12 Eternal Life

Reasoning with Mormons out of the scriptures (Acts 17:2) (Home)

Table of Contents:
Introduction     3. Adam         6. The Priesthood     9. The Gospel   12. Eternal Life
1. His Image    4. God            7. Apostasy            10. Baptism        Summary
2. Creation      5. Trinity          8. Prophets             11. Marriage       Scripture Reference

12. Eternal Life

The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom (LDS | Bible | Catholic | Early Church)

Reason with a Mormon by asking - Why does the LDS church teach that the unrighteous are assigned a kingdom when the Bible reveals that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

LDS Gospel Principles Chapter 46 "At the Final Judgment we will be assigned to the kingdom for which we are prepared. We will be sent to one of four places: Celestial ... Those who inherit the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, who become gods, must also have been married for eternity in the temple ... will live with Heavenly Father ... Terrestrial ... received the gospel and a testimony of Jesus but then were not valiant ... Telestial ... did not receive the gospel ... These ... are liars ... adulterers ... Outer Darkness ... they denied the Holy Spirit ... live... with Satan ..."

1Cor.6 ([9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God)

Those who do not receive the gospel are not sent to a kingdom like Mormonism teaches, those who do not believe are damned, either a person is damned or saved (Mark 16:16). All who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness are damned (2Thes 2:12). Adulterers are not sent to a kingdom like Mormonism teaches, adulterers, the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God (1Cor 6:9). He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost has never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation (Mark 3:29). Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment, shall be in danger of hell fire (Matt 5:22). Upon his death the rich man was in hell in torment, there is a fixed great gulf fixed which cannot be passed to the place of the righteous like Abraham and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-28). In hell, death to both the soul and body (Matt 10:28).

Liars are not sent to a kingdom like Mormonism teaches, all liars, the unbelieving shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (Rev 21:8). If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar (1John 4:20). God hates and abhor lying, lying lips are abomination to the LORD (Psalm 119:11; Prov 12:22). In the end of this world the Son gathers out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire, the wicked do evil because of their unbelief (Matt 13:40-58). Those who do evil come forth unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:29). All will stand before God, the book of life will be opened and the dead will be judged according to their works, those not written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire, the devil that deceived them will be case in the lake of fire (Rev 20:10-15). When the Son of man comes in his glory the cursed depart from him and go away into everlasting punishment, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt 25:30-46). They shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power (2Thes 1:9).

There are two kind of bodies, the celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial, the spiritual body and the natural body (1Cor 15:40;44). The just terrestrial bodies or the natural bodies on earth are different, some are filthy, some righteous, and some holy (Rev 22:11). When they just die and raised up as celestial bodies or spiritual body they are raised as different glories, some have the glory of the sun, some the glory of the moon, and some the glory of the stars (1Cor 15:35-43). 1Cor 15:4-42 is not talking about different kingdoms but is talking about different bodies and different glories. There are two kind of bodies, the celestial or spiritual bodies and the terrestrial or natural bodies When the just die they are raised up as celestial or spiritual bodies which have different glories (e.g. sun, moon, stars). Before the just die they are on earth as terrestrial or natural bodies which are different (e.g. holy, righteous, filthy) but they are not in different kingdoms.

The Bible does not reveal "all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel" like the Mormon's Third Article of Faith states. Ordinance like marriage in a Mormon temple is not necessary for exaltation as the LDS church teaches, humility is necessary for exaltation, by doing the will of the Father we enter into the kingdom of heaven, when we love God we keep his commandments, his commandment is to believe on Jesus and love one another, his commandment is not the man-made Mormon commandment of marriage (1Pet 5:5,6; Matt 7:21; 1John 5:2; 1John 3:23). Whoever does and teach the commandments of God shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:19). Those who love their enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; their reward shall be great, and they shall be the children of the Highest (Luke 6:35).

There is no universal salvation like the LDS church teaches, those who have done good come forth unto the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil come forth unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:29). Everyone will be resurrected but that does not mean they will all have salvation (Acts 24:15). Salvation is through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, it is not by faith only (2Thes 2:13; James 2:14). Those who do the works of the flesh shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal 5:19-20). Those who do not believe shall not be saved (Acts 16:30,31; Mark 16:16). All who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness are damned (2Thes 2:12). The unbelieving have their part in the lake of fire with Satan which is the second death (Rev 21:3).

God shall dwell with his people (LDS | Bible | Catholic | Early Church)

Reason with a Mormon by asking - Why does the LDS church teach that not all members of the Church will live with their Heavenly Father when the Bible reveals that the Father will be with all the just spirits made perfect and they will inherit all things?

LDS Gospel Principles Chapter 46 "... members of the Church will inherit different kingdoms because they will not be equally faithful and valiant in their obedience to Christ.... Celestial ... will live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ forever ... Terrestrial ... They will be visited by Jesus Christ but not by our Heavenly Father ... Telestial ... They will be visited by the Holy Ghost but not by the Father or the Son. ... Outer Darkness ... They will live in eternal darkness, torment, and misery with Satan and his angels forever."

