Heaven, Hell, and the Soul of Man

An Introductory Study of the Seven Resurrections

Lesson Five

(AN EXAMPLE PAGE FROM THE INSTITUTE COURSE)

Lesson Verse: Ephesians 2:12

I.         Introduction

A.      We are looking at the real reason for Christ coming and dying such a horrible DEATH. He did not come to be annihilated nor to save sinners from annihilation. He took the place of the sinner in physical death. But, God could not die. So, only the body of Jesus (that which was flesh; John 1:14) died on the cross. God had made a body for His Son, so that He could be the sacrificial Lamb in the place of sinners (Heb 10:4-7).

B.       This study is going to involve a bit of real consideration and study (2 Tim 2:15), because nothing can be taken for granted when it comes to truth. We will here attempt to build what we believe, based solely upon the Bible, and we will build it “line upon line.” We do not care about who in history believed what, or didn’t believe what. All we want to know is “what saith the scripture?” (Gal 4:30)

C.       The reason for studying eternal things is because according to 2 Cor 4:18, the things that are NOT seen are far more important than the things which are seen! This is because the things that are not seen are said to be “eternal,” while the things that are seen are only temporary (Matt 24:35).

II.       General Outline

A.      The Soul of Man is eternal, and immortal because it alone is what was made in the image of God in Gen 1:26,27, and 2:7. It is called the “hidden man” or the “inner man” (1 Pet 3:4; Rom 7:20-23; 2 Cor 4:16-18) and is associated with the heart, will and emotions - not the body and the flesh.

B.       The body of a human dies and is said to be “asleep” waiting for the resurrection from the dead. But the soul of a man never dies, just like it never sleeps - it is always alive - it never needs resurrection. Only the body, and the spirit of a man need resurrecting. No animal awaits their resurrection. They have no promise of life after their death.

C.       There are seven resurrections in history - not just the last two of Revelation 20. Therefore, there is something more to a resurrection than just the body coming back to life again “at the last day.”

D.      The eight time periods of human history show that man does not need another chance at the resurrection to be saved, but that he needs another heart, and he needs it quick!

E.       Only because of the eternal nature of heaven, hell, and the soul of man did Christ die on the cross.

And this is just the beginning of the Course!