The Afterlife - the different views

THE AFTERLIFE:

BELIEFS OF INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS

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Beliefs include: Heaven, Hell, Limbo, Purgatory, Reincarnation, etc.

Groups covered in this essay:

	Christadelphians: Only those who have heard the Gospel will be resurrected from the grave and be judged. The rest will remain dead, without consciousness, forever.
	Christian Science: Hell is mental anguish, not a place of separation from God. Heaven is harmony and bliss, not a place of reward.
	Jehovah's Witnesses: Hell does not exist; the unsaved simply die and are no more. The earth will become a paradise after Jesus returns.
	Mormons: There are 3 levels to Heaven. Hell exists, but very few go there.
	Seventh Day Adventists: Heaven exists. Hell is not a place of eternal torment; it is a place where annihilation occurs; people who go there cease to exist.
	Twelve Tribes Communities (a.k.a. the Messianic Communities): There are three possible destinations after death: eternal death, God's eternal kingdom or the Holy City, New Jerusalem. One's destination depends upon one's behavior while alive on earth.
	Unity School of Christianity: Heaven and hell do not exist as places, but as states of consciousness while we are alive on earth.

The Christadelphians

Their name is taken from the Greek in Hebrews 2:11 which translates to "brethren of Christ." They believe that individuals who have died without hearing the Gospel will remain dead, without consciousness forever. They are to be annihilated at death. There is a division within the group:

The Amended Group of Christadelphians believe that the dead who are "in Christ" will be resurrected and judged at the time of the Second Coming of Christ. Those who have tried to pattern their lives after Christ's example will be granted immortality. They will live on Earth, restored to its Eden-like state. The wicked will consigned to the "second death." They will be annihilated and cease to exist.

The Unamended group believe that all of the dead who had been saved will be resurrected and automatically have eternal life in a restored Earth.

Belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, repentance and baptism are all required to be saved.

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Jehovah's Witnesses

Members of The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society (WTS) believe that Hell does not exist. They interpret Hell symbolically as the "common grave of mankind." Most people simply cease to exist at death; they are annihilated, and do not continue to exist in any form.

The Heavenly Kingdom was established in 1914 CE. A "little flock" or "Anointed Class" of about 135,400 people currently inhabits Heaven. Another 8,600 are still alive at the present time; will also spend eternity with God at a later date. The battle of Armageddon will start soon. Jesus, under Jehovah's divine rage, will execute vengeance upon the rest of Christendom and followers of "Babylon the Great" (other religions). After the world is purified, a theocracy "God's Kingdom" will be established on earth for 1000 years. Those who survive Armageddon, the "other sheep," will live in peace in the newly created utopia -- a paradise on earth. They will be joined by the worthy dead who have been resurrected. After 1000 years of God's Kingdom, Satan, his demon forces and all those rebellious ones who turn against God will be finally destroyed.

In order to be saved, a person should:

	accept the doctrines formulated by the WTS Governing Body,
	be baptized as a Jehovah's Witness, and
	follow the program of works as laid out by the Governing Body. 6,7,8

Mormons

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that not one, but three heavens exist:

	The highest levels of the Celestial Kingdom are reserved for Mormon couples who have been married in a Mormon temple and thus have had their marriage sealed for eternity. The couples can eventually become a God and Goddess; the husband will then be in control of an entire universe. Christians who are non-Mormons and have led truly exceptional lives will also spend eternity in the Celestial Kingdom.
	The Terrestrial Kingdom, is the destination for most individuals.
	The Telestial Kingdom is for "liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers" (D&C 76:102).

Individuals will learn and progress within the Kingdom to which they are assigned at death. However, with the exception of those in Hell, they are not allowed to transfer to the next higher level. (D&C 76:70-107) Couples who are not sealed (married in a Mormon temple) will be automatically divorced at death and spend eternity as single individuals.

Hell exists, but very few people will stay there forever. Most will eventually "pass into the telestial kingdom; the balance, cursed as 'sons of perdition', will be consigned to partake of endless wo [sic] with the devil and his [fallen] angels." (Doctrines and Covenants", 76:84). Sons of perdition have been defined as once devout Mormons who have become apostates by rejecting God's truth and have left the LDS church. This appears to be the official teaching of the church. Other Mormons have a broader definition and include persons who have knowingly committed a very serious sins and have not repented and sought God's forgiveness -- sins like murder and pre-marital sex.

