[The text below represents an edited transcript of the TV version of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Are Heaven and Hell the Only Options After Death?

Life is wonderful when we are healthy and all is going well. Under such circumstances we want it to go on forever, but our bodies don’t last. They break down and, eventually, life in this flesh comes to an end. Then what?

Many believe we have an immortal soul that immediately goes to heaven or descends into a place of eternal torment. Ministers teach this to their congregations and parents teach this to their children. But is that what the Bible tells us about what happens when we die?

There is no more important question than “when you die, then what?” Can you know? And where can you go for the answer?

Science offers no answers. Philosophers speculate and disagree with one another. Some eastern religions teach reincarnation but have no proof. Only the Bible gives a credible answer, but it is not the one most think it is.

You need to know for sure. On today’s program, we will look at what the Bible actually says about life after death. Also on today’s program, I’ll be offering a free resource that gives additional information on this subject. Be sure to have writing material available to take down our contact information to receive a free copy of What Happens When You Die? I’ll be back in five seconds to give you the answer to this most important of all questions.

The Bible Challenges Pagan Traditions—Including Heaven and Hell

A warm welcome to all of you from all of us here at Tomorrow’s World, where today I’m asking the question: When you die—then what? And I’ll give you the answer straight from the pages of the Bible.

Traditions, handed down from generation to generation, have baked into the subject the pagan doctrine that you have an ever-living soul that goes to heaven or hell upon death. This tradition needs to be challenged from the Bible.

The Immortal Soul Does Not Exist in Scripture

The Old Testament word that is translated soul comes from the Hebrew word nephesh. It is first used when describing the creation of man. Notice it in Genesis 2 and verse 7:

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul [nephesh] (Genesis 2:7, KJV).

Now that is from the King James Version. The New King James Version and other translations say “a living being.” But regardless of the translation, it should be obvious to any thinking person that whatever this nephesh is, it is not immortal. If this nephesh—this soul—is living, would that not indicate you could have a dead nephesh? And that is exactly what Scripture tells us. There are many examples of this, but let’s notice one that is so obvious that even a child can understand it. God declares in Ezekiel 18:4:

Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:4).

And verse 20 repeats this for emphasis:

The soul who sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:20).

The Soul Is Mortal, Meaning It Can Die

Again, there are many proofs that whatever the Bible calls a soul is mortal, but let’s see what Jesus said.

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 (Matthew 10:28).

Notice that both the physical body and the soul—the life principle—can be destroyed by God.

Now let’s turn to what is arguably the best-known scripture in all the Bible—John 3:16.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Here we see that perishing and everlasting life are contrasted—opposites. God gave His Son as a sacrifice for our sins so that we would NOT perish but live forever. And is this not what the Apostle Paul confirms in Romans 6:23?

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

Yes, what we earn from sin is not eternal life in hellfire but death. Why is that so difficult to understand?

Going to Hell at Death Would Be the Equivalent of Eternal Life

It amazes me how angry some so-called Christians become when you tell them that the reward of the unsaved is NOT eternal life in a place of ever-burning torture. How much evil can a person do to be punished for a billion years squared and squared again a billion times! That hardly sounds like a God of love.

No, the Bible speaks of a fire so hot that it burns up the wicked. As John the Baptist said:

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:11-12).

Fire by nature is unquenchable. It burns until there is no more fuel. Now I understand that there are several scriptures that need explanation, but they will have to wait for another program.

Compare Traditions with What the Bible Actually Says

Dear friends, we all have an expiration date in our future, so do you care what happens when you die? Are you satisfied with accepting a tradition you’ve heard all your life that may not be true? Or would you really like to know—straight from the pages of the Bible? Our free resource—What Happens When You Die?—gives a thorough explanation of this subject.

Senior Tomorrow’s World telecast presenter—Mr. Richard Ames—asks these vitally important questions:

Is there any way to know with certainty what awaits us after we die?

• Do the dead go to heaven or hell?
• Or does the Bible say something else entirely?
• What is the real reward of the saved?

He also asks and answers this question that has plagued many over the centuries:

• Does God have a plan for those who die without having ever heard about Jesus Christ?

We must not make assumptions out of our limited understanding. The Bible provides the answers. So, order today, a free copy of What Happens When You Die? Just call the toll-free number shown on your screen or go to TWTV.ORG/Death. There is no cost and your name will not be sold to anyone. It really is that simple. And when I return after this short break, I’ll introduce a seeming contradiction of scripture and how it relates to this subject.

