Page 322 - Bible Writers Theology Original

306 ♦ Bible Writers' Theology ChapterTen 16:19-31; Revelation 6:9-11.)
What happens to the spirit after death, but before the resurrection? The spirit of the born-again saint enjoys rest and happiness, but the flesh and the blood that are buried in the grave becomes dust (Luke 16:19-31; 23:43; II Corinthians 5:1-9; Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 14:13).
1 Purgatory
Thiessen puts it this way: "In Roman Catholic theology, human spirits which are completely pure at death are allowed to enter heaven, to enter into thepresenceofGod,thebeatificVision. Thosehumanspirits,whicharenot perfectlypureandareinneedofcleansing,gotoaplaceforpurging. This place,calledpurgatory,isforthepurgingawayoftheguiltofvenialsins. It is not a place of probation but a place of purging or cleansing Believers there suffer in that they are for a time losing out on the joys of heaven and their souls are being afflicted." (Thiessen, 339).
Roman Catholic theologians base their purgatory doctrine on the follow ing scriptures (Zechariah 9:11; Matthew 12:32; I Corinthians 3:12-15) and on thenon-canonbookofMaccabees12:42-45(Amharicedition12:8-9). These
scriptures are not teaching of a door of repentance that can be opened after death. In the parable Jesus tells about a rich man who died and went to hell (Hades). It is made evident that once sinners go to their place of destination, there is no way to tum back. We are taught conclusively that there is a final destiny for saved and unsaved people (Luke 16:19-31). There is no good hope of life in Hades (Psalms 146:3-4; Ecclesiastes 9:5-6,10; Isaiah 38:18; Heb
news 9:27).
2 Spirit Sleep
The Bible declares that born again believers "sleep" in Jesus (I Corinthians 15:18). Death does not annihilate saints that put on Christ by faith, and are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13-14; Titus 3:4-8). "Sleep" means the believer's spirit will have undisturbed rest.
They are retired out of the troublesome world and spirits to rest from all theirlaborsandsorrows. TheywillthenbeundertheirLord'sspecialcare (Mark 9:4; Luke 16:19-31; I Corinthians 13:12-13; II Corinthians 12:1-5;
Hebrews 12:22-24; Revelation 14:12-13). Since the spirit is the life of the blood, and the blood or soul is the life of the flesh, when the spirit separates from the body, the blood and the flesh become dust. Without the spirit, whichis the life of the flesh, the blood and flesh die. The spirit enters a state of sleep. (See Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 12:7; I Corinthians 15:50-51.) The fol-