The Spirit World
The Spirit World: Conclusion
Conclusion
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
The ultimate question asked of student and teacher alike upon completion of a body of study in scripture should always be, “what shall my response be?” For this particular work there are multiple possible answers which should be contemplated, each depending upon the reader’s position in Christ. Those who do not ascribe Christ as the uncontested Lord of their lives have one necessary response to consider, while those who know Christ have several thoughts to ponder.
This chapter entails notes of encouragement from the author and will be written in the first person as his private appeal to each group. Continue reading
The Gospel Truth (Vlog): The Wages of Sin
There is possibly no less popular message in modern culture than that one should expect to actually be held accountable for one’s actions. Teachers, doctors, politicians and most recently, pseudo-theologians are more than willing to create excuses, conditions and ailments to explain away the wrong doing of any and all that come to them for assistance. Among modern liberal theological minds, Jesus’ death on the cross was a universal saving act by which all are saved – regardless of one’s position in Christ – or even one’s belief in Christ. Former (reasonably) “good-guy” Christian teacher Tony Campolo goes so far as to say that Muslims will enter Heaven before Christians, because they “do” the right things; all-the-while not believing in Christ what-so-ever.
The crux of these theological laterals, it seems, stems from an all-out averseness to the doctrines of Hell. Eternal judgment, naturally, is not a crowd-pleaser doctrine. But what exactly does the scripture teach that the wages of sin are?
This week’s Gospel Truth Vlog Series post seeks to answer that question biblically, with no sensibilities offered for the Oprah-friendly or scriptural deconstructionists.
The Gospel Truth: Pt. 3 – The Wages of Sin from Jeff Kluttz on Vimeo.
The Spirit World: Ch. 20 (The Great White Throne)
The Great White Throne
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
With the fullness of the righteous dead accounted for, one remaining category of resurrection and judgment remains. From the beginning of time there has been no resurrection or judgment appointed for the unrighteous. They have been relegated to Abaddon, within Hades, awaiting a final judgment which will determine their stature in the eternal lake of fire. This final assignment of the unrighteous is noted also in Revelation 20. Continue reading
“The Resurrections and Judgments” Vlog Series Now Available
For twenty weeks ReturningKing.com has been releasing the author’s The Spirit World book one chapter at a time. Very soon this book will be complete in its online free distribution. The Spirit World systematically traces the abodes of the departed spirits of men and angels throughout scripture. It examines the nature of Sheol/Hades, the Abyss, the Lake of Fire and numerous other spiritual “containers” which are referenced and described in scripture.
The second half of the spirit world is concerned with the transference of people from one spiritual abode to another. In short, it is primarily concerned with the resurrections and the judgments of all mankind as detailed in scripture.
The author recently completed a sermon series at his home church entitled The Resurrections and Judgments which is an oral presentation of the same general material as the second half of The Spirit World.
That series has since been uploaded (unedited) and is now available as a vlog series on our Video Courses page where this video teaching series and others are being regularly added to ReturningKing.com as a extension of our teaching ministries.
The scripture teaches a fascinating journey, separate for the believer and the unbeliever, involving a very methodical and procedural resurrection and judgment for every human being throughout history. The scriptures teach that all who have ever lived will one day reconstitute and rise from the dead; some to everlasting life, and some to shame and contempt. The Resurrections and Judgments series details that process in six sermons which are designed to be heard in order. We hope you will have an opportunity to listen.
The Spirit World: Ch. 19 (The Judgment of Believers)
The Judgment of Believers
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
It was noted earlier that the process of resurrection is always followed by a judgment for the group which has been raised. Judgments are of two general categories in scripture. There is a type of judgment for the righteous and a type of judgment for the unrighteous, each having different criteria and characteristics. Continue reading
The Spirit World: Ch. 18 (Resurrection of Believers)
The Resurrection of Believers
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
The First Resurrection
The resurrection of the dead is to be a future universal reality, for believers and non-believers alike. All who ever lived will one day rise physically, each in their proper order. The resurrections are categorized generally in scripture as a “first” resurrection and a second resurrection. The first resurrection, categorically, includes the raising of all believers from the whole of history. It is not, however a resurrection which happens simultaneously for all of the righteous dead, but rather is a process extending over a significant period of history. Continue reading
The Spirit World: Ch. 17 (The Glorified Body)
The Glorified Body
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
Inextricably tied to a believer’s entry into Heaven and his resurrection, which is the subject of the next chapter, is the proper understanding of the nature of the eternal body. Upon man’s resurrection he is equipped with substantially altered and eternal body with which to enter the eternal abode of Heaven. This body, which the righteous will be later equipped with, is substantially different from his present earthly body. Paul offers a detailed examination of the distinctions between the two bodies along with the reasons for such changes in 1 Corinthians 15. In this text, Paul writes to the church, and focuses his description uniquely on the bodies which the righteous will receive upon their resurrection. The unrighteous also have a unique eternal body which will be examined in chapter twenty. Concerning the righteous body, Paul describes a reconstruction of radical extremes. The present “earthly” body is made for life on the earth. Prior to entering Heaven, however, man is to be regenerated and given a body suitable for eternal life in God’s presence. Continue reading
The Spirit World: Ch. 16 (The New Jerusalem)
New Jerusalem
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
For purposes of this work, the name of this abode will be rendered “New Jerusalem,” but it is stated in that exact phraseology only one time in scripture. There are, overall, three unique renderings of “Jerusalem” in a spiritual and metaphorical usage, as it refers to a spiritual abode. As has been noted, that abode will be demonstrated to be one and the same as Heaven proper. Continue reading
The Spirit World: Chapter Fifteen (Heaven)
Heaven
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
In Hebrew, the term translated “heaven” or “heavens” is shamayim, which is used about four hundred times in the Old Testament. “Heaven” is likewise translated into English from the Greek term ouranos and its derivatives in the New Testament. Ouranos and shamayim have three distinct meanings in scripture. In both Greek and Hebrew culture and language, heaven was distinguished contextually to refer to one of three places. Continue reading
The Spirit World: Ch. 14 (The Confinement of Jude 6)
The Confinement of Jude 6
(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)
No specific term is associated with this text other than a description: “kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.” Once again, a singular reference is given concerning this spiritual realm. That text is found in the book of Jude. Continue reading
