Heaven, Hell, "Immortal" Soul, and the Resurrection!

The subject of the immortal soul and going to heaven or hell at death is probable the most commonly believed concept (or its equivalent) which runs throughout ALL religions. However, you may be in for a shock when you see what the Bible really has to say about going to heaven or hell, and the subject of life and death.

The first thing you need to realize is that nowhere in all the Bible does it state that mankind goes to heaven at death. Remember that you have to take all references related to the subject and piece it together. Also be sure to read each scripture in context with the scriptures above and below the verse in question. The only way to fully understand this topic is to find out what the Bible says, or doesn't say, about hell, and the immortal soul, and where Christ will be at the resurrection.

There are actually four distinctly different words translated "hell" in the Bible:

1. The first is sheh-ole', Hebrew, meaning - grave, hell, pit - Used in the Old Testament)
   
   
2. The second is Hades: NT:86 haides hah'-dace); Greek, meaning grave. Used in the New Testament)
   
   

   POINT: Hell referenced above simply means the grave where people are buried.

3. The third word is geenna {gheh'-en-nah} Hebrew, meaning - hell, hell fire. This was originally taken from the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where trash and dead animals and bodies of criminals were cast into and where they decomposed or burned.
   
   
4. The fourth word translated "hell," tartaroo, {tar-tar-o'-o} from Tartaros, Greek, meaning - cast down to hell. It is used only once in all the Bible in 2 Peter 2:4 "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved to judgment."
   
   

   This word is used to describe a place of restraint for the angels that sinned and is never used in reference to human beings.

The grave is the actual biblical definition of hell when referring to death and a "place" humans go at death. Hell fire is another "hell" that refers to the end time and destruction of evil. We cannot trust in human definitions or imaginations on what God is referring to when He uses the word "hell." Nowhere does it refer to an ever-burning place of torture where people that are evil go to when they die, any more than heaven is a place where "good" people go when THEY die.

We will bring all this together later in this discussion.

Let's now go over scriptural references of the word "soul" and how it truly relates to mankind.

The word translated "soul" is from the Hebrew word, nephesh {neh'-fesh}, meaning
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
1h) activity of the will
1i) activity of the character

The word "nephesh" is used 734 times in the Old Testament, as "creature," "the lads life," "person," "mind," "the life of," "lust," "man," "heart of," "any," "yourselves," "for the dead," "beast," "dead body," "body of," "mortally," "slay," "at thine own pleasure," "our lives," "me," "thy life," "with the lives of," "himself," "in jeopardy of their lives," "his breath," "deadly," "the will of," "appetite," "desire," "fish," "greedy," "the ghost," "should he slay thee." This is in context with the definition of the Hebrew word above.

In Greek, the word "soul" is translated from the word "psuche," which means NT:5590 breath, abstractly or concretely the animal sentient principle only;)"

In all the above definitions, do you see even one place that suggests to you that the soul never dies? Let's continue.

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death.

Ezek 18:20 The soul that sins, it shall die.

POINT: These scriptures tell us, quite plainly, that a soul CAN die. But some argue, "die" really means "separation from God forever." Oh really?

The word translated die is "muwth" {mooth}, Hebrew, meaning:

1) to die, kill, have one executed.
1a1) to die
1a2) to die as penalty), be put to death
1a3) to die, perish of a nation)
1a4) to die prematurely by neglect of wise moral conduct)

NT: 2288 thanatos than'-at-os); from NT:2348; properly, an adjective used as a noun) death literally or figuratively): - X deadly, be ... death.

NT:615 apokteino ap-ok-ti'-no); from NT:575 and kteino to slay); to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy: - put to death, kill, slay.

NT:337 anaireo an-ahee-reh'-o); from NT:303 and the active of) NT:138; to take up, i.e. adopt; by implication, to take away violently), i.e. abolish, murder: - put to death, kill, slay, take away, take up.

NT:599 apothnesko ap-oth-nace'-ko); from NT:575 and NT:2348; to die off literally or figuratively): - be dead, death, die, lie a-dying, be slain X with).

