Issue 40

Dec 2008 From Death To Life

Bible Teaching • Life • Death • Resurrection • Eternal Destinies

Visit our website at
www.afterlife.co.nz.
From Death To Life

Conditional Immortality Association Issue 40

Contents
Editorial p. 4
David Burge.
Twisted Scripture p. 5
David Burge.
Conditional Immortality in the 19th Century
(Part 3) p. 6
Armand Newrick
Resurrection Revealed (Part 8) p. 11
Beryl Ching
Advent Expectations p. 15
David Burge
From “In the interim" p. 18
Cornelius Plantinga Jr.
The Big Picture (Part 2) p. 19
Immanuel Koks
From Death To Life
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 From Death To Life Page 4

Editorial
Jesus taught his followers to "turn They frequently hurl abuse at one
the other cheek" (Mat. 5:39). Un- another and engage in punch-ups to
fortunately his earthly church has the extent that the Israeli police are
been anything but good represen- forced to intervene.
tatives of his teaching!
What could be more ironic than
One Sunday, early in November a Christians beating each other up on
brawl erupted between Armenian the alleged burial site of Jesus - and
and Christian Orthodox monks in so close to Christmas when we cele-
the Church of the Holy Sepulcher - brate the birth of Jesus, the Prince
the traditional site of Je-
sus' crucifixion, burial
and resurrection. The
brawl began during a
procession of Armenian
clergymen commemo-
rating the 4th-century
discovery of what is be-
lieved to be the cross on
which Jesus was cruci-
fied. The Greek Ortho-
dox objected to the
march going ahead of Peace, who came to bring peace
without one of their monks being on earth to all those on whom God‘s
present. They felt the procession favour rests" (Luke 2:14).
would subvert their claim to the
Things like this remind me that the
Edicule - the ancient structure built
purpose of this Association is to in-
on what is believed to be the tomb
form not to divide, to generate light
of Jesus. The Armenians tried to
not heat. It certainly is not to en-
march. The Greek Orthodox monks
gage in the literary equivalent of a
blocked their way. A brawl ensued.
punch–up. It is to proclaim that
Apparently, such events are by no eternal life is found only in Christ—a
means uncommon. Six Christian message fit for every season not
"denominations" or sects share just Christmas.
control of this ancient church.
David Burge.
Issue 40 Page 5

Many say the first mention of hellfire in the Bible is in

Deuteronomy 32:22. The KJV renders the verse: ―For a fire
is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest
hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and
set on fire the foundations of the mountains.‖ ―Hell‖ here
is ―sheol‖. That the KJV speaks of fire burning to "the low-
est sheol‖ leads some to assume that Sheol (the Old Tes-
tament realm of the dead) is divided into "compartments".
The upper cavern is the realm of the blessed dead where
such worthies as Jacob
expected to go at
death (Gen. 37:35).
The lower cavern is
the realm where the
wicked undergo fiery
torment. This picture is
further supported by
the notion that Jesus
spoke of the realm of
the dead as divided
into two parts, one a
place of fiery torment,
when he spoke of the
Rich Man and Lazarus
(Luke 16:19-31).
The Rich Man and
Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).37) has been discussed at length
in the pages of this magazine over the years (See our
website afterlife.co.nz). The Deuteronomy passage needs
to be commented on.
(Cont on page 10)
 From Death To Life Page 6

