Category: The Spirit World

The Spirit World (book): Free to ReturningKing.com readers!

We’re giving away The Spirit World book to ReturningKing.com readers!

The Spirit World is a study of the afterlife in scripture. Far from simply referring to “Heaven and Hell,” the scripture reveals an assortment of containers which temporarily sort the souls of men and angels prior to the eternal state. Places such as Sheol, Abaddon, and the Abyss are commonly used interchangeably by well-intended teachers of scripture. Yet, scripture itself does not use these terms interchangeably at all; for each has a unique characteristic among the others.

The Spirit World provides a thorough examination of these terms and others, while time lining the course of human and angelic history from creation to the eternal state. Additionally, The Spirit World will examine the nature of the judgments of the righteous and the wicked, as these actions are the trigger events which relegate men from the temporary to the eternal abodes.

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The Spirit World: Chapter One (Sheol)

Sheol

(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)

Giving consideration to the fact that the Bible is translated from the Hebrew and Greek languages (with some Aramaic), it is necessary to evaluate original language terms to have a consistent understanding of the meanings of the English terms which represent them in translation. One of the first terms one encounters in the scriptures which refers to a hidden spiritual realm is the Hebrew term, Sheol. Being Hebrew, Sheol is found, of course, in the Old Testament. Sheol literally means “the grave” or “the world of the dead.” It is frequently translated into English as “the grave” and at times, “Hell,” although “Hell” is not the best translation for modern English consumption as will be explained in chapter eight. Continue Reading

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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

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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.

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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

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“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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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