Questions On Heaven And Hell

Question 1. Will we have gender in heaven male/female?

Answer In Matthew 22 Jesus dealt with the question by the Sadducees concerning the woman who had 7 husbands.  They wanted to know whose wife she would be in the resurrection.  You see, Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection at all, and they thought this convoluted situation was unanswerable.   He answered their specific question (and I think yours too), then showed how wrong they were about the resurrection.  In Matthew 22:32 he quoted Exodus 3:6 when Jehovah spoke to Moses from the bush, adding that God was the God of the living, not the dead.   So, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob still lived.

The verse says,  Mat 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven.

To me the implication is that we will be genderless in heaven.  At least our gender will not matter.  There is another passage that bears on the matter of relationships in the kingdom of heaven.  Gal 3:28 There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one (man) in Christ Jesus. Also, surely the figure of the family will continue in heaven - God as our father, Christ as our elder brother, and we as brothers and sisters. Contact Larry

Question 2. My 19 year old son asked if their were levels of heaven

Answer Death takes place when the spirit is no longer in the body (James 2:26). The body returns to the dust and the spirit enters into a realm known as Hades, literally the unseen (Ecc. 12:7). Hades is made up of two distinct areas divided by (Luke 16:26)  "…a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence." On one side is Paradise or "Abraham’s bosom" where the righteous spirits go. Jesus told the penitent thief on the cross (Luke 23:43)   "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." But the unpenitent thief went where the unrighteous spirits go which is called tartarus.

The rich man and Lazarus shows these two distinct areas (Luke 16:19-31): Both died and were buried. The rich man ended up in "torments) and Lazarus in "Abraham’s bosom". The rich man wanted Lazarus to "dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." Lazarus’ spirit still lived, was conscious ("remembered"), and was being tormented.

2 Peter 2:4  "For IF GOD SPARED NOT THE ANGELS THAT SINNED, BUT CAST THEM DOWN TO HELL, and delivered them into chains of darkness, TO BE RESERVED UNTO JUDGMENT;" 2 Peter 2:5  "AND SPARED NOT THE OLD WORLD, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, BRINGING IN THE FLOOD UPON THE WORLD OF THE UNGODLY;" 2 Peter 2:6  "AND TURNING THE CITIES OF SODOM AND GOMORRHA INTO ASHES CONDEMNED THEM with an overthrow, MAKING THEM AN ENSAMPLE UNTO THOSE THAT AFTER SHOULD LIVE UNGODLY;" 2 Peter 2:7  "And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:" 2 Peter 2:8  "(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)" 2 Peter 2:9  "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and TO RESERVE THE UNJUST UNTO THE DAY OF JUDGMENT TO BE PUNISHED:" God delivered the angels that sinned and cast them into hell. And the old ungodly world and Sodom and Gomorrha are examples "unto those that should live ungodly" and God is able to reserve all of these "unto the day of judgment to be punished." You don’t punish something that does not exist. In verse 13 Peter calls this "the reward of the unrighteous". But that same God can "reward the righteous" as He did in delivering "just Lot". Heaven is the "reward" for the righteous and hell is the "reward" for the unrightous.

Note these verses in Revelation: Revelation 14:9  "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, IF ANY MAN WORSHIP THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand," Revelation 14:10   "The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and HE SHALL BE TORMENTED WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:" Revelation 14:11  "AND THE SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENT ASCENDETH UP FOR EVER AND EVER: AND THEY HAVE NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT, WHO WORSHIP THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."

Revelation 19:19  "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army." Revelation 19:20  "AND THE BEAST was taken, AND WITH HIM THE FALSE PROPHET that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, AND THEM THAT WORSHIPPED HIS IMAGE. THESE BOTH WERE CAST ALIVE INTO A LAKE OF FIRE BURNING WITH BRIMSTONE."

Revelation 20:10  "AND THE DEVIL THAT DECEIVED THEM WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, where the beast and the false prophet are, AND SHALL BE TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER." (How do you torment someone that does not exist?) Revelation 20:14  "AND DEATH AND HELL WERE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. This is the second death." Revelation 20:15  "AND WHOSOEVER WAS NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE."

Revelation 21:8  "BUT THE FEARFUL, AND UNBELIEVING, AND THE ABOMINABLE, AND MURDERERS, AND WHOREMONGERS, AND SORCERERS, AND IDOLATERS, AND ALL LIARS, SHALL HAVE THEIR PART IN THE LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH."