Conditional Immortality in the 19th

Century (Part THREE)
This is part 3 of an of the
address given by strength of
Armand Newrick at his father‘s
Conference 2008. The feelings to-
first 2 parts are found ward condi-
in Issues 38 & 39. tional im-
The “Downgrade” mortality
Controversy back in Lon-
don.
The desire of Joseph
Parker for unity is re- In Feb.
flected in a number of 23rd. 1887
very interesting pub- Parker wrote
lished letters of corre- to Spurgeon
spondence between asking for a
himself and Spurgeon public con-
in 1887. Spurgeon was ference to
becoming progres- be called
sively averse towards between
those who taught the ministers of
annihilation of the all denomi-
wicked, or anything nations in
which didn‘t sit well London on Mint Lane Chapel, pastorate of
with his Calvinist tradi- the sug- Rev. George Brown, birth place of
tion. The fact that gested date the conditional immortality
Spurgeon‘s son, Tho- of Oct. 25th organization.
mas, removed George 1887 for the
draw from the Baptist
Brown from the Bap- cause of unity. It‘s in-
union on the basis of a
tist union of New Zea- teresting to note that
this proposed date ―downgrade‖ of Chris-
land, on the basis of
tian truth!
Brown‘s adherence to landed three days be-
Conditional immortal- fore Spurgeon actually Spurgeon was claiming
ity, is some indication chose to formally with- that many ministers in
 Issue 40 Page 7

the Baptist Union were Parker‘s conduct puz- cooperate in regards to

giving themselves to a zling, for to Spurgeon the old evangelical
liberal slide away from there were no grounds faith, I do not see my
the authority of the Bi- for cooperation as long way to do this. These
ble, and Spurgeon as Parker taught the matters are not private
claimed he had the annihilation of the but public matters‖.
names of the individu- wicked. Spurgeon Then Spurgeon asked
als to prove it! wrote; ―I think we for no further corre-
Amongst the spondence from
many concerns Parker! However,
being addressed Parker did keep
in the correspondence
―downgrade con- up. He pleaded
troversy‖, was with Spurgeon to
the doctrine of not be so narrow
hell. Spurgeon at minded asking
one point Spurgeon to,
claimed some- ―widen the circle of
thing to the ef- which he has made
fect of; ―none of himself the centre
the small and to broaden his
churches in Lon- reading‖ (I suspect
don believe in of arguments such
the conscious as those support-
torment of the Joseph Parker ing conditional im-
wicked anymore.‖ mortality).
should each go our own
Parker and The End of an Era
way in brotherly friend-
Spurgeon liness‖. Five days latter Spurgeon only lived
Correspond Parker replied, ―If there another five years af-
Parker wrote to is a problem between ter withdrawing from
Spurgeon calling for us lets talk about it‖. the Baptist Union late
mature cooperation. Spurgeon replied, October 1887, the fol-
Spurgeon‘s written re- ―There is no personal lowing January the Un-
sponse was some problem between us to ion publicly censured
what evasive, calling discuss; you ask me to Spurgeon by the man-
 From Death To Life Page 8

ner of his protest. tribute to Spurgeon in ken of divine in all of

Spurgeon was known the London Times. England at that time.
for his blunt forthright- Parker credited
Concluding
ness which some Spurgeon with a unique
claimed bordered on and invisible position in
Thoughts
irreverence and se- Christian England. There is in this review
cured for Spurgeon a Spurgeon, whom many of conditional immor-
great many tality in the nine-
opponents teenth century,
throughout three noted re-
his lifetime. sponses made
Spurgeon by conditional-
suffered from ists to resis-
depression, tance.
gout, and a 1. Withdrawal
liver condition
The Millerites
which all con-
withdrew from
tributed to
the main stream
his stress
to form new de-
during the
nominations.
―downgrade
Were they right
controversy‖.
to do so? In do-
Spurgeon had
ing so were they
said that this C. H. Spurgeon more successful
controversy surround-
in promoting their
ing the downgrade of held great disregard for
views?
evangelical Christianity
in his lifetime, was sud-
was killing him. denly a hero of English ―I don‘t know if they
Spurgeon died in 1892 evangelicalism in his were right to withdraw
in France aged only death! or not because it is not
57. possible to stand in
Parker survived
their shoes to feel the
Despite Spurgeon‘s re- Spurgeon by another
nature of the resis-
sistance to Parker‘s ten years and his obitu-
tance against them.‖ If
call for unity Parker ary in 1902 claimed
they had remained in
still paid a generous Parker as the most spo-
the mainstream per-
 Issue 40 Page 9