Heb.12 ([22] But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, [23] To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, )

Rev.21 ([2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. [7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. [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. [9] And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. [10] And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, [11] Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; . [27] And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life)

Members of the Church do not inherit different kingdoms like Mormonism teaches, after the Final Judgment the members of the church inherit the kingdom of God, the righteous go into life eternal (Matt 25:34). In the end, the Son shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all (1Cor 15:24,28). The Son shall gather shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth, then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matt 13:40,41). If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire (1Cor 3:13-15). In the Father's house are many mansions (John 14:2). Before the new heaven, their is a third heaven or paradise (Rev 21:1; 2Cor 12:2-4). The person next to Christ on the cross went to paradise on the same day he died to be with Christ (Luke 23:24). Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years (Rev 20:6). Through the atonement we are justified. Those justified are made perfect and holy. Because of the atonement the just spirits are made perfect in the heavenly city before the new heaven and new earth when all the people of God will dwell with their heavenly Father.

Either a person is in the book of life or they are not. Those not in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire with the devil and those in the book of life will dwell with the Father (Rev 20:10-15; Rev 3:5, 21). Either a person is with the Father in the kingdom or with the devil in the lake of fire after Final Judgment (Rev 21:3,8). Either a person is righteous or they are unrighteous, the righteous inherit the kingdom and the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God but are cast into the lake of fire with the devil who is tormented forever (Matt 25: 33-46; 1Cor 6:9). Either you are spiritually dead or alive, either you are in the book of life or you are not, those who are spiritually alive dwell in celestial kingdom with their Almighty Father in eternal life, those who are spiritually dead dwell in the lake of fire with the devil in eternal punishment. Either a person is damned or saved, those who do evil come forth in the resurrection of damnation and those who do good come forth in the resurrection of life (Mark 16:16; John 5:29). Either a person overcomes or they did not overcome, those who overcome inherit all things and shall be God's son, and those who do not overcome experience second death and will have their part in the lake of fire with the devil (Rev 21:7-9). Either you believe or you do not believe. Those who overcome believeth that Jesus is the Son of God, shall not be hurt of the second death, God will not blot out his name out of the book of life, will sit with on a throne, and shall be God's son (1John 5:4; Rev 2:11; Rev 3:5,21; Rev 21:7). The church is the body of Christ, by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, we are members of his body (Col 1:18; 1Cor 12:13; Eph 5:23.30). Those who overcome will sit on a throne, he that overcomes is in the book of life, he that overcomes believes in Jesus and is born of God (Rev 3:5-21; 1John 5:1-5). The sons of God shall be holy and perfect like God (1John 3:2-3).

When the Son of man come in the glory of his Father with his angels; then he shall reward every man according to his works (Matt 16:27). At the end of this world the wicked will severed from the just (Matt 13:49). At Final Judgment there are only two kinds of people, the just and unjust. Either you are in the book of life or your not. All will stand before God, the book of life will be opened and the dead will be judged according to their works, those not written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire, the devil that deceived them will be case in the lake of fire (Rev 20:10-15). After Final Judgment, there is a new heaven and a new earth those in the book of life will have the glory of God and God shall be with them (Rev 21:1-27). Both the just and unjust are resurrected, those who do good to the resurrection of life and those who do evil to the resurrection of damnation (Acts 24:15; John 5:29).

The just spirits in the heavenly city with Christ are made perfect (Heb 12:22,23). When the chief Shepherd shall appear, we shall receive a crown of glory, the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that we have suffered a while, make us perfect (1Pet 5:1-10). We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all, for by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified (Heb 10:10). By grace are we saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Eph 2:8). At the appearing of Jesus Christ we will receive the end of our faith, even the salvation of your souls, we have purified our souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren (1Pet 1:2-22). We received the love of the truth, that we might be saved, God hath from the beginning chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth (2Thes 2:10-13). Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him, by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous (Rom 5:1-19). The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleans us from all sin, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:7-9).

LDS Church Teachings

The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom .

Gospel Principles Chapter 46 "Assignment to Glories ... members of the Church will inherit different kingdoms because they will not be equally faithful and valiant in their obedience to Christ. ... the celestial kingdom (the highest degree of glory), the terrestrial kingdom (the second degree), the telestial kingdom (the lowest degree), or outer darkness (the kingdom of the devil--not a degree of glory)"

Gospel Principles Chapter 46 "At the Final Judgment we will be assigned to the kingdom for which we are prepared. We will be sent to one of four places: Celestial ... become gods, must also have been married for eternity in the temple ... will live with Heavenly Father... Terrestrial ... received the gospel and a testimony of Jesus but then were not valiant .... Telestial ... These people did not receive the gospel or the testimony of Jesus either on earth or in the spirit world. They will suffer for their own sins in hell until after the Millennium, when they will be resurrected. "These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie." These people are as numerous as the stars in heaven and the sand on the seashore. They will be visited by the Holy Ghost but not by the Father or the Son. ... Outer Darkness ... they denied the Holy Spirit ... They will live in eternal darkness, torment, and misery with Satan and his angels forever. "

Joseph Smith's King Follett Sermon "God has wrought out a salvation for all men, unless they have committed a certain sin; and every man who has a friend in the eternal world can save him, unless he has committed the unpardonable sin. And so you can see how far you can be a savior."

