1. Introduction
Eschatology is usually divided into two major categories:
Personal eschatology is considered devar mishnah - clear settled law; black letter law. Among Adonaists there is little disagreement on personal eschatology, because the Scriptures are quite clear on the subject.
General eschatology is, on the other hand, considered shikul ha da’at – a matter not settled and left to the understanding of the individual. Various opinions and viewpoints enter in when we discuss the broader end-time events, because a major question arises as to how these biblical passages are to be interpreted - literally or figuratively. Those of you who have studied under me know that my default setting with the Scriptures is to assume a literal interpretation.
- personal eschatology
- general eschatology.
Personal eschatology is considered devar mishnah - clear settled law; black letter law. Among Adonaists there is little disagreement on personal eschatology, because the Scriptures are quite clear on the subject.
General eschatology is, on the other hand, considered shikul ha da’at – a matter not settled and left to the understanding of the individual. Various opinions and viewpoints enter in when we discuss the broader end-time events, because a major question arises as to how these biblical passages are to be interpreted - literally or figuratively. Those of you who have studied under me know that my default setting with the Scriptures is to assume a literal interpretation.
2. The Biblical concept of death
a. The origin of death
- Adam's violation of the prohibition to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil incurred
Physical (first) death (Genesis 2:17; 3:19; 5:5)
· Genesis 2:17 HCSB but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die."
· Genesis 3:19 HCSB You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust."
· Genesis 5:5 HCSB So Adam's life lasted 930 years; then he died.
Spiritual (second) deathHowever, more critically, spiritual (and thus potentially eternal) death also occurred. Even in this life this includes:
Separation from the life of God (John 1:4, 10-13; 11:25-26; Ephesians 2:1-5; 4:18; 1 Peter 4:6)
· John 1:4 HCSB Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men.
· John 1:10-13 HCSB He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. (11) He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. (12) But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, (13) who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
· John 11:25-26 HCSB Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. (26) Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die--ever. Do you believe this?"
· Ephesians 2:1-5 HCSB And you were dead in your trespasses and sins (2) in which you previously walked according to this worldly age, according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain, the spirit now working in the disobedient. (3) We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and by nature we were children under wrath, as the others were also. (4) But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, (5) made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved!
· Ephesians 4:18 HCSB They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.
· 1 Peter 4:6 HCSB For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, so that, although they might be judged by men in the fleshly realm, they might live by God in the spiritual realm.
Shame (Genesis 3:8-10; Romans 10:9-11; 1 Peter 2:6) Adam and Eve lost their former relationship to God. They lost d’vekut.
· Genesis 3:8-10 HCSB Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. (9) So the LORD God called out to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" (10) And he said, "I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid."
· Romans 10:9-11 HCSB if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. (11) Now the Scripture says, No one who believes on Him will be put to shame,
· 1 Peter 2:6 HCSB For it stands in Scripture: Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and valuable cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame!
Separation (Genesis 3:22-24; Ephesians 2:12; Colossians 1:21)
· Genesis 3:22-24 HCSB The LORD God said, "Since man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, and also take from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever." (23) So the LORD God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. (24) He drove man out, and east of the garden of Eden He stationed cherubim with a flaming, whirling sword to guard the way to the tree of life.
· Ephesians 2:12 HCSB At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, with no hope and without God in the world.
· Colossians 1:21 HCSB And you were once alienated and hostile in mind because of your evil actions.
Cursed creation. (Genesis 3:17-18; Job 12:7-10; Romans 8:19-22) The curse placed upon the "ground" implies that death entered the natural realm also at this time.
· Genesis 3:17-18 HCSB And He said to Adam, "Because you listened to your wife's voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'Do not eat from it': The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. (18) It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
· Job 12:7-10 HCSB But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. (8) Or speak to the earth, and it will instruct you; let the fish of the sea inform you. (9) Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? (10) The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.
· Romans 8:19-22 HCSB For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God's sons to be revealed. (20) For the creation was subjected to futility--not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it--in the hope (21) that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God's children. (22) For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.
b. The uses of the word "death"
- The Scriptures describe "death" as a separation of one kind or another. The Bible speaks of it in three ways:
- physical death (first death)
· 2 Samuel 12:23 HCSB But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I'll go to him, but he will never return to me."
b) As separation from opportunities for further earthly ministry (Ecclesiastes 9:10; Philippians 1:22-25; Hebrews 9:27; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2)
· Ecclesiastes 9:10 HCSB Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
· Philippians 1:22-25 HCSB Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don't know which one I should choose. (23) I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ--which is far better-- (24) but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. (25) Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your advancement and joy in the faith,
· Hebrews 9:27 HCSB And just as it is appointed for people to die once--and after this, judgment--
· 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 HCSB Working together with Him, we also appeal to you: "Don't receive God's grace in vain." (2) For He says: In an acceptable time, I heard you, and in the day of salvation, I helped you. Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation.
c) As separation of the soul/spirit from the flesh. (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Acts 7:59; James 2:26)
· Ecclesiastes 12:7 HCSB and the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
· Acts 7:59 HCSB They were stoning Stephen as he called out: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"
· James 2:26 HCSB For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
This, perhaps, is the most common use of the word. There is a severance of the natural relationship between soul and body. The body decays in the grave and returns to dust (Genesis 3:19), yet the soul/spirit continues. The question is…where?
Physical death bears a relationship to sin because Adam was not subject to physical death until after the fall.
Physical death is a result of man's spiritual death. (Romans 5:21; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:56)
· Romans 5:21 HCSB so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
· Romans 6:23 HCSB For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
· 1 Corinthians 15:56 HCSB Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
It is a judgment and a curse (Romans 1:32; 5:16).
· Romans 1:32 HCSB Although they know full well God's just sentence--that those who practice such things deserve to die--they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.
· Romans 5:16 HCSB And the gift is not like the one man's sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification.
Christ has delivered the believer from the power of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). Scripture records that Christ partook of flesh and blood,
· Hebrews 2:14-15 HCSB …so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death--that is, the Devil-- (15) and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.
Though death is a common enemy, through Yeshua the believer needs no longer to fear it. Adonaists consider death to be an entrance into the presence of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8; Revelation 6:9-11).
· 2 Corinthians 5:8 HCSB yet we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.
· Revelation 6:9-11 HCSB When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of God's word and the testimony they had. (10) They cried out with a loud voice: "O Lord, holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?" (11) So a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers, who were going to be killed just as they had been, would be completed.
Death to the believer is "to depart and be with Christ" (Acts 7:54-60; Philippians 1:23).
· Acts 7:54-60 HCSB When they heard these things, they were enraged in their hearts and gnashed their teeth at him. (55) But Stephen, filled by the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw God's glory, with Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, (56) "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" (57) Then they screamed at the top of their voices, stopped their ears, and rushed together against him. (58) They threw him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. (59) They were stoning Stephen as he called out: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" (60) Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin!" And saying this, he fell asleep.
· Philippians 1:23 HCSB I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ--which is far better-
The sting of death has been removed (1 Corinthians 15:55-57; Isaiah 25:7-9)
· 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 HCSB (55) O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting? (56) Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
· Isaiah 25:7-9 HCSB On this mountain He will destroy the burial shroud, the shroud over all the peoples, the sheet covering all the nations; (8) He will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove His people's disgrace from the whole earth, for the LORD has spoken. (9) On that day it will be said, "Look, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation."
By the way, “this mountain” is mount Zion if you consider both the immediate text…
· Isaiah 24:23 HCSB The moon will be put to shame and the sun disgraced, because the LORD of Hosts will reign as king on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, and He will display His glory in the presence of His elders.