haps they may have have meant to support tional organization. Did
caused a more serious the conditional immor- such a response pro-
rupture from within. tality organization of mote conditional im-
2. Stay Put that time. Perhaps a mortality?
parallel might be made I believe such a re-
Joseph Parker would to John Stott‘s soften-
not join the Condi- sponse did maintain
ing of his stand for the voice of conditional
tional immortality or- conditional immortality
ganization because it immortality and pro-
for fear of dividing vide support for
was viewed as
provocative and those holding the
divisive. Did view.
Parker‘s re- So Which
sponse promote Response is the
conditional im- Right One?
mortality?
This coming Sep-
I suppose that tember marks 130
if Parker gave years since the first
his name to the conditional immor-
organization of tality organization
conditionalists was formed in Eng-
the doctrine land in 1878, and I
would have ask this question;
gained ground. why do we support
Although peace and The Millers this work? For me per-
unity are the mark of sonally, I am not solely
being a disciple of evangelicals in recent motivated by a desire
Christ I believe that times. to defend the truth, al-
correction of error for 3. Form an Interde- though that is of prime
the sake of truth can nominational importance. I could
be promoted along Organization believe something to
side unity. be true and not want
Many conditionalists,
However, I cannot including Rev. George to bother anyone
stand in Parker‘s shoes Brown, formed a cen- about it because it
to know what it may tral interdenomina- doesn‘t really affect
 From Death To Life Page 10

them. However, in (Cont from page 5)

this case, the truth This fire, if context is
does have a bearing any guide, is not a lit-
on the destiny of hu-
eral fire at all. It is a
manity through their
response to God‘s of- symbol of God‘s wrath.
fer of eternal life in It is certainly not a fire
his Son. What moti- that tortures so-called
vates me is both my immortal souls after
experienced concern
death. It is a fire that
that the traditional
notion of ―hell‖ has was yet to devour the
turned many of my earth and set on fire
friends away, and THE AUTHOR the very foundation of
equally that it is not the earthly mountains.
what the Bible Armand is a member
teaches! of Manukau Central The phrase "lowest
For God is not want- Baptist church and a sheol" is (as the NIV
ing any to perish but recent graduate from has it) better trans-
for all to come to re- Carey Baptist College lated ―sheol below‖, in
pentance and live with a degree in ap- contrast to, not ―sheol
through faith in his plied theology. He has above‖, but the
Son, Jesus Christ. No- had a keen interest in
―heavens above‖. This
tions of hell that de- theology since his
mand the immortali- figure of speech, used
teenage conversion
zation of those in its of the mysteries of God
torments are a shock- (See Issue 30) and (Job. 11:7-9), is used
ing distortion of God‘s came to the condition- here to describe how
justice and demand alist position about
far reaching is the di-
ongoing review by eight years into his
those who hold pre- walk with the Lord. He vine anger probably
cious their tradition, is married to Suzanne poured out on Israel
and so the work goes and they have two during the Babylonian
on! captivity.
children, Daniel and
Armand Newrick Emma.
David Burge
 Issue 40 Page 11

Our resurrection hope thermore, there will be dead shall hear the
is confirmed in the those who rise again, voice of the Son of
New Testament. perhaps ―of the same God: and they that
persons after the effu- hear shall live.‖ Some
RESURRECTION
sion of the spirit at do argue that the
IN THE GOSPELS Pentecost...‖56 words, ―and now is‖
(PART 1) The Lord Jesus Christ indicate that He is
General speaking of those
Resurrection spiritually dead who
Not long after the receive eternal life
birth of Jesus, He when they hear and
was taken to the respond to His voice.
temple, where However that may be,
Simeon prophesied in verses 28,29 it is
about Him (Luke certain that He is
2:34). He uses the speaking of the com-
term ―rising again ing resurrection, be-
(anastasis, which cause He speaks of
can also mean resur- Himself speaks often those who are in the
rection) of many in Is- of resurrection, affirm- graves. He says they
rael‖. However, the full ing also that those ―shall hear His voice,
expression is ―fall and who studied the Old And come forth; they
rising again‖, so Mat- Testament should have that have done good,
thew Henry, taking it seen that it was taught unto the resurrection
to mean the moral fall, in those Scriptures. of life; and they that
writes of those who A clear teaching of the have done evil, unto
are referred to, that Lord is found in John the resurrection of
they are ―those... who 5:25, when He de- damnation.‖
will be prejudiced and clares that a time is Matthew 24 is a dis-
enraged against him, coming ―when the course on the signs of
and offended.‖55 Fur-
 From Death To Life Page 12

