12. Eschatological beliefs about judgement

Lesson on 16/12/25

What is heaven?

Unlike any place on Earth - paradise. It is with God.

What is h(e)ll?

A place of suffering. Without God.

What are the two views on heaven and h(e)ll?

• Traditional

• Contemporary

What are traditional views on heaven and h(e)ll?

• They are real, physical places

• Heaven is in the sky

• H(e)ll is underground

• They believe this because it is in the revelations

What are contemporary views on heaven and h(e)ll?

• More ambiguous

• Modern views would say where God is/is not

• They would also question if God is omnibenevolent, would he not forgive everyone? Surely then we shouldn’t go to h(e)ll forever

• Ultimately they are to do with reward and punishment instead of physical places you get sent to

What is purgatory?

• Catholic belief.

• Where people go who are stained by sins as a waiting room for heaven. They are sent there to purify themselves of sin before going to heaven.

• It is a temporary state and on Judgement Day if you are there you will go to heaven.

What is eschatology?

Beliefs about the ‘last things’: death, judgement, heaven and hell.

What is the centre of Christianity?

The belief that there is life after death

What do Christians believe about this life?

That is preparation for the next life.

For example, the Nicene Creed ends with “I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come”.

How do these beliefs of life after death explain why Christians believe the crucifixion and resurrection are so important?

Because it provides them with evidence that death isn’t the end and our immortal souls can live on.

What is the Gospel of John often referred to as?

As the ‘eschatological Gospel’ as there are lots of references to the afterlife. E.g. Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

Two specification texts on life after death

• John 11:25-26

• John 14:2-7

What does John 11:25-26 tell Christians and what is its key quote?

• “The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”

• Jesus says that if you believe in him, you will never die as your soul will go to heaven and live on forever. This tells us that belief in Jesus is essential to go to heaven.

• Therefore, it tells us that to go to heaven you must believe in Jesus.

What does John 14:2-7 tell Christians and what is the key quote?

• “Prepare a place for you” - says that there is a place for everyone in heaven.

• “I am the way and the truth and the life” - tells Christians that to go to heaven they must follow him and that Jesus himself is the way to heaven. Heaven is a place with God.

• Therefore, it tells us that to reach heaven you must follow Jesus and that there is a place in heaven for everyone.

What is the soul?

• The spiritual, everlasting part of a person

• Causes the body to do things and make decision

• It lives on forever and can go to the afterlife

What is the body?

• The physical body

• It is controlled by the soul

• It eventually dies

What text tells us who can go to heaven or not and what is the name of the text?

The parable of the sheep and goats

Matthew 25: 31-46

What does it tell us?

• “Place the sheep at his right hand” - sheep will go to heaven

• “and the goats at his left” - goats will go to h(e)ll

• Sheep are the righteous people who care for those in need, do charity and are Christ-like

• Goats are the people who sin and are not Christ-like

What are some Christ-like actions?

Actions that Jesus performed, not everything is Christ-like!

• Loving enemies

• Caring for the vulnerable

• Showing compassion

• Being humble

• Forgiving others

• Being charitable

Ultimately, what do you need to do to reach heaven?

• Follow Jesus: “I am the way”, “The one who believes in me will live,”

• Be Christ-like: Parable of the sheep and goats

What is salvation dependant on?

• Actions and belief

• Follow Jesus: “I am the way”, “The one who believes in me will live,”

• Be Christ-like: Parable of the sheep and goats

What is judgement day?

A day when all people will be judged by God based on the quality of their lives. On this day, Jesus will return to earth (also known as Parousia) in a ‘second coming’ and that will be the end of human existence on earth.

What do Christians believe will happen on Judgement Day?

Christians believe that when God judges us, we will be bodily resurrected and

transformed into a new, glorified state without illness or pain. We will be purified

of sin.

Specification text on judgement day

Corinthians 15:42-55

“The dead will be raised imperishable”

Why do Christians believe they will be resurrected on Judgement Day?

When you die, your soul is joined with God in heaven. However, at the end of time

on judgement day is the physical resurrection. Christians believe this because it is said in the Bible (God’s breath).

Which parable tells Christians what happens to people who go to heaven vs h(e)ll and what is the name of the text within the Bible?

The Rich Man and Lazarus

Luke 16: 19-31

What does the parable of the rich man and lazarus teach Christians?

• Jesus uses parables (stories with a hidden meaning) to teach Christians.

• The Parable of the Rich man and Lazarus shows that earthly wealth is temporary and holds no value in the afterlife

• It shows the consequences of being indifferent to those who are suffering and emphasises the importance of generosity

What are all the specification texts needed for the afterlife?

• Eschatological beliefs

• Judgement

• Resurrection

• Eschatological beliefs: John 11:25-26 (“The one who believes in me will live”), John 14: 2-7 (I am the way and the truth and the life”)

• Judgement: Matthew 25: 31-46 (The sheep and the goats), Luke 16: 19-31 (The Rich Man and Lazarus)

• Resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15:42-55 (“The dead will be raised imperishable)