And the larger context…
· Isaiah 2:2-4 HCSB In the last days the mountain of the LORD's house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. All nations will stream to it, (3) and many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about His ways so that we may walk in His paths." For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (4) He will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will turn their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations, and they will never again train for war.
You can see that salvation coming from Mount Zion is a recurring theme throughout the book of Isaiah (see 11:9; 27:13; 56:7; 57:13; 65:25; 66:20).
The talmid may peacefully “fall asleep in Jesus” (Acts 7:60; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; 1 Corinthians 15:16-19; Revelation 14:13).
· Acts 7:60 HCSB Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin!" And saying this, he fell asleep.
· 1 Thessalonians 4:14 HCSB Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.
· 1 Corinthians 15:16-19 HCSB For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised. (17) And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. (18) Therefore those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. (19) If we have placed our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.
· Revelation 14:13 HCSB Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "let them rest from their labors, for their works follow them!"
In stark contrast to the believer, the unbeliever has no such comforting hope. The unbeliever faces condemnation and eternal judgment away from the presence of the Lord. (John 3:18-19, 36; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)
· John 3:18-19 HCSB Anyone who believes in Him is not judged, but anyone who does not believe is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. (19) "This, then, is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.
· John 3:36 HCSB The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
· 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 HCSB and to reward with rest you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful angels, (8) taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who don't know God and on those who don't obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (9) These will pay the penalty of everlasting destruction, away from the Lord's presence and from His glorious strength,
- Present spiritual death (first death); from which we may be saved (Romans 6:20-23; Ephesians 2:1,5)
b) Ephesians 2:1 HCSB And you were dead in your trespasses and sins
c) Ephesians 2:5 HCSB made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved!
Present spiritual death is the separation of unregenerate man from God. (Isaiah 59:2)
· Isaiah 59:2 HCSB But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have made Him hide His face from you so that He does not listen.
This condition is "by nature" (Ephesians 2:1-3)
· Ephesians 2:1-3 HCSB And you were dead in your trespasses and sins (2) in which you previously walked according to this worldly age, according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain, the spirit now working in the disobedient. (3) We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and by nature we were children under wrath, as the others were also.
This condition is from birth (Psalm 51:5).
· Psalms 51:5 HCSB Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Physical birth gives biological life, but only regeneration brings spiritual life: the ability to know and fellowship with God. Spiritual death is finally conquered, by virtue of the death and resurrection of Christ, at the believer's resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:54f; Revelation 20:14).
· 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 HCSB Now when this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. (55) O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting? (56) Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! (58) Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
· Revelation 20:14 HCSB Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
- Ultimate spiritual death (second, eternal death); from which there is no escape
· Revelation 20:14-15 HCSB Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. (15) And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
· Revelation 21:8 HCSB But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars--their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
· Revelation 20:10 HCSB The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
This is why it is critical to take to heart Jesus’ admonition:
· Matthew 10:27-28 HCSB What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops. (28) Don't fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Ultimate spiritual death (also known as eternal death) is the final separation from God of those who die in an unregenerate state. It is God granting the wish of those who want to live apart from Him. (Psalm 14:1-5; 53:1-5; Proverbs 1:24-33; Romans 1:18-32)
· Psalms 14:1-5 HCSB For the choir director. Davidic. The fool says in his heart, "God does not exist." They are corrupt; their actions are revolting. There is no one who does good. (2) The LORD looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God. (3) All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one. (4) Will evildoers never understand? They consume my people as they consume bread; they do not call on the LORD. (5) Then they will be filled with terror, for God is with those who are righteous.
All those who refuse God are universally considered corrupt and revolting. Nothing they do is considered “good”. The end result of denying God is complete and utter terror.
· Psalms 53:1-5 HCSB For the choir director: on Mahalath. A Davidic Maskil. The fool says in his heart, "God does not exist." They are corrupt, and they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good. (2) God looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise and who seeks God. (3) Everyone has turned aside; they have all become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one. (4) Will evildoers never understand? They consume My people as they consume bread; they do not call on God. (5) Then they will be filled with terror--terror like no other--because God will scatter the bones of those who besiege you. You will put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
There is nothing superfluous in the Scriptures. Any account that is doubled will, upon careful consideration, reveal added detail or meaning. Here one of those added details is that God will put them to shame for He has rejected them.
We see this process (called the Law of Light in our congregation) in many passages but two will suffice as illustrations.
· Proverbs 1:24-33 HCSB Since I called out and you refused, extended my hand and no one paid attention, (25) since you neglected all my counsel and did not accept my correction, (26) I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when terror strikes you, (27) when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and stress overcome you. (28) Then they will call me, but I won't answer; they will search for me, but won't find me. (29) Because they hated knowledge, didn't choose to fear the LORD, (30) were not interested in my counsel, and rejected all my correction, (31) they will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes. (32) For the waywardness of the inexperienced will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. (33) But whoever listens to me will live securely and be free from the fear of danger."
· Romans 1:18-32 HCSB For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, (19) since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. (20) From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. (21) For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. (22) Claiming to be wise, they became fools (23) and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. (24) Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. (25) They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (26) This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual intercourse for what is unnatural. (27) The males in the same way also left natural sexual intercourse with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty for their perversion. (28) And because they did not think it worthwhile to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong. (29) They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, disputes, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, (30) slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, (31) undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. (32) Although they know full well God's just sentence--that those who practice such things deserve to die--they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.
This “second, eternal death” is imposed following the judgment at the Great White Throne (Revelation 20:11-15).
· Revelation 20:11-15 HCSB Then I saw a great white throne and One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. (12) I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. (13) Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works. (14) Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. (15) And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
However, the destiny of the unregenerate man is fixed at the time of his physical death when he enters a place called "Hades," there to stay until the second resurrection (Luke 16:26; Hebrews 9:27; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Revelation 20:13; 2 Peter 3:8-12).
· Luke 16:26 HCSB Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.'
· Hebrews 9:27 HCSB And just as it is appointed for people to die once--and after this, judgment--
· 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 HCSB Working together with Him, we also appeal to you: "Don't receive God's grace in vain." (2) For He says: In an acceptable time, I heard you, and in the day of salvation, I helped you. Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation.
· Revelation 20:13 HCSB Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works.
· 2 Peter 3:8-12 HCSB Dear friends, don't let this one thing escape you: with the Lord one day is like 1,000 years, and 1,000 years like one day. (9) The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. (10) But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. (11) Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness (12) as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be on fire and be dissolved, and the elements will melt with the heat.
3. The four false views of the intermediate state
Physical death relates merely to the physical body; the soul is immortal and as such does not die. That the soul is immortal, continuing on even after physical death, is confirmed by Scripture. In answer to the Sadducees' question concerning the resurrection, Jesus responded by quoting what God had said to Moses:
· Exodus 3:6 HCSB Then He continued, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.
· Matthew 22:31-33 HCSB Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven't you read what was spoken to you by God: (32) I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (33) And when the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.
His clarifying comment, "God is not the God of the dead but of the living" (v. 32), made the point that if God was the God of Abraham in Moses' day, then Moses was yet alive.
The story of Lazarus and the rich man also indicates the immortality of the soul (Luke 16:19-31),
· Luke 16:19-31 HCSB "There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day. (20) But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was left at his gate. (21) He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man's table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. (22) One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. (23) And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. (24) 'Father Abraham!' he called out, 'Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!' (25) "'Son,' Abraham said, 'remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. (26) Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.' (27) "'Father,' he said, 'then I beg you to send him to my father's house-- (28) because I have five brothers--to warn them, so they won't also come to this place of torment.' (29) "But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' (30) "'No, father Abraham,' he said. 'But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' (31) "But he told him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.'"
