September 6

Ezekiel 28-30
There is a little-known biblical scholar in the denomination I attend who has been promoting the idea of annihilationism, instead of eternal torment, for those who will go to hell.  Although not a salvation issue, it is still interesting and provides food for thought.  His is a kinder, gentler, view of hell, in my opinion.  However, I just can’t get past the passages that speak of a hell where its inhabitants suffer the wrath of God forever.  Today’s reading lends some weight to that concept, as the Lord speaks to nations that He will utterly destroy, putting their evil rulers to death.  He follows each episode of destruction with the phrase, “then they will know that I am the Lord.”  How will they know that if they have been totally annihilated?  They will know it because they will still be conscious in their deaths and able to witness the power and majesty of the God they have spurned!