“Second Chance After Death” Controversy
Arimasa Kubo
Second Chance is a concept of the Christian theology that dead people in Hades (not Hell) have an opportunity to hear the Gospel of Christ and be saved. The “first chance” represents life on earth, and the “second chance” the one in the world after death called Hades in Greek (Sheol in Hebrew).
It is different from Christian universalism that all people will be saved. It describes the opportunity to start over for salvation after death, postmortem evangelism and posthumous conversions. There is a controversy as to whether there is such an opportunity or not.
Controversy
The second chance controversy is between affirmationists and denialists as to whether non-Christians after death can have opportunity to hear the Gospel of Christ to be saved or not.
It contains disputes whether Jesus preached the Gospel to the dead or not, whether Jesus descended into Hades or Hell after death, whether the worlds after death for people are “only Heaven and Hell” or “Heaven, Hades and Hell,” whether the final judgment is immediately after death or at the end of the world, whether God gives opportunity for dead people to hear the Gospel and to be saved or not, etc..
Jesus Preached Gospel to the Dead or Not?
Affirmationists of the second chance state that Jesus descended into Hades after his death on the cross, preached the Gospel to the dead and gave them second chances to believe in him and be saved. While, denialists deny that interpretation. This is about the following Bible verses:
“Being put to death… he [Jesus] went and preached to the spirits in prison… the gospel was preached also to those who are dead.” (I Peter 3:18–4:6)
Church fathers and historians in the 2nd-3rd centuries such as Hippolytus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen interpreted these verses as that Jesus descended into Hades to preach the Gospel. William Barclay, a professor of the University of Glasgow in the UK, interpreted in the same way, and wrote that Jesus gave the dead people “another opportunity” to hear his Gospel and be saved.
Joel B. Green, a professor of the Fuller Theological Seminary in the US, writes the same, mentioning that it was the understanding of the Early Christianity. Yoshinobu Kumazawa, ex-president of the Tokyo Theological University, and Tsuneaki Kato, a professor of the university, preach from these verses that there are opportunities for dead people in Hades to hear the Gospel and be saved.
Some denialists, on the other hand, interpret these Bible verses as Jesus descended to “Hell to preach condemnation,” not to preach the Gospel. Some other denialists, the Bible only mentions that Jesus preached the Gospel to spiritually dead people in Noah’s time because Jesus was spiritually in Noah’s preaching.
A pastor denied the affirmationists’ interpretation, mentioning that if there were such opportunities for dead people to hear the Gospel, the works of missionaries who are putting their lives on the line in the world would become not worth it. But is it a right understanding of the Bible?
Jesus Descended into Hades or Hell?
Affirmationists interpret that Jesus went down into Hades which is different from Hell, and preached the Good News to the dead. Many denialists oppose that interpretation, referring to “he (Jesus) descended into hell” of the English Apostles’ Creed, a Christian creed well-used in the USA, and interpret that Jesus went down into Hell, where there is no possibility for people to be saved. A pastor, on the other hand, denied the second chance, referring to “he descended into hell” of the Apostles’ Creed as a proof.
As for this, many theologians, including both affirmationists and some denialists of the second chance, point out that the statement “he descended into hell” was not in early versions of the Apostles’ Creed. The Lexham Bible Dictionary states that the Old Roman Symbol, an early version of the creed, had no word of Hell, but later in the 5th century, the Apostles’ Creed in Latin added the words “he descended into hell (inferos in Latin).”
The Bible itself states, “his soul was not left in hades” (Acts 2:31 in original Greek), but Roman Christians in those days thought that Hades is the same as Hell and they replaced the word with Hell. The King James Version, an old authorized English translation of the Bible published in 1611, also translated all the words of Hades into Hell.
The Apostles’ Creed in many Eastern countries, on the other hand, reads “he descended into hades” using the original Greek word, for in those countries Hades is different from Hell.