Another good illustration would be the mention of souls under the altar (Revelation 6:9-11).
· Revelation 6:9-11 HCSB When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of God's word and the testimony they had. (10) They cried out with a loud voice: "O Lord, holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?" (11) So a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers, who were going to be killed just as they had been, would be completed.
But what happens to the soul after death, but before the resurrection? We will examine the false views before the true position is presented:
· Exodus 3:6 HCSB Then He continued, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.
· Matthew 22:31-33 HCSB Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven't you read what was spoken to you by God: (32) I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (33) And when the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.
His clarifying comment, "God is not the God of the dead but of the living" (v. 32), made the point that if God was the God of Abraham in Moses' day, then Moses was yet alive.
The story of Lazarus and the rich man also indicates the immortality of the soul (Luke 16:19-31),
· Luke 16:19-31 HCSB "There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day. (20) But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was left at his gate. (21) He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man's table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. (22) One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. (23) And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. (24) 'Father Abraham!' he called out, 'Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!' (25) "'Son,' Abraham said, 'remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. (26) Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.' (27) "'Father,' he said, 'then I beg you to send him to my father's house-- (28) because I have five brothers--to warn them, so they won't also come to this place of torment.' (29) "But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' (30) "'No, father Abraham,' he said. 'But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' (31) "But he told him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.'"
Another good illustration would be the mention of souls under the altar (Revelation 6:9-11).
· Revelation 6:9-11 HCSB When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of God's word and the testimony they had. (10) They cried out with a loud voice: "O Lord, holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?" (11) So a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers, who were going to be killed just as they had been, would be completed.
But what happens to the soul after death, but before the resurrection? We will examine the false views before the true position is presented:
a. Purgatory
In Roman Catholic theology, souls which are completely pure at death are allowed to enter heaven, to enter into presence of God, (which they refer to as the “beatific vision”). Those souls which are not perfectly pure and are in need of cleansing go to a place for purging. This place, called "purgatory," is for the purging away of the guilt of venial sins. They believe that purgatory is not a place of probation, but a place of purging or cleansing. Believers there suffer in that they are for a time losing out on the joys of heaven and their souls are being afflicted. The rest, those who are considered irretrievably wicked, go straight to Hades.
Early “Christian” writers who supported various views of purgatory include:
Tertullian (160-220) wrote from Carthage Africa and was the first Latin writer to use the term “trinity”.
Origen (184-253) was an Alexandrian and who believed in the pre-existence of souls.
Cyprian (early 3rd century – 258) was another Carthaginian. He is probably best known for running away, leaving his flock to face persecution and martyrdom without his leadership. When rebuked for his cowardice, he rejoined that he had left, prompted by heavenly visions and that he was zealously attending to his duties through the intermediary of one of his deacons!
Ambrose (337-397) was from Milan, Italy. Ambrose was a former governor who was forced to become a bishop by order of the emperor because Ambrose was so popular. Unfortunately Ambrose was anti-Semitic. When some of his people rioted and destroyed a synagogue, the emperor insisted that the building be rebuilt at the expense of those who had destroyed it. Ambrose replied, “Shall the bishop be compelled to reerect a synagogue? Can he religiously do this thing? If he obey the emperor, he will become a traitor to his faith; if he disobey him, a martyr. What real wrong is there, after all, in destroying a synagogue, a 'home of perfidy, a home of impiety,' in which Christ is daily blasphemed? Indeed, he must consider himself no less guilty than this poor bishop; at least to the extent that he made no concealment of his wish that all synagogues should be destroyed, that no such places of blasphemy be further allowed to exist." The emperor changed his mind. As a result the people naturally assumed that there would be a certain amount of immunity if one were to attack Jews. Many synagogues were subsequently destroyed.
Jerome (347-420) was originally from Dalmatia, which would be around modern day Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He’s the one that came up with the Vulgate translation. He was an ascetic. A young girl came under his influence and teaching. She obeyed his instructions and died four months later as a result. Needless to say, Jerome’s popularity took a hit and he was forced to leave Rome.
Augustine (354-430) was another Carthaginian. His influence has been felt over the centuries and even to this day. A brilliant but troubled man, he advanced theology in many ways, particularly in the enunciation of the doctrine of grace and original sin. However, his theology would still be considered primitive and superstitious in our day.
But, as you can see, all were no less than a century removed from the teachings of the Apostles. In fact the Second Council of Lyons (the first having been held in 1245) was the first to articulate the doctrine and that was not until 1274, a good millennia removed!
Incidentally, this council was primarily called to organize and finance a crusade to the Holy Land, and included a remission of sins to all who were willing to go on the crusade.
This council also included more than the average political character, including the governments of Germany, England, Scotland, France, Spain, Sicily, Norway, Sweden, Hungary, Bohemia, the “realm of Dacia” and the duchy of Poland. Clearly, the purpose was more secular and political than theological!
One of the more colorful events of the Council was the attendance of a delegation from the Mongol leader Abaqa Khan. The leader of the delegation underwent baptism. However, one chronicler recorded “The Mongols came, not because of the Faith, but to conclude an alliance with the Christians.” Again, we see the emphasis of this Council!
The primary support for purgatory is found in the non-canonical book of 2 Maccabees 12:38-45.
· 2 Maccabees 12:38-45 GNT After the battle Judas led his men to the town of Adullam. It was the day before the Sabbath, so they purified themselves according to Jewish custom and then observed the holy day.39 By the following day it was urgent that they gather up the bodies of the men who had been killed in battle and bury them in their family tombs.40 But on each of the dead, hidden under their clothes, they found small images of the gods worshiped in Jamnia, which the Law forbids Jews to wear. Everyone then knew why these men had been killed.41 So they praised the ways of the Lord, the just judge, who reveals what is hidden,42 and they begged him that this sin might be completely blotted out. Then, Judas, that great man, urged the people to keep away from sin, because they had seen for themselves what had happened to those men who had sinned.43 He also took up a collection from all his men, totaling about four pounds of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. Judas did this noble thing because he believed in the resurrection of the dead.44 If he had not believed that the dead would be raised, it would have been foolish and useless to pray for them.45 In his firm and devout conviction that all of God's faithful people would receive a wonderful reward, Judas made provision for a sin offering to set free from their sin those who had died.
So what’s wrong with applying this text?
First, to formulate such a pervasive doctrine on what even the Roman Catholic Church agrees is not Scripture should be anathema.
Second, if you reread this passage carefully you’ll be surprised to notice that it does not in fact either implicitly or explicitly offer support for the doctrine of purgatory. The only thing that it states is that Judas believed in the resurrection of the dead. In the context, the prayers offered were for those who had been faithful and who were surprised by the sin of the idolaters. The money raised for the sin offering was for the living, not the dead. So Judas was praying in anticipation of their death and resurrection, not the wicked. Their interpretation reveals a shocking level of ignorance concerning Jewish custom and the way the Temple offerings worked. (not a blank they have – just throw in as a “bonus”)
Catholic theologians do attempt to use several Scriptures in support of their false doctrine.
· Zechariah 9:11 HCSB As for you, because of the blood of your covenant, I will release your prisoners from the waterless cistern.
To the best of my knowledge and ability I can neither see any connection to the concept of purgatory, nor have I been able to find a single theologian who defends that view. I have no idea how they make that connection.
· Matthew 12:32 HCSB Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come.
They fail to understand the nature of the sin against the Holy Spirit which is to refuse the Spirit’s message regarding the messianic nature and atoning work of the Messiah. To refuse the message of God’s grace and forgiveness is, well frankly, unforgivable. Anyone who refuses that message, according to this passage, will never, ever be forgiven. How does that fit with the idea of purgatory?
