Christian Beliefs on afterlife

Christian Beliefs on afterlife

1. General belief

   • Christians believe that death is not the end and that after death, they will be taken into the presence of God and they will be judged for the deeds they have done or failed to do during their lifetime a person will spend eternity in heaven or in hell.

2. Purgatory

   • The Roman Catholic Church teaches that after death there is a state of Purgatory. This is a place where some people who have sinned are purified in a 'cleansing fire', after which they are accepted into Heaven.

3. How is heaven described in the Bible?

   • Heaven is told to be where God and the angels live. John 14:1-3 even says that Jesus is in heaven preparing a place for us to live. In heaven, those saved by God will have new bodies without the curse of sin! There will be no one who is blind, deaf or lame in heaven (Isaiah 35:5-6 and Philippians 3:21). Although Jesus builds houses in heaven, the Bible also says that those saved will also build their own houses and inhabit them as well as plant and eat from vineyards (Isaiah 65:21). Most importantly God will be in heaven and He wants to be your friend. He wants to dwell with you and wipe away all your tears (Revelation 21:1-4).

4. According to the Bible, what is heaven and hell like?

   • Hell has traditionally been depicted as a place of eternal fire that symbolises pain and suffering. This is seen as the result of the refusal to accept the happiness that God wants people to share with him.
   • Heaven on the other hand is portrayed as beautiful and tranquil. A place of beauty and peace where everyone is happy, those who follow Gods commands will go to heaven.

5. Explain what the Bible teaches about how to get to Heaven?

   • The Bible says that one will go to heaven if they are person: if they do not sin, love each other, be kind and caring then they will get to heaven. However, some Christians say that is not enough and that you must also believe in God and Jesus Christ to go to heaven .

6. ‘The best part of Christianity is that Jesus has made it possible to live forever in God’s presence.

   • What key quotes can you use to support these beliefs?
     • For: "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt”. Daniel 12:2 “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 24:46 “And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23: 43
     • Against: “And throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”. Matthew 13:50 “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2
       • Some quotes overlap
   • For: It is the best part of Christianity because God is omnibenevolent and omnipotent so God will send you to heaven---It is also the best part because God rewards those that are Good
   • Against: It is not the best part of Christianity because God is omnipotent so he can send people to hell too----It is also not the best part of Christianity because loving one another and following God's rules is the best part of Christianity

7. Is Ian McCormack’s Story believable?

   • Ian McComrack's story would probably be believable to Christians because it would reinforce their beliefs but to me in a balanced stan point sounds like a fantasy and a medical mistake.