568 The Witch of Endor and the Rich Man and Lazarus Parable (Dustin Smith, Sam Tideman)

Last week Dustin Smith and Sam Tideman discussed the intermediate state–what happens after death but before resurrection on the last day. Although most Christians affirm the folk idea of going immediately to heaven or hell at death, Smith and Tideman argue that the Bible teaches the dead are in Sheol or Hades. However they disagree Read more about 568 The Witch of Endor and the Rich Man and Lazarus Parable (Dustin Smith, Sam Tideman)[…]

567 Are the Dead Conscious? (Dustin Smith, Sam Tideman)

Dustin Smith and Sam Tideman discuss whether people are conscious in the intermediate state (between death and resurrection). Interestingly, neither of them think the deceased are currently in heaven or hell. Smith affirms the sleep of the dead, seeing all the dead, whether good or bad, as unconscious and unaware of the passage of time. Read more about 567 Are the Dead Conscious? (Dustin Smith, Sam Tideman)[…]

499 Early Church History 17: The Kingdom of God in Early Christianity

This is part 17 of the Early Church History class. Throughout the first five hundred years of Christian history, a significant shift occurred in what we believed about our ultimate destiny. The New Testament and the early church fathers repeatedly expressed belief in God’s kingdom coming to earth. Over time, however, this idea gave way Read more about 499 Early Church History 17: The Kingdom of God in Early Christianity[…]

404 What Is Conditional Immortality? (Warren Prestige)

What happens when you die?  This is such a big question for all of us.  Do we go somewhere like heaven or hell? Do we stay on earth as a disembodied spirit?  Or are we unconscious? My guest today is Warren Prestidge of New Zealand, who contends that we should embrace the biblical language of Read more about 404 What Is Conditional Immortality? (Warren Prestige)[…]

Theology 7 — Annihilationism

What is the destiny of the unrighteous?  Christians over the centuries have put forward three major options: eternal conscious torment (traditionalism), temporary torment followed by salvation (universalism), temporary torment followed by destruction (annihilationism).  In this lecture we’ll cover the main texts supporting the annihilation of the wicked as well as three logical problems with the Read more about Theology 7 — Annihilationism[…]

Theology 3 – Conditional Immortality

In this lecture, you’ll learn about anthropology–the bible’s view of humanity.  In particular, we’ll focus on the two ends of the spectrum: creation and death.  We’ll see how the biblical view of humanity is rather exalted since we are made in God’s image.  We’ll examine what the bible teaches about death and resurrection and how Read more about Theology 3 – Conditional Immortality[…]

An Idea about the Intermediate State

I was researching N. T. Wright’s view of the kingdom the other day and came across this quote about his way of thinking about the intermediate state. He rejects both the idea of soul sleep as well as heaven as our final reward.  Instead, he put forth this way of thinking about it: If we Read more about An Idea about the Intermediate State[…]

Harvard Scholar Admits Conditionalism Was Original Belief

I was reading George Huntston Williams The Radical Reformation and came across this staggering admission: Psychopannychism, called in the English seventeenth-century Christian mortalism and in the Anglo-American nineteenth century, conditionalism, i.e. life after death conditional on the coming Resurrection, was the position of the New Testament and of several Apostolic and Ante-Nicene Fathers from Clement Read more about Harvard Scholar Admits Conditionalism Was Original Belief[…]

150 What Is Hell? (John Cortright)

Last week we examined what the bible teaches about heaven. This week we’ll see what it says about hell. John Cortright explains there are three meanings of hell in scripture, including tartarus where fallen angels are temporarily imprisoned, hades/sheol where the dead remain until resurrection, and gehenna where the wicked are destroyed in the final Read more about 150 What Is Hell? (John Cortright)[…]

110 Heaven Is Not My Home (Sean Finnegan)

This world is not my home I’m just a passing through My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore Oh lord you know I have no friend like you If heaven’s not my home then lord Read more about 110 Heaven Is Not My Home (Sean Finnegan)[…]

105 Recovering the Kingdom (Kingdom of God 14)

We’ve looked at how and why Christianity lost the kingdom message; in this episode you’ll learn how we got it back.  Over the last five hundred years, three different movements have made significant strides in recovering the kingdom: the Anabaptists (16th century), the Adventists (19th century), and liberal scholars (20th century).  In this lecture you’ll Read more about 105 Recovering the Kingdom (Kingdom of God 14)[…]