· 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 HCSB each one's work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one's work. (14) If anyone's work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. (15) If anyone's work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.
Again this passage does not have anything within the context that connects it to purgatory. It is not directed toward the unbelieving but to the converted and adopted family of God. It has nothing to do with the Great White Throne and everything to do with the Bimah Seat.
1 Peter 3:18-20 HCSB For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, after being put to death in the fleshly realm but made alive in the spiritual realm. (19) In that state He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison (20) who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while an ark was being prepared; in it, a few--that is, eight people--were saved through water.
NEED CLARIFYING NOTES
1 Peter 4:5-6 HCSB They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. (6) For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, so that, although they might be judged by men in the fleshly realm, they might live by God in the spiritual realm.
NEED CLARIFYING NOTES
Against this position are the facts that:
1. There is no solid Scriptural support for it.
2. Christ fully paid our penalty. We cannot add anything to the merits of Christ (Hebrews 1:3).
3. Granted, there are temporal punishments for sin in this life, but Scripture nowhere teaches explicitly or implicitly that these sufferings continue after death. (Acts 9:16 cp Philippians 1:23-24)
· Acts 9:16 HCSB I will certainly show him how much he must suffer for My name!"
· Philippians 1:23-24 HCSB (23) I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ--which is far better-- (24) but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.
Early “Christian” writers who supported various views of purgatory include:
Tertullian (160-220) wrote from Carthage Africa and was the first Latin writer to use the term “trinity”.
Origen (184-253) was an Alexandrian and who believed in the pre-existence of souls.
Cyprian (early 3rd century – 258) was another Carthaginian. He is probably best known for running away, leaving his flock to face persecution and martyrdom without his leadership. When rebuked for his cowardice, he rejoined that he had left, prompted by heavenly visions and that he was zealously attending to his duties through the intermediary of one of his deacons!
Ambrose (337-397) was from Milan, Italy. Ambrose was a former governor who was forced to become a bishop by order of the emperor because Ambrose was so popular. Unfortunately Ambrose was anti-Semitic. When some of his people rioted and destroyed a synagogue, the emperor insisted that the building be rebuilt at the expense of those who had destroyed it. Ambrose replied, “Shall the bishop be compelled to reerect a synagogue? Can he religiously do this thing? If he obey the emperor, he will become a traitor to his faith; if he disobey him, a martyr. What real wrong is there, after all, in destroying a synagogue, a 'home of perfidy, a home of impiety,' in which Christ is daily blasphemed? Indeed, he must consider himself no less guilty than this poor bishop; at least to the extent that he made no concealment of his wish that all synagogues should be destroyed, that no such places of blasphemy be further allowed to exist." The emperor changed his mind. As a result the people naturally assumed that there would be a certain amount of immunity if one were to attack Jews. Many synagogues were subsequently destroyed.
Jerome (347-420) was originally from Dalmatia, which would be around modern day Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He’s the one that came up with the Vulgate translation. He was an ascetic. A young girl came under his influence and teaching. She obeyed his instructions and died four months later as a result. Needless to say, Jerome’s popularity took a hit and he was forced to leave Rome.
Augustine (354-430) was another Carthaginian. His influence has been felt over the centuries and even to this day. A brilliant but troubled man, he advanced theology in many ways, particularly in the enunciation of the doctrine of grace and original sin. However, his theology would still be considered primitive and superstitious in our day.
But, as you can see, all were no less than a century removed from the teachings of the Apostles. In fact the Second Council of Lyons (the first having been held in 1245) was the first to articulate the doctrine and that was not until 1274, a good millennia removed!
Incidentally, this council was primarily called to organize and finance a crusade to the Holy Land, and included a remission of sins to all who were willing to go on the crusade.
This council also included more than the average political character, including the governments of Germany, England, Scotland, France, Spain, Sicily, Norway, Sweden, Hungary, Bohemia, the “realm of Dacia” and the duchy of Poland. Clearly, the purpose was more secular and political than theological!
One of the more colorful events of the Council was the attendance of a delegation from the Mongol leader Abaqa Khan. The leader of the delegation underwent baptism. However, one chronicler recorded “The Mongols came, not because of the Faith, but to conclude an alliance with the Christians.” Again, we see the emphasis of this Council!
The primary support for purgatory is found in the non-canonical book of 2 Maccabees 12:38-45.
· 2 Maccabees 12:38-45 GNT After the battle Judas led his men to the town of Adullam. It was the day before the Sabbath, so they purified themselves according to Jewish custom and then observed the holy day.39 By the following day it was urgent that they gather up the bodies of the men who had been killed in battle and bury them in their family tombs.40 But on each of the dead, hidden under their clothes, they found small images of the gods worshiped in Jamnia, which the Law forbids Jews to wear. Everyone then knew why these men had been killed.41 So they praised the ways of the Lord, the just judge, who reveals what is hidden,42 and they begged him that this sin might be completely blotted out. Then, Judas, that great man, urged the people to keep away from sin, because they had seen for themselves what had happened to those men who had sinned.43 He also took up a collection from all his men, totaling about four pounds of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. Judas did this noble thing because he believed in the resurrection of the dead.44 If he had not believed that the dead would be raised, it would have been foolish and useless to pray for them.45 In his firm and devout conviction that all of God's faithful people would receive a wonderful reward, Judas made provision for a sin offering to set free from their sin those who had died.
So what’s wrong with applying this text?
First, to formulate such a pervasive doctrine on what even the Roman Catholic Church agrees is not Scripture should be anathema.
Second, if you reread this passage carefully you’ll be surprised to notice that it does not in fact either implicitly or explicitly offer support for the doctrine of purgatory. The only thing that it states is that Judas believed in the resurrection of the dead. In the context, the prayers offered were for those who had been faithful and who were surprised by the sin of the idolaters. The money raised for the sin offering was for the living, not the dead. So Judas was praying in anticipation of their death and resurrection, not the wicked. Their interpretation reveals a shocking level of ignorance concerning Jewish custom and the way the Temple offerings worked. (not a blank they have – just throw in as a “bonus”)
Catholic theologians do attempt to use several Scriptures in support of their false doctrine.
· Zechariah 9:11 HCSB As for you, because of the blood of your covenant, I will release your prisoners from the waterless cistern.
To the best of my knowledge and ability I can neither see any connection to the concept of purgatory, nor have I been able to find a single theologian who defends that view. I have no idea how they make that connection.
· Matthew 12:32 HCSB Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come.
They fail to understand the nature of the sin against the Holy Spirit which is to refuse the Spirit’s message regarding the messianic nature and atoning work of the Messiah. To refuse the message of God’s grace and forgiveness is, well frankly, unforgivable. Anyone who refuses that message, according to this passage, will never, ever be forgiven. How does that fit with the idea of purgatory?
· 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 HCSB each one's work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one's work. (14) If anyone's work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. (15) If anyone's work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.
Again this passage does not have anything within the context that connects it to purgatory. It is not directed toward the unbelieving but to the converted and adopted family of God. It has nothing to do with the Great White Throne and everything to do with the Bimah Seat.
1 Peter 3:18-20 HCSB For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, after being put to death in the fleshly realm but made alive in the spiritual realm. (19) In that state He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison (20) who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while an ark was being prepared; in it, a few--that is, eight people--were saved through water.
NEED CLARIFYING NOTES
1 Peter 4:5-6 HCSB They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. (6) For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, so that, although they might be judged by men in the fleshly realm, they might live by God in the spiritual realm.