NT:520 apago ap-ag'-o); from NT:575 and NT:71; to take off in various senses): - bring, carry away, lead away), put to death, take away.

NT:336 anairesis an-ah'-ee-res-is); from NT:337; the act of) killing: - death.

Does the above sound like "separation from God to you? Look at this: In Genesis 1:24, it says "And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

POINT: The word translated "creature," referring to animals, is the SAME word used regarding the "soul" of mankind. Mankind was created "soul," and does not "have" a soul.

Gen 3:4 And the serpent said to the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Satan lies to them in the beginning telling them that they won't die if they go their own way.

Lev 17:12 Therefore I said to the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojournes among you eat blood.

Isa 29:8 It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, And look - he eats; But he awakes, and his soul is still empty; Or as when a thirsty man dreams, And look - he drinks; But he awakes, and indeed he is faint, And his soul still craves: NKJV

How can souls, if they are something more than physical flesh, eat, drink or crave anything?

Josh 10:28 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did to the king of Jericho.

Destroyed all the souls. . .

2 Sam 7:12 And when your days be fulfilled, and you shalt sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

Talking about King David, "sleeping" with his fathers...

1 Kings 2:10, So David slept with his fathers and was buried.

POINT: No mention of going to heaven for King David, just "sleeping." Notice that even Kind David himself knew that he would be asleep in the grave till the resurrection to spirit life as Christ and the Father have...

Ps 17:15 As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.

Psalm 6:5 For in death [there is] no remembrance of you: in the grave who shall give you thanks?

Psalm 115:17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. (Dead is dead.)

Psalm 146:4 His breath goes forth, he returns to his earth; (dust to dust) in that very day his thoughts perish.

POINT: Would people who supposedly go to heaven have any remembrance of God, give Him thanks or praise Him, or have any thoughts at all in heaven? Would people supposedly suffering in hell fire forever have any thoughts? Don't the above scriptures make death sound pretty unconscious and lifeless?

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return to the ground; for out of it were you taken: for dust you [art], and to dust shall you return.

Ecclesiastes 3:19 For that which happens to the sons of men, happens to beasts; even one thing happens to them: as the one dies, so dies the other; yes, they have all one breath; so that a man has no preeminence above a beast. :20 All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.

POINT: God's work plainly tells us that animals and humans experience the same kind of death... that of going to dust when they die because they decompose, and have no consciousness of anything.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory (thoughts, mind) of them is forgotten.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do [it] with your might; for [there is] no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, where you go.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

Isaiah 26:14 [They are] dead, they shall not live; [they are] deceased, they shall not rise: therefore have you visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory (thoughts) to perish.

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (gehenna).

2 Thess 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

POINT: You see a distinction made here between "body" and "soul." The point being made is that if a person dies, they don't have to worry about their future if they responded to God. Their future "life" is in God's hands. Death is not the final state for those who respond to God, but God CAN prevent someone from being resurrected to a new life, and THIS is the point Christ is making.

John 3:13 And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.

POINT: This scripture from the mouth of Christ himself, plainly states that no man has ascended into heaven.

John 1:18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared [him]. (See our article on Christ for explanation of old testament contact, face to face, with God)

Acts 2:29 Men [and] brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us to this day. :34 For David is not ascended into the heavens...

POINT: If there was any person who would have had the ticket to heaven, it would have been King David, yet even HE isn't in heaven.

John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

POINT: If people are in heaven after they die, why would Christ mention that He would be raising them up... ON THE LAST DAY? This clearly shows additional proof that the dead are still dead, in their graves, just like King David is, and are awaiting the resurrection. You don't have to raise anyone "up" if they are already in heaven!

One scripture sequence used by many involves the story of "Lazarus and the rich man," Luke 16:19. A word by word study of this sequence will reveal the actual events being described, but let's look at just a few:

Breaking into the story flow... Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell (the grave) he lift up his eyes (resurrected to physical life and is suddenly aware of what awaits him) , being in torments, and sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Imagine for a minute you are burning in hell fire, but not burning up... suffering the heat, pain and anguish this would certainly bring. Would you ask Lazarus for just a drop of water for your tongue, to cool it? Would his tongue be hotter than his outer body? Does this scenario makes sense in that situation?

