Expert: Sal - 8/16/2004

Question
Please explain to me how anything, including God, can exist forever in eternity past.

Also, what happens to the saved when they die? I believe entirely in the Bible, but I've heard two different things. Some say the saved go to Heaven immediately, but some say you go to the grave, waiting until the Second Coming to rise to Heaven.

Answer
Dear John:

God can exist forever in eternity past because God transcends time. There is no past or future to God. To God everything is now. He sees all things now. This is a difficult concept for humans to comprehend because we are so bound by time.

Briefly, when a person dies he is immediately judged. This is called the Particular Judgment. “Just as it is appointed that men die once, and after death be judged” (Hebrews 9:27). If a person is saved he will go to heaven. St. Paul clearly believed in an immediate judgment. “I repeat, we are full of confidence and would much rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (II Corinthians 5:8).

At the end of time Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead. This is called the General Judgment. The Old Covenant prophets referred to this as “The day of the Lord” (see Joel 2:31; Isaiah 2:12; Ezekiel 13:5). Jesus foretold this judgment in Matthew 25:31-46. The Apostles preached the General Judgment. “He has set the day on which he is going to ‘judge the world with justice' through a man He has appointed-one whom He has endorsed in the sight of all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). St. Paul clearly wrote of the General Judgment at Christ's return. “The Lord is the one to judge me, so stop passing judgment before time of his return. He will bring to light what is hidden and manifest the intentions of hearts. At that time, everyone will receive his praise from God” (I Corinthians 4:4b-5). At this time the dead's soul will be reunited with his body (see I Corinthians 15:50-55).

So there will be two judgments. The first is private and the second public. This second judgment is often called, “The Great White Throne Judgment” (see Revelation 20:11-13). This public judgment will not change the judgment rendered immediately upon one's death. However, the General Judgment will reveal to the whole world God's mercy toward those who are saved, and His justice toward those who are condemned.

The idea of a person's soul waiting unconscious in the grave for judgment has no place in the Biblical revelation of what happens to man at death. The Seventh-day Adventist doctrine of “Soul Sleep” lacks Biblical support, and indeed contradicts Scripture, therefore, it must be rejected by Bible-believing persons. If you would like a deeper look at "Soul Sleep" let me know and I will be happy to comply.

If I can be of further help please do not hesitate to ask.

God Bless You,
Sal