“Killing Time”

Monday, September 17, 2012

Some believe that there is a waiting place after death.  My question is: IS there a waiting place, or since Christ came, do believers go right to heaven with the Lord?

Sincerely,
Biding My Time

Dear Biding My Time,

Within Hades, there are two areas where people wait for the final judgment. All of the faithful who die wait in the good part of Hades called ‘Paradise’ (2 Cor 12:4, Lk 23:43). All of the wicked who die wait in a part of Hades known only as ‘torments’ (Lk 16:23).

In Hades (‘Hades’ means ‘the unseen place’), all of the dead shall wait for Judgment Day.  Rev 20:12-15 points out that on the final Day of Judgment, all the dead will be permanently divided between heaven and hell.  Until then, the wicked that have died tarry like prisoners awaiting their court date.  They know their fate, but the final verdict is yet to be laid down.  Likewise, God’s people who have died are joyously comforted in Paradise, waiting for the day when they shall rise and be with the Lord forever (1 Thess 4:16-18).

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