Imagine you lived a life of selfishness, willingly and willfully ignoring God, and the needs of others, and then you died, became unconscious, until you were resurrected back to life for judgment. You suddenly realize that you have received the death penalty, and know you are to be thrown into the lake of fire as punishment. Would you be a little fearful? Have you ever been so nervous or afraid that your mouth dried up and you could hardly swallow?

This story describes this very thing. We can't read into it more than what is really there.

Notice some definitions for some of the words that have been translated into "everlasting" or "forever" in English:

These are a few scriptures used by many to support their concept of people burning forever, without considering all the additional scriptures on the subject that modify seemingly apparent meanings they think they read:

Matt 18:8 Wherefore if your hand or your foot offend you, cut them off, and cast them from you: it is better for you to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

Matt 25:41 Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Matt 25:46 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Mt. 25:41 and many other places use the word "everlasting." Taking what we have learned above about death and soul, we can take this word in context of the whole picture. Notice the word roots and meanings:

Everlasting/Eternal = 166 = aionios ahee-o'-nee-os); from NT:165; perpetual also used of past time, or past and future as well): - eternal, for ever, everlasting, world began).

165 = aion ahee-ohn'); from the same as NT:104; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity also past); by implication, the world; specially Jewish) a Messianic period present or future): - age, course, eternal, for) ever -more), [n-] ever, beginning of the while the) world began, without end). Compare NT:5550.

5550 = chronos khron'-os); of uncertain derivation; a space of time - + years old, season, space, X often-) time -s), a) while.

Can you see that our English word "everlasting" is not a correct translation from the actual Greek meaning? A better word string for everlasting would be "age lasting," or "for a period of time." What is being discussed is not something that has no end, but that it DOES end at some point...

Matt 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Notice the contrast between "everlasting punishment" and "eternal Life." This is clearly contrasting the difference between life and death. It states "everlasting punishMENT," not "everlasting punishING." There is quite a difference. Eternal death is forever, never to have life again. The punishment of eternal death is forever.

Notice further...

Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Are Sodom and Gomorrah STILL burning today? Of course not. They burned until there was nothing else to burn, and then the fire went out. The words "eternal fire" can't mean what everyone thinks they mean. When someone is cast into the future lake of fire, they will be burned up...

Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day comes, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

This is complete destruction, not burning in fire forever. Not having "root or branch" means total destruction from which no life can spring back. Once this "second death" occurs, there will be no hope of life again...

Isa 41:11 Behold, all they that were incensed against you shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with you shall perish. 12 you shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with you: they that war against you shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

Obad 15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as you hast done, it shall be done to you: your reward shall return upon thine own head. 16 For as you have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been.

Realize that when someone is cast into the lake of fire, and receives the second death, their consciousness ceases, they die, they burn up, and once they are completely consumed, there will be nothing left. It will be as though they never existed in the first place. That is a permanent, everlasting punishment that will never change... It is a fearful thing to lose your very existence, but that is what the scriptures tell us waits for those who willingly and knowingly rebel against God's truth. (Keep in mind that this "willfulness" is after they have been called and given understanding of God's plan and truth and yet still reject God).

Some believe the following scriptures "prove" people go to heaven because they believe Elijah did...

2 Kings 2:1 And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind 2 Kings 2:11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

What is this telling us? That Elijah was taken up into the sky, which is called the first heaven. The second heaven is space and the third heaven is God's throne. (2 Cor 12:2 such a one was caught up to the third heaven). God simply moved Elijah from one spot to another. Elijah was later mentioned in the bible long after this event, so he wasn't taken into God's third heaven as some believe. He is dead in the ground awaiting the resurrection.

But wait... some will say... what about Christ and the three apostles who actually SAW Elijah?

Matt 17:1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying,"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Seems like Elijah was here, right? Well, lets look at this more carefully. First, do you think those three apostles had pictures of Elijah and Moses? How did they "know" this was either? Remember this was written after the fact, not at the moment it was occurring. They obviously were made aware of who they were seeing later on. In addition, we need to look at what Christ Himself stated about what they saw...

