Secrets – Resurrection of the Dead
But let’s consider ‘Judgment first’ as follows:
FEAR God – Gehenna – Hope?
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*Gehenna = literally a dumpsite outside Jerusalem which had continual fire & had gross idol worship with human sacrifice done there
**Gehenna = Allegorically a place of afterlife punishments, probably a fiery region in Hades itself
***Gehenna = Translated as “Hell” in the verse in picture & verse below too where “Hell” is understood to represent “any afterlife punishment or chastisement for betterment regions” (both verses spoken by Lord Jesus Christ Himself):
“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28, NASB)
We can easily infer that Christ is speaking “allegorically” with “Gehenna” as “Hell” (an afterlife punishment region) simply because He mentions the destruction of both the “body and soul in it”.
In fact, the “soul” itself denotes the “afterlife state”. However, please notice that we are made up of “body, soul & spirit” (these are distinct as mentioned in verse below separately though these may share overlapping areas; NO Scriptural Definition exists and thus it is difficult to tell exactly what each is):
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NASB)
We know that for the wicked, though both their “body & soul” gets “destroyed” in Hell (Matthew 10:28), they may still “live” in the “spirit” (state) according to the will of God (1 Peter 4:5 – 6) after “Judgment” (“though judged in the flesh as men”, it is highly likely that this Judgment in the “flesh” refers to both “body & soul” being “destroyed in Hell” for sins done in the “flesh” first accordingly).
The “first” & ‘not’ the only occurrence of such an “afterlife punishment” and the Gospel being preached to the “spirits” in the “afterlife prison” is mentioned in 1 Peter 3:18 – 20.
This is NOT a one time occurrence as it is Generalised to the judging of “any dead” likewise too in 1 Peter 4:5 where these “dead” too get to “hear the Gospel”, “get judged in the flesh” next in Hell & then eventually “live” to God in the “spirit” (state), in that ‘order’ as Generalised by Holy Scripture in 1 Peter 4:6 too!
That’s how we understand the afterlife punishments in Hell with verses proving it. Thus, though both their “body & soul” is “destroyed” in Hell, they may “live” in the “spirit” by God’s Will as ‘it is written’.
In their resurrection thereafter (1 Corinthians 15:21 – 22) which applies to “ALL” who “die in Adam” (that is, ALL men), we may infer a ‘body’ given to ‘their spirit’ accordingly as 1 Corinthians15:38 points too.
This ‘spiritual body’ (1 Corinthians 15:44) is given to ALL too (1 Corinthians 15:42, 1 Corinthians 15:49) but we “differ” in the “glory” (type) as “God Alone decides that” (1 Corinthians 15:38):
“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;” (1 Corinthians 15:41 – 42, NASB)
That’s how we understand that God’s saves ALL men (Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 2:4, 1 Timothy 4:10)
That “Imperishable” spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15:42) is ‘how ALL inherit the kingdom of God eventually’ (1 Corinthians 15:50, Matthew 5:19) and it refers to a “sinless state & that we cannot sin anymore” agreeing with the end where God becomes “all in all” too (1 Corinthians 15:28).
For each person, that’s how we put on “immortality” when given our “spiritual body” at our respective times of Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:53 – 54) and “Thanks” be to God for this Greatest Victory in Lord Jesus Christ for ALL of us!:
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:56 – 57, NASB)
Yes, the Free Gift of Salvation in Lord Jesus Christ to ALL is automatic after the necessary judgments in the afterlife or Hell “first” & it is the Work & Justification of life for ALL through Christ Alone:
“Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.” (1 Corinthians 15:49, 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)
“But now the Righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Even the Righteousness of God which is by Faith OF Jesus Christ unto ALL and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being JUSTIFIED FREELY by HIS GRACE through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3:21 – 24, KJV)
Yes, Romans 3:22 speaks of ALL vs ‘all those who believe’ as two “Distinct” groups which are JUSTIFIED by the Great ‘Righteousness of God’ when “literally” translated and God being the Savior of these two groups is clearly ‘concluded’ in verse below too (1 Timothy 4:10):
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of ALL men, specially of those that believe.
These things command and teach.” (1 Timothy 4:9 – 11, NASB)
Indeed,
“Who (God our Saviour) will have ALL men to be SAVED, and to come unto the knowledge of the TRUTH.” (1 Timothy 2:4, KJV)
P/S: God NEVER fails and the Work of Salvation being independent of men, will surely come to pass “as it is Written” (let us NOT be deceived otherwise):
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Who gave Himself a RANSOM for ALL , to be testified (‘come to pass’, apply or become true) in due time(s).
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the TRUTH in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” – apostle Paul (1 Timothy 2:4 – 7, KJV)
(Emphasis mine).
God is GOOD and will bring it to pass:
“Declaring the END from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have NOT been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;” – God (Isaiah 46:10, NASB)
