Afterlife

Educational Resources on the Afterlife

Note from the Editor:  Many of my colleagues know that I have done significant research into the Biblical view of the Resurrection, afterlife, and related subjects. I have built a collection of educational handouts around this theme that I have used in various Bible studies in my own congregation. Someday, this material will likely form the basis of a book and study series. However, since I am often asked to share these handouts, for now I am making them available for free as downloadable pdfs.  

All the handouts below are under copyright (all rights reserved), but I do give permission for them to be photocopied for local congregational use.  Please excuse any typos or copy errors; I have simply uploaded them 'as is' from my files.

Pastor Steven E. King  (c) 2012

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Handouts Concerning the Biblical Description of Death and Resurrection

Phases of the Afterlife (a 'step-by-step' description, based on the pattern of Christ)

Four Views of the Afterlife - Chart (graphic models: four descriptions of human existence)

General Resurrection - Scripture Insert (a collection of Scripture verse on the Resurrection)

Turtle Example - Afterlife (comparing Biblical resurrection vs. transmigration of the soul)

Church Fathers on the Afterlife (some quotations from early Christians)

Luther on the Afterlife (showing how his teaching became more biblical over time) 

Resurrection Themes in the LBW (hymns from the Lutheran Book of Worship)

Scripture on Eternal Life (from the Gosepl of John and other NT books)

Popular Statements (a 'true/false'-style quiz on afterlife themes)

Handouts Concerning a Biblical Understanding of Body and Soul

Only God is Eternal (the difference between an immortal God and mortal human beings)

The Body and Soul of a Computer (using the hardware/software computer as a metaphor for body/soul)

Aspects of the Self (on the Biblical words for: Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength)

Word 'Soul' in the Bible (how the word is actually used in Scripture)

Formula of Concord on the Afterlife (selected Lutheran confessional statements)

On Near Death Experiences (some Scriptural points to consider)

Our Departed Loved Ones (some Bible quotes on the state of the dead)

How a Lightbulb Works (compares concept of an "eternal soul" with Biblical creation/resurrection)

Handouts Concerning the Various 'Spiritual Realms' Referred to in Scripture

Earthly and Heavenly Realms (a graph on Heaven, Earth, Hades, Sheol, Paradise, Tartarus, etc.)

Up vs Down in the Afterlife (Biblically, heaven is always up, the place of the dead is always down)

Where did Jesus go when he died? (a collection of Biblical quotations)

Descended to the Dead (a commentary on the creedal statement: Jesus 'descended into hell...")

Scripture Quotes on Sheol (OT quotations on the Hebrew "place of the dead")

Paradise and Tartarus (on the good and bad parts of Hades)

Descriptions of Hell (a collection of NT quotes on fiery Gehenna and 'the Outer Darkness')

Theology Cross vs Glory (on the distinction between faithful discipleship and 'reward' theology)