FALSE VIEWS OF THE AFTERLIFE

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FALSE VIEWS OF THE AFTERLIFE

• Thy Word is Truth

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Righteous
ETERNITY
Comfort
HEAVEN
DEATH
HADES
JUDGMENT
Torment
HELL
Wicked
BIBLE TEACHING ON THE AFTERLIFE
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False Views about Death
Promises of immortal salvation or fear of eternal
damnation are both illusory and harmful. They
distract humans from present concerns, from
self-actualization, and from rectifying social
injustices. Modern science discredits such
historic concepts as the ghost in the machine
and separable soul. Rather, science affirms
that the human species is an emergence from
natural evolutionary forces. As far as we know,
the total personality is a function of the
biological organism transacting in a social and
cultural context. There is no credible evidence
that life survives the death of the body. We
continue to exist in our progeny and in the way
that our lives have influenced others in our
culture (Humanist Manifesto II, 1973).

• Materialism/Non-Existence
• There is no soul, no existence after death
  (Secular Humanism)
• Man is body and spirit (Matt. 2231-32 Acts
  227, 31 Eccl. 127)

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False Views about Death
We see, then, that the human soul is the person
himself, and when the person dies, it is the
human soul that dies (The Truth That Leads to
Eternal Life, p. 37). You know now that the
soul dies and that the spirit has no
conscious existence apart from the body
(Is This Life All There Is? p. 73).

• Soul Not Immortal
• Soul dies with body (Jehovahs Witnesses)
• Man can kill body, but not the soul (Matt. 1028)

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False Views about Death

• Soul-Sleep
• Unconsciousness of soul until resurrection
  (Seventh-Day Adventists)
• Death described as sleep (Jn. 1111
  1 Thess. 413), but only a metaphor
• Rich man and Lazarus conscious after death (Lk.
  1623ff)

It has no reference to the condition of man
between death and the resurrectionThe doctrine
of a conscious state of existence between death
and the resurrection was held by many at that
time. Jesus drew the idea for the story from a
common Jewish belief contrary to the Scriptures
to be sure, but nonetheless a current Jewish
beliefHe framed His parable so as to teach
important truths through their preconceived
opinions
They the dead are asleep and totally
unconscious (Harold E. Metcalf, Basic Bible Study
Helps).
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False Views about Time Between Death and
Resurrection
The Catholic Church teaches that, besides a place
of eternal torments for the wicked and of
everlasting rest for the righteous, there exists
in the next life a middle state of temporary
punishment, allotted for those who have died in
venial sin, or who have not satisfied the justice
of God for sins already forgiven. She also
teaches us that, although the souls consigned to
this intermediate state, commonly called
purgatory, cannot help themselves, they may be
aided by the sufferages of the faithful on earth.
The existence of purgatory naturally implies the
correlative dogma the utility of praying for
the dead for the souls consigned to this middle
state have not reached the term of their journey.
They are still exiles from heaven and fit
subjects for Divine clemency (James Cardinal
Gibbons, The Faith of Our Fathers, p.173).

• Purgatory
• State of existence after death for those who have
  committed venial (non-mortal) sins until they
  have endured satisfactory punishment for those
  sins (Roman Catholicism)
• No such place mentioned in Bible (Lk. 1626 Heb.
  927)

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False Views about Time Between Death and
Resurrection
We affirm that the existence and personal
identity of the individual continue after the
change called death. We affirm that communication
with the so-called dead is a fact, scientifically
proven by the phenomena of Spiritualism
(Declaration of Principles, Spiritualist
Manual, pp. 22-23)

• Spirits of Dead Among Living
• Dead aware of us and living can contact dead
  (Spiritism)
• Dead are not of this realm anymore (Eccl. 95-6
  Isa. 819-20 Job 79-10 2 Sam. 1223 1
  Thess. 413-14)

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False Views about the Resurrection
The same is true of the resurrection that is
presented in 1 Cor. 15. Being the resurrection
that it was, and because it is past, Christians
now have a greater hope and comfort in death, for
not only will they receive their spiritual bodies
then, they also shall continue as citizens of an
eternal heavenly kingdom. Since the heavenly and
eternal kingdom resulted from the resurrection of
1 Cor. 15, and saints are in it by faith and
rebirth now, there will be no waiting period
beyond death. Their resurrection will be the
receiving of their new bodies, and whatever else
is involved in their adoption for habitation in
the eternal state (Max King, The Spirit of
Prophecy, p. 204).