Mt. 17:9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead."

The apostles did NOT actually see Moses and Elijah. They saw a "vision" of what it will be like when they are resurrected. Remember that prior to this event, Christ stated...

Matt 16:28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

This scripture, if understood correctly, was NEVER fulfilled in the lifetimes of those apostles. Did Christ come into His Kingdom, even as of today? NO! The "vision" is fulfillment of the scriptures above, stating "some" of those apostles would "see" Christ coming in His Kingdom. They saw what Christ would look like in that vision where Moses and Elijah would also be there with Him. as ALL true Christians will be.

One other scriptural reference that is used to supposedly "prove" an eternal burning hell is Mark 9:44-48:

Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if your foot offend you, cut it off: it is better for you to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend you, pluck it out: it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.

These scriptures beg the question... if hell is a place where people burn forever and don't burn up, why is there reference to "worms?"

The word translated "worm" means maggot, or earthworm. As mentioned above, one word translated hell comes from "geenna," taken from the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where trash and dead animals and occasional body of a criminal were cast. This valley had continuous smoldering and burning fires, along with the natural decay of dead flesh on which the flies would lay their eggs. This naturally produced maggots which consumed the flesh and turned into flies.

These maggots... worms... did NOT die... they changed into flies. If hell fire burns but doesn't consume, why any need for "worms?" Keep in mind also that the "trash" in this time period didn't contain trash like we have today. It was all organic or natural matter. This would build a huge base of organic material, and if you have ever had a compost pile, you would know that earth worms use the organic material as food, so to mention maggots and earthworms as part of the reference to hell fire wasn't a strange concept.

The whole point Christ was making is that those thrown into the lake of fire would cease to exist. They would burn up and be destroyed just as completely as worms and fire destroyed trash and dead flesh in the valley of Hinnom. The people of Christ's time could relate to the actual facts since Christ was speaking in the Greek language and "geenna" is Greek and directly referenced the valley of Hinnom... a place everyone knew about.

So what DOES happen to mankind at death?

When we die, we are dead, buried, and have no consciousness whatsoever. It is like sleep, only there are no dreams or any awareness of anything.

Matt 9:24 24 He said to them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleeps. And they laughed him to scorn.

Mark 5:39 39 And when he was come in, he said to them, Why make you this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleeps.

Luke 8:52 52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleeps.

John 11:11 11 These things said he: and after that he said to them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

John 11:12-14 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus to them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Here, Jesus compares death with sleep. When you sleep, you aren't aware of passing time. Death is simply a state of unconsciouness that we have to be awoken from in the resurrection. It is at this time that we are judged by what we do and the next stage in our future commences. Christ stated that the maid was "not dead, but asleep." This is because He was life and could bring her back to life.

John 5:28-29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation (judgment).

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. :14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1Co 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, :52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Matthew 24:31 "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven (sky/atmosphere) to the other."

POINT: Ask yourself this question: If people go to heaven or hell when they die, then what do the above scriptures (and many others like it) say? WHY have a resurrection if people are already in one place or the other? Notice it says in John 5, " All that are IN THE GRAVES... SHALL COME FORTH" How can you be in the grave and in heaven or hell, too? Also, if they are in heaven, aren't they already incorruptible before the resurrection?

Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell (Greek, "hades," meaning grave) delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Let's analyze the above scripture.

1. The sea is giving up the people who died in it.
2. The grave is giving up the dead in the ground.
3. Death and hell (grave) are cast into the lake of fire, which is called "the second death".
4. Those not found in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire.

What is the "first death" referring to regarding people who are supposedly in heaven? What does "death" mean for people supposedly in heaven? Death of their bodies only...?

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Death means death. Just do a word study of "death and die," and do one on "eternal life..." Whether in heaven, or burning in hell forever, they both are eternal life aren't they? You can't have the clear discussion that the reward of God for obeying Him is eternal life, yet also have eternal life when burning forever in hell.

