Dos God’s Judgement take place immediately after death or at the end of time? Flashcards
What would an early Christian’s response be?
Irenaeus believed that most Christians do not enter heaven until the final Day of Judgement, which is when God’s whole plan for the universe comes to its conclusion and time comes to an end.
Before this time, but after death, they live in peaceful happiness while they wait for their final reward of heaven. Calvin supported this idea – he believed the dead are not sleeping while they wait, but are either in peaceful bliss or in pain
Who will be admitted on a ‘fast track’ to heaven without having to wait?
some exceptional people; i.e, prophets, saints and martyrs
Other than final judgement, what other view is there?
particular judgement
What is meant by particular judgement?
when the whole nations are judged as well as every person, in a final conclusion to all creation.
What parable supports the view that people go straight to heaven or hell as soon as they die?
the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke’s gospel suggests that Lazarus was taken straight to heaven after his death
What is a criticism of using the rich man and Lazarus parable to support the view that people go straight to heaven or hell as soon as they die?
the parable is clearly meant to be an illustrative story rather than a literal account and therefore it could be unwise to read too much into it.
What quote can be used to show Jesus describing heaven as ‘paradise’? What is it suggesting?
Jesus words on the cross Luke’s gospel – ‘truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise’.
Passage seems to show that Jesus was promising the criminal that he would be going to heaven right away, as soon as he had died.
What is the criticism for the biblical verse where Jesus is promising the criminal he will be with him in paradise IMMEDIATELY after he dies?
although this English translation introduces a comma into Jesus’ words, in the Greek language of the original gospel text, there is no punctuation and Jesus is recorded as saying, ‘I tell you today you will be with me in paradise’ … so is Jesus saying ‘you will be in paradise with me today’ or ‘today I tell you, you will be with me in paradise’
