationism may seem more palatable to modern sensibilities, it ultimately diminishes the justice and holiness of God, who upholds both the righteous and the wicked for their eternal destinies. Christians are called to trust Scripture’s clear teaching, even when it challenges our preferences, and to affirm that God’s justice and love are perfectly balanced in His righteous judgment.
For further study, readers are encouraged to examine the works of theologians like J.I. Packer and Robert Peterson, who offer robust defenses of the traditional view of hell.