The bottom line is this. All who have ever died are simply unconscious, dead, lifeless and unaware of anything at the moment. When the resurrections occur (there is more than one) these people will again have consciousness and awareness. They are given life once again, some to spirit life and some to physical flesh once again, discussed shortly.

Why go through the motions of taking people from heaven and an ever burning hell, go through a "resurrection," (whatever that means if they are really alive somewhere else), pass judgment on them and then return them to heaven or cast them back into the lake of fire? Does this make any Biblical sense?

Why even have a judgment if all these dead have already been judged by the very fact of where they supposedly are... either in heaven, or burning in hell?

All men "die" once. Christ died once and was laid in the grave for three days and three nights...

Psalms 16:10 For you wilt not leave my soul in hell; (grave) neither wilt you suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

This is David speaking a prophecy about Christ...

Acts 2:27 Because you wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt you suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

Here, in the New Testament, Peter discusses this very scripture and its meaning. What did he say?

1. He first mentions the resurrection of Christ.
2. That Christ was NOT left in hell, the grave.
3. That Christ's body didn't decompose or rot away.

If Christ were really in heaven after He died (which one would certainly have to believe if other good people who died were in heaven after they died), then why this talk of "leaving His soul in hell?"

How could His soul be "left" in hell, the grave, if all souls go to either heaven or hell after death? Why the specific points about Christ NOT being left in the grave if His "soul" was already in heaven? Why discuss His body not decomposing in the ground?

Can you imagine all the other righteous saints "going to heaven" at death, and Christ having to stay in the grave for three days before being resurrected? Does this make sense? Why leave our very savior in the grave for three days and allow everyone else to "go to heaven" when THEY died?

Lk. 23:39-43 "And one of the hanged criminals blasphemed him, saying, If you are the Christ, save yourself and us. But answering, the other rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, for you are in the same judgment? And we indeed justly, for we receive things worthy of what we did. But this One did nothing wrong. And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, Today you will be with me in paradise."

The above scripture is a mistranslation which conveys the false idea that both Christ and this thief were in heaven directly after they died. However, we saw where Christ was after HE died... the grave or tomb with the rock door covering it for three days and three nights... FAR longer than the "today" He mentions.

1 Cor. 15:3 "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

If Christ was in the tomb after His death and for three complete days, how could he also be in "Paradise" (which people think means heaven) with the thief? Keep in mind that the original writing did NOT have punctuation. The comma that is placed before the word 'today' changes the meaning of the sentence: "I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." This is taken to mean that the thief would go with Jesus to heaven the very same day. However, if the coma is placed after the word 'today', the sentence can be assumed to mean that on that day Jesus was telling the thief that he would eventually be with him in Paradise: "I say to you today - this day I'm saying to you - you will be (future tense) with me in paradise."

Jesus was the first-born from the dead to receive eternal and immortal life 1 Cor. 15:20;23; Col 1:13-18). If there are people in heaven BEFORE Christ, He no longer is the FIRST born from the dead. Why have all the saints in heaven with God but keep Christ out and THEN resurrect Him from actual death? Christ is the FIRST one to be resurrected from death, the FIRST human being BORN into the family of God as a spirit being.

Rev.1:17-18 "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet, as dead. And he put his right hand on me, saying to me, do not fear. I am the first and the last, and the Living One; and I became dead; and behold, I am living forever and ever. Amen. And I have the keys to Hades, (grave) and of death."

Jesus has the authority and power to unlock the grave and resurrect those who reside there. (See Acts 10:42; Rom.14:9).

It should be clear by now that the soul is not eternal but requires a resurrection to be made a NEW spirit body if given eternal life, or burned up if given eternal death.

Resurrection to physical life once again:

Keeping in mind the definitions for "hell" given above, let's look at some direct references to when people long dead will be brought back to life...

Ezekiel 37:5-6 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live: 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I [am] the LORD.

This describes a physical resurrection to flesh and blood, not as a spirit being as described for some elsewhere.

Ezekiel 37:12-14 Therefore prophesy and say to them, valley of dry bones, Thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14 And shall put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall you know that I the LORD have spoken [it], and performed [it], says the LORD.