GUIDE TO THE SCRIPTURES Salvation "To be saved from both physical and spiritual death. All people will be saved from physical death by the grace of God, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each individual can also be saved from spiritual death as well by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. This faith is manifested in a life of obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel and service to Christ."

Ensign, Apr 1981 "This is salvation by grace because it comes to all men automatically and does not depend on what kinds of lives they have lived. But, if we wish to overcome spiritual death and enter back into God’s presence, we must be obedient to laws and principles. This is exaltation by works. Thus, according to this explanation, we are saved by grace and exalted by works. ... “Salvation in its true and full meaning is synonymous with exaltation or eternal life and consists in gaining an inheritance in the highest of the three heavens within the celestial kingdom. " (Gerald N. Lund, “Salvation: By Grace or by Works?”).

God shall dwell with his people .

Gospel Principles Chapter 46 "At the Final Judgment we will be assigned to the kingdom for which we are prepared. We will be sent to one of four places: .... Terrestrial kingdom ... These are the honorable people ... received the gospel and a testimony of Jesus but then were not valiant. They will be visited by Jesus Christ but not by our Heavenly Father. They will not be part of eternal families; they will live separately and singly forever."

GUIDE TO THE SCRIPTURES Damnation "The state of being stopped in one’s progress and denied access to the presence of God and his glory. Damnation exists in varying degrees. All who do not obtain the fulness of celestial exaltation will to some degree be limited in their progress and privileges, and they will be damned to that extent."

GUIDE TO THE SCRIPTURES Death, Spiritual "Separation from God and his influences; to die as to things pertaining to righteousness. ... Through the atonement of Jesus Christ and by obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel, men and women can become clean from sin and overcome spiritual death. ... Those who have willfully rebelled against the light and truth of the gospel will suffer spiritual death. This death is often called the second death

Ensign, Apr 1981 " Now let us turn to the second aspect of Christ’s atonement, the “conditional” atonement. ... The Doctrine and Covenants clearly points out, however, that we could enter back into God’s presence in this life if we would but purify ourselves from sin—or, in the terms we are using, overcome the effects of our own personal fall. (See D&C 67:10, D&C 88:68; D&C 93:1; see also Ether 3:13.) This purification from sin strongly involves the role of works—works of repentance and obedience are indispensable to the achievement of such a high and holy privilege. Even so, is it really by our works that we are saved from spiritual death? ... The Savior could effect the deliverance for two important reasons. ... But the sacrifice which pays the debt and frees us from the results of our own spiritual death, though it comes to us through the grace and goodness of God, is not unconditional. What, then, are the conditions? Very simply stated they are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, then repentance, followed by baptism. If one truly moves through those steps—mentally, spiritually, and physically—then he is prepared for the reception of the Holy Ghost. When one is given the gift (there’s that word again) of the Holy Ghost, he has overcome spiritual death to a degree, for he has come into the presence of one member of the Godhead. The Holy Ghost’s role, of course, is to help us continue in the pre-conditions of this part of the Atonement and fully overcome spiritual death by coming back into the presence of the Father and the Son. " (Gerald N. Lund, “Salvation: By Grace or by Works?”).

Bible verses from King James

The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom .

1Cor.6 ([9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God)

2Thes.2 ([10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. [13] But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: .)

Mark.16 ([16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.)

Rev.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.[27] And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.)

1John.4 ([20] If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?)

Lev.19 ([11] Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.)

Pss.119 ([163] I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.)

Prov.12 ([22] Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.)

John.8 ([44] Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.)

Mark.3 ([29] But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:)

Luke.16 ([19] There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: [20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, [21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. [24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. [25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. [26] And beside all this, between us and you there is 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. [28] For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.)

Matt.5 ([22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.)

Matt.10 ([28] And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. [32] Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. [33] But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.)

Matt.13 ([40] As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. [41] The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; [42] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. [43] Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. [49] So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, [58] And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.)

John.5 ([29] And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.)

Rev.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. 12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.)

Matt.25 ([30] And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [31] When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: [32] And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: [33] And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. [34] Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: [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: [46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.)

2Thes.1 ([9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;)

Dan.12 ([1] And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. [2] And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. [3] And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.)

God shall dwell with his people .

Matt.25 ([30] And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [31] When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: [32] And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: [33] And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. [34] Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: [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: [46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.)

1Cor.15 ([24] Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. [28] And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.)

Matt.13 ([40] As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. [41] The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; [42] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. [43] Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. [49] So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, [58] And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.)

Rev.21 ([1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. [2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. [11] Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; . [27] And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life)

1Cor.3 ([13] Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. [14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.)

Matt.16 ([27] For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.[28] Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.)

Rev.22 ([11] He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.)

1Cor.15 ([35] But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? [40] There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. [41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. )

John.14 ([2] In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.)

2Cor.12 ([2] I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. [4] How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.)

Luke.23 ([42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.)

Rev.20 ([6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.)

Acts.24 ([15] And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.)

1Cor.15 ( [42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: [43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: [44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.)

Heb.12 ([22] But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, [23] To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, )

1Pet.5 ([1] The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: [4] And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. [10] But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. [11] To him be glory and dominion) for ever and ever. Amen.)

