TBC Doctrinal Class - Life After Death (Part 8)

RE-INTRODUCTION TO DOCTRINAL CLASS & THE INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF THE SOUL What and Why What Is the Plan? • Began teaching through the church’s doctrinal statement in 2023 • Take 3 years to cover all 21 paragraphs • Picking up with paragraph 8 tonight Why teach through the church’s doctrinal statement? theological stress What is theological stress? Scripture speaks of different stresses on our souls. fl Matthew 7:27 (ESV) And the rain fell, and the oods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Whose house fell in Matthew 7? fl Matthew 7:27 (ESV) And the rain fell, and the oods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Whose house fell in Matthew 7? Matthew 7:26–27 (ESV) And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27And fl the rain fell, and the oods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” tribulation = pressure John 16:33 (ESV) I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Ephesians 4:14 (ESV) so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 2 Peter 3:15–16 (ESV) And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. The NT cautions about the dangers of ignorance of doctrine. Some things in the Bible are hard to understand. “There are some things in them [the scriptures] that are hard to understand,” Some people are ignorant and unstable. “which the ignorant and unstable . . .” The NT cautions about the dangers of ignorance of doctrine. Ignorant people twist the hard-to-understand parts of Scripture. “which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction,” Ignorant people also twist the rest of scripture. “which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” Different types of stresses. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com/Fouad A. Saad via https://www.xometry.com/resources/materials/shear-stress/ 2 Peter 3:15–16 (ESV) There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. In 2 Peter 3:16, why do the ignorant twist the scripture? 2 Peter 3:15–16 (ESV) There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. Because they are doctrinally “unstable.” What causes spiritual instability in 2 Peter? Directions: 1. Divide into 3 groups 2. Take 3 minutes to nd a speci c cause of spiritual instability in your chapter of 2 Peter. fi Notes: The pressure may be internal or external to Peter’s audience. Some chapters contain more than one cause of spiritual instability. What causes spiritual instability in 2 Peter? 1. An ineffective or unfruitful knowledge about Jesus that doesn’t change my life. 2 Peter 1:8 (ESV) For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. What causes spiritual instability in 2 Peter? 2. False teachers bringing destructive ideas 2 Peter 2:1 (ESV) But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. What causes spiritual instability in 2 Peter? 3. Scoffers who misrepresent God’s delay in ful lling His promises. fi 2 Peter 3:3–4 (ESV)knowing this rst of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scof ng, following their own sinful desires. 4They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” What is God’s solution? 1. Learn to recognise spiritual error and its effect on your spiritual stability. 2 Peter 3:17 (ESV) You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. What is God’s solution? 2. Grow in Christological knowledge (i.e., Christcentered theology). 2 Peter 3:17–18 (ESV) You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. What is God’s solution? fi 3. Pay more attention to the established, inspired Word over personal experience. 2 Peter 1:19 (ESV) And we have the prophetic word more fully con rmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, What is God’s solution? 4. Don’t DIY theology based on DIY interpretations. 2 Peter 1:20–21 (ESV) knowing this rst of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. We believe . . . 8. That the soul is indestructible (Revelation 20:10) and in the resurrection of the body (John 11:25-26) and in the continual consciousness of the soul after death (Luke 16:19-31). Paragraph 8 asserts the following truths: 1) a) You have a soul, and b) your soul is indestructible. 2) a)You have a body, and b) your body will be resurrected one day. 3) a) You will die, and b)Your soul will be continually [sic] conscious after death. We believe . . . 9. In the existence of a literal heaven (John 14:2-3) and hell (Revelation 20:15) as the eternal abodes of the redeemed and lost respectively. We believe . . . fi 10.In the reality and personality of the Devil, Satan, who is the adversary of God, His Word and the believer (1 Peter 5:8). a. We believe He is destined for eternal punishment in the lake of re (Revelation 20:10). b. We do not believe that Satan or his demons can inhabit the body of one who is truly born again (2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 John 4:4). What do these 3 statements have in common? Or, what is the connection between these 3 statements? fi We believe . . . 8. That the soul is indestructible (Revelation 20:10) and in the resurrection of the body (John 11:25-26) and in the continual consciousness of the soul after death (Luke 16:19-31). 9. In the existence of a literal heaven (John 14:2-3) and hell (Revelation 20:15) as the eternal abodes of the redeemed and lost respectively. 10. In the reality and personality of the Devil, Satan, who is the adversary of God, His Word and the believer (1 Peter 5:8). a. We believe He is destined for eternal punishment in the lake of re (Revelation 20:10). b. We do not believe that Satan or his demons can inhabit the body of one who is truly born again (2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 John 4:4). These 3 statements all touch on eternity future. 8. That the soul is indestructible (Revelation 20:10) and in the resurrection of the body (John 11:25-26) and in the continual consciousness of the soul after death (Luke 16:19-31). 9. In the existence of a literal heaven (John 14:2-3) and hell (Revelation 20:15) as the eternal abodes of the redeemed and lost respectively. 