Eschatology: Beatific Vision and Annihilationism
Beatific vision is the blessed state of seeing God directly (2 Corinthians 13:12). Annihilationism claims the damned cease to exist rather than enduring eternal punishment.
Real World
Evangelical theologian John Stott publicly adopted annihilationism in the 1980s, arguing the wicked are destroyed rather than tormented eternally — a position that caused significant debate within conservative Christianity.
Exam Focus
When evaluating annihilationism, always engage the theodicy argument: reference eternal punishment's compatibility with a loving God for full analytical marks.
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