Heb.10 ([10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. [26] For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [36] For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. [38] Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. [39] But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.)

Eph.2 ([8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.)

1Pet.1 ([2] Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: [9] Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. [15] But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; [16] Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. [17] And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: [18] Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: [22] Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: [23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. )

Rom.5 ([1] Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. [19] For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.)

1John.1 ([7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.)

1John.5 ([4] For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. [5] Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?)

Rev.2 ([7] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. [11] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. [17] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. [26] And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:)

Rev.3 ([5] He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. [12] Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. [21] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.)

Rev.21 ([7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.)

Col.1 ([[18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. [24] Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:)

1Cor.12 ([13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. [27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.)

Eph.5 ([23] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. [30] For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.)

Catholic Church Teachings

The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom .

Jesus often speaks of "Gehenna" of "the unquenchable fire" reserved for those who to the end of their lives refuse to believe and be converted, where both soul and body can be lost. Jesus solemnly proclaims that he "will send his angels, and they will gather . . . all evil doers, and throw them into the furnace of fire," and that he will pronounce the condemnation: "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire!" The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, "eternal fire." The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God. Eternal death is also called "hell".

God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves: "He who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him". Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and the little ones who are his brethren. To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called "hell". Anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.

Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven - through a purification or immediately, - or immediate and everlasting damnation. At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love. Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace. Each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. When the single course of our earthly life is completed, we may merit to enter with him into the marriage feast and be numbered among the blessed, and not, like the wicked and slothful servants, be ordered to depart into the eternal fire, into the outer darkness where "men will weep and gnash their teeth".

By death the soul is separated from the body, but in the resurrection God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by reunion with our soul. Just as Christ is risen and lives for ever, so all of us will rise at the last day. The resurrection of all the dead, "of both the just and the unjust," will precede the Last Judgment. This will be "the hour when all who are in the tombs will hear [the Son of man's] voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment." Eternal punishment oe eternal life.

On the Day of Judgment all men will appear in their own bodies before Christ's tribunal to render an account of their own deeds. We believe in the true resurrection of this flesh that we now possess. We sow a corruptible body in the tomb, but he raises up an incorruptible body, a "spiritual body". In the presence of Christ, who is Truth itself, the truth of each man's relationship with God will be laid bare. The Last Judgment will reveal even to its furthest consequences the good each person has done or failed to do during his earthly life. The glorious Christ will reveal the secret disposition of hearts and will render to each man according to his works, and according to his acceptance or refusal of grace. Our attitude to our neighbor will disclose acceptance or refusal of grace and divine love. On the Last Day Jesus will say: "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me". Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin. Blasphemy is directly opposed to the second commandment. Blasphemy is contrary to the respect due God and his holy name. It is in itself a grave sin.

1034 Jesus often speaks of "Gehenna" of "the unquenchable fire" reserved for those who to the end of their lives refuse to believe and be converted, where both soul and body can be lost. Jesus solemnly proclaims that he "will send his angels, and they will gather . . . all evil doers, and throw them into the furnace of fire," and that he will pronounce the condemnation: "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire!"

1035 The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, "eternal fire." The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.

1056 Following the example of Christ, the Church warns the faithful of the sad and lamentable reality of eternal death, also called "hell"

1037 God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want "any to perish, but all to come to repentance":

1033 We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves: "He who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him" [1 Jn 3:14-15]. Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and the little ones who are his brethren [ Mt 25:31-46]. To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called "hell"

1864 "Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven." There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.

1022 Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven - through a purification or immediately, - or immediate and everlasting damnation. At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love

1021 Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ [2 Tim 1:9-10]. The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts speak of a final destiny of the soul-a destiny which can be different for some and for others [Lk 16:22; 23:43; Mt 16:26; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; Heb 9:27; 12:23]

1036 Since we know neither the day nor the hour, we should follow the advice of the Lord and watch constantly so that, when the single course of our earthly life is completed, we may merit to enter with him into the marriage feast and be numbered among the blessed, and not, like the wicked and slothful servants, be ordered to depart into the eternal fire, into the outer darkness where "men will weep and gnash their teeth" [Mt 22:13; Heb 9:27; Mt 25:13, 26, 30, 31 46]

1016 By death the soul is separated from the body, but in the resurrection God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by reunion with our soul. Just as Christ is risen and lives for ever, so all of us will rise at the last day

1038 The resurrection of all the dead, "of both the just and the unjust," will precede the Last Judgment. This will be "the hour when all who are in the tombs will hear [the Son of man's] voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment." Then Christ will come "in his glory, and all the angels with him. . . . Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. . . . And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

1059 On the Day of Judgment all men will appear in their own bodies before Christ's tribunal to render an account of their own deeds

1017 We believe in the true resurrection of this flesh that we now possess. We sow a corruptible body in the tomb, but he raises up an incorruptible body, a "spiritual body" (1 Cor 15:42-44)

1039 In the presence of Christ, who is Truth itself, the truth of each man's relationship with God will be laid bare [Jn 12:49]. The Last Judgment will reveal even to its furthest consequences the good each person has done or failed to do during his earthly life

