Hope for the Dead – Even beyond Hell?

“Hope” is one of the three that remains:

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13, BSB)

Yes, “Hope” does ‘not’ disappoint or make us ‘shamed’:

“and the hope doth not make ashamed, because the love of God hath been poured forth in our hearts through the Holy Spirit that hath been given to us.” (Romans 5:5, YLT)

Hope for both the Righteous & Wicked – The Resurrection of the Dead

Verses:

“and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.

“Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,

and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:27 – 29, NASB)

“having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” – apostle Paul (Acts 24:15, NASB)

Firstly, John 5:29 speaks of a “Resurrection of Judgment” for the “wicked”. How is it a “Hope”? It sounds more like a “condemnation without hope”, right (as popular theology teaches)?

Secondly, please note that apostle Paul calls the “Resurrection of the Dead” for both the “godly (righteous)” and the “ungodly (wicked)” as a “Hope” in Acts 24:15 (verses are shown in attached images). Is Paul contradicting Christ?

Christ mentions Judgment and though it has its aspect of condemnation, it also rings with hope beyond that in the Will of God as verses further describe these details as we discuss in writing below.

Do note that apostle Paul does NOT distinguish (as popular theology adds) that the ‘Resurrection for the righteous is hope’ while the ‘Resurrection for the wicked is no hope or condemnation’. This distinction is NOT written. What is written is that in John 5:29 the wicked are Resurrected unto “Judgment” (actual meaning of the word used, implying afterlife Judgments) and in Acts 24:15 this is implied as a “Hope” too (not hopelessness).

We cannot understand Scripture differently than apostle Paul when in Acts 24:15 he quotes Christ’s reference to the Resurrection of the Wicked (or ungodly) too (from John 5:29) which also relates to the ancient verse in the Old Testament which is translated “literally” (more accurately) below:

“‘And the multitude of those sleeping in the dust of the ground do awake, some to life age-during, and some to reproaches — to abhorrence age-during.” (Daniel 12:2, YLT)

Please note that the afterlife Judgments mentioned in Daniel 12:2 are to the “age” only abd not forever which is actual literal meaning of the Hebrew word used (“Owlam or Olam”) as even its Greek counterpart (“Aion or Eon”) also means in say Matthew 25:46 as well.

To understand that, please consider the write ups below:

www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/aion-aionion-literal-one-translation/

www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/aion-aionion-olam-does-not-mean-eternal/

www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/matthew-2546-punishment-of-men-aionion-kolasin/

www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/aion-aionion-the-idiom-excuse/

So, how to understand it in light of the “righteous (afterlife) Judgments” which “achieves the Will of God” as the next verse mentions clearly (context):

“I am not able of Myself to do anything; according as I hear I judge, and my judgment is righteous, because I seek not My Own will, but the will of the Father Who sent Me.” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:30, YLT)

Concerning “the dead”, the wicked are “judged in the Flesh (body + soul)” in ‘Hell (Gehenna, Hades or Lake of Fire even, implied)’ for their deeds done prior “as men” as the verses below clearly state explaining the “Resurrection of Judgment” part (John 5:29):

“With respect to this, they think it strange of you not running with them into the same overflow of debauchery, speaking evil of you,

who will give account to Him Who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

For to this end the Gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but they might live in the spirit according to God.

Now the end of all has drawn near. Therefore be clear-minded and be sober for the purpose of prayers,” (1 Peter 4:4 – 7, BLB)

Good News is that it doesn’t end there as popular theology errs greatly. The “Hope” part is that even though these are Judged (afterlife Judgments upon these “dead”), they will still “live to God in the spirit” eventually as it is written too in 1 Peter 4:6.

