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| Last Surprise! Churches Agree on Last Things |
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 Well, I'll bet you're glad this series is ending. It caused some controversy, especially among those who do not believe that Catholics are Christians. So, did you know that all Christians basically agree on what happens after we die, the end of history, the return of Christ and the judgment?
Christians agree on what is death, that we will all experience the physical death of our bodies and after that, the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). The churches have always agreed that when we die, our bodies eventually turn to dust, but the spirit returns to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Acts 7:59). Christians agree that hell is also called the second death (Revelation 21:8; 20:6), even though some understand that literally and others metaphorically. Christians also agree that the death of the body is inherited from our first parents Adam and Eve (1 Corinthians 15:21; Gen 2:17).
Christians generally agree on heaven and hell. At this point some will interject a comment about Purgatory, but Catholics are not alone in having a theory about post-mortem evangelism. Orthodox and Protestants also have theories regarding this. Although we all have our favorite theories, the fact remains that Christians are united in calling death a mystery and that the saved will spend eternity with God.
There are many theories about hell, but Christians are united in believing that gehenna or hades is the bad choice of the two that stand before us. Gehenna (γέεννα) was originally the valley of Hinnom in Jerusalem, the town rubbish dump and pictures a horrible end for the unrepentant wicked. Hades (άδης) literally means Pluto the god of the underworld or his abode and likewise pictures the place of the wicked. Christians are united in describing hell as the abyss, the grave, the underworld, the place of the wicked, the place of restraining angels, the place of ever burning fire, the place of eternal darkness and the place of separation from God.
The return of Christ is something that Christians have believed in for 2,000 years. Today, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestants are united in still believing it. The specific timing remains a mystery (Matthew 24:36-25:30). However, his return will be a magnificent world event (Matthew 24:23; 27-28). He will come as judge and Savior (Mark 13, Luke 21). He will judge both the wicked and the righteous (Matthew 24-25).
Surprisingly, all Christians believe in the controversial rapture. It is simply a word summarizing the experience when we "meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The dispute is over non-essential speculation, the when and how exactly that happens. The confusion occurs because when most say the word, they mean a "secret" rapture. Others believe that meeting the Lord in the clouds will not be in secret.
Surprisingly, all Christians also believe in the millennium. They believe it, because it’s in the Bible. However, what they believe about it varies. Millennium simply means a thousand years and refers to statements in Revelation 20. Some take the word literally, while others see it as symbolic. Revelation is in the apocalyptic genre, a symbolic, cartoon-like genre of ancient literature. Of course not everything in a book of symbolism is necessarily itself a symbol. Theories about the millennium are in the realm of non-essentials.
Christians believe in the resurrection of all people (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29) and the judgment of all people (Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 17:31; Revelation 20:11-15). Amongst lay people, the term heaven is almost universally used as a summary of basically the place or eternal state of those who are blessed, saved to everlasting life (Revelation 21-22). The term hell is almost universally used to summarize the place or eternal state of those who are cursed, damned or condemned to everlasting punishment (Mark 16:16). Theologians often use more accurate descriptions such as eternity with or without God.
Christians do agree on two end results of all things represented by the terms heaven or hell. One is a future of eternal separation from God, including descriptions of blackness and fire. That is contrasted with a wonderful future, described in terms which humans can understand, for all those who will spend eternity with God. We agree! Hell is bad; heaven is good. I choose heaven. What about you? |
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| To add a comment to "Last Surprise! Churches Agree on Last Things" |
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| June 09, 2008 |
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I choose (or chose) heaven! Again, as with the previous installments, glad to see so much common ground. As for the series as a whole, it has been enjoyable to FOCUS ON that which unifies us, rather than that which divides. Still, some want to divert attention away from the things we all agree on. What's that all about??? (Oh, nothing, just our natural tendency....)
Thanks for all the time you put into this series, Grant. God bless! |
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| June 09, 2008 |
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| Merci Monsieur! |
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