Why not ask Jesus Christ ? He seems to be an authority in the New Testament. He often stated that He was the Son of God. Wouldn’t someone who is related to God know about hell ? First let’s see what Jesus taught about death and the grave. His words are recorded in Scripture.
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28,29)
Jesus taught that the dead were in the grave and not immediately rewarded or punished after death. He said that there would be 2 future resurrections - one for those who did good and a separate one for those who did evil. Notice that Jesus said evil people were in the grave and that they would be resurrected to face damnation at some later point in time. Read the verse again.
Just to be sure we don’t misunderstand what Jesus believed about the dead, let's consider another verse where He speaks about the resurrection of those who have done good. "And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection." (Luke 20:34-36)
Jesus taught that dead people were in the grave; not in heaven and not in hell. He said that there would be 2 resurrections and that dead people would be raised in either the 1st or 2nd resurrection. This would depend upon whether they were good or evil people while they were alive. What Jesus taught about death and the grave was in perfect harmony with the teaching in the Old Testament because the New Testament had not been written yet.
Would you like to know more ?
Stay tuned for the next post in this series about Hell.
Stay tuned for the next post in this series about Hell.
If you haven't truly done so or ready, believer or unbeliever, please...surrender
your heart to God while there is still time; surrender your thoughts
and feelings to Jesus Christ the one who loves you and died in order for
you and I to be able to obtain victory over all sin and selfishness in
our lives...God loves you..God wants you...Not just to be forgiven...Not
to play church, but to truly become Christ-like before you die so that
you can be prepared to enjoy eternity with Him. A Christlike person is
the only kind of person that could enjoy heaven and the only kind of
person that could be trusted in heaven.
© 2014 Tyrone Keels
www.issues-of-life.com