NEED CLARIFYING NOTES
Against this position are the facts that:
1. There is no solid Scriptural support for it.
2. Christ fully paid our penalty. We cannot add anything to the merits of Christ (Hebrews 1:3).
3. Granted, there are temporal punishments for sin in this life, but Scripture nowhere teaches explicitly or implicitly that these sufferings continue after death. (Acts 9:16 cp Philippians 1:23-24)
· Acts 9:16 HCSB I will certainly show him how much he must suffer for My name!"
· Philippians 1:23-24 HCSB (23) I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ--which is far better-- (24) but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.
b. Soul-sleep
Those who hold this view maintain that after death the soul lapses into a state of sleep or unconscious repose. Groups who teach this doctrine would include Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses. However, the second group goes on to teach a form of annihilationism; that after death the spirit is destroyed and then recreated at a later date.
This is argued in several ways.
Scriptural often represents death as sleep (Matthew 9:24; John 11:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13).
· Matthew 9:24 HCSB "Leave," He said, "because the girl isn't dead, but sleeping." And they started laughing at Him.
· John 11:11 HCSB He said this, and then He told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I'm on My way to wake him up."
· 1 Thessalonians 4:13 HCSB We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
Further, some references seem to teach that the dead are unconscious (Psalm 146:4; Ecclesiastes 9:5f, 10; Isaiah 38:18).
· Psalms 146:4 HCSB When his breath leaves him, he returns to the ground; on that day his plans die.
· Ecclesiastes 9:5 HCSB For the living know that they will die, but the dead don't know anything. There is no longer a reward for them because the memory of them is forgotten.
· Isaiah 38:18 HCSB For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who go down to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.
The Objections
In answer to these objections, first, sleep is used of a believer. It is a euphemistic expression taken from the similarity in appearance between a dead body and a sleeping person.
· James 2:26 HCSB For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Further, the Scriptural evidence is that believers who die enjoy a conscious communion with Christ. The verses which suggest the unconscious condition of the soul are viewed from the perspective of the living. From the point of view of the living, the dead have gone to sleep.
Scriptural evidence shows:
· 2 Corinthians 5:8 HCSB yet we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.
Death is not described as unconsciousness but as being “at home” and not just in some place but with a person; “with the Lord”. What is the advantage of being “at home” and “with the Lord” if we are unconscious?
· Matthew 17:1-3 HCSB After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. (2) He was transformed in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the light. (3) Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
· Mark 9:2-4 HCSB After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transformed in front of them, (3) and His clothes became dazzling--extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them. (4) Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
· Luke 9:28-31 HCSB About eight days after these words, He took along Peter, John, and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. (29) As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became dazzling white. (30) Suddenly, two men were talking with Him--Moses and Elijah. (31) They appeared in glory and were speaking of His death, which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Moses and Elijah are still alive, conscious and able to have discussions with Jesus centuries after their bodies died. By the way, note the nature of their conversation.
· 1 Samuel 28:10-19 HCSB Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: "As surely as the LORD lives, nothing bad will happen to you because of this." (11) "Who is it that you want me to bring up for you?" the woman asked. "Bring up Samuel for me," he answered. (12) When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, and then she asked Saul, "Why did you deceive me? You are Saul!" (13) But the king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?" "I see a spirit form coming up out of the earth," the woman answered. (14) Then Saul asked her, "What does he look like?" "An old man is coming up," she replied. "He's wearing a robe." Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed his face to the ground and paid homage. (15) "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Samuel asked Saul. "I'm in serious trouble," replied Saul. "The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He doesn't answer me any more, either through the prophets or in dreams. So I've called on you to tell me what I should do." (16) Samuel answered, "Since the LORD has turned away from you and has become your enemy, why are you asking me? (17) The LORD has done exactly what He said through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David. (18) You did not obey the LORD and did not carry out His wrath against Amalek; therefore the LORD has done this to you today. (19) The LORD will also hand Israel over to the Philistines along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and the LORD will hand Israel's army over to the Philistines."
Samuel was able to appear, discuss current events and foretell the immediate future.
Lazarus and the rich man also shed light on the matter.
· Luke 16:22-24 HCSB One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. (23) And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. (24) 'Father Abraham!' he called out, 'Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!'
The standard argument against using this passage is that it is a parable, and not meant to be understood as literal truth. Let me ask you; in what parable did Jesus ever lie? In what parable did He ever use situations that couldn’t be true? Let’s just say that the story IS a parable; then what would be its point if the soul is unconscious after death?
· Revelation 6:9-11 HCSB When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of God's word and the testimony they had. (10) They cried out with a loud voice: "O Lord, holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?" (11) So a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers, who were going to be killed just as they had been, would be completed.
The condition of the righteous dead has not changed over the millennia. Even in our future, the martyrs will, after their death, be conscious. They will be able to gather together, speak, feel righteous indignation, need robes, and be comforted.
A very basic hermeneutic principle states that we must allow the clear, simple, and explicit to interpret the unclear, complex, and implicit.
Considering this evidence I feel that the passages that are traditionally used to support “soul sleep” to be either written from the earthly perspective or to be euphemisms. I believe soul sleep to be untenable.
This is argued in several ways.
Scriptural often represents death as sleep (Matthew 9:24; John 11:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13).
· Matthew 9:24 HCSB "Leave," He said, "because the girl isn't dead, but sleeping." And they started laughing at Him.
· John 11:11 HCSB He said this, and then He told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I'm on My way to wake him up."
· 1 Thessalonians 4:13 HCSB We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
Further, some references seem to teach that the dead are unconscious (Psalm 146:4; Ecclesiastes 9:5f, 10; Isaiah 38:18).
· Psalms 146:4 HCSB When his breath leaves him, he returns to the ground; on that day his plans die.
· Ecclesiastes 9:5 HCSB For the living know that they will die, but the dead don't know anything. There is no longer a reward for them because the memory of them is forgotten.
· Isaiah 38:18 HCSB For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who go down to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.
The Objections
In answer to these objections, first, sleep is used of a believer. It is a euphemistic expression taken from the similarity in appearance between a dead body and a sleeping person.
· James 2:26 HCSB For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Further, the Scriptural evidence is that believers who die enjoy a conscious communion with Christ. The verses which suggest the unconscious condition of the soul are viewed from the perspective of the living. From the point of view of the living, the dead have gone to sleep.
Scriptural evidence shows:
· 2 Corinthians 5:8 HCSB yet we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.
Death is not described as unconsciousness but as being “at home” and not just in some place but with a person; “with the Lord”. What is the advantage of being “at home” and “with the Lord” if we are unconscious?
· Matthew 17:1-3 HCSB After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. (2) He was transformed in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the light. (3) Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
· Mark 9:2-4 HCSB After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transformed in front of them, (3) and His clothes became dazzling--extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them. (4) Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
· Luke 9:28-31 HCSB About eight days after these words, He took along Peter, John, and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. (29) As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became dazzling white. (30) Suddenly, two men were talking with Him--Moses and Elijah. (31) They appeared in glory and were speaking of His death, which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Moses and Elijah are still alive, conscious and able to have discussions with Jesus centuries after their bodies died. By the way, note the nature of their conversation.
· 1 Samuel 28:10-19 HCSB Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: "As surely as the LORD lives, nothing bad will happen to you because of this." (11) "Who is it that you want me to bring up for you?" the woman asked. "Bring up Samuel for me," he answered. (12) When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, and then she asked Saul, "Why did you deceive me? You are Saul!" (13) But the king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?" "I see a spirit form coming up out of the earth," the woman answered. (14) Then Saul asked her, "What does he look like?" "An old man is coming up," she replied. "He's wearing a robe." Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed his face to the ground and paid homage. (15) "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Samuel asked Saul. "I'm in serious trouble," replied Saul. "The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He doesn't answer me any more, either through the prophets or in dreams. So I've called on you to tell me what I should do." (16) Samuel answered, "Since the LORD has turned away from you and has become your enemy, why are you asking me? (17) The LORD has done exactly what He said through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David. (18) You did not obey the LORD and did not carry out His wrath against Amalek; therefore the LORD has done this to you today. (19) The LORD will also hand Israel over to the Philistines along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and the LORD will hand Israel's army over to the Philistines."