Christ‘s coming and of all which he hath given those whom the Father
the end times. In v. 31 me I should lose noth- draws to the Son, that
He tells His disciples ing, but should raise it He will raise them up
that the Son of Man up again at the last at the last day, and in
will send His angels day.‖ These last words v.54 He proclaims that
with the sound of a become a refrain, ―and those who eat His flesh
great trumpet, and I will raise him up at and drink His blood
they will gather his the last day.‖ We find have eternal life. His
elect from the four them in vv. 40, 44, and discourse in this chap-
winds. As we compare 54. We need to see ter has been about
this 1 Thess. 4:16, 17
and 1 Corinthians
15:52 we see a picture
of the resurrection
emerging.
In Matthew 25:31-46
is a picture of the
judgement. Says ―The
New Bible Commen-
tary‖, ―...it is natural to
suppose that the pre-
sent judgement scene
includes the living and
the dead‖. This being
so, a resurrection is in-
ferred. why He is so insistent Himself as the eternal
In the next chapter, on these words. In v. bread of life. Again, for
John 6, Jesus is teach- 40, still speaking of the the proclamation and
ing the people who will of the Father, He the promise of this
followed Him after says that His will is that teaching to be fulfilled,
they had eaten the every one who sees the those who believe on
bread and fish He pro- Son and believes on Him will need to be
vided at the time of Him may have eternal raised from the dead.
feeding more than five life. For this to happen, One day Peter asked
thousand. In verse 39, He must raise up those the Lord what the dis-
Jesus speaks of His people on the last day. ciples would gain from
Father‘s will ―that of In v.44, He speaks of having left all and fol-
 Issue 40 Page 13