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God Includes the True Christian Inheritance

On this Tomorrow’s World telecast, I’m asking and answering the question: When you die—then what? The source for the answer is the Bible, the very book that Christianity claims to be its source of truth, but instead answers with heathen traditions. In the previous section I explained that, according to the Bible, whatever a soul is, it is mortal and the idea that it goes off to heaven or hell upon death is based on human tradition.

In the Sermon on the Mount—considered to be at the heart of Jesus’ message to mankind—we find what are called the beatitudes, or beautiful attitudes. We read in Matthew 5 and verse 3:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).

Many assume this means we go to heaven, but two verses later, in verse 5, we read:

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).

This presents a problem. Do the poor in spirit (verse 3) go to heaven, while the meek (verse 5) inherit the earth? Which is it? Heaven or earth? The answer lies with the question of what does the expression “Kingdom of Heaven” mean?

Matthew uses this expression most of the time, but he also uses, as we see in chapter 6 and verse 33, the expression “Kingdom of God.”

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).

We also find Matthew uses the two—Kingdom of Heaven and Kingdom of God—interchangeably. Here it is in chapter 19, verses 23 and 24:

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:23-24).

Interestingly, the other gospel writers—Mark, Luke, and John—never, not even once, use the expression Kingdom of Heaven. They consistently use only Kingdom of God. And in the original Greek, from which the New Testament is translated, the words heaven and God are very different—they cannot be confused. So, when Jesus said:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).

And followed two verses later with:

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).

We must take a closer look at the meaning of the expressions “Kingdom of Heaven” and “Kingdom of God.” What is the difference between the two and what relationship does this have with where the saved go after death? Let me answer that with these simple questions:

• Does the expression Kingdom of God mean that the Kingdom is IN God?
• Or does the expression show ownership of the Kingdom—God’s Kingdom?

Yes, it is God’s Kingdom, not a kingdom IN God.

Let me give this example. If we were to refer to the Bank of Morgan, would we assume the bank is in Morgan, or owned by Morgan? The answer is obvious. The bank is not in Morgan. Morgan is the owner—it is Morgan’s bank. So why is it so difficult for people to understand that the Kingdom of Heaven is not a kingdom in Heaven. It is Heaven’s—that is God’s—Kingdom.

The Saints Will Inherit the Kingdom of God—on Earth

Therefore, when Jesus said:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).

He was saying that Heaven’s Kingdom—the same as God’s Kingdom—is reserved for the poor in spirit. But verse 5 shows the location of their inheritance—not in heaven, but on earth.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).

There is no contradiction between the two verses. On the night in which He was betrayed, Jesus told His disciples:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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” (John 14:1-2).

On the surface, this may sound like we will go to heaven to live in palatial mansions, but the next verse clarifies the subject by saying:

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).

And this brings up an important question: Where will Jesus be? If we’ll be where He is, that will answer the question of where we’ll be.

I’ll answer that shortly, but I want to remind you of today’s free offer, What Happens When You Die? Dear friends, the Bible is very clear when you look at all the passages relating to this subject. Yes, there are a few ambiguous verses. However, a careful reading of them shows they do not contradict clear passages of scripture. Our resource—What Happens When You Die?—addresses verses that I don’t have time to cover on this program, so order your copy today. Just call the toll-free number or go to TWTV.ORG/Death. Our booklet What Happens When You Die? will be sent to you free of charge as it has already been paid for by Living Church of God members and our coworkers. And when I return after this short 15-second break, I’ll show you what the Bible says about where Jesus will be.

Jesus Christ Will Establish His Kingdom on Earth When He Returns

On this Tomorrow’s World program, I’m addressing the question: When you die—then what?

As we have already seen, we must read the Bible carefully. One example of a misunderstanding Jesus’ disciples had is a warning for us to listen and read carefully. It is found in John 21. The context is when Jesus told Peter something about his future—verse 18:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish” (John 21:18).

It is then that Peter wanted to know what would happen to John.

Peter, seeing him [that is, John], said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me” (John 21:21-22).

Now notice how this simple statement was widely misunderstood.

Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” (John 21:23).

Compare Your Beliefs with What Is Actually in the Bible

It is only too easy to read something into Scripture that is not there, and this is especially true if you have been told something all your life. And that is what too many do. They have heard that people go to heaven when they die, and they read that into scriptures that say no such thing.

