The Destiny of the Dead

I. The O.T. Dead (Genesis to Malachi)
   A. The bodies of both saved and lost went into the earth (back to dust)
   B. The souls of both the lost (unrighteous) and the saved (righteous) went into Sheol

(This word is often translated in the King James Version “grave" (e.g. Ge 37:35; 1Sa 2:6; Job 7:9; 14:13; Ps 6:5; 49:14; Isa 14:11, etc.) or “hell" (e.g. De 32:22; Ps 9:17; 18:5; Isa 14:9; Am 9:2, etc.); in 3 places by “pit" (Nu 16:30,33; Job 17:16). It means really the unseen world, the state or abode of the dead, and is the equivalent of the Greek Haides, by which word it is translated in Septuagint.)

      1. There is no clear differentiation between the abode of the O.T. lost or saved in Sheol, but the righteous spoke of returning from Sheol to be with God (Job 14:7-15)

II. The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) Dead (O.T. Jewish theology transitioning to N.T. church theology.  From the promised Messiah to the present Messiah.)
   A. The bodies of both saved and lost went into the earth (back to dust)

   B. The souls of both the lost (unrighteous) and the saved (righteous) went into Sheol or Hades (Greek term for Sheol).
       1. The Greek conception of Hades was that of a locality receiving into itself all the dead, but divided into two regions, one a place of torment, the other of blessedness. 
       2. In the Gospels, Hades is pictured as a divided place. 
          a. One side is Hell (Luke 16:22b-26).
          b. One side is Paradise (Luke 23:43) or Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22).
          c. Both sides are temporary holding areas for the souls of the dead. 

   C. Apparently during Jesus 3 days in the tomb, He went down to Hades, presented Himself as the promised Messiah, and led the paradise side to Heaven (Eph. 4:8). 

III. The N.T. Dead (Acts through Revelation 3).
   A. The bodies of both saved and lost went and go into the earth (back to dust)

   B. The souls of the lost go immediately into Hades/Hell (Heb. 9:27; 2 Pet. 2:9).
        1. Gehenna is a transliteration from the Aramaic form of the Hebrew ge-hinnom, “valley of Hinnom.” It designates the place of eternal punishment of the wicked, generally in connection with the final judgment. It is associated with fire as the source of torment.  That “the valley of Hinnom” became the technical designation for the place of final punishment was due to two causes. In the first place the valley had been the seat of the idolatrous worship of Molech, to whom children were immolated by fire (2Ch 28:3; 33:6). Secondly, on account of these practices the place was defiled by King Josiah (2Ki 23:10), and became in consequence associated in prophecy with the judgment to be visited upon the people (Jer 7:32). The fact, also, that the city's offal was collected there may have helped to render the name synonymous with extreme defilement.

   C. The souls of the saved go immediately into the presence of Christ (2 Cor. 5:8)

IV. The Tribulation Period Dead (Rev. 4-19)
   A. The bodies of both saved and lost go into the earth (back to dust)

   B. The souls of the lost go immediately into Hades/Hell

   C. The souls of the saved go immediately into the presence of Christ (Rev. 6:9; 7:9)

V. The Millennial Kingdom Dead (1,000 years)
   A. The bodies of both saved and lost go into the earth (back to dust)

   B. The souls of the lost go immediately into Hades/Hell

   C. The souls of the saved go immediately into the presence of Christ
      1. B & C are assumed since the Bible does not speak to this.

VI. The Eternal State Dead
    A. No death