Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 6/24/2010

Question
Hello Elder Madden,

I stumbled across a question you answered and was very impressed with your response.  The question was: What do Baptists believe happens immediately and in end times when humans die? In your response you said the spirit of believers immediately goes to heaven and their physical bodies are raised during the rapture as glorified bodies and reunited with their spirits.  You also said unbelievers go to a temporary holding place until judgment day.  My question to you is what is the name of the temporary holding place unbelievers go, can you tell me a little about it.   I am studying the book of Revelation and will probably have more questions in the near future.  You do an excellent job of simplifying your answers.   
Thanks Ana Williams

Answer
Ana,

Thank you for your question and the opportunity to help. Though I am not sure what specific answer you are referring to, I do believe I can help answer your question.

The name of the temporary holding place that unbelievers go to is "hell". Hell is not a permeate place, but a temporary holding until the final judgment. Hell is a literal place of outer darkness, bitter sorrow, remorse, and woe, prepared by God for the devil and his angels. However, there will be a final judgment of the wicked at the Great White Throne, when the dead, both small and great, shall be resurrected to stand before God to receive the reward of their deeds done in the flesh. Once judgment is passed, they will then be placed for all eternity in the "lake of fire". This is the final judgment.

Matt. 13:41-43; Rev. 20:11-15; Rev. 14:10- 20:10, 14-15; 21:7-8; Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:43-44

Ana, please let me know if this helps or if you have any further questions.

Elder Greg Madden