Notice here God is speaking to people who are in their graves, and from which God causes them to come up OUT of these graves. These scriptures don't distinguish between "evil" people and "good" people, between people who are in heaven or hell, or people who have eternal life in heaven or will burn in hell. Right now, these people don't know anything, but God Himself states that WHEN He opens their graves, THEN they will have awareness and KNOW that God is God. If they were in heaven or hell, wouldn't they know that God is God already?

There will be a time when every human who ever lived will be brought back to life as part of God's plan.

Now, take a look at exactly where CHRIST, and the Kingdom He is going to set up, will be:

Acts 1:11 ... You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.

POINT: Christ is coming back to this earth.

Zechariah 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day (of His return) upon the mount of Olives, which [is] before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, [and there shall be] a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

POINT: Christ is to actually arrive at the Mount of Olives exactly where He left from when He rose to heaven.

Micah 4:1-2 But in the last days it shall come to pass, [that] the mountain (government or kingdom) of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, (world's governments) and it shall be exalted above the hills; (small nations, etc.) and people shall flow to it. :2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. :7. . . and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion Jerusalem) from henceforth, even for ever.

POINT: Christ will be HERE on earth ruling the universe for eternity... the center of the universe and God's kingdom.

Revelation 5:10 And have made us to our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

POINT: Those who respond to God WON'T be in heaven, but will be ruling on this earth.

Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David:

POINT: Christ receives the same throne that King David had, on this earth.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

POINT: Those who respond to God will sit WITH Christ on the throne HE receives, again, on this earth.

Daniel 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, (symbolic of a group of nations and governments) broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, (government or kingdom) and filled the whole earth.

POINT: This kingdom fills the whole EARTH, not heaven.

Isaiah 2:2-3 And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. :3 And many people shall go and say, Come you, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

POINT: This all occurs on earth, not in heaven.

Matthew 5:3 Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

POINT: This kingdom that the "poor in spirit" receive is OF heaven, not IN heaven.

Matthew 5:5 Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

POINT: The meek inherit the earth, not heaven.

After the millennial reign of Christ, He will turn over the control of all things to the Father, who will come down to this earth:

1 Cor 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

Once all is accomplished with mankind, this earth will have been burned up by the "lake of fire" destroying all evil, and purifying everything. Then we see a new creation...

Rev 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. :2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Keep in mind that this new earth will likely be as large as our present day sun, or larger...

Rev 21:16 The city (New Jerusalem) is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. :16 Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

This is a city about 1350 miles SQUARE in size. 1350 miles straight up, on THIS size earth, would be well into space, and the sheer weight of such a massive structure would throw this earth instantly out of balance like a top slowing down... it would destroy this planet. Imagine a new earth the size of Jupiter, our sun, (which is an average size sun) or something thousands of times larger than our sun. It will be like nothing else in the universe, which the children of God will have inherited, along with the rest of the entire universe...

Rev 21:7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things

This study would not be complete without bringing up an obvious yet very much overlooked aspect of the nature of God. There are many ways for people to shame God or His name. One of these ways is to assign a nature or attitude to God which is really from the mind of man, and of Satan himself.

Imagine your own family, those you dearly love. If they turned against you and rejected you, would you like to know that they are condemned to burn forever in agony? How would that serve you or them? Would it change their minds any if they willingly choose to rebel?

Ask yourself this; "How does God benefit from doing such a thing to people? Does it benefit Him? How does that express the nature of Love that God IS? There is no benefit or purpose whatsoever for having such a system. Only the mind of Satan could come up with such an accusation toward God. It is Satan that wants humanity to suffer forever. It is Satan's hate and loathing of humanity that has concocted such a hateful concept.

Why would God want to have people He truly loves, but who rejected life, around and existing forever? Would you like to always know that your family members were "out there" somewhere suffering untold agony, without end?

Let's give God a little more credit for love and mercy. What is more merciful and loving, killing someone and freeing them and everyone else from their evil, or torturing them without end?

These scriptures are by no means all the scriptures that deal with these issues. Remember, this is a "mystery" that has to be addressed purposely and not something that one obtains by osmosis. It simply CAN'T work that way.

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