All will be resurrected. Their belief in Universal Resurrection states that "the unbeliever, the heathen and the child who dies before reaching the years of discretion" will all be brought back to life. (Articles of Faith, Page 85). Additional benefits beyond simple resurrection will be gained by those who do good works.

Seventh Day Adventists:

The Seventy-Day Adventists believe in the traditional concept of Heaven and Hell. However, they do not believe that Hell is a place of eternal punishment "with sinners screaming in agony without end." They view Hell as a place where the unsaved will be burned up, reduced to ashes, and annihilated.

They cite Biblical verses to show that the "'everlasting' in 'everlasting hell' means 'as long as there is something to burn in hell.' Our God is a loving God and to portray sinners as screaming in agony forever and ever does not portray God in such light." ₁

Twelve Tribes Communities:

The Twelve Tribes live in in communities, largely on the east coast of North America. They have been a favorite target of the Anti-Cult Movement in the past. Their beliefs about life-after-death, which they call the "Three Eternal Destinies of Man," are based on two fundamental beliefs:

	That God gave all humanity a conscience so that they would have an instinctive knowledge of good and evil.
	That God would judge people fairly and impartially according to how each person obeyed their conscience.

Their view of divine judgment divides humanity into three groups, each with their own unique destiny in accordance with their behavior while on earth. Their beliefs are based on Revelation 22:11, as well as Matthew 25:31-46, John 5:25-29, and Romans 2:6-16.

	The first group consist of the Unjust (those who "take advantage of others for their own selfish gain") and the Filthy (those who "ruin the lives of others with their own moral corruption.") After death, they will go to the place prepared for Satan and his angels where they they will experience the second death in the eternal lake of fire. According to Revelation 14:11, they will be tormented or tortured for all time without any hope of relief or cessation of the torment.
	The second category is the Righteous (those who are "good people" who follow their own conscience, fear God and respect others). After death, they will atone for their sins by suffering punishment. When they are resurrected, they will go to a place where they will enjoy a second life "in the Nations of God's Eternal Kingdom." They will live forever on a new earth. Since babies will continue to be born and adults never die, their population will increase continually. They will spread out and inhabit other worlds prepared for them throughout the universe.
	The third group are made up of the Holy, the "set apart." These live entirely for Jesus while on earth. When they die, they will bypass the final judgment and go to be with God. Together, the Holy literally form the Holy City -- New Jerusalem. They will travel throughout the universe as ambassadors representing the Messiah, Yahshua. They will rule with Yahshua over the Righteous. 2

Unity School of Christianity:

Unity is an unusually inclusive faith group and welcomes diversity of belief.

Rather than looking upon heaven as a place "up there" to be experienced as a reward after death, Unity conceives of heaven as expressed by Jesus: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand", and "The kingdom of God is in the midst of (within) you". Their founder, Charles Fillmore, defined it as "a state of consciousness in which the soul and the body are in harmony with Divine Mind". One does not have to wait until they die. Heaven can thus be enjoyed at any time through prayer. Through proper technique, attitude and receptivity one can elevate our personal consciousness to a heavenly state.

The Unity Church does not conceive hell to be a place of eternal torment in which people are eternally punished with fire because of their beliefs and/or actions during life. It is not a place to go to after death. Rather it is a state of consciousness to be suffered here on earth. Charles Fillmore wrote: "One does not have to die in order to go to hell, any more than one has to die to get to heaven. Both are states of mind and conditions, which people experience as a direct outworking of their thoughts, beliefs, words, and acts. If one's mental processes are out of harmony with the law of man's [sic] being, they result in trouble and sorrow; mental as well as bodily anguish overtakes one, and this is hell".

Some members believe in a form of reincarnation called "transmigration of the soul." After death the soul is believed to leave the body, and to live again in another human body. This is/was a common belief among:
present day Eastern religions, and in the early Christian Church prior to the Council of Constantinople in 533 CE, and among the Essenes, one of the three major Jewish sects in existence while Jesus was alive. They cite references from the Christian Scriptures which show that the concept of reincarnation was common
during Jesus' time. In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark , John the Baptist is referred to as the reincarnation of Elija. In Matthew, some of the populace guessed that Jesus was a reincarnation of John the Baptist; others guessed Elija; still others guessed Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. Jesus neither criticized the people for their beliefs, nor declared reincarnation to be heresy.

Among believers in reincarnation, each lifetime is viewed as a time of preparation for the next life, leading towards eventual perfection.

Others within the Unity Church believe that one's personality does not survive death, but that we become spiritual beings after we die.