682 The glorious Christ will reveal the secret disposition of hearts and will render to each man according to his works, and according to his acceptance or refusal of grace

678 Our attitude to our neighbor will disclose acceptance or refusal of grace and divine love [ Mt 5:22; 7:1-5]. On the Last Day Jesus will say: "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me" [Mt 25:40]

1864 "Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" [Mk 3:29; Mt 12:32; Lk 12:10]. There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss

2148 Blasphemy is directly opposed to the second commandment. It consists in uttering against God - inwardly or outwardly - words of hatred, reproach, or defiance; in speaking ill of God; in failing in respect toward him in one's speech; in misusing God's name. St. James condemns those "who blaspheme that honorable name [of Jesus] by which you are called." The prohibition of blasphemy extends to language against Christ's Church, the saints, and sacred things. It is also blasphemous to make use of God's name to cover up criminal practices, to reduce peoples to servitude, to torture persons or put them to death. The misuse of God's name to commit a crime can provoke others to repudiate religion. Blasphemy is contrary to the respect due God and his holy name. It is in itself a grave sin.

God shall dwell with his people .

By his death Jesus, the Son of God, has conquered death, and so opened the possibility of salvation to all men. In death, the separation of the soul from the body, the human body decays and the soul goes to meet God, while awaiting its reunion with its glorified body. Those who are united with Christ will form the community of the redeemed, "the holy city" of God. All those he has redeemed and made "holy and blameless before him in love", will be gathered together as the one People of God, the "Bride of the Lamb", "the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God". 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.

The three states of the Church. At the present time some of his disciples are pilgrims on earth. Others have died and are being purified, while still others are in glory. All, indeed, who are of Christ and who have his Spirit form one Church and in Christ cleave together. The Church will receive its perfection only in the glory of heaven, at the time of Christ's glorious return. The elect will be gathered together in the universal Church in the Father's presence. Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness. Our Father is in heaven, his dwelling place; the Father's house is our homeland.

At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. After the universal judgment, the righteous will reign for ever with Christ, glorified in body and soul. The universe itself will be renewed: The Church... will receive her perfection only in the glory of heaven, then will come the time of the renewal of all things. The kingdom will come in glory when Christ hands it over to his Father. When Christ presents to his Father an eternal and universal kingdom." God will then be "all in all" in eternal life. "New heavens and a new earth" will be the definitive realization of God's plan to bring under a single head "all things in [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth". In this new universe, the heavenly Jerusalem, God will have his dwelling among men, death shall be no more, the former things have passed away".

The Beatitudes reveal the goal of human existence, the ultimate end of human acts: God calls us to his own beatitude. The Beatitudes reveal the goal of human existence, the ultimate end of human acts: God calls us to his own beatitude. God put us in the world to know, to love, and to serve him, and so to come to paradise. Beatitude makes us "partakers of the divine nature" and of eternal life. With beatitude, man enters into the glory of Christ and into the joy of the Trinitarian life. How great will your glory and happiness be, to be allowed to see God, to be honored with sharing the joy of salvation and eternal light with Christ your Lord and God,... to delight in the joy of immortality in the Kingdom of heaven with the righteous and God's friends.

God is master of the world and of its history. Only at the end, when our partial knowledge ceases, when we see God "face to face", will we fully know the ways by which - even through the dramas of evil and sin - God has guided his creation to that definitive sabbath rest for which he created heaven and earth. We shall know the ultimate meaning of the whole work of creation and of the entire economy of salvation and understand the marvellous ways by which his Providence led everything towards its final end.

1019 Jesus, the Son of God, freely suffered death for us in complete and free submission to the will of God, his Father. By his death he has conquered death, and so opened the possibility of salvation to all men

997 In death, the separation of the soul from the body, the human body decays and the soul goes to meet God, while awaiting its reunion with its glorified body. God, in his almighty power, will definitively grant incorruptible life to our bodies by reuniting them with our souls, through the power of Jesus' Resurrection

1045 Those who are united with Christ will form the community of the redeemed, "the holy city" of God, "the Bride, the wife of the Lamb" [Rev 21:2, 9]

865 All those he has redeemed and made "holy and blameless before him in love" [Eph 1:4], will be gathered together as the one People of God, the "Bride of the Lamb" [Rev 21:9], "the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God" [Rev 21:10-11]

1030 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 .

954 The three states of the Church. "When the Lord comes in glory, and all his angels with him, death will be no more and all things will be subject to him. But at the present time some of his disciples are pilgrims on earth. Others have died and are being purified, while still others are in glory, contemplating 'in full light, God himself triune and one, exactly as he is"' [Mt 25:31; 1 Cor 15:26-27]. All of us, however, in varying degrees and in different ways share in the same charity towards God and our neighbours, and we all sing the one hymn of glory to our God. All, indeed, who are of Christ and who have his Spirit form one Church and in Christ cleave together [Eph 4:16]

769 The Church will receive its perfection only in the glory of heaven, at the time of Christ's glorious return. Only then will "all the just from the time of Adam, 'from Abel, the just one, to the last of the elect,'... be gathered together in the universal Church in the Father's presence"