Samuel was able to appear, discuss current events and foretell the immediate future.
Lazarus and the rich man also shed light on the matter.
· Luke 16:22-24 HCSB One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. (23) And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. (24) 'Father Abraham!' he called out, 'Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!'
The standard argument against using this passage is that it is a parable, and not meant to be understood as literal truth. Let me ask you; in what parable did Jesus ever lie? In what parable did He ever use situations that couldn’t be true? Let’s just say that the story IS a parable; then what would be its point if the soul is unconscious after death?
· Revelation 6:9-11 HCSB When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of God's word and the testimony they had. (10) They cried out with a loud voice: "O Lord, holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?" (11) So a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers, who were going to be killed just as they had been, would be completed.
The condition of the righteous dead has not changed over the millennia. Even in our future, the martyrs will, after their death, be conscious. They will be able to gather together, speak, feel righteous indignation, need robes, and be comforted.
A very basic hermeneutic principle states that we must allow the clear, simple, and explicit to interpret the unclear, complex, and implicit.
Considering this evidence I feel that the passages that are traditionally used to support “soul sleep” to be either written from the earthly perspective or to be euphemisms. I believe soul sleep to be untenable.
c. Annihilationism
This teaching relates primarily to the rashaim. According to this doctrine, there is no existence at all for the wicked after death. Most who hold this position teach that at death the unsaved individual simply ceases to exist.
Take a look at several passages with me.
· John 3:16 HCSB "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
· John 8:51 HCSB I assure you: If anyone keeps My word, he will never see death--ever!"
· Romans 9:22 HCSB And what if God, desiring to display His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath ready for destruction?
When annihilationists read these passages they interpret biblical terms such as death, destruction, and perish to mean "deprived of existence" or "reduced to non-existence". But, in answer to this view, it is hard to see how annihilation could be termed punishmentin the same sense the Bible seems to indicate. Scripture is clear that the unsaved will continue to exist forever.
· Ecclesiastes 12:7 HCSB and the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
It does not say that the spirit is destroyed. It says it returns to God.
· Matthew 25:46 HCSB "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
If we do not believe in eternal, ongoing punishment, then we cannot believe in eternal, ongoing life either.
· Mark 9:43-48 HCSB And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell--the unquenchable fire, (44) [where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] (45) And if your foot causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell--the unquenchable fire, (46) [where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. ] (47) And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, (48) where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:44, 46 appear in later manuscripts but are not present in important Alexandrian manuscripts as well as several others that precede them. So it appears they are a scribal addition copied from verse 48 and are not part of the autographa. Nevertheless, the term “unquenchable” in verse 43 and then intent of verse 48 are very clear.
· Revelation 14:9-11 HCSB And a third angel followed them and spoke with a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, (10) he will also drink the wine of God's wrath, which is mixed full strength in the cup of His anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb, (11) and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or anyone who receives the mark of his name.
· Revelation 19:20 HCSB But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with him the false prophet, who had performed signs on his authority, by which he deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
There are degrees of punishment, and annihilationism does not allow for this.
In Halakha judges are to be very careful to make sure that each offender is punished “according to his guilt” and no more.
· Exodus 21:23-25 HCSB If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, (24) eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, (25) burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.
· Deuteronomy 25:2-3 HCSB If the guilty party deserves to be flogged, the judge will make him lie down and be flogged in his presence with the number of lashes appropriate for his crime. (3) He may be flogged with 40 lashes, but no more. Otherwise, if he is flogged with more lashes than these, your brother will be degraded in your sight.
God is always consistent. He cannot change the way He reacts to sin.
· Malachi 3:6 HCSB "Because I, Yahweh, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
So Halakha shows us two things that are related to our discussion. First, any sin may separate you from Holy God, but some sins are clearly more offensive than others. Just look at the list of sins God calls “abominable”. Second, Yahweh Shaphat clearly prescribes different punishments for different crimes based on the severity of the crime and/or the intent of the criminal’s heart.
· Luke 12:47-48 HCSB And that slave who knew his master's will and didn't prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten. (48) But the one who did not know and did things deserving of blows will be beaten lightly. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.
· John 9:41 HCSB "If you were blind," Jesus told them, "you wouldn't have sin. But now that you say, 'We see'--your sin remains.
· John 15:22-24 HCSB If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin. (23) The one who hates Me also hates My Father. (24) If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father.
· John 19:11 HCSB "You would have no authority over Me at all," Jesus answered him, "if it hadn't been given you from above. This is why the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin."
· Romans 2:5-10 HCSB But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment is revealed. (6) He will repay each one according to his works: (7) eternal life to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; (8) but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth, but are obeying unrighteousness; (9) affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek; (10) but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
“Storing up wrath” seems to me to indicate that the more sin you commit, the more wrath you endure. How does that jibe with instantaneous and complete annihilation for all the rashaim, regardless of their sins on earth?
“Repay according to works”; again the idea of more or less on both the positive side and the negative side. We cannot believe that we will receive greater or lesser rewards but that the rashaim will all receive the same punishment. Notice that the point of the whole passage is that:
· Romans 2:11 HCSB There is no favoritism with God.
“Indignation”, “affliction” and “distress”. How are these compatible with the idea of annihilation?
· Revelation 20:13 HCSB Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works.
If the wicked dead are universally annihilated, then in what way are they judged according to their works? If the righteous live and the wicked are annihilated, then it’s pretty much just an on/off switch, isn’t it? The wicked are not judged according to their works then. They are simply…gone.
Take a look at several passages with me.
· John 3:16 HCSB "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
· John 8:51 HCSB I assure you: If anyone keeps My word, he will never see death--ever!"
· Romans 9:22 HCSB And what if God, desiring to display His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath ready for destruction?
When annihilationists read these passages they interpret biblical terms such as death, destruction, and perish to mean "deprived of existence" or "reduced to non-existence". But, in answer to this view, it is hard to see how annihilation could be termed punishmentin the same sense the Bible seems to indicate. Scripture is clear that the unsaved will continue to exist forever.
· Ecclesiastes 12:7 HCSB and the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
It does not say that the spirit is destroyed. It says it returns to God.
· Matthew 25:46 HCSB "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
If we do not believe in eternal, ongoing punishment, then we cannot believe in eternal, ongoing life either.
· Mark 9:43-48 HCSB And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell--the unquenchable fire, (44) [where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] (45) And if your foot causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell--the unquenchable fire, (46) [where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. ] (47) And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, (48) where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:44, 46 appear in later manuscripts but are not present in important Alexandrian manuscripts as well as several others that precede them. So it appears they are a scribal addition copied from verse 48 and are not part of the autographa. Nevertheless, the term “unquenchable” in verse 43 and then intent of verse 48 are very clear.
· Revelation 14:9-11 HCSB And a third angel followed them and spoke with a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, (10) he will also drink the wine of God's wrath, which is mixed full strength in the cup of His anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb, (11) and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or anyone who receives the mark of his name.
· Revelation 19:20 HCSB But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with him the false prophet, who had performed signs on his authority, by which he deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
There are degrees of punishment, and annihilationism does not allow for this.