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References:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. The Adventist Christian Club describes the Seventh-Day Adventist's position on heaven and hell at: http://www.findjesus.com/adventist/Question57.html
2. "The three eternal destinies of Man: Proving that God is fair to everyone," at: http://www.twelvetribes.com/
3. A.K. Turner, "The History of Hell", Harcourt Brace, New York, NY, (1993), Page 40-45.
4. "Contemporary preachers not so hot about Hell?" Charisma News Service, 2000-FEB-25, at: http://www.mcjonline.com/news/00/20000225e.htm
5. "What the Hell is Hell?" is a web site that delves into the intricacies of Hell. See: http://what-the-hell-is-hell.com
6. "What has happened to Hellfire?" Jehovah's Witnesses, at: http://www.watchtower.org/
7. "Is there LIFE after death?" Jehovah's Witnesses, at: http://www.watchtower.org/
8. David Reed, "After death -- what?....according to Jesus," Comments from the Friends, an anti-cult group at: http://www.cftf.com/

Eternal Sin

What Is the “Eternal” Sin?

by Wayne Jackson
Christian Courier: Questions
Tuesday, November 2, 2004

Jesus once spoke of an “eternal” sin, for which there is no forgiveness. What was that sin? Can it be committed today? Study this topic with us.

“What is the ‘eternal sin,’ mentioned in Mark 3:29?”

Here is the text that is the focus of this question.

“Verily I say unto you, All their sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they shall have blasphemed: but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin: because they say, ‘He has an unclean spirit’” (Mark 3:28-29).

Jesus Christ is the author of the above warning, and he was speaking to certain Pharisees. In order to see the more complete background of this episode, one must compare Mark’s record with that of Matthew 12:22ff (see also Luke 11:14-23).

On a certain occasion when he was in Galilee, the Lord Jesus encountered a man who was possessed of a demon, with the result that the unfortunate gentleman could neither see nor speak. Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Matthew 12:28), cast out the evil spirit. The people nearby, when they saw the miracle, were amazed, wondering out loud, “Could this be the son of David?” The expression, “son of David,” was the equivalent of “Messiah” (cf. Matthew 22:42).

When the Pharisees observed this excited reaction by the multitude, they bristled with envy (resenting the teaching influence of Jesus). They thus charged: “This man does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebub [Satan].” It is important to observe that they did not deny that a supernatural event had occurred. They disputed only the source of power by which the sign was done, transferring such from the Spirit of God to Satan.

There are some very important facts that are essential to understanding the dramatic nature of Christ’s warning about the “eternal sin” in this context.

1. The sin under consideration was not a mere impulsive exclamation that denigrated the Holy Spirit, i.e., blasphemous words uttered rashly that, once they leave the lips, condemn a person forever – no matter what his disposition in the future.

   One must remember this fact. Paul himself had been a blasphemer. In his first letter to Timothy, he conceded that prior to his conversion he was “a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious.” Nonetheless, he received pardon, because his conduct, bad as it had been, was done in ignorance and unbelief (1 Timothy 1:12-14). Can there be any doubt that this persecutor had spoken against the miracles of the Lord, and the Spirit by which they were performed? Later, though, his heart was changed; and the rest is history.

   But the case was far different with those Pharisees who were involved in this conflict with the Savior. Note the specificity of Mark’s description of these critics’ actions. The inspired writer describes their conduct in this way: “because they said [elegon – imperfect tense], he has an unclean spirit” (Mark 3:30). The tense of the verb is extremely important. It denotes a sustained activity. It was not a temporary burst of emotion. It was a seething, determined resistance. Professor William Lane comments as follows:

   “The use of the imperfect tense of the verb in the explanatory note, ‘because they were saying that he is possessed,’ implies repetition and a fixed attitude of mind, the tokens of callousness which brought the scribes to the brink of unforgivable blasphemy” (p. 146).

   Similarly, Edmond Hiebert commented: “Said, looking back to the charge in verse 23, is imperfect tense, marking their persistence in the malicious charge” (p. 102).

2. When one combines this grammatical fact, with a subsequent comment made by Christ, the point becomes even clearer. Matthew’s record supplements Mark’s account with these stinging words from Jesus. “You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). Some grammatical points are noteworthy.

   The phrase “being [ontes] wicked” reflects a present tense participle, and the subsequent verb “speaks” [lalei] also is a present form. The resolute, evil charges against the Son of God were an index to the concrete-like, malevolent quality that encrusted their hearts. These men were not simply making an ignorant mistake. They were deliberate, dug-in enemies of truth. They would hang on to their sinful disposition till the end, and that rebellion would follow them into eternity, hence, an “eternal sin.”