• Resurrection Already Past
• Not a future event (cf. 2 Tim. 217-18 AD 70
  doctrine)
• Resurrection will take place at the last day
  (Jn. 640)

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False Views about the Resurrection
It seems better to see a parallel of the first
resurrection dealing with the bodily resurrection
of the believers and the second resurrection
dealing with the bodily resurrection of the
unbelievers. This is what the context Rev. 20
is addressing (Donald Campbell Jeffrey
Townsend, gen. ed. A Case for Premillennialism,
p. 255).

• Multiple and Separate Resurrections
• Not all will be raised at the same time
  (Premillennialism)
• Bible says all will be raised at the same time
  (Jn. 528-29 640)
• Rapture doctrine is false (1 Thess. 416 dead
  rise before all faithful caught up)

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False Views about the Resurrection
We believe that dissolution of spirit, soul and
body, caused by death, is annulled by rebirth of
the same spirit and soul in another body here on
earth. We believe the repeated incarnations of
man to be merciful provision of our loving father
to the end that all may have opportunity to
attain immortality through regeneration, as did
Jesus (Unitys Statement of Faith, pt. 22).

• Reincarnation
• Spirit sent back to earth as another living thing
  (New Age Eastern religions)
• Bible teaches resurrection, not reincarnation (1
  Cor. 1552-53)

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False Views about Heavenand Hell

• Heaven a Place of Carnal Pleasure
• Virgins, pets, fishing and golf, etc. (Islam,
  general popular views of many today movies, TV.
  etc.)
• Making carnal and literal the spiritual and
  symbolic (Matt. 620 Rev. 2111-21)

As for the righteous, they shall surely triumph.
Theirs shall be gardens and vineyards, and
high-bosomed maidens for companions a truly
overflowing cup (The Koran, Surah 7830)
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False Views about Heavenand Hell
Sodom and Gomorrah left the spiritual or moral
realm in which God intended man should live, for
a lifestyle of lust. God rained brimstone and
fire upon them, totally destroying the cities.
The destruction was so complete that their
location is uncertain, not a vestige of either
city has yet been confirmed. Jude says, These
are set forth as an example, suffering the
punishment of eternal fire (v. 7)If they serve
as an example, what do they teach except that
those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire
are to exist no more? (Ibid., pp. 141-142).
This verse Rev. 2010 is often quoted to prove
the eternal existence, suffering, and torment of
wicked humanity. It should be mentioned of whom
John spoke Satan, the beast, and the false
prophet. Wicked humans are not mentioned here,
but are dealt with in the verses which follow,
2014-15. The beast and false prophet were cast
alive into the lake, as was the devil. It was
these three who would be tormented day and night
for ever (Homer Hailey, Gods Judgments and
Punishments, p. 177).

• Hell is Not Eternal Punishment
• It is annihilation instead wicked snuffed out of
  existence (Seventh-Day Adventist, Edward Fudge
  conditionalism, Homer Hailey)
• Hell is eternal and conscious punishment (Matt.
  2541, 46 Rev. 2010 1411)
• Concept of annihilation is not taught in passages
  on hell
• Destroy (appolumi, Matt. 1028) the idea is
  not extinction, but ruin, loss, not of being, but
  of well-being (Vine) (2 Thess. 19 olethros
  ruin of well-being)

The wicked, following whatever degree and
duration of pain God may justly inflict, will
finally and truly die, perish and become extinct
for ever and ever (Edward Fudge, The Fire That
Consumes, p. 425).
In fact, the act of punishment will be so final
and complete that the wicked will no longer exist
(Metcalf, Ibid.).
The first death pertained to the physical life
and death the second pertained to end of each.
Death and Hades and the wicked, those whose names
were not written in the book of life, existence
came to an end in the lake of fire (Ibid., p.
178).
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