1024 Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness

2795 Our Father is in heaven, his dwelling place; the Father's house is our homeland. Sin has exiled us from the land of the covenant, [Gen 3] but conversion of heart enables us to return to the Father, to heaven [Jer 3:19-4; Lk 15:18, 21]

1042 At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. After the universal judgment, the righteous will reign for ever with Christ, glorified in body and soul. The universe itself will be renewed: The Church... will receive her perfection only in the glory of heaven, then will come the time of the renewal of all things. At that time, together with the human race, the universe itself, which is so closely related to man and which attains its destiny through him, will be perfectly re-established in Christ [Acts 3:21; Eph 1:10; Col 1:20; 2 Pet 3:10-13]

2816 The kingdom will come in glory when Christ hands it over to his Father

1050 "When we have spread on earth the fruits of our nature and our enterprise . . . according to the command of the Lord and in his Spirit, we will find them once again, cleansed this time from the stain of sin, illuminated and transfigured, when Christ presents to his Father an eternal and universal kingdom." God will then be "all in all" in eternal life:

1043 "New heavens and a new earth" [2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21:1] will be the definitive realization of God's plan to bring under a single head "all things in [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth" [Eph 1:10]

1044 In this new universe, the heavenly Jerusalem, God will have his dwelling among men [ Rev 21:5]. "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away" [Rev 21:4].

1719 The Beatitudes reveal the goal of human existence, the ultimate end of human acts: God calls us to his own beatitude. This vocation is addressed to each individual personally, but also to the Church as a whole, the new people made up of those who have accepted the promise and live from it in faith.

1726 The Beatitudes teach us the final end to which God calls us: the Kingdom, the vision of God, participation in the divine nature, eternal life, filiation, rest in God.

1721 God put us in the world to know, to love, and to serve him, and so to come to paradise. Beatitude makes us "partakers of the divine nature" and of eternal life [2 Pet 1:4; Jn 17:3]. With beatitude, man enters into the glory of Christ [Rom 8:18] and into the joy of the Trinitarian life

1028 How great will your glory and happiness be, to be allowed to see God, to be honored with sharing the joy of salvation and eternal light with Christ your Lord and God,... to delight in the joy of immortality in the Kingdom of heaven with the righteous and God's friends

314 We firmly believe that God is master of the world and of its history. But the ways of his providence are often unknown to us. Only at the end, when our partial knowledge ceases, when we see God "face to face", will we fully know the ways by which - even through the dramas of evil and sin - God has guided his creation to that definitive sabbath rest for which he created heaven and earth.

1040 We shall know the ultimate meaning of the whole work of creation and of the entire economy of salvation and understand the marvellous ways by which his Providence led everything towards its final end

Early Church Writings

The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom .

Irenaeus "For as, in the New Testament, that faith of men [to be placed] in God has been increased, receiving in addition [to what was already revealed] the Son of God, that man too might be a partaker of God; so is also our walk in life required to be more circumspect, when we are directed not merely to abstain from evil actions, but even from evil thoughts, and from idle words, and empty talk, and scurrilous-language: thus also the punishment of those who do not believe the Word of God, and despise His advent, and are turned away backwards, is increased; being not merely temporal, but rendered also eternal. For to whomsoever the Lord shall say, 'Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,' these shall be damned for ever; and to whomsoever He shall say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you for eternity,' these do receive the kingdom for ever, and make constant advance in it; since there is one and the same God the Father, and His Word, who has been always present with the human race, by means indeed of various dispensations, and has wrought out many things, and saved from the beginning those who are saved, (for these are they who love God, and follow the Word of God according to the class to which they belong,) and has judged those who are judged, that is, those who forget God, and are blasphemous, and transgressors of His word." Against Heresies,4,28,2(A.D. 180),in ANF,I:501

Irenaeus "The Church, though dispersed through our the whole world, even to the ends of the earth, has received from the apostles and their disciples this faith: [She believes] in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them; and in one Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who became incarnate for our salvation; and in the Holy Spirit, who proclaimed through the prophets the dispensations of God, and the advents, and the birth from a virgin, and the passion, and the resurrection from the dead, and the ascension into heaven in the flesh of the beloved Christ Jesus, our Lord, and His [future] manifestation from heaven in the glory of the Father 'to gather all things in one,' and to raise up anew all flesh of the whole human race, in order that to Christ Jesus, our Lord, and God, and Saviour, and King, according to the will of the invisible Father, 'every knee should bow, of things in heaven,, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess' to Him, and that He should execute just judgment towards all; that He may send 'spiritual wickednesses,' and the angels who transgressed and became apostates, together with the ungodly, and unrighteous, and wicked, and profane among men, into everlasting fire; but may, in the exercise of His grace, confer immortality on the righteous, and holy, and those who have kept His commandments, and have persevered in His love, some from the beginning [of their Christian course], and others from [the date of] their repentance, and may surround them with everlasting glory." Against Heresies,1,10,10(A.D. 180),in ANF,I:330

God shall dwell with his people .

