The   Intermediate State

　

I. The Importance of this Doctrine

1. The Practical and Existential Importance

2. Its Significance in the Structure of Eschatology

3. Descendit ad Inferna

 II. A History of this Doctrine

1. Traditional Teaching in this Doctrine

2. Medieval Development of Purgatory

3. Anabaptist and Adventist Denial of Intermediate Existence

4. Modern Revisions

 III. Sheol-Hades

1. The Realm of the Dead

2. The Place of Punishment

3. God’s Deliverance of the Righteousness from Hades

4. Division of Underworld: Lk16.19-31, 2 Pet 2.9

 IV. The Condition of the Believing Dead

1. Entrance to Paradise : Lk 23.42-43

2. Being in Christ: Phil 1.21-23

3. New House in Heaven: 2 Cor 5.6-8

V. The Various Views on the Intermediate State

1. Conscious Undivided Existence of the Dead: Early Judaism

2. Conscious Divided Existence: Orthodoxy

3. Unconscious Existence or Soul-Sleep: Anabaptist, Adventist, Jehovah’s Witness

4. Non-Existence and New Creation: G. van der Leeuw, Paul Althaus

5. Annihilation of the Wicked or Conditional Existence: Clark Pinnock, John Stott

6. Further Probation or Second Chance for Salvation: Andover School

7. Immediate Resurrection: W. D. Davies

8. Immediate Judgment and Purgatory: Roman Catholic Church