lowed Him. In His re- 12:23). They thought another wrong teach-
ply in Mark 10:30 (and that through this story ing of the Sadducees
Matthew 19:29) the and question they in this remark, be-
Lord says that they were ridiculing the cause they did not be-
would receive one whole idea of the res- lieve in angels, either!)
hundred-fold for eve- urrection. Christ‘s reply He then went on to re-
rything they had given pointed them back to mind them that the
up, in this life - ―and in the burning bush of Scriptures say that
the world to come, Exodus chapter 3. when God spoke to
eternal life.‖ ―This im- Exodus is a part of the Moses, He said, ―I am
plies resurrection.‖57 Pentateuch, on which the God of Abraham,
If there was no resur- and the God of Isaac,
rection they could not and the God of Jacob‖.
look forward to ―the He affirmed that God
world to come‖! is not the God of the
In Mark 12:18-23 (Cp. dead, but the God of
Matt. 22:23-33) the the living. The ques-
Sadducees, who did tion is about the resur-
not believe in the res- rection, but most peo-
urrection (Mark 12:18; ple seize on this saying
Luke.20:27), thought to prove that these pa-
they had an unan- triarchs are already
swerable riddle when with Him in heaven.
they brought an ab- If that is what Christ
surd story to Jesus of the Sadducees particu- was saying, then it
seven brothers who, larly based their be- does not do anything
one after the other (in liefs. The Lord told toward proving the
obedience to Levitical them that they had resurrection. In fact, it
law, Deut. 25:5,6), made a great mistake could prove that the
married the same in asking this question, resurrection is not nec-
woman, without any because there is no essary! So we have to
of them having chil- marriage in heaven, remember that in
dren. ―In the resur- but when the dead prophecy God often
rection therefore, arise, they shall be like speaks in the present,
when they shall rise, the angels. though events are still
whose wife shall she (Incidentally, Christ future, because He
be of them?‖ (Mark was also pointing out knows the future, and
 From Death To Life
what He has promised is
so sure that He can
speak of it in the pre-
sent tense. (Cp. Romans
8:28, where
―glorified‖ (past tense) is
used although it is still
to take place in the fu-
ture, because it is part
of the eternal plan of
God, and therefore ab-
solutely certain.) In Luke
20:37, recording the
same incident, it is put
very plainly - ―Now that
the dead are raised,
even Moses showed at
the bush, when he
called the Lord, the God
of Abraham, and the
God of Isaac, and the
God of Jacob.‖ By using
these titles of God,
Moses was not proving
they are now alive, but
proving that they will be
resurrected! So says the
Lord Jesus.
In Luke 14:14 Jesus in-
structs those who give
dinners to call people
who cannot afford to
give them a dinner in re-
turn, for then ―thou
shalt be recompensed at
the resurrection of the
just‖. No argument here
Page 14
about whether or not 58. From Death to Life.
there will be a resur- Issue 24, p.2. P.O.Box
rection. Jesus takes it 202162, Takanini 2246,
for granted as a fact, Auckland, New Zealand.
as something which is The Author
going to happen.
Beryl Joy Ching, spent
The Lord gives a direct over 40 years on the mis-
prophecy and promise sion field in India. Re-
of resurrection in John turning to New Zealand
5:21, saying that ―As to ―retire‖, Beryl was for
the Father raiseth up a long time secretary of
the dead, and quick- this Association. RESUR-
eneth them: even so RECTION AS REVEALED
the Son quickeneth IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
whom he will.‖ AND CONFIRMED IN THE
In Matt. 16:18 Jesus NEW TESTAMENT is the
says that the gates of full title of her Thesis
hell (Hades) will not presented to the Faculty
prevail again the of the Freelandia Insti-
church. David Burge tute Biblical Theological
points out because Ha- College in partial fulfil-
des refers to death, ment of the requirements
this means that Hades for the Degree Master of
cannot prevail against Biblical Studies.
the church, because
death cannot hold the
church; resurrection
will overcome it!58
Footnotes
55. Matthew Henry.
56. The J. F. B. Bible
Commentary.
57. G.E.Ladd. Bible
Characters and Doc-
trines. Scripture Un-
ion. Vol. 16, Study 79.
 Issue 40 Page 15

Advent Expectations
By David Burge
The earliest Christians saints of all ages and save them.
held what scholars would rise to life and Since the first advent
call, ―apocalyptic ex- reign with Jesus for at (or coming) of our
pectations.‖ That is, least 1000 years. Saviour, over two thou-
they believed with all There was a sense of sand ―Christmas‘s‖
their heart have come and
that Jesus gone. As the years,
was coming then the decades
back literally, and now the cen-
personally, turies have passed,
visibly, defi- is it possible to
nitely unex- hold on to that
pectedly (as sense of expecta-
far as the tion even urgency
world was that characterised
concerned) the early church?
and proba- Is it possible to live
bly soon. in expectation and
They be- at the same time
lieved that avoid falling into
his coming the trap that many
again would in the Thessalonian
usher in a Church fell into –
golden age where we abandon
of prosperity all thought for our
known as future, doing no work
the Kingdom of God. urgency among those and making no plans
They believed that evil first generation Chris- for tomorrow, while we
would be defeated, tians. Persecuted by await the coming of
and that the Saints Jews and Romans Jesus?
would be vindicated. alike, they looked to
They believed that the Jesus to come back In fact, Paul warned
 From Death To Life Page 16