   One cannot but be reminded of a comment that the apostle John made regarding those of a similar disposition, “But though he [Christ] had done so many signs before them, yet they believed not on him.” Then, after citing Isaiah’s prophecy (53:1) of Israel’s unbelief relative to its Messiah, the apostle continued, “For this cause they could not believe” (emp. added). Isaiah then was referenced again (6:10), to the effect that the sin underlying their unbelief was hardness of heart (see John 12:37-41).

The “eternal sin,” therefore, was a wicked mindset that followed these hardened rebels into eternity, where an “eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:2) would be pronounced. Moreover, an “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46) of unending remorse would forever haunt them, because there is no post-mortem plan of salvation (Hebrews 9:27).

What About Today?

It is a matter of some consternation that a few sincere, modern writers allege that the “eternal sin” to which Mark referred cannot be committed today. This is a misguided exegetical mistake. Think about the following.

Certainly it is the case that no one today can commit the “eternal sin” in precisely the same way the Pharisees did. Christ is not visibly present on earth, men do not see him performing miracles, and thus one cannot insult the Spirit in an exactly parallel fashion. On the other hand, the following facts must be introduced into evidence.

1. While we do not have Jesus visibly present today, performing miracles to corroborate the authenticity of his message, there is a modern analogous situation. The documentation of those signs, as recorded in the Gospel accounts, stands as irrefutable evidence of the Savior’s identity. Here is John’s testimony.

   “Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).

   Of special significance is the expression “are written.” In the Greek Testament, the verb is a perfect tense form, with this meaning, “that which was written, and remains so.” The perfect form, combined with the present tense, “believing [keep on believing],” underscores the abiding nature of the testimony of John’s Gospel (see Robertson, Vol. V, p. 317). Professor Wallace says the force is that of “present and binding authority” (p. 576). In other words, the evidence for Christ’s miracles is as compelling today as it was in the first century, due to the integrity of the sacred scriptures. (This case we have argued in many articles on this web site.)

2. It is a fact, therefore, that the validity of Jesus’ supernatural works (the design of which was to buttress his plan of redemption for mankind) is as strong today as it was in the first century. Why would it not be the case that a hardened repudiation of the New Testament evidence for Christ’s supernatural power, would be the equivalent in this age, to what the Pharisees did during his personal ministry? If a person persistently rejects the New Testament evidence that undergirds the Savior’s credibility, has he not, in principle, exhibited the same attitude and actions the Pharisees did? Has he not committed an “eternal sin”? Is there any other method of redemption available to him? Tragically (for him), absolutely none! Again, we quote from A.T. Robertson.

   “[T]he unpardonable sin can be committed today by men who call the work of Christ the work of the devil. Nietzsche may be cited as an instance in point. Those who hope for a second probation hereafter may ponder carefully how a soul that eternally sins in such an environment can ever repent” (Vol. I, p. 282).

   C.E.B. Cranfield provided his own barbed comment regarding this matter. “Those who most particularly should heed the warning of the verse today are the theological teachers and the official leaders of the churches” (p. 143). To this I would add, certainly such is the case with reference to those modernistic “scholars” who attempt to strip the Gospel accounts of their supernatural elements.

Conclusion

There are two final comments that we would make regarding this matter.

First, the absolute terror that this warning strikes in the hearts of people (some even call it “harsh{) is not the type of approach that someone would use in fabricating a religion that would be popular with the masses. It is not politically/theologically “correct.” This indirectly provides a sense of authenticity to the overall Gospel accounts.

Second, the “eternal sin” narrative contains the sobering caution that we must guard our hearts, so as to keep them always honest, and open to the reception of truth (cf. Ephesians 4:19; 2 Timothy 4:1ff). When one resists the teaching of the Holy Spirit, as conveyed through the sacred Scriptures (cf. Acts 7:51), such can lead to more intense gradations of rebellion (cf. Hebrews 10:29b), resulting ultimately in an eternity of unimaginable horror.

Apostasy rarely comes in “leaps.{ Rather, it creeps up by seconds, and those seconds eventually become hours, days, and years. When those years cross the line into eternity, it is too late to remedy the condition.

---

SOURCES

Cranfield, C.E.B. (1966), The Gospel According to Saint Mark (Cambridge: University Press).

Hiebert, D. Edmond (1994), The Gospel of Mark (Greenville, SC: Bob Jones University).

