Religion & Ethics: Section 1: Belief in God
1.6: Key Christian beliefs about eschatology
CONCEPT DESCRIPTION
Heaven The place where Christians believe they will spend the afterlife – not
described in detail in the Bible (just that there is no sin, sadness, pain or
suffering) so Christians differ on what it is like – some say it is a physical
place; others say it is a holy, happy and peaceful state of being with God
and Jesus.
Hell A place of punishment and separation from God. Some Christians do not
believe in hell – they believe that those who do not follow Jesus simply
cease to exist when they die. No detailed Bible descriptions.
Purgatory From the Latin word ‘pugare’ meaning ‘make clean’. Mainly associated
with the Roman Catholic Church. A place (or state of mind) where the
souls of those who have died go to be purified until they are made clean
from their sins and can go to heaven. The time a soul spends in purgatory
can be shortened by the prayers of those still alive.
Judgement Christians believe that God is just, fair and merciful. At the Day of
Judgement, God will judge people according to how they lived their lives
on earth and give them the afterlife they deserve. Christians also believe
in the Second Coming (Parousia), when Jesus will return to earth. This will
be the time for Judgement and the establishment of God’s Kingdom.
Resurrection For Christians, the resurrection of Jesus has made sure there will be an
afterlife for all who believe in him – if Jesus rose from the dead, they can
have an afterlife. At the end of time, God will raise their bodies to life
again, like Jesus’. Evidence for this is found in the post-resurrection
appearances of Jesus in the Bible. (NB these ideas do raise some
questions: Where is this place that is inhabited by resurrected bodies? Do
people with disabilities on earth still have them in heaven? )
The Soul Christians believe a human’s soul is immortal and everlasting – it leaves
the body at death and exists in the afterlife in heaven, purgatory or hell.
These beliefs have been developed and shaped by a variety of ideas,
especially Greek philosophers like Socrates and Plato.
SOURCES OF AUTHORITY
“Then I saw ‘a new heaven and earth’…I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem,
coming out of heaven from God… He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” (REVELATION 21:
1-4)
“He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our
Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction…” (2
THESSALONIANS 1:8-9)
“All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are
indeed assured of their eternal salvation, but after death they undergo
purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.”
(CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1030).
NB: The 39 Articles of Religion, a source of authority for Anglican beliefs,
maintains that there is no foundation in the Bible for the existence of
Purgatory.
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne… the dead
were judged according to what they had done.” (REVELATION 20:12)
“Look at my hands and feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not
have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (LUKE 24:39)
In his Summa Theologica, Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) taught that the soul is
a conscious entity that can understand, reason and choose its own actions, but
cannot be destroyed.