Matthew 25:41  "Then shall he say also unto THEM ON THE LEFT HAND, DEPART FROM ME, YE CURSED, INTO EVERLASTING FIRE, PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS:" Matthew 25:46  "AND THESE SHALL GO AWAY INTO EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT: BUT THE RIGHTEOUS INTO LIFE ETERNAL." (THE PUNISHMENT WILL LAST AS LONG AS THE REWARD—ETERNALLY)

Personally, I am not really concerned if there are "levels" in heaven or in hell, nor am I sure the Bible addressed this question. If we make it to heaven even if we are on the "lower level" it will be far, far greater than what we have on this earth. But if we end up in hell it won’t matter if the fire is a little hotter in some places than in other places, we will be punished forever and there will not be any relief. I belief if there are any "levels" in heaven, it will be the degree to which I am able to enjoy it. Its hard to imagine I will experience the same joy in heaven as a Paul, or a Peter, etc. who suffered to a far greater degree for the cause of Christ. But the more I am able to understand the gospel and practice its principles, I will be able to understand and appreciate what Christ has done for me and thereby heaven will be a greater joy. Conversely perhaps those in hell, that were "more wicked", and those that had greater opportunities to know and obey the gospel, they will perhaps regret far more than those the world would call "good people" but just would not obey the gospel. Peter seems to indicate this in 2 Peter 2:21  "For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them."

Yes, there is a hell. And there is a heaven, but it won’t matter if there are "levels" or not. Contact Danny

Question 3. My wife passed away two weeks ago.my children asked if their  mother can look down from heaven and see us.

Answer From reading Luke 16:19-31 we can know:

1.  After death we are conscious.

2.  We have feelings.

3.  We have our minds and can remember.

4.  The rich man remember he had five brothers.

Whether this mean he remembered that before he died he had five brothers or that he could at that time seen events happening on earth and see that his five brothers were still unfaithful.

The martyrs in Revelation 6:9-10  asked how long it would be before the Lord would "avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?". So evidently they knew that it had not yet happened. But whether or not they could see what was happening as time went along, they had no control over the events. They knew that GOD WAS IN CONTROL and it is to God we must look for guidance and blessings.

I am sorry for the passing of your wife and I know your children miss her dearly. The Bible really doesn’t say specifically if the dead can see events as time goes along, until the resurrection, of the events that happen on earth. Perhaps it is up to the individual to read these two scriptures and others like them and decide for himself. I can see that to believe the person can look down from heaven and see us would be a great comfort and encouragement to be faithful that we might one day be with them again. There are some things in the Bible that are a "matter of faith" which we must believe in order to be saved, such as the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. But there are also some things that a "matter of opinion" which we might believe but would not effect our salvation, such as the question being discussed.

If your wife and your children’s mother could look down from heaven and see you:

1.  She would be watching you as God is watching you. But it to God to whom we must seek our help, comfort, etc. He and He alone can help us. Whatever good our spouses might have done for us while living, or whatever advice they might have given us while living we can remember and cherish, but it is God to whom we must look for help and to whom we must ultimately answer.

2.  She would want you to obey the gospel and be faithful until death. The same as God want you to do. Acts 2: (inserted by glh) Contact Danny

Question 4. Was hell created after Adam sinned?  Had God already created a place of torments.  God said we would surely return to the dust due to sin.  So many times in the bible it says that the wages of sin is death.  That the dead are unconscious.  God's own law states an eye for an eye, equall restitution.  As awesome and strict as the Lord is,He is also gentle and kind  would He in fact punish us with torments instead of just blessing us with everlasting life.

Answer The Bible doesn’t say when hell was created, but it does say why. It was "prepared for the devil and his angels:" (Matthew 25:41). But God also prepared something else for a different class of people (Matthew 25:34 "…Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:" This was at the judgment scene. Before Jesus was crucified he told his apostles one to the reasons He was going back to heaven was to prepared that place for them. (John 14:2-3). And Paul we can not comprehend what God has prepared for "them that love him (1 Cor. 2:9). What about those that do not love him? And John says those that love him will keep his commandments. (John 14:15) The choice is ours. God will not more "send anyone to hell" than he will "send anyone to heaven." Both places have been prepared and we make the choice.

The wages of sin is death. Sin brings death. Death is a separation. (James 2:26) We die spiritually when we sin because sin separates us from God and we no longer have fellowship with Him. Eternal death is not annihilation, but eternal separation from God, symbolized by God saying "Depart from me ye cursed…" (Matt. 25:41).