Irenaeus “[ They say, moreover], that there is this distinction between the habitation of those who produce an hundred-fold , and that of those who produce sixty-fold , and that of those who produce thirty-fold : for the first will be taken up into the heavens , the second will dwell in paradise , the last will inhabit the city; and that was on this account the Lord declared, In My Father's house are many mansions." (Against Heresies 5:36:1-2, in ANF 1:567)

Irenaeus “But when this [present] fashion [of things] passes away, and man has been renewed, and flourishes in an incorruptible state, so as to preclude the possibility of becoming old, [then] there shall be the new heaven and the new earth, in which the new man shall remain [continually], always holding fresh converse with God. … The presbyters, the disciples of the apostles, affirm that this is the gradation and arrangement of those who are saved, and that they advance through steps of this nature; also that they ascend through the Spirit to the Son, and through the Son to the Father, and that in due time the Son will yield up His work to the Father, even as it is said by the apostle, For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (Against Heresies 5:36:1-2, in ANF 1:567)

Irenaeus "For as, in the New Testament, that faith of men [to be placed] in God has been increased, receiving in addition [to what was already revealed] the Son of God, that man too might be a partaker of God; so is also our walk in life required to be more circumspect, when we are directed not merely to abstain from evil actions, but even from evil thoughts, and from idle words, and empty talk, and scurrilous-language: thus also the punishment of those who do not believe the Word of God, and despise His advent, and are turned away backwards, is increased; being not merely temporal, but rendered also eternal. For to whomsoever the Lord shall say, 'Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,' these shall be damned for ever; and to whomsoever He shall say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you for eternity,' these do receive the kingdom for ever, and make constant advance in it; since there is one and the same God the Father, and His Word, who has been always present with the human race, by means indeed of various dispensations, and has wrought out many things, and saved from the beginning those who are saved, (for these are they who love God, and follow the Word of God according to the class to which they belong,) and has judged those who are judged, that is, those who forget God, and are blasphemous, and transgressors of His word." Against Heresies,4,28,2(A.D. 180),in ANF,I:501

Irenaeus “[ They say, moreover], that there is this distinction between the habitation of those who produce an hundred-fold , and that of those who produce sixty-fold , and that of those who produce thirty-fold : for the first will be taken up into the heavens , the second will dwell in paradise , the last will inhabit the city; and that was on this account the Lord declared, In My Father's house are many mansions." (Against Heresies 5:36:1-2, in ANF 1:567)

Irenaeus “1. Then, too, Isaiah himself has plainly declared that there shall be joy of this nature at the resurrection of the just, when he says: The dead shall rise again; those, too, who are in the tombs shall arise, and those who are in the earth shall rejoice. ... 2. ... Again John also says the very same in the Apocalypse: Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Revelation 20:6 Then, too, Isaiah has declared the time when these events shall occur; he says: And I said, Lord, how long? Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses be without men, and the earth be left a desert. And after these things the Lord shall remove us men far away (longe nos faciet Deus homines), and those who shall remain shall multiply upon the earth. Isaiah 6:11 Then Daniel also says this very thing: And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of those under the heaven, is given to the saints of the Most High God, whose kingdom is everlasting, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him. Daniel 7:27 And lest the promise named should be understood as referring to this time, it was declared to the prophet: And come, and stand in your lot at the consummation of the days. Daniel 12:13 ... " (Against Heresies 5:34)