10. In the reality and personality of the Devil, Satan, who is the adversary of God, His Word and the believer (1 Peter 5:8). a. We believe He is destined for eternal punishment in the lake of re (Revelation 20:10). b. We do not believe that Satan or his demons can inhabit the body of one who is truly born again (2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 John 4:4). Focusing now on Statement 8 8. That the soul is indestructible (Revelation 20:10) and in the resurrection of the body (John 11:25-26) and in the continual consciousness of the soul after death (Luke 16:19-31). What do we mean by soul in “the soul is indestructible”? the soul = the immaterial part of us (that departs at death) 3 John 2 (ESV) Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 1. Death. People who die pass out of existence. (Psalm 146:4; Ecclesiastes 9: 5, 10) They do not suffer in a ery hell of torment. God will bring billions back from death by means of a resurrection. (Acts 24:15) However, those who refuse to learn God’s ways after being raised to life will be destroyed forever with no hope of a resurrection. —Revelation 20:14, 15. www.jw.org fi https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/jehovah-witnessbeliefs/ annihilate “to cause to cease to exist : to do away with entirely so that nothing remains” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annihilate. accessed 26 June 2024 What groups believe in annihilationism? Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) Seventh Day Adventists (SDAs) Do Psalm 146:4 and Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10 support annihilationism? Death. People who die pass out of existence. (Psalm 146:4; Ecclesiastes 9: 5, 10) They do not suffer in a ery hell of torment. www.jw.org fi https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/ jehovah-witness-beliefs/ Let’s interpret Psalm 146:4 in context. Psalm 146:3–8 (ESV) Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 4When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. 5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; 7who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. Who is v. 4 talking about? Psalm 146:3–8 (ESV) Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 4When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. 5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; 7who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. Who is the man in v. 4 contrasted with? Psalm 146:3–8 (ESV) Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 4When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. 5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; 7who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. How is the God of Jacob different from a human prince? Psalm 146:3–8 (ESV) Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 4When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. 5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; 7who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. Is Psalm 146:4 teaching annihilationism or giving a reason why trusting in God is better than trusting in human rulers? Psalm 146:3–8 (ESV) Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 4When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. 5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, 6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; 7who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; 8the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. Perhaps Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10 support annihilationism? Death. People who die pass out of existence. (Psalm 146:4; Ecclesiastes 9: 5, 10) They do not suffer in a ery hell of torment. www.jw.org fi https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/ jehovah-witness-beliefs/ Let’s interpret Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10 in context. fi Ecclesiastes 9:4–6 (ESV) But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.6Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:9–10 (ESV) Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. 10Whatever your hand nds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. What context or vantage point does Ecclesiastes focus on? fi Ecclesiastes 9:4–6 (ESV) But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.6Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:9–10 (ESV) Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. 10Whatever your hand nds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. What is the writer’s inspired point in Ecclesiastes about “life under the sun”? • life “under the sun” on planet earth is eeting and futile • resulting in much frustration even for Christians • Live wisely“under the sun” in view of your upcoming meeting with your Creator. Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 (ESV) The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Are Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10 teaching a theology of the afterlife? Or are they prodding us to value life’s eeting opportunities in light of the fact that we can no longer capitalise on those opportunities after we die? fl fi Ecclesiastes 9:4–6 (ESV) But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.6Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:9–10 (ESV) Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. 