We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost;
the saved unto the resurrection of eternal life
and the lost unto the resurrection of damnation
and eternal punishment.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 (close)

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery:
We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable,
and we will be changed.
53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable,
and the mortal with immortality.
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality,
then the saying that is written will come true:
"Death has been swallowed up in victory."
55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 20:11-15 Revelation 20:11-15 (close)

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it.
The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne,
and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life.
The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it,
and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them,
and each person was judged according to what they had done.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

COMMENT

We are assured of resurrection but face the threat of judgement.
The comforting carrot that we can meet the deceased again
is clearly waved alongside the stick of punishment
to promote clerical control.

Atonement Theory backs this conception
though with no true reality!

Herein lies the source of the shaman's power
proclaimer of the fatal mystery
holder of the keys to the other world
the realm of spirits, unearthly power

Herein lies the power of medieval priests
proclaimer of sacramental mystery
holders of the keys to heaven or hell
guardians of the gates of purgatory

Herein lies the power of religious ritual
for, even as we proclaim
the ministry of all believers,
the fear of hell undergirds
clerical control

Sadly nothing has changed in our more enlightened age,
except that incredulity has multiplied
and organised religion fades away.