Annhilationism; it is basicaly the stance that Hell is not a place of torment, or at least not a place of eternal torment, but a total annhilation of the soul and spirit. After death, the people not in heaven simply cease to exist altogether. The exact details really depend on your view of the rapture, although most of those are heavily flavoured by outside sources (Left Behind, etc) or Revelation interpriations (it is an easy to twist book, that is for sure).

Here is what an ex-preacher friend of mine says on the matter;
Quote:
If you have the tools to do so, do a search on "death" and "dead" in the Bible. In context, whenever it says "dead", it means exactly that. We were dead in our sins, how could we live forever in any state? The concept of a naturally immortal soul is not a Biblical concept, it grew out of Greek and Roman thought and was later incorporated into Christian dogma. In salvation, we are raised from that spiritual death and are born again in that sense.

God didn't lie in the Garden, Adam and Eve did die, they died a spiritual death that day, and that is why humanity is incapable of gaining entrance into Heaven on our own, dead people can't do much of anything for themselves. I think there is a spirit, Paul refers to dividing soul and spirit, and this is the core of our beings that is either transformed and brought into immortality or withers and dies with our bodies.
In annhilation theology, after death, the unbelievers suffer the second death, their souls and spirits being 'deleted'. This would be both seperation from God and 'true' death.

A bit of scriptural backup and looking at what the bible actualy says about this;
Quote:
Matthew 10:28(NIV)

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28 (KJV)

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
It seems then that those who are sent to hell can be destroyed, totaly.
Quote:
John 3:16 (NIV)

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Just one of many examples of 'perish' being put against 'eternal life'. It seems that eternal life or immortality must be earned, not granted either way and then just filled with punishment for the unsaved.

Just wondering if anyone out there has heard of this concept, or how many people can see the logic/relevance of it. It looks to be a major issue today, and is being accepted rather more on my side of the pond.