the Thessalonians that well-known evangelists looking for Jesus to

the Lord would not in modern history. He come again lives in the
come until the apos- said, ―I have felt like sure and certain
tasy occurred and the working three times as knowledge that what-
―Man of Lawless‖ is re- hard as ever since I ever he or she does (or
vealed (2Thess. 2:1- came to understand does not do) for God in
4). In light of this Paul that my Lord is coming this life will have eter-
exhorts the be- nal consequences.
lievers to con- The believer thus
tinue working, has something to
saying, Brothers live for.
and sisters,
Something To
never tire of do-
ing what is right
Live To
(2Thess. 3:13). John wrote in his
First Epistle, ―And
There are very
now, dear children,
many practical
continue in him, so
reasons why we
that when he ap-
should still be
pears we may be
looking for Jesus
confident and un-
to come, while
ashamed before
we still go on do-
him at His com-
ing what is right.
ing‖ (1Jn 2:28)
The believer who
John is saying that
lives by the light Dwight L. Moody
to avoid being
of his or her advent
expectations will find again. I look upon the ashamed when Jesus
world as a wrecked comes, we need to be
that it has a tremen-
dous impact on sev- vessel. God has given continuing in Jesus
eral areas of life. me a lifeboat and said now. He says, ―Dear
to me, ‗Moody, save all friends, now we are
Something To you can‘‖.1 children of God, and
Live For Many in the world lack
what we will be has
Dwight L. Moody, not yet been made
a sense of direction and
though of limited for- known. But we know
purpose in life. Moody
mal education, be- that when he appears,
testifies to the fact that
came one of the most we shall be like him,
the believer who is
 Issue 40 Page 17

for we shall see him as Something For anointed King, who, in

he is. Everyone who has the Life Beyond the words of Wesley‘s
this hope in him purifies Christmas Hymn, Hark
While I applaud the
himself, just as he is the Herald Angels
emphasis on applying
pure‖ (1Jn 3:2, 3). Sing, was ―Born that
the Bible to everyday
John says that the hope life which is so much a man no more may die,
of Christ‘s coming Born to raise the sons
part of contemporary
causes us to live to the of earth, Born to give

standard, to purify our- them second birth.‖ It‘s

preaching the ―good about how he died on
selves as Jesus was news‖ is not ―Seven
pure. Is the lack of pu- a cross to set us free
Steps to a Better Mar- from our slavery to Sa-
rity in the church today riage‖, ―How to Raise
a consequence of the tan, sin and death.
Obedient Children‖
diminishing of the bibli- How to Manage Your When Paul first wrote
cal hope of Christ com- Money‖ or any such to the Christians at
ing again? (as opposed thing. Thessalonica it was not
to ―promotion to glory‖ , about how to get more
for example). It is about Jesus, the out of marriage etc, it
Messiah, God‘s
 From Death To Life Page 18

was about their loved Lord? We may be

ones who had died be- the sort of people
lieving in Jesus. He Jesus warns
wrote to assure them
about in Luke 21.
that when Jesus comes
their loved ones will be Watch! says Je-
resurrected and all of us sus. Heads up! Be
then living will be alert! Pray that
―caught up together you will have the
with them in the clouds,
strength to stand
to meet the Lord in the
air: and so we will be before the Son of
with the Lord forever.‖ "John Calvin wrote Man! Jesus says this
He then added, commentaries on to people who have
―encourage one another every book of the given up on the sec-
with these words‖ (1Th.
Bible but one. When ond coming and
4:13-18).
he got to the last have settled into a
unless Jesus comes first,
book of the Bible-- ground-level relig-
every one of us will die
(and remain dead). Now the Apocalypse, the ion. At this level
those who believe eter- Book of Revelation, their hearts get wa-
nal life is found only the book of whores terlogged. Their
through faith in Christ and dragons and hearts get "weighed
and only at his return
clashing empires-he down," as verse 34
will see why every gen-
eration of Christians read it and then put says. ... [T]hat's
must look to the com- his pen back in his how they end up
ing of Jesus to find hope drawer. trapping them-
even in the face of selves." (“In the in-
But is it better to ig-
death.
nore the Lord's re- terim", Cornelius
David Burge Plantinga Jr. The
turn? Is it better to
Footnotes live with a low ceil- Christian Century.
1. ―Looking for Jesus‖, ing over our lives, Chicago: Dec 6,
www.truthhelpers.com/ 2000. Vol. 117, Iss.
and no room there
cdmaster/Looking% 34; pg. 1270).
20for%20Jesus.doc. for the incoming
 Issue 40 Page 19