In Halakha judges are to be very careful to make sure that each offender is punished “according to his guilt” and no more.
· Exodus 21:23-25 HCSB If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, (24) eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, (25) burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.
· Deuteronomy 25:2-3 HCSB If the guilty party deserves to be flogged, the judge will make him lie down and be flogged in his presence with the number of lashes appropriate for his crime. (3) He may be flogged with 40 lashes, but no more. Otherwise, if he is flogged with more lashes than these, your brother will be degraded in your sight.
God is always consistent. He cannot change the way He reacts to sin.
· Malachi 3:6 HCSB "Because I, Yahweh, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
So Halakha shows us two things that are related to our discussion. First, any sin may separate you from Holy God, but some sins are clearly more offensive than others. Just look at the list of sins God calls “abominable”. Second, Yahweh Shaphat clearly prescribes different punishments for different crimes based on the severity of the crime and/or the intent of the criminal’s heart.
· Luke 12:47-48 HCSB And that slave who knew his master's will and didn't prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten. (48) But the one who did not know and did things deserving of blows will be beaten lightly. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.
· John 9:41 HCSB "If you were blind," Jesus told them, "you wouldn't have sin. But now that you say, 'We see'--your sin remains.
· John 15:22-24 HCSB If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin. (23) The one who hates Me also hates My Father. (24) If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father.
· John 19:11 HCSB "You would have no authority over Me at all," Jesus answered him, "if it hadn't been given you from above. This is why the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin."
· Romans 2:5-10 HCSB But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment is revealed. (6) He will repay each one according to his works: (7) eternal life to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; (8) but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth, but are obeying unrighteousness; (9) affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek; (10) but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
“Storing up wrath” seems to me to indicate that the more sin you commit, the more wrath you endure. How does that jibe with instantaneous and complete annihilation for all the rashaim, regardless of their sins on earth?
“Repay according to works”; again the idea of more or less on both the positive side and the negative side. We cannot believe that we will receive greater or lesser rewards but that the rashaim will all receive the same punishment. Notice that the point of the whole passage is that:
· Romans 2:11 HCSB There is no favoritism with God.
“Indignation”, “affliction” and “distress”. How are these compatible with the idea of annihilation?
· Revelation 20:13 HCSB Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works.
If the wicked dead are universally annihilated, then in what way are they judged according to their works? If the righteous live and the wicked are annihilated, then it’s pretty much just an on/off switch, isn’t it? The wicked are not judged according to their works then. They are simply…gone.
d. conditional immortality
According to this doctrine, the soul is not created or born with immortality, but receives it upon confession of faith in Christ. It comes as a gift of God. The one who dies without Christ simply ceases to exist because he has not received the gift of immortality.
Those who hold this position argue that God alone has immortality, and he gives it to those who respond to his call.
· 1 Timothy 6:15-16 HCSB which God will bring about in His own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, (16) the only One who has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom none of mankind has seen or can see, to whom be honor and eternal might. Amen.
They further teach that Scripture nowhere speaks of the immortality of the soul.
But we answer that this doctrine confuses immortality with eternal life. The eternal life received at Salvation is more than eternal existence; it is rather a quality of life, a richness of life in the presence of Christ. Both the wicked dead and the righteous dead will continue to exist. Unfortunately the rashaim will continue to exist apart from El Ch’aim, the God of Life.
At death the believer enters into the presence of Christ. He remains with the Lord in a state of conscious blessedness until the time of the resurrection, at which time he will receive his body of glory.
The unbeliever enters into a state of conscious torment until the resurrection, at which time he will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
It is true that God alone has inherent immortality; nevertheless, man did receive “derived immortality” at creation. He is born as an immortal being.
The difference between God’s immortality and ours can be illustrated thus:
God’s immortality: No beginning, no end.
Man’s immortality: Beginning, no end
None of us will ever cease to exist as conscious entities. In that we are like God. We are unlike God in the sense that He never BEGAN! He never had a birth. He has always existed.
Isaiah 14:9-11, 15-17 definitely teaches that it is a conscious existence after death.
· Isaiah 14:9-11 HCSB Sheol below is eager to greet your coming. He stirs up the spirits of the departed for you--all the rulers of the earth. He makes all the kings of the nations rise from their thrones. (10) They all respond to you, saying: "You too have become as weak as we are; you have become like us! (11) Your splendor has been brought down to Sheol, along with the music of your harps. Maggots are spread out under you, and worms cover you."
· Isaiah 14:15-17 HCSB But you will be brought down to Sheol into the deepest regions of the Pit. (16) Those who see you will stare at you; they will look closely at you: "Is this the man who caused the earth to tremble, who shook the kingdoms, (17) who turned the world into a wilderness, who trampled its cities and would not release the prisoners to return home?"
And that which is hinted at in the Old Covenant is clearly taught in the New Covenant. Jesus taught it in Matthew 22:31f when He said that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were still alive and in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).
Those who hold this position argue that God alone has immortality, and he gives it to those who respond to his call.
· 1 Timothy 6:15-16 HCSB which God will bring about in His own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, (16) the only One who has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom none of mankind has seen or can see, to whom be honor and eternal might. Amen.
They further teach that Scripture nowhere speaks of the immortality of the soul.
But we answer that this doctrine confuses immortality with eternal life. The eternal life received at Salvation is more than eternal existence; it is rather a quality of life, a richness of life in the presence of Christ. Both the wicked dead and the righteous dead will continue to exist. Unfortunately the rashaim will continue to exist apart from El Ch’aim, the God of Life.
At death the believer enters into the presence of Christ. He remains with the Lord in a state of conscious blessedness until the time of the resurrection, at which time he will receive his body of glory.
The unbeliever enters into a state of conscious torment until the resurrection, at which time he will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
It is true that God alone has inherent immortality; nevertheless, man did receive “derived immortality” at creation. He is born as an immortal being.
The difference between God’s immortality and ours can be illustrated thus:
God’s immortality: No beginning, no end.
Man’s immortality: Beginning, no end
None of us will ever cease to exist as conscious entities. In that we are like God. We are unlike God in the sense that He never BEGAN! He never had a birth. He has always existed.
Isaiah 14:9-11, 15-17 definitely teaches that it is a conscious existence after death.
· Isaiah 14:9-11 HCSB Sheol below is eager to greet your coming. He stirs up the spirits of the departed for you--all the rulers of the earth. He makes all the kings of the nations rise from their thrones. (10) They all respond to you, saying: "You too have become as weak as we are; you have become like us! (11) Your splendor has been brought down to Sheol, along with the music of your harps. Maggots are spread out under you, and worms cover you."
· Isaiah 14:15-17 HCSB But you will be brought down to Sheol into the deepest regions of the Pit. (16) Those who see you will stare at you; they will look closely at you: "Is this the man who caused the earth to tremble, who shook the kingdoms, (17) who turned the world into a wilderness, who trampled its cities and would not release the prisoners to return home?"
And that which is hinted at in the Old Covenant is clearly taught in the New Covenant. Jesus taught it in Matthew 22:31f when He said that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were still alive and in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).
Conclusion on the four false views
The doctrines of purgatory, soul-sleep, annihilationism and conditional immortality cannot be considered biblical doctrines.
4. The intermediate state in the Old Covenant
Two views prevail as to how to relate a two-compartment Sheol, that was not clearly taught in the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, which teaches that paradise is in heaven and hades elsewhere. Both views recognize the fact that the Hebrew term "sheol" is translated into "hades" in the Greek Old Covenant.