As we have already seen, when people see the words, Kingdom of Heaven, they read into it, that we are going to heaven; but as I have shown, the expression “Kingdom of Heaven” indicates ownership rather than location. For when it says Kingdom of God, it does not mean the Kingdom is in God. But rather it is God’s Kingdom. The Kingdom belongs to Heaven, that is God.

There are more scriptures than I have time to address that are erroneously believed to support going to heaven, and many are covered in our free resource—What Happens When You Die? But let’s get to the crux of the issue. Jesus tells us in John 12:26:

“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor” (John 12:26).

But where does the Bible tell us He will be?

Jesus Himself said, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me.”

Following His resurrection and how He appeared on numerous occasions to His disciples and others for 40 days, we read that He was taken up into heaven as they watched. We next read in Acts, chapter 1:

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:10-11).

We also read of His return to earth in Revelation 22 and verse 12. If you have a red-letter Bible you will see that these are Jesus’ own words.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).

Jesus Christ Will Rule on Earth from Jerusalem When He Returns

Yes, He is coming back to earth, and His reward is with Him. And to this, many other scriptures agree, both in the Old Testament and the New. For example, the prophet Zechariah is explicit when he says the Messiah would come back to rule on the earth. And he does not talk in sentimental terms of ruling in our hearts. Notice the time setting is the Day of the Lord—the time in the future when God intervenes dramatically in world affairs. Begin in verse 1.

Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem…. Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east (Zechariah 14:1-4).

Now notice that this has not yet happened. This is not about His first coming but His second coming.

And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south (Zechariah 14:4).

The prophet goes on to show in verse 9:

And the Lord shall be King over all the earth (Zechariah 14:9).

He also explains that all nations will be called up to worship the King, Jesus Christ, at Jerusalem and any nation that does not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles and worship the King will have no rain. Look it up. Read it for yourself in Zechariah 14!

Dear friends, this is a large subject and I want you to understand it. We must not rely on traditions handed down to us. The only source of truth is the very word of God—the Bible. Our free resource—What Happens When You Die?—will answer the questions that you may be wondering about right now. For example: What about the thief on the cross? And what happens to the unrepented wicked?

These and many more questions are answered in our resource—What Happens When You Die? And this easy-to-read booklet, which is documented by scriptures that you can look up in your own Bible, can be yours free for the asking. So pick up the phone and call the toll free number on your screen, or go to TWTV.org/Death. And when I come back after this short break, I’ll show you what Jesus said about His Kingdom and where He will set it up.

All Scripture Points to Jesus Christ Returning to Rule on Earth

Welcome back to Tomorrow’s World, where I’m asking and answering the question: When you die—then what? Can there be any more important question than this? We cannot rely on tradition, even tradition that supposedly comes from the Bible. We must read from the Bible what it actually says.

The Jews of Jesus’ day knew that He was preaching the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, which they thought He would set up in His day. That is the reason He gave the Parable of the Minas. We read of this parable in Luke the 19th chapter. Let’s notice it beginning in verse 12:

Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities’” (Luke 19:12-19).

Note that it said He would go into a far country to receive a kingdom and to return. This is a clear reference to Him going to heaven after He was resurrected. But do you realize, dear friends, that this receiving of a kingdom was foretold hundreds of years earlier? You can read it in Daniel 7:13 and 14:

I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:13-14).

The book of Daniel is all about five great kingdoms, or empires—four human, one Divine (the Kingdom of God). They begin with Nebuchadnezzar’s Chaldean Empire, followed by the Medo-Persian Empire, overthrown by Alexander the Great and his Greco-Macedonian Empire, and ending with the Roman Empire, which would continue in one form or another all the way down to the coming of Christ when He sets up His Kingdom.

Jesus Christ Will Rule His Kingdom with His Faithful Servants

And as we read in the Parable of the Minas, the Kingdom of God will be ruled by Christ and those servants of His who have proven to have holy, righteous character. Here is how Daniel explains it—verse 27:

Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him (Daniel 7:27).

And if all of this is not clear enough, Revelation 5:9-10 tell us exactly from where Christ’s servants will rule:

And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).

There is so much more regarding this subject and that is why we are offering a free resource—What Happens When You Die? I sincerely hope you will avail yourself of this vital resource.

And be sure to come back next week when Richard Ames, Wallace Smith, Rod McNair, and I bring you the good news of Tomorrow’s World, explain end-time prophecies, and make sense of the world in which we live. See you next week.