Choose Life (Part 2)

By Immanuel Koks
Atonement Seat (Lev 16:15-16.) other goat also carried
Through this process the sins of the people,
Every year the nation
the Sins of the people but it was led away
of Israel would have a
could be covered and into a deserted part of
day of fasting and sac-
they could continue to the wilderness. Signify-
rifice. That day, the
live in the land, in the ing the way the sins of
Day of Atone-
the people,
ment, was
were taken
the day that
away through
their sins
the Atonement
could be cov-
process. Leviti-
ered. Once a
cus 23:29-30
year the high
tells us that
priest would
anyone who
slaughter one
does not keep
goat and
the Day of
have another
Atonement will
led out into
be destroyed,
the wilder-
Why? If they
ness. He
chose to step
would take
out of God‘s
the blood of
mechanism of
the first Goat,
grace for them,
into the most
shadow of God‘s they would reap the
holy part of the Taber-
Grace. Because of consequences of their
nacle/Temple (a part
what happened on this sin, death.
he could only enter
day, the people despite Here, in the Day of
once a year, that is on
their sins continued to Atonement, we see an
the Day af Atonement)
have life that God outworking of God‘s
and would sprinkle the
alone could offer. The grace to his people. He
Blood on the Mercy
 From Death To Life Page 20

knew that the people Jesus Christ but by the very fact
would sin, so made a that we do not believe
ritual whereby they We know John 3:16 so
in the Son. Condemned
could remain in rela- well, ―For God so loved
to what? Perishing.
tionship with him. The the world that he gave
Even in allowing the
ritual, however was his only Son, so that
unbeliever to perish,
not sufficient. The everyone who believes
we see the love of
writer of Hebrews in him may not perish
God, for it is better to
pointedly says, but may have eternal
die than to live for-
―For it is impos- ever in a state of
sible for the sin.
blood of bulls
The book of John is
and goats to
dense with the con-
take away
nection between Je-
sins.‖ (Heb
sus and Life. A
10:4) but in
small selection in-
Christ that sin
cludes: Life was in
has been re-
Him (1:4) The
moved. More
Pharisees searched
than that,
the scriptures ―for
Christ only had
in them was Life.‖
to die, once
but they refused to
and his perfect
come to Jesus who,
sacrifice was
could give them Life
sufficient to
(6:39-40). Meta-
cover all sin,
phorically, he is the
forever. Accord-
bread of Life, and
ing to Hebrews
who ever eats of
the high priest
life.‖ yet the truth re- him will have eternal
and the goats all fore-
shadowed the ultimate mains, if we believe in life (6:41-58). He will
Christ we will have give eternal life to
reality, Christ. But the
eternal life. If we do those who are his
warning remains, if we
sin and walk away not, then verses 17 and (10:25-30). He is ―the
18 say we are con- way, the truth and the
from Christ, the life
demned, not by God, life.‖ He told the Sa-
giver, we will perish
maritan woman that he
(Heb 10:26-31).
 Issue 40 Page 21

offered living water, outside of that rela- except that those who
and whoever drinks tionship there is not. do not have their
the water he gave will name written in the
The End of Time
have eternal life. (4:7- book of life will be
42) We see in the book of thrown into the Lake
Revelation (20:11-15) of Fire, to die the sec-
The message is clear
a time called the Great ond death. Then John
that in choosing Jesus
White throne Judg-
we have eternal Life,
but by not choosing
Jesus we receive con-
demnation and will
perish and die. It is
not my intention, in
this article, to argue
why I take the words -
perish and die - liter-
ally. However I find it
quite clear that the
force of the biblical
story up to and includ-
ing Jesus is that life is
offered only to those
who are in relationship
with God, The Apostle
Paul makes it quite
clear, ―For the wages
of sin is death, but the
free gift of God is eter- flicks us to another
ment. When the dead scene – the New Heav-
nal life in Christ Jesus
rise will be judged. We ens and New Earth. in
our Lord.‖ (Rom 6:23)
are told that some which God wipes tears
Paul, and the other
books are opened. from people‘s eyes,
New Testament writ-
One of which is the where death, mourn-
ers, do not deviate
book of life. We are ing, crying and pain
from the theme, in a
not told much about will be no more (21:4.)
relationship with Christ
the judgment process We are then told of a
there is eternal Life,
 From Death To Life Page 22