Paradise is a word of Persian origin signifying "a royal park or garden." Crucial to the interpretation is the meaning of the words, "a great chasm fixed" (Luke 16:26). The two views are as follows:
According to our Adonaic view, this is what Sheol looked like before Christ’s death and resurrection:
Paradise is a word of Persian origin signifying "a royal park or garden." Crucial to the interpretation is the meaning of the words, "a great chasm fixed" (Luke 16:26). The two views are as follows:
- One view is that the "great chasm fixed" is simply a description of the distance that always existed between hades and paradise (which has always been in heaven), a fact not revealed in the Old Covenant. (Draw two circles at a distance apart, one below and one above)
- The other view sees the two as "compartments" of sheol, both located in the same general place. When Jesus ascended to heaven, paradise was moved to heaven. In view of Luke 16’s story, I prefer this view.
According to our Adonaic view, this is what Sheol looked like before Christ’s death and resurrection:
a. Sheol / the Abode of the Dead / the Grave / Hades
Hades is the Greek version of the Hebrew word “sheol.” It basically means the abode of the dead. Sometimes “sheol” has been translated as “the grave.” That “sheol” and “hades” are synonymous is clear since the terms are used interchangeably. David said in the book of Psalms:
· Psalms 16:10 HCSB For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see the Pit.
Peter quoted this passage as following:
· Acts 2:29-31 HCSB "Brothers, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. (30) Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne. (31) Seeing this in advance, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not left in Hades, and His flesh did not experience decay.
An important hermeneutic principle to keep in mind here is the principle of “Progressive Revelation”. The writers and characters in the earliest writings did not know what God would reveal later in history. More details of God’s grace were known to Paul than to Abraham, for instance. As God has revealed more of Himself and His plan for His people, the picture has become clearer. Therefore, while not discounting the revelation of God in the Old Testament, we must give special attention to how the later pieces of God’s revelation complete the earlier pieces. The New Covenant provides commentary on the Old.
So the concept of death, both for believers and unbelievers, is much less clear in the Old Covenant and when its writers describe the post-death condition, the word "sheol" is most often used. In places this word seems to mean "the grave," and a few Old Covenant experts are convinced that "grave" is always the best translation. Some Old Covenant texts, however, could give the expanded meaning of a place one's spirit goes at death, a place beyond the grave itself.
Both Just and Unjust Go to "Sheol"
The Old Covenant teaches that there is a life after death. There is no Old Covenant distinction between the place believers and unbelievers go. The common destiny seems to be "sheol."
The wicked go there.
· Psalms 9:17 HCSB The wicked will return to Sheol--all the nations that forget God.
· Psalms 31:17 HCSB LORD, do not let me be disgraced when I call on You. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them be silent in Sheol.
· Psalms 49:13-14 HCSB This is the way of those who are arrogant, and of their followers, who approve of their words. Selah (14) Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their form will waste away in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.
· Isaiah 5:14 HCSB Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion's dignitaries, her masses, her crowds, and those who carouse in her!
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram went down alive into sheol!
· Numbers 16:33 HCSB They went down alive into Sheol with all that belonged to them. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.
But the righteous also go there.
· Genesis 37:35 HCSB All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. "No," he said. "I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning." And his father wept for him.
· Genesis 42:38 HCSB But Jacob answered, "My son will not go down with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. If anything happens to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hairs down to Sheol in sorrow."
· Genesis 44:29 HCSB If you also take this one from me and anything happens to him, you will bring my gray hairs down to Sheol in sorrow.'
· Job 14:13 HCSB If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger passes, that You would appoint a time for me and then remember me.
· Job 17:13-16 HCSB If I await Sheol as my home, spread out my bed in darkness, (14) and say to the Pit: You are my father, and to the worm: My mother or my sister, (15) where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me? (16) Will it go down to the gates of Sheol, or will we descend together to the dust?
· Psalms 6:4-5 HCSB Turn, LORD! Rescue me; save me because of Your faithful love. (5) For there is no remembrance of You in death; who can thank You in Sheol?
· Psalms 16:10 HCSB For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see the Pit.
· Psalms 88:3-5 HCSB For I have had enough troubles, and my life is near Sheol. (4) I am counted among those going down to the Pit. I am like a man without strength, (5) abandoned among the dead. I am like the slain lying in the grave, whom You no longer remember, and who are cut off from Your care.
Righteous Hezekiah looked upon death as an entering "the gates of Sheol".
· Isaiah 38:10 HCSB I said: In the prime of my life I must go to the gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the rest of my years.
· Psalms 16:10 HCSB For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see the Pit.
Peter quoted this passage as following:
· Acts 2:29-31 HCSB "Brothers, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. (30) Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne. (31) Seeing this in advance, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not left in Hades, and His flesh did not experience decay.
An important hermeneutic principle to keep in mind here is the principle of “Progressive Revelation”. The writers and characters in the earliest writings did not know what God would reveal later in history. More details of God’s grace were known to Paul than to Abraham, for instance. As God has revealed more of Himself and His plan for His people, the picture has become clearer. Therefore, while not discounting the revelation of God in the Old Testament, we must give special attention to how the later pieces of God’s revelation complete the earlier pieces. The New Covenant provides commentary on the Old.
So the concept of death, both for believers and unbelievers, is much less clear in the Old Covenant and when its writers describe the post-death condition, the word "sheol" is most often used. In places this word seems to mean "the grave," and a few Old Covenant experts are convinced that "grave" is always the best translation. Some Old Covenant texts, however, could give the expanded meaning of a place one's spirit goes at death, a place beyond the grave itself.
Both Just and Unjust Go to "Sheol"
The Old Covenant teaches that there is a life after death. There is no Old Covenant distinction between the place believers and unbelievers go. The common destiny seems to be "sheol."
The wicked go there.
· Psalms 9:17 HCSB The wicked will return to Sheol--all the nations that forget God.
· Psalms 31:17 HCSB LORD, do not let me be disgraced when I call on You. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them be silent in Sheol.
· Psalms 49:13-14 HCSB This is the way of those who are arrogant, and of their followers, who approve of their words. Selah (14) Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their form will waste away in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.
· Isaiah 5:14 HCSB Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion's dignitaries, her masses, her crowds, and those who carouse in her!
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram went down alive into sheol!
· Numbers 16:33 HCSB They went down alive into Sheol with all that belonged to them. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.
But the righteous also go there.
· Genesis 37:35 HCSB All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. "No," he said. "I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning." And his father wept for him.
· Genesis 42:38 HCSB But Jacob answered, "My son will not go down with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. If anything happens to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hairs down to Sheol in sorrow."
· Genesis 44:29 HCSB If you also take this one from me and anything happens to him, you will bring my gray hairs down to Sheol in sorrow.'
· Job 14:13 HCSB If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger passes, that You would appoint a time for me and then remember me.
· Job 17:13-16 HCSB If I await Sheol as my home, spread out my bed in darkness, (14) and say to the Pit: You are my father, and to the worm: My mother or my sister, (15) where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me? (16) Will it go down to the gates of Sheol, or will we descend together to the dust?
· Psalms 6:4-5 HCSB Turn, LORD! Rescue me; save me because of Your faithful love. (5) For there is no remembrance of You in death; who can thank You in Sheol?
· Psalms 16:10 HCSB For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see the Pit.
· Psalms 88:3-5 HCSB For I have had enough troubles, and my life is near Sheol. (4) I am counted among those going down to the Pit. I am like a man without strength, (5) abandoned among the dead. I am like the slain lying in the grave, whom You no longer remember, and who are cut off from Your care.
Righteous Hezekiah looked upon death as an entering "the gates of Sheol".
· Isaiah 38:10 HCSB I said: In the prime of my life I must go to the gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the rest of my years.
