Life After Death

LD 1. Eternal Life.

The promise is in Nature, human experience, and the Scriptures that man is created for eternity- that the best things of this life are fulfilled in their finest expression in the eternal future. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE PROMISE? We cannot give the details, but God has revealed the broad outlines of things to come.

LD 2. Death is Inevitable.

Individually we know not when it will come, but come it will, to each of us. Since we cannot escape it, we shall be wise to be prepared for it.

LD 3. What is Death?

We don’t know. We are only aware that at death a strange power leaves the body, to respond to changes in the environment- even the power to maintain bodily organization. This seperation of the body and the strange power we shall call the Spirit is death.

LD 4. The Body Returns.

The body returns to its source- mother earth. The Spirit also returns to its source- our Heavenly Father.

LD 5. Every Spirit.

Whatever its age, condition, or past experience, the body returns to the earth. So also, whatever its quality, EVERY SPIRIT returns first to God.

LD 6. Popular Belief.

It is popularly believed that the final end of man involves just two alternatives- HEAVEN or HELL! What do the scriptures teach about the Righteous.

LD 7. Entering Paradise.

Jesus was expecting to enter Paradise after his death. Into this same state He invited the Repentant sinner. This was to be between Jesus’ death and his resurrection. PARADISE IS THE ABODE OF REPENTANT SPIRITS BETWEEN DEATH AND THE RESURRECTION.

LD 8. Paradise.

Paradise is a place of pleasant experiences- where those who have Overcome Sin may eat the fruit of the tree of life. Here they await the time of resurrection.

LD 9. The Wicked are received into Hell.

"Thou hast delivered may soul from the Lowest Hell".

Psa 86:13 For great is thy mercy toward me; and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

As some are more wicked than others, so there are degrees in hell. NOT EVERY SINNER IS ON THE SAME LEVEL.

LD 10. Pit or a Prison.

Hell is called a pit or a prision. Those who are there are Prisioners. Note this very important fact- The Prisoners Are to be Visited! By Whom?

LD 11. Rebellous Sinners.

Sinners who are still in rebellion are dangerous- to themselves as well as to others. They must be restrained from evil, as we restrain criminals. But we try to save criminals- to change them into good citizens. The purpose of Hell will be indicated later. Meanwhile, what becomes of the righteous in Paradise?

LD 12. Paul Talks.

Paul tells us that this first resurrection takes place at the second coming of Christ. 1 Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first;

John says that the resurrected righteous SHALL REIGHN WITH CHRIST A THOUSAND YEARS.

LD 13. Satan Shall be Bound.

By the righteousness of the people Satan shall be bound. This righteousness is indicated by an angel from heaven, from which also comes the power of righteousness for all people. Satan is to be bound DURING THE ONE THOUSAND YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST.

LD 14. Union of Body and Spirit.

A spirit vitalized by the fruit of the "tree of life" and a body suited to its glorious nature. CELESTRIAL BODIES FOR CELESTRIA; SPIRITS- each perfectly suited to the other.

LD 15. Man Can Choose.

Men are free to Choose-even during the mellennial reign. The loosing of Satan indicates that some may choose not to obey the laws of God, and BY THEIR REBELLION they free Satan and his powers to work among them.

LD 16. Satan and His Followers

Shall not be allowed a free hand among the righteous, however. The power of righteousness shall so resist the satanic forces that he shall be permitted only a LITTLE SEASON.

LD 17. Melliennial Reeign.

During the Millennial Reign of the righteous, the wicked remain in Hell. Isaiah said they would be visited. Peter said that Jesus Went and Preached to them, because of the same desire which prompted His ministry in the flesh- TO BRING THEM TO GOD.

LD 18. Preaching of the Gospel.

The preaching of the gospel to the dead indicates that by REPENTANCE they may still save What is Worth saving of their spiritual nature- that which has not been destroyed by sin. The same standard of judgement- The Gospel of Christ- applies to them as to men who have receieved it in the flesh.

LD 19. Hell Delivers up its Dead.

Having accomplished its purpose- the punishment of restraint, and the teaching of the Gospel- Hell Delivers up its Dead, that the judgement of works may follow.

LD 20. Paul Speaks.

Acts 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a Resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

John said that teh Rest of the Dead (other than the righteous) lived not again UNTIL THE THOUSAND YEARS WERE FINISHED.

LD 21 Resurrection of the Righteous.

Following the resurrection of the righteous at Christ’s coming, their reign of a thousand years, the little season when Satan is loosed , the resurrection of the spirits in HELL, is the day of FINAL JUDGEMENT. Notice that it is according to man" works.

LD 22. Eternal Judgement.

The Principle of Judgement is Eternal. That means that it is now going on. We are now becoming what we shall be revealed to be on the day of final judgement.

LD 23. Judegement.

Judgement according to works means rewards and punishment according to works. As our works differ in degree of righteousness, so shall our Eternal Rewards vary in Degree of Glory.

LD 24. The Third Heaven.

Paul speaks of the third heaven. Surely this indicate that there are degrees of glory in the rewards which await us. How could there be a Third heaven, unless there be also a First and Second?

LD 25. These Degrees.

These degrees are likened by Paul to the heavenly bodies. the rewards of glory in the resurrection and judgement are as diverse in degrees AS THE STARS DIFFER IN GLORY, and as the FAINTEST STAR differs from the BRILLIANCE OF THE SUN.

LD 26. Rewards.

Every Man will receive a reward suited to the spiritual nature which he has developed by his works. THE DEGREE OF YOUR OBEDIENCE TO THE GOSPEL PRINCIPLES DETERMINES YOUR ETERNAL REWARD. OBEDIENCE NOW IS BETTER THAN TARDY REPENTANCE IN HELL.

LD 27. Purpose Achieved.

Their purpose achieved, death and hell shall be destroyed. Any soul which has so sinned against the revelations of the Holy Spirit that his CAPACITY FOR REPENTANCE has been destroyed shall likewise experience the SECOND DEATH.

LD 28. Sons of Perdition.

Who are the sons of perdition? We do not know. That judgement is reserved to God. But we do know that they are people who have so LIVED BENAETH THEIR PRIVILEGES THAT THEY CAN NO LONGER RESPOND TO TRUTH.

LD 29. Devil and Second Death.

Eventually the DEvil too shall undergo the Second Death. Where the "lake of Fire" is we can only guess. What is really is, we cannot imagine. Let it suffice for us to understand that they who persist in sin and evil-doing deny themselves the blessing of ETERNAL LIFE.

LD 30. Hope of Eternal Life.

The details are hidden from our understanding. But here are the Principles underlying our HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE.

It is significant that THESE PRINCIPLES ARE NOT NOW AT WORK. WE ARE NOW BECOMING WHAT WE SHALL BE FOR ETERNITY.

Jesus came that we might have life more abuntantly. To this end He established his church. Through the activities of the church as it brings forth the kingdom of God on earth, you may find opportunity to do the works of the KINGDOM OF GOD. These are the works of greatest worth, and produce life in its greatest glory. WON’T YOU JOIN US NOW IN THE WORK OF THE MASTER THAT WE MAY ENJOY NOW AND FOREVER THE FELLOWSHIP OF ETERNAL LIFE?