Lesson 6. The “Elementary Teachings of Christ” School is based on Hebrews chapter 6. These are seven elementary teachings in which the early Christian Church saw the foundation of the Christian faith.
What Happens After Death?
When we say that a certain person has died, this is not actually the case—the person’s soul has only left the body, its “earthly home,” and gone to another (spiritual) world. A person’s physical, “earthly” body is a home for the soul. While a person is alive, the soul is in the body, but when death comes, the soul separates from the dead body.
2 Cor. 5:1–2: For we know that when our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven;
Eccl. 12:7: Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
Matt. 10:28: And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
According to Scripture, this is the “first death”—the bodies of all the dead remain in the earth until the time of resurrection, while the souls of the dead go to one of two places. The souls of the righteous go to the Kingdom of Heaven—in the heavens, while the souls of the wicked go to the underworld, the realm of the dead—in hell.
The Kingdom of Heaven—the “heavens”
In Scripture, we see that after death, saints, the righteous, martyrs, and the saved were in different places in the heavens:
- And will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 8:11).
- The beggar died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22) * “bosom” — chest, bay, valley.
- Today you will be with Me in paradise (Luke 23:43).
- I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain (Revelation 6:9).
- They are before the throne of God and serve Him (Revelation 7:15).
There is a mistaken belief that all good people go to paradise after death. Paradise is not the same as heaven. Paradise is only a particular place in heaven, in the midst of which, as Scripture tells us, the tree of life grows (Genesis 2:9; Revelation 2:7). But there are many other places in heaven, and paradise is not the only place for the righteous to dwell eternally.
Scripture mentions various places where the righteous were after death, but all these places were part of heaven, not the earth or hell. We do not know which place in heaven souls will go to immediately or enter later. It is correct to say that after death, the souls of the righteous go specifically to “heaven,” which becomes their dwelling place.
Matthew 8:11: I tell you that many will come from the east and west and recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:1: For we know that when our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Philippians 3:20: But our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly await the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
At the same time, when the soul leaves the body, it is accompanied by angels to its destination:
Luke 16:22 The beggar died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
Therefore, when we speak of “heaven,” we mean the place to which the souls of deceased believers go and where they will live forever. At the first resurrection of the dead, these souls will receive their bodies again (James 2:26), but they will be new bodies—transformed and immortal. At that same time, the Christians who remain alive will also be changed and caught up into heaven in new bodies.
The underworld of the dead — hell
Another place where the souls of the dead go is the underworld, the realm of the dead—or “hell.”
Luke 16:23: And in hell, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Revelation 1:18: I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, amen; and I have the keys of Hades and Death.
Revelation 20:13: Then the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them; and they were judged, each one according to his works.
Dictionary definition of the word “hell”:
Hell—[hades]:
1. Hades. 2. the realm of Hades, the underworld. 3. hell.
The Hebrew equivalent of “hell” is the word “Sheol”:
1. the underworld, hell; 2. the grave, tomb; 3. the realm of all the dead, death.
When we speak of “hell,” we mean the “underworld,” a place of darkness, torment, and blazing fire.
The Resurrection of the Dead
Scripture says that at a certain time all dead bodies will be resurrected. This refers not to souls, but specifically to bodies that, after death, were committed to the earth—buried.
John 5:28–29: Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice; and will come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
The bodies that are in the graves will have to rise—some to eternal life, others to judgment. This will be the resurrection of the bodies of the righteous and the bodies of the wicked; yet both will rise, each in its own time, and each will receive its due reward.
It does not matter whether a body has drowned, been buried, or cremated: all bodies will be recreated and resurrected. The soul will return to its body (Rev. 11:11), and it will come to life.
Who will be resurrected, and in what order?
All dead bodies will have to rise: some to life, others to judgment—therefore, it is important for us to know the sequence of the resurrection of each group. The Bible speaks of two resurrections: first there will be the “first resurrection”—the resurrection of the bodies of the righteous—and later the “second resurrection”—the resurrection of the bodies of the wicked.
First Resurrection
First, the bodies of deceased righteous people will be resurrected.
1 Thess. 4:13–14: But I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you grieve as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
1 Thess. 4:15–16: For this we say to you by the word of the Lord: we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first;
Then the Christians who remain alive will rise to heaven together with those who have been resurrected.
1 Thess. 4:17: Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we will always be with the Lord.
At that time, the bodies of the living and resurrected righteous will be transformed into completely new, spiritual bodies, in which they will enter the Kingdom of Heaven and remain there forever.
1 Cor. 15:51–53: Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
The bodies in which the righteous will be clothed will be like Jesus’ body. The risen Jesus appeared to His disciples in precisely such a new body.
Luke 24:39: Look at My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have. (Verse 44) And He said to them: These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you.
Phil. 3:21: Who will transform our lowly body so that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the power by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
When we speak of the “first resurrection of the dead,” we mean the resurrection and transformation of the bodies of Christians. This is the time when the Church of Jesus Christ will be caught up to heaven.
What is known about the time of the first resurrection?
This will happen on the “last day”:
John 6:44: No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:54: Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
This will happen “at the last trumpet”:
1 Corinthians 15:52: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
This will happen during the “second coming of the Lord”:
1 Corinthians 15:23: …each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.
The Second Resurrection
Scripture speaks of two resurrections: the first resurrection of the righteous at the coming of Jesus, and the second resurrection of the wicked after the 1,000-year kingdom. Those who are resurrected first will never die again, and the “second death” will no longer threaten them.
Luke 20:36: Those who are counted worthy to attain that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
Revelation 20:5–6: But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
As we can see, there is a first death and a first resurrection for eternal life, and a second resurrection after the 1,000-year kingdom for judgment and eternal punishment in the lake of fire, which, according to Scripture, is the “second death.” Everyone whose name was not written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:12–15: And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:8: But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
The souls of the dead will receive their bodies again for judgment, and then be sent into the lake burning with fire and brimstone. They will be cast alive, together with the devil, the beast, the false prophet, and the sinful angels, into the lake of fire for eternal torment. This is the “second death.”
Conclusion
The physical (soulish) body of a person is home to their soul. As long as a person is alive, the soul remains in the body; when they die, the soul leaves the body and, accompanied by angels, goes to one of two places. The souls of the righteous go to heaven, while the souls of the wicked go to the realm of the dead—hell. The souls will remain in this state until the time of the resurrection.
The bodies of the righteous will be resurrected first—this is the “first resurrection of the dead.” The soul will receive its body again, but it will be an entirely new body, like Jesus’. Then the righteous who are still alive at that time will be transformed into new bodies. After this, all the righteous—both the living and the resurrected—in their transformed bodies will be taken up to heaven to the Lord. This is the time of the rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Then a 1,000-year kingdom will begin on earth—the era of the reign of Jesus and the saints.
At the end of this period, the “second resurrection of the dead” and the judgment will take place. The sea, death, and hell will give up the dead, and they, resurrected in their bodies, will stand before God and be judged. All whose names are not written in the Book of Life will be thrown alive into the lake of fire for eternal torment. This is the “second death.”
Thus, those who are resurrected first—these will be Christ’s—will enter the Kingdom of Heaven for eternal life. Those who are resurrected second—these will be the wicked—will, after the judgment, be thrown alive into the lake of fire. The devil, the beast, the false prophet, and the angels who sinned will also be thrown into the lake of fire together with the wicked.
Source: The Bible, Hebrews chapter 6
Teacher: Dmitriy Leo
