Annihilationism is the belief that, after the Last Judgment, the wicked—those who do not repent of their sins—will be completely destroyed and cease to exist, rather than suffering eternal conscious torment in hell. This doctrine holds that immortality is not inherent to all humans but is a gift granted only to the righteous through faith in Christ, a concept known as conditional immortality. Proponents argue that biblical terms like “perish,” “destruction,” and “death” refer to non-existence rather than endless suffering, and they interpret passages such as Matthew 10:28 and 2 Thessalonians 1:9 as evidence of final annihilation. They also point to the “second death” described in Revelation 20:14–15 as the complete and final end of the wicked, not eternal punishment.
