Welcome to Day 20 of our 60-Day Challenge! But before we tackle today’s question, let’s take a moment to reflect on the question from Day 19: Why do many people believe in a single heaven and a single hell, when the Bible actually teaches about varying degrees of glory after the resurrection?

This is one of those questions that challenges us to look beyond tradition and dive into what the scriptures really say about the afterlife. So let’s unpack this idea together and see how it aligns with both the Bible and the restored gospel.

The Tradition of One Heaven and One Hell

For centuries, much of Christianity has framed the afterlife as a binary choice:

  • Heaven: Eternal reward for the righteous.

  • Hell: Eternal punishment for the wicked.

This straightforward view of the afterlife was often emphasized in early Christian teachings. Leaders like Augustine and Jerome focused on the simplicity of salvation—eternal life for the righteous, eternal damnation for the unrighteous.

Why? Simplicity makes the message easier to understand and share. A single heaven and hell create a clear incentive to live a righteous life and avoid sin.

But as straightforward as this view is, it doesn’t fully align with the richness of biblical teachings about the resurrection and the afterlife.

What the Bible Says About Degrees of Glory

Let’s turn to scripture. Paul gives us a glimpse of a more nuanced afterlife in 1 Corinthians 15:40-42:

“There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.”

Here, Paul compares the resurrection to celestial bodies, highlighting differing levels of glory. These distinctions suggest that the afterlife isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience—there are varying degrees of reward and glory.

Jesus Himself hints at this in John 14:2:

“In my Father’s house are many mansions.”

This imagery of “many mansions” suggests that not everyone’s experience of heaven will be identical. Instead, there are different places or states, each reflecting a person’s choices and spiritual readiness.

The Restored Gospel’s View: Degrees of Glory

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expands on these biblical teachings through modern revelation, providing a more detailed and merciful view of the afterlife. Here’s how it works:

1. The Three Degrees of Glory

After the resurrection, individuals are assigned to one of three kingdoms of glory based on their faithfulness and choices:

  • The Celestial Kingdom (compared to the glory of the sun):
    This is the highest kingdom, reserved for those who have accepted Jesus Christ, received essential ordinances like baptism, and lived faithfully.

    • They dwell in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ.

    • They continue to grow and progress eternally.

  • The Terrestrial Kingdom (compared to the glory of the moon):
    This kingdom is for honorable people who lived good lives but did not fully accept the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    • They experience great glory but do not dwell in the presence of God the Father.

  • The Telestial Kingdom (compared to the glory of the stars):
    This is for individuals who were wicked or unrepentant in mortality.

    • While it’s a lesser glory, it is still better than mortal existence.

    • They are ministered to by those in higher kingdoms.

2. Outer Darkness (Hell)

The doctrine of the restored church also includes the concept of Outer Darkness, often equated with hell.

  • This is reserved for the sons of perdition—individuals who had a full knowledge of the gospel and willfully rejected and opposed Christ.

  • Unlike the temporary state of suffering commonly associated with hell, Outer Darkness is a permanent separation from God.

A Merciful View of the Afterlife

The restored gospel’s view of the afterlife reflects the fairness and justice of God. It accounts for:

  • Individual Choices: Every person is judged according to their works, faith, and repentance.

  • God’s Mercy: Even those in the telestial kingdom receive glory far greater than mortal life, highlighting God’s love for all His children.

  • Ongoing Progression: The celestial kingdom offers eternal growth, emphasizing that our spiritual journey doesn’t end at death.

A Practical Takeaway

One of my favorite insights from this teaching came when someone asked me: “Do you want to go to heaven?” Of course, I said yes! But then they added:

“If you don’t learn to be heavenly now, you won’t feel comfortable there.”

This hit me hard. The celestial kingdom isn’t just a place—it’s a state of being. Living faithfully, repenting daily, and following Christ’s commandments are how we prepare ourselves to feel at home in God’s presence.

What’s Next? Question 21

Now that we’ve explored the beautiful doctrine of degrees of glory, here’s your next challenge:

What does the scripture mean when Peter talks about the need for a future restoration?

You’ll find the answer in Acts 3:19-21.

What do you think about the idea of degrees of glory? How does this understanding shape your perspective on the afterlife?