Their “spirit” of ‘these dead who are first Judged in the afterlife Judgments’ (1 Peter 4:6) —–> will eventually be raised “incorruptible or imperishable” meaning, ‘raised without sin/evil/or its effects’ (1 Corinthians 15:42 – 43, 1 Corinthians 15:50, 1 Corinthians 15:52 – 53) —-> “spiritual body” too (1 Corinthians 15:44, 1 Corinthians 15:46) —> as the ‘Resurrection of the Dead’ (1 Corinthians 15:12, 1 Corinthians 15:21, 1 Corinthians 15:42, 1 Corinthians 15:49 – 50) —-> also includes this ‘end’ part of the whole process beyond the necessary afterlife Judgments first (mentioned prior) toward being “made alive in Christ which applies to All” (1 Corinthians 15:22, 1 Corinthians 15:28) too as apostle Paul explains “this Hope” (1 Corinthians 15:19) in Great Details in 1 Corinthians 15 itself.

“There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

So also is the Resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body;

Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 15:41 – 42, 49 – 50, NASB)

That is, let Scripture explain Scripture (not the ‘opinions of men’ which speak against these verses. Ask yourself, do the verses say what they ‘claim’ when they quote it especially in light of ‘other related Scripture too, translated accurately first’? Please ponder deeply to realize this), to quote:

“the word “incorruption” (1 Corinthians 15:42) itself indicates that this is ‘not the Resurrection for Judgment’ (John 5:29, which relates to ‘judged in the flesh as men’ in 1 Peter 4:6, Matthew 5:26) but the post-Judgment part after the “spirit is living to God” (1 Peter 4:6) as “made alive” context is established by 1 Corinthians 15:22 too agreeing to the “Mercy” which triumphs over rejoicingly over ‘any afterlife Judgment sentence’ even in the context of the ‘worst sinner who has shown no mercy too’, eventually as the Context of James 2:13 clearly implies (agreeing also the conclusion of Judgment as apostle Paul wrote, where the ‘Final Word’ is ‘Mercy to All’, Romans 11:32 which will be shown to the “disobedient” too as it is ‘shown first’ to the “obedient” as this context is clearly established by directly consecutive verses in Romans 11:30 – 31 as well) which is all ‘irrevocable’ (including the Gift Of Mercy & Salvation in Christ to all, Romans 11:26).

Isn’t it plain in Holy Scripture?”

For a more detailed discussion regarding this for edification, please consider:

www.anonymouschristian.org/blog/all-created-things-and-lord-jesus-christ/

P/S:

Yes, this is the meaning of “God Justifies the ungodly”:

“But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him (God) Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,” (Romans 4:5, NASB)

Conclusion

This is the “Hope” (1 Corinthians 15:19) beyond this life into the afterlife too which apostle Paul explains in “verses” quoted as the meaning of the “Resurrection of the Dead” (1 Corinthians 15:21) which by Christ’s Righteous Act, will apply to “All who die in Adam” (‘all men’) to be “made alive” eventually (1 Corinthians 15:22) where beyond men, it applies to “all” too (e. g. Revelation 21:5, Acts 3:21) till the “End” (please note this word in 1 Corinthians 15:24) where the ‘Will of God’ is Achieved by Lord Jesus Christ making “God All in All”! (1 Corinthians 15:28).

List of verses quoted above:

“If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:19, NASB)

“For since by a man came death, by a Man also came the Resurrection of the Dead.

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:21 – 22, NASB)

“And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” (Revelation 21:5, NASB)

“whom it behoveth heaven, indeed, to receive [Lord Jesus] till times of a restitution of all things, of which God spake through the mouth of all His holy prophets from the age.” (Acts 3:21, YLT)

“then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power” (1 Corinthians 15:24, NASB)

“When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:24, NASB)

Yes, ‘only then’ after this has been fulfilled for ‘each of the all’ by Christ, it is Declared Victoriously that:

“and when this corruptible may have put on incorruption, and this mortal may have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that hath been written, ‘The Death was swallowed up — to victory;

where, O Death, thy sting? where, O Hades, thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:54 – 55, YLT)

Indeed, Thank You God!

“but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:57 – 58, NASB)