54 Resurrection of the Just & Unjust, 1

Resurrection of the Just and Unjust, Part 1
Text: Rev. 20:4-15

Summary: The subject of what happens to a person after death (called individual or personal eschatology), though often subject to novel interpretations, is discernible from Scripture and is dramatically and powerfully presented in this passage, where it serves as both a comfort to Christians and a warning to unbelieving sinners.

I. A Confusing Topic.
A. Beliefs about heaven and hell.
B. A Catalog of Errors.

1. Dualism.
2. Compartmentalization.
3. Soul Sleep
4. Purgatory
5. Annihilation.

II. A Comprehensible Topic. After centuries of biblical ignorance in the churches, the Reformed confessions sought to express systematically the Bible’s teachings on various topics. The extent to which they agreed on nearly every issue is especialy remarkable.
A. The 1689 Confession.
B. Ursinus’ Larger Catechism.
C. The Second Helvetic Confession.
D. The Belgic Confession.