river of life flowing story painted here, con-

gelical" who still be-
from the throne of sistently points to their
lieves in Conditional
God and the Lamb fate as death. They will
Immortality. Imman-
(another title for no longer exist. uel's passion is to com-
Christ.) We are told of -Immanuel Koks bine his understanding
trees of life, lining the
river (22:1-3) for the
healing of the nations.
The picture of the
New Heavens is all en-
veloping, there is no
room for the wicked.
They cease to exist in
this picture.
The trajectory of scrip-
ture we have mapped
out shows that those
judged worthy to have
eternal life, are those The Author of disability and his
who are in Christ. That theology. While many
Immanuel's parents
is those who accept Christian organizations
immigrated to New
Jesus as their Lord. are doing good work
Zealand from the Neth-
Those who have not for people with disabili-
erlands in 1968, six
accepted Jesus as ties and those who are
years before Immanuel
Lord and Savior would suffering, there is a
was born with moder-
have already reaped need for a stronger
ate Cerebral Palsy. He
their reward, death. theological foundation.
grew up in the World-
Therefore we must Immanuel feels called
wide Church of God
conclude that the pic- to this. To further this
which he left, with his
ture of the New Heav- goal he plans to study
mother and brother at
ens and New Earth is at Regent College in
the end of 1995. Now,
a very consistent fit Canada. If you would
after attending the
with the biblical narra- like to know more
Bible College of New about Immanuel's
tive. The fate of the
Zealand (BCNZ) Im- dreams and aspirations
wicked is not to live in
manuel considers him- visit his web page at
eternal conscious tor-
self an "orthodox evan- www.immanuelkoks.com
ment. The biblical

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Website:
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Statement of Faith
1. We believe in God and His one and only Son,
Jesus the Christ. Heb. 11:6; John 14:1; 3:16; 20:31;
Mat. 16:16.
2. We believe in the Holy Spirit. 2Pet. 1:21; 1Cor.
6:19; Jude 20; Eph. 3:5.
3. We believe that Jesus died for us and gave
himself a ransom for all. Rom. 5:8; 1Cor. 15:3; 1Tim.
2:6.
4. We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead;
that by resurrection He became Lord of both the
dead and the living, and the first fruits of those who
have fallen asleep; and that whoever believes in Him
shall not perish but have eternal life. Rom. 10:9;
14:9; 1Cor. 15:20; John 3:16.
5. We believe that baptism is commanded by Christ,
was practiced by His Apostles, and is taught in the
New Testament. Mat. 28:18,19; Acts 8:12,38.
6. We believe that all Scripture is God-breathed and
is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, so that the people of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2Tim. 3:16,17.
7. We believe that human beings are by nature
mortal. Gen. 2:7; 3:19; 1Tim. 6:16; 2Tim. 1:10;
Rom. 2:6-7.
8. We believe that human beings in death are
unconscious. Psa. 6:5; 115:17; Ecc. 9:5,10. This is
likened to "sleep". Job 14:12; Psa. 13:3; Jer. 51:39;
Dan. 12:2; John 11:11-14; 1Cor. 15:51.
9. We believe that immortality is obtained only
through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 1Cor. 15:21-
23; 2Tim. 4:7-8; 1John 5:9-12.
10. We believe that there will be a resurrection of
both the righteous and the wicked, to be followed by
the Judgment. Acts 24:15; John 5:25,28,29; Rev.
20:12,13.
11. We believe that evil and evil-doers shall be finally
destroyed. Psa. 145:20; Mat. 10:28 Rom. 6:21; Phil.
3:19; Heb. 2:14; 1John 3:8; Rev. 22:3.
12. We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:11; John 14:3; 1Thes. 4:16.