10Whatever your hand nds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. What about Seventh Day Adventists and their view of soul sleep? WHAT REALLY HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE? https://www.adventist.org/death-and-resurrection/ The Bible says those who have died know nothing. That means we aren’t aware of the passage of time after death. We aren’t aware of what’s happening in the world. Death is like a deep sleep. Your body and spirit rests as the breath of life—which makes body and soul one, and alive—has returned to God until the resurrection. Whether you’ve lost a loved one or want to know what happens when you die, it’s a question that weighs on everyone’s mind at some point. “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:5,6, ESV). “and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7, ESV). Another verse SDA’s use for soul sleep Psalm 115:17 (ESV) The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence. Does the context of Psalm 115 support soul sleep? Psalm 115:4–8 (ESV) 4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 7They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. Psalm 115:17 (ESV) The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence. Who is silent in Psalm 115? Psalm 115:4–8 (ESV) 4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 7They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. Psalm 115:17 (ESV) The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence. Does the psalmist consider himself to be part of the “silence” group in Psalm 115:17? Psalm 115:4–8 (ESV) 4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. . . . 7They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. Psalm 115:17 (ESV) The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence. Psalm 115:18 (ESV) But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD! Though the bodies of Christians sleep in death, does Scripture present the souls of Christians asleep or active after death? Revelation 6:9–11 (ESV)When he opened the fth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. How does our doctrinal statement support, “the soul is indestructible”? fi Revelation 20:10 (ESV) and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of re and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Is Revelation 20:10 suf ciently clear by itself to prove the indestructibility of the soul? fi fi Revelation 20:10 (ESV) and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of re and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. If we add Revelation 19:20, it becomes clearer that at least 2 people have indestructible souls? Revelation 19:20 (ESV) And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of re that burns with sulfur. What about the followers of the beast and the false prophet? Are they annihilated? Revelation 14:11 (ESV) And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” No. They are forever burning and never obtaining rest. Revelation 14:11 (ESV) And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” What other part of Statement 8 does Rev. 14:11 support? Revelation 14:11 (ESV) And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” 8. We believe that the soul is indestructible (Revelation 20:10) and in the resurrection of the body (John 11:25-26) and in the continual consciousness of the soul after death (Luke 16:19-31). Continuous or continual consciousness? “Things that are unceasing or exist without interruption are continuous. For example, the ow of a river [and] the motion of the planets around the sun . . . are continuous because they never pause. Things that occur frequently or recur intermittently are continual. The continual action doesn’t happen ceaselessly, but it does happen regularly. For example, phone calls to a busy of ce and departures from a bus station are continual because they happen regularly but not in an uninterrupted stream.” bolding mine; https://www.grammar.com/continuous_vs._continual. accessed 26 June 2024 Scripture teaches the continuous consciousness of the soul after death Luke 16:22–23 (ESV) The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. Scripture teaches the continual [sic] consciousness of the soul after death. Also known as the doctrine of eternal torment for the lost • Is 66:24 • Da 12:2 • Mt 13:50 • Mt 25:46 • Re 20:7–15 Jack Kilcrease, “The Duration of the Punishment of the Wicked,” in Lexham Survey of Theology, ed. Mark Ward et al. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018). Isaiah 66:24 (ESV) “And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their re shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all esh.” Daniel 12:1–2 (ESV) And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Matthew 13:49–50 (ESV) So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from there righteous 50and throw them into the ery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25:46 (ESV) And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Scripture teaches the resurrection of all bodies to judgement. John 5:25–29 (ESV)“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. . . . 28Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. Why does the eternality of the soul matter? If we don’t have eternal souls . . . • Jesus is either lying or very confused about what happens after death. Luke 16:22–23 (ESV) The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. Matthew 25:46 (ESV) And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” If there is no resurrection . . . • Jesus is a liar or a very confused individual about His own power to give people life. John 11:25 (ESV) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, If we don’t have eternal souls, then the Gospel’s focus on the resurrection . . . • is a cruel hoax 1 Corinthians 15:13–14 (ESV) But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:19 (ESV) If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. If there is no resurrection . . . • We are lying when we evangelize. 1 Corinthians 15:15 (ESV) We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testi ed about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. If there is no resurrection . . . • The danger and sacri ce involved in advancing the Gospel are pointless. fi 1 Corinthians 15:32 (ESV) What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” If there is no resurrection . . . • We should party like there’s no tomorrow because there aren’t any tomorrows after this life. 1 Corinthians 15:32 (ESV) What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 1. z If we don’t have eternal souls . . . • Hell is a ction. fi • God is not just (The wicked who go to their graves unrepentant and unpunished will never pay for their crimes.)