Lane, William (1974), The Gospel of Mark (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans).

Robertson, A.T. (1930-33), Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman), Five Volumes.

Wallace, Daniel B. (1996), Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics (Grand Rapids: Zondervan).

(http://www.christiancourier.com/questions/eternalSin.htm)

The Ten Commandments - Part 1

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS:

Many topics, viewpoints and interpretations

Quote:

"Only 68 of 200 Anglican priests polled could name all Ten Commandments, but half said they believed in space aliens." 1

About the Ten Commandments:

This section deals with the Ten Commandments (a.k.a. Decalogue) which appears in three places in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). These have historically been accepted by Judaism, Christianity and Islam as a summary of the most important rules of behavior that God expects of humanity.

There is considerable debate in the U.S. whether the Decalogue should be posted in public schools, public parks, government offices, etc, and under which circumstances posting is constitutional.

Topics covered in this section:

	Overview of the Ten Commandments: What they are; Legal challenges concerning their display in public property
	Text of the Ten Commandments: The text and groupings of the Ten Commandments.
	Who wrote the Ten Commandments?
	Possible origin of the Ten Commandments
	Analysis of the individual commandments: Commandments 1 to 5 Detailed analysis of the second commandment Commandments 6 to 10
	Comparison of Qur'an verses with the Hebrew Scriptures' Ten Commandments
	Current status: Comparison with current moral codes; are they being followed? Do they need changing? Public knowledge. Opinion survey.
	Modern versions of (& replacements for) the Ten Commandments
	Legal and constitutional aspects 2005 cases (Kentucky & Texas) before the U.S. Supreme Court
	The Ten Commandment monument project of the Fraternal Order of Eagles
	Posting the Decalogue in public schools: pros and cons A tongue-in-cheek discussion of their posting
	The "Chief Justice Moore case" in Alabama Exactly what is involved in this case? How the conflict can be resolved legally? Part 1: events from 2001 to 2003-JUL-31 Part 2: 2003-AUG-1 to AUG-22 Part 3: 2003-AUG-23 to DEC-31 Part 4: 2004-JAN-01 to present time
	More legal and other developments concerning posting the Decalogue: 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Related essays on this website:

	Recent U.S. court rulings on separation of church and state
	The Istook Constitutional Amendment
	Prayer in the public schools

Internet sites featuring images of the Ten Commandments:

	A 8" x 12" (about 20 x 30 cm) tile containing the Ten Commandments in Hebrew and English is available in Blue and Cream at: http://www.ariustile.com/ariuscatalog/it030009.htm
	The Ten Commandments in a number of world languages (Arabic. Cebuano. Chinese Simplified. Chinese Traditional. Croatian. Czech. English. Danish. Dutch. Finnish...) were available at http://www.thetencommandments.org Unfortunately, this is at least temporarily unavailable.
	A simplified version of the Ten Commandments, in the form of a bumper sticker, is available at: http://www.well.com/ It paraphrases a saying by Jesus:

Useful References:

Books: P.N. Benware, "Survey of the Old Testament", Moody Press, Chicago IL, (1993) Read reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store C.M. Laymon, Editor, The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary on the Bible, Abingdon Press, Nashville TN (1971), Pages 53 to 55 & 122. John Shelby Spong, "Beyond Moralism: A Contemporary view of the Ten Commandments," Saint Johann Press, (2000). Read reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store

Internet sites: Alan M. Dershowitz, "Ten Commandments Aren't Gun Control Politics: Religion isn't a constitutionally acceptable alternative," Los Angeles Times, 1999-JUN-20. See: http://www.latimes.com:80/ J.S. Spong, "Why Christianity must change or die," Harper Collins (1998), Page 154. Read over 70 reviews or order this book "Misreading Moses: Why the Ten Commandments are out of Style," Christian Week, editorial, 1997-MAR-4. http://www.christianweek.org/ Yahoo has hyperlinks to over 10 essays on the Decalog at: http://dir.yahoo.com/ Ronald Youngblood, "Counting the Ten Commandments," Biblical Review, 1994-DEC. See: http://www.bib-arch.org/ "Promote the Ten Commandments," is a pro-life web site that supplies many essays about the Decalogue from a conservative Christian viewpoint: why they should be displayed, latest news, what does the Bible say, etc. The website advertizes many products for sale: T-shirts, bumper stickers, car magnets, decals, etc. See: http://www.ten-commandments.us/

Reference used:

1. Randy Cassingham, "This is True" web site, at: http://www.thisistrue.com/