We don’t want to believe in hell because (1) We don’t understand God. (2) We don’t understand sin.  God is a loving God, but He is also a faithful God. And being a faithful God He must be faithful to his covenant.

In Daniel 6 King Darius made a decree that if any prayed to their God for 30 days they would be cast into the lions den. And once he signed the law, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, it could not be altered (verse 8). Those, who were envious of Daniel, that had gotten the king to sign such a law, told the king that Daniel had broken the law. The king tried to figure out a way to not have to punish David (verse 14). He could have just let Daniel go free, but that would have meant chaos for the kingdom, because any could have broken his laws and he would have been powerless to punish them. God could have ignored Adam and Eve’s sin and every other sin and allowed everybody go to heaven no matter how they have lived. And for God to have ignored their sin would have obligated Him to ignore the rebellion of Satan and his angels. God threw them out of the garden because He could not fellowship sin then nor can He now or will He ever. To ignore sin and allow all to go to heaven would have God fellowshipping sin in heaven. And his character will not allow that.

So what was to be done? Romans 3:26  "To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." God had to deal with sin in such a way as not to diminish the seriousness of sin nor to encourage indulging in sin. God had to handle the problem of sin and remain just (not violate his righteous character).

We don’t see the need for hell because we don’t see the enormity of sin. In (Isa. 6:1-6) only when Isaiah came to see the holiness of God did he understand that he was "…a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." It is hard for us to understand what Jesus gave up in leaving heaven in order to provide the sacrifice needed to redeem man. (Phil 2:6-11)

2 Timothy 2:11  "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:" 2 Timothy 2:12  "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:" 2 Timothy 2:13  "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." These verses show that what God does is always in keeping with his character: "he cannot deny himself." Whether or not I believe in Him will not change the situation in any way. Likewise whether or not I believe in heaven or hell will not matter. God will be faithful to himself. He will reward the faithful and punish the unbelievers. Verse 19 shows the very character and being of calls for man to live a righteous life.

The only passage I could find about the dead not being "conscious" is (Ecclesiastes 9:5) which mentions "…the dead know not any thing"." This is a misunderstanding of (a) what the phrase means (b) what the book of Ecclesiastes is about. Read verse 5 and 6: (Ecclesiastes 9:5) "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten." Ecclesiastes 9:6  "Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun."

It is saying at death the soul no longer dwells "under the sun" because [v. 5] is also modified by "under the sun". The key to understanding the book of Ecclesiastes is the phrase "under the sun". Solomon is talking about the emptiness of life if this life were all there is to our existence. If that is all there is to life, then once we die whatever we might have accomplished whether good or bad has ceased and whatever reward we might have received for them has perished.

You have the same phrase in (1 Sam 20:39)  "But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter." They did not know what their mission was. The dead do not know what was going on on earth. This is not saying that the lad was unconscious, but he was not conscious of what was going on. That is he was not aware of what was going on. When a person dies he is not aware of what is going on on earth, but that does not mean he is unconscious or that he is not aware of what is going on wherever he is whether in torments or paradise. Read Luke 16. Both the rich man and Lazarus were conscious, aware of their surroundings.

Exodus 21:24  "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,"

The verse is not teaching if someone puts out my eye I have a right to put out his eye. Or if a person knocks out my tooth I have a right to knock out his tooth. The things mentioned in this chapter actually are to control a persons revenge for evil done to him. It is regulating the amount of punishment that can be meted out for a crime. It was to guard against revenge and retaliation. It was for the judges to decide the punishment and the punishment must fit the crime.

Matthew 5:38  "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:" Matthew 5:39  "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." Matthew 5:40  "And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also." Matthew 5:41  "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." Matthew 5:42  "Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away."

The Jews at the time of Christ were using this to say if one does evil to them, that person had a right to retaliate. Jesus is saying that was never in the mind of God. When one is hurt or insulted self gets in the way and the tendency is to retaliate. Jesus says "resist not evil" i.e. resist that desire to retaliate. "Turn to him the other (cheek) also" is an  illustration of an attitude and a principle and we can see why Matt. 5:9 was given. We are not to retaliate, but to rejoice! The very opposite the way mankind thinks. But we don’t want to pay the price. Our feeling have been hurt. We are thinking about self, not about why a person would do such a thing and what can I do to help them see their error. "Go with him…give to him"   and it will totally confuse that person (Prov. 25:21-22)  Contact Danny

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