Drop your thoughts in the comments, and if this blog gave you a new perspective, share it with someone who might find it meaningful.

Transcription:

  Hi, my name is Joe Cirillo with Gospel First, and thanks for following me on this exciting journey to find Christ restored church in our day. But before I give you question number 21, did you get the answer to question number 20? Why do people believe in one heaven and one hell when the Bible teaches that there are various degrees of glory after the resurrection?

Now, there are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies, but the glory of the celestial is one and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars. For one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead.

It is sown in corruption. It is raised in incorruption. The belief in one heaven and one hell is rooted in centuries of Christian tradition and theology. But the Bible indeed presents a more nuanced view of the afterlife. Especially in passages that discuss different degrees of glory. The idea of various degrees of reward or punishment is based on scriptural references.

But many believers and theologians have interpreted these differently throughout history. Many Christians maintain the idea of a single heaven and hell. The early Christian teachings often emphasize the simplicity of the gospel message to make it accessible to as many people as possible. The concepts of heaven as a reward and hell as a punishment were direct and clear, encouraging people to live righteous lives and avoid sin.

Now, many early Christian fathers, such as Augustine and Jerome, focused on salvation as either leading to eternal life, or heaven, or eternal damnation, hell, with little emphasis on any gradation within these states. However, 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses 40 to 42, Paul speaks of different kinds of bodies that will exist after the resurrection.

This suggests varying degrees of glory or reward in the afterlife, comparing them to celestial bodies of different brightness. John 14, 2, Jesus says, In my father's house are many mansions. Now this passage has often been interpreted to mean that there are varying degrees of reward or glory, suggesting not all experiences of heaven will be identical.

In the restored church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, the concept of degrees of glory is central to understanding the afterlife. And this view contrasts significantly with a more common Christian belief in a single heaven and hell. The church doctrine teaches that after the resurrection, all individuals will be assigned to one of three main kingdoms of glory, reflecting their choices and faithfulness in this life.

The three degrees of glory, as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Doctrine and Covenants section, uh, number 76. These kingdoms, often referred to as heavens, are celestial kingdom. That's the highest kingdom reserved for those who have accepted Jesus Christ, received the necessary ordinances, such as baptism, and live faithfully.

Those in the celestial kingdom will dwell in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ, and continue to progress eternally. Amen. It is compared to the glory of the sun. Now, the terrestrial kingdom, this is for honorable people who lived good lives, but did not fully accept the gospel of Jesus Christ.

They will experience great glory, but will not dwell in the presence of God, the Father. It is compared to the glory of the moon. The telestial kingdom, on the other hand, this is for individuals who were wicked and did not repent or accept the gospel. Though this kingdom is of lesser glory, it is still better than mortal existence.

People in this kingdom will be ministered to by those in higher kingdoms. It is compared to the glory of the stars. And then of course you got utter darkness, which we call hell. The doctrine also includes that the concept of utter darkness, which can be compared to traditional views of hell, however, this is reserved for a specific group of individuals.

Those who are called Sons of Perdition. These are people who have had a full knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and have witnessed His power, and yet chose to deny and oppose Him. Utter darkness is not the temporary state like the traditional Christian view of hell, but a place of permanent separation from God.

The restored Church of Jesus Christ offers a more detailed and merciful view of the afterlife compared to the mainstream Christian concept of one heaven and one hell. The varying kingdoms reflect the fairness and justice of God, who rewards all according to their choices, actions, and spiritual progress.

The scriptural basis for this doctrine is found in both the Bible and modern revelations, emphasizing personalized judgment and the potential for continued growth and glory in the life to come. I was once asked, Do you want to go to heaven? I said, Of course I do. Then the question was followed by this statement.

If you don't learn to be heavenly, you won't feel comfortable in it. So, which one of the three kingdoms do you want to be in the afterlife? Here's question 20. What does the scripture mean when Peter talks about the need for a future restoration? You can find the answer in Acts chapter 3, verses 19 to 21, and of course, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Now, I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Gospel First Lesson and have found it inspiring. For more insights on God's plan of happiness for you, you can visit our website at gospelfirst. net. Now, I'd love to hear from you, so please leave your questions or comments in the comments section of this video.

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