Irenaeus “1. ... For all these and other words were unquestionably spoken in reference to the resurrection of the just, which takes place after the coming of Antichrist, and the destruction of all nations under his rule; in [the times of] which [resurrection] the righteous shall reign in the earth, waxing stronger by the sight of the Lord: and through Him they shall become accustomed to partake in the glory of God the Father, and shall enjoy in the kingdom intercourse and communion with the holy angels, and union with spiritual beings; and [with respect to] those whom the Lord shall find in the flesh, awaiting Him from heaven, and who have suffered tribulation, as well as escaped the hands of the Wicked one. For it is in reference to them that the prophet says: And those that are left shall multiply upon the earth, And Jeremiah the prophet has pointed out, that as many believers as God has prepared for this purpose, to multiply those left upon earth, should both be under the rule of the saints to minister to this Jerusalem, and that [His] kingdom shall be in it, saying, Look around Jerusalem towards the east, and behold the joy which comes to you from God Himself. Behold, your sons shall come whom you have sent forth: they shall come in a band from the east even unto the west, by the word of that Holy One, rejoicing in that splendour which is from your God. O Jerusalem, put off your robe of mourning and of affliction, and put on that beauty of eternal splendour from your God. Gird yourself with the double garment of that righteousness proceeding from your God; place the mitre of eternal glory upon your head. For God will show your glory to the whole earth under heaven. For your name shall for ever be called by God Himself, the peace of righteousness and glory to him that worships God. Arise, Jerusalem, stand on high, and look towards the east, and behold your sons from the rising of the sun, even to the west, by the Word of that Holy One, rejoicing in the very remembrance of God. ... 2. ... And in the Apocalypse John saw this new [Jerusalem] descending upon the new earth. Revelation 21:2 For after the times of the kingdom, he says, I saw a great white throne, and Him who sat upon it, from whose face the earth fled away, and the heavens; and there was no more place for them. Revelation 20:11 And he sets forth, too, the things connected with the general resurrection and the judgment, mentioning the dead, great and small. The sea, he says, gave up the dead which it had in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead that they contained; and the books were opened. Moreover, he says, the book of life was opened, and the dead were judged out of those things that were written in the books, according to their works; and death and hell were sent into the lake of fire, the second death. Revelation 20:12-14 Now this is what is called Gehenna, which the Lord styled eternal fire. Matthew 25:41 And if any one, it is said, was not found written in the book of life, he was sent into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15 And after this, he says, I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth have passed away; also there was no more sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard, it is said, a great voice from the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them; and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them as their God. And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, because the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:1-4 Isaiah also declares the very same: For there shall be a new heaven and a new earth; and there shall be no remembrance of the former, neither shall the heart think about them, but they shall find in it joy and exultation. Isaiah 65:17-18 Now this is what has been said by the apostle: For the fashion of this world passes away. 1 Corinthians 7:31 To the same purpose did the Lord also declare, Heaven and earth shall pass away. Matthew 26:35 When these things, therefore, pass away above the earth, John, the Lord's disciple, says that the new Jerusalem above shall [then] descend, as a bride adorned for her husband; and that this is the tabernacle of God, in which God will dwell with men. Of this Jerusalem the former one is an image— that Jerusalem of the former earth in which the righteous are disciplined beforehand for incorruption and prepared for salvation. And of this tabernacle Moses received the pattern in the mount; Exodus 25:40 and nothing is capable of being allegorized, but all things are steadfast, and true, and substantial, having been made by God for righteous men's enjoyment. For as it is God truly who raises up man, so also does man truly rise from the dead, and not allegorically, as I have shown repeatedly. And as he rises actually, so also shall he be actually disciplined beforehand for incorruption, and shall go forwards and flourish in the times of the kingdom, in order that he may be capable of receiving the glory of the Father. Then, when all things are made new, he shall truly dwell in the city of God. For it is said, He that sits on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And the Lord says, Write all this; for these words are faithful and true. And He said to me, They are done. Revelation 21:5-6 And this is the truth of the matter. " (Against Heresies 5:35)

Irenaeus “1. ... . But when this [present] fashion [of things] passes away, and man has been renewed, and flourishes in an incorruptible state, so as to preclude the possibility of becoming old, [then] there shall be the new heaven and the new earth, in which the new man shall remain [continually], always holding fresh converse with God. And since (or, that) these things shall ever continue without end, Isaiah declares, For as the new heavens and the new earth which I do make, continue in my sight, says the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. Isaiah 66:22 And as the presbyters say, Then those who are deemed worthy of an abode in heaven shall go there, others shall enjoy the delights of paradise, and others shall possess the splendour of the city; for everywhere the Saviour shall be seen according as they who see Him shall be worthy. ... 2. [They say, moreover], that there is this distinction between the habitation of those who produce an hundred-fold, and that of those who produce sixty-fold, and that of those who produce thirty-fold: for the first will be taken up into the heavens, the second will dwell in paradise, the last will inhabit the city; and that was on this account the Lord declared, In My Father's house are many mansions. John 14:2 For all things belong to God, who supplies all with a suitable dwelling-place; even as His Word says, that a share is allotted to all by the Father, according as each person is or shall be worthy. And this is the couch on which the guests shall recline, having been invited to the wedding. Matthew 22:10 The presbyters, the disciples of the apostles, affirm that this is the gradation and arrangement of those who are saved, and that they advance through steps of this nature; also that they ascend through the Spirit to the Son, and through the Son to the Father, and that in due time the Son will yield up His work to the Father, even as it is said by the apostle, For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 For in the times of the kingdom, the righteous man who is upon the earth shall then forget to die. But when He says, All things shall be subdued unto Him, it is manifest that He is excepted who did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:27-28 3. John, therefore, did distinctly foresee the first resurrection of the just, Luke 14:14 and the inheritance in the kingdom of the earth; and what the prophets have prophesied concerning it harmonize [with his vision]. For the Lord also taught these things, when He promised that He would have the mixed cup new with His disciples in the kingdom. The apostle, too, has confessed that the creation shall be free from the bondage of corruption, [so as to pass] into the liberty of the sons of God. Romans 8:21 And in all these things, and by them all, the same God the Father is manifested, who fashioned man, and gave promise of the inheritance of the earth to the fathers, who brought it (the creature) forth [from bondage] at the resurrection of the just, and fulfils the promises for the kingdom of His Son; subsequently bestowing in a paternal manner those things which neither the eye has seen, nor the ear has heard, nor has [thought concerning them] arisen within the heart of man, 1 Corinthians 2:9; Isaiah 64:4 For there is the one Son, who accomplished His Father's will; and one human race also in which the mysteries of God are wrought, which the angels desire to look into; 1 Peter 1:12 and they are not able to search out the wisdom of God, by means of which His handiwork, confirmed and incorporated with His Son, is brought to perfection; that His offspring, the First-begotten Word, should descend to the creature (facturam), that is, to what had been moulded (plasma), and that it should be contained by Him; and, on the other hand, the creature should contain the Word, and ascend to Him, passing beyond the angels, and be made after the image and likeness of God." (Against Heresies 5:35)