Hey Bob
There's no such thing as "annihilation" ~ conformation... yes... to the Image of Christ.
... "annihilation" no. That's Jehovah Witness jargon.
Annihilation, and death, is overcome in the Resurrection and the Life, non lost Glory of God. ~
And the JWs got it from Egyptian pagan god worship hogwash
. The Egyptians believed that when one died, one's heart was weighed against a feather (which symbolized their pagan goddess of truth - Maat). If the heart weighed more than the feather, a crocodile ate the heart, and thus the person ceased to exist.
Bob, I'm thinking the Lord used figurative language when He said that sinners would be ashes under the feet of the saints in Mal 4:3.
(Jewish Publication Society version)
Mal 4:1 (3:19) For, behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall set them ablaze, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Mal 4:3 (3:21) And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I do make, saith the LORD of hosts.
What comes to mind is how the enemies of the Lord (and thus His saints also) will be brought into subjection to Him. They will be like ashes under foot. I don't think that means literally though.
Notice how verse 1 lines up perfectly with 1 Cor 3:12-15:
(WNT)
1Co 3:12 And whether the building which any one is erecting on that foundation be of gold or silver or costly stones, of timber or hay or straw--
1Co 3:13 the true character of each individual's work will become manifest. For the day of Christ will disclose it, because that day is soon to come upon us clothed in fire, and as for the quality of every one's work-- the fire is the thing which will test it.
1Co 3:14 If any one's work--the building which he has erected--stands the test, he will be rewarded.
1Co 3:15 If any one's work is burnt up, he will suffer the loss of it; yet he will himself be rescued, but only, as it were,
by passing through the fire. And WHO does the burning?
Heb 12:29 For our God is also a consuming fire.
Hope this helps.
In Him,
John