Pilgrim,
It is kind of like a vicious cycle, one side presents arguments without considering the possibility of at least some validity from the opposition. Yes, I did read your suggested posts (except for the most recent), I also read the Peterson’s rebuttal to Fudge, bits and pieces of Hodge and a host of others who disagree with annihilation thought. Yet, I do see the legitimate position set forth by the annihilationist, though I may not claim it. An example would be your reference to Mt. 25:46, they would say the punishment is eternal not the punishing. Wes, today brings up several Scripture dealing with unquenchable fire, the worm that doesn’t die and etc, and if he was really listening to the annihilationist he would know that they believe that these types of verses are referring to God being a all consuming fire that never goes out in regards to punishment. Like Gehenna, where the fires of the dump continue to burn, the maggots continue to consume but the objects are (reprobates) destroyed. J. Edwards brings up Scripture in Rev.20:10 and Rev. 14:10-11, which if he really read and understood the annihilationist argument, he would present their view on those verses and argue against, but he doesn’t. They use those verses as proof of their view in respect to Sodom and Gomorrah. Again, sometimes I believe we do miss the obvious, by our long held presuppositions, even in the area of supposed scholarly work.
Geomic