The Messianic Jews (Jews who believe Jesus as the Messiah) reject “he descended into hell” as not biblical, and confess Jesus descended into Sheol, the Hebrew word for Hades. The Church of England and others avoid to use the word Hell, and confess “he descended to the dead.” American churches which use “he descended to the dead” are increasing.
There are people who say that the Christian world is thus in a “confusion” in understanding the worlds after death. Wayne Grudem, an American theologian, wrote a thesis entitled, “He Did Not Descend into Hell: A Plea for Following Scripture Instead of the Apostles’ Creed.”
There are also denialists of the second chance who say “he descended into hell” is wrong, and “…into hades” is right. But they do not think that Jesus preached the Gospel in Hades. Many of them think that Jesus preached condemnation there. However, the Bible says that Jesus preached the Gospel in Hades.
Only Heaven and Hell After Death?
Affirmationists of the second chance think that Hades is different from Hell, and that there are three worlds for people after death; Heaven, Hades and Hell. Many denialists think that Hades is the same as Hell, and that there are only Heaven and Hell after death.
Rex Humbard, an American television evangelist, taught that Hades is not Hell, and that Jesus descended into Hades. Although Hades and Hell have been historically much confused, Hades (Sheol in Hebrew) was the place where not only the wicked, but also the believers in God went after death in Old Testament times (Genesis 37:35).
Hades is the temporary place now for non-believers in New Testament times until the final judgment of God of the end of the world. The Bible states that at the end of the world, all non-believers in Hades will be taken to the court of the final judgment, and be told their final destination. After the judgement, “Hades were cast into the lake of fire (Hell)” (Revelations 20:14). So, Hades cannot be identical with Hell.
We can say that it was wrong that the King James Version (KJV) translated the rich man, in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, went to “hell” after death, because the original Greek word is Hades (Luke 16:23). Billy Graham, an American evangelist, denied the second chance after death but stated that the rich man was in a compartment of Hades. There are also many theologians who write that Hades is different from Hell.
But for majority of denialists, Hades is just another name for Hell. For instance, a pastor denied the second chance, referring to the Westminster Confession of Faith (published in 1646) which states:
“The souls of the righteous… are received into the highest heavens… And the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day. Beside these two places, for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.”
According to the Confession, there are only two places after death; Heaven and Hell, since Hades is thought to be the same as Hell, in which it is impossible for non-Christians to have second chances after death. A famous pastor once received a question from a believer, “There are those who were good but died without hearing the Gospel and salvation. Is there any possibility that they could be saved after death?” He just answered, “Those who did not believe in Jesus in their lives on earth are not to be saved.” But his answer was based on the thought that the worlds after death are only Heaven and Hell.
Judgment Immediately After Death?
The Bible states that there are:
(1) Heaven for believers in Christ,
(2) Hades as the temporary place for non-believers until the final judgment,
(3) Hell as the final destination for unbelievers.
Non-Christians go to Hades after death. Hades is like a house of detention before trial, while Hell is like a jail after trial. Dead non-Christians stay in Hades, some people being comforted and some being punished, to look back their lives and deeds on earth, until the court of God’s final judgment which will be held at the end of the world. Please look at the Second Chance for the Dead for details.
Their final destination, God’s kingdom (Heaven) or Hell, will be delivered at the court of judgement. The “judgement” mentioned at Hebrews 9:27 (“People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment”) takes place not immediately after death, but at the end of the world.
Many denialists, on the other hand, think that people are to be divided to go to either Heaven or Hell immediately after death. Denialists often refer to Hebrews 9:27, explaining it as the “judgement” takes place immediately after death. An evangelical ministry teaches Hebrew 9:27 as indicating that death is the “end of all chances.” A pastor teaches Hebrew 9:27 as meaning that there is no opportunity for salvation after death. However, the judgment at Hebrew 9:27 is actually not immediately after death, but at the end of the world.
Is There Second Chance After Death?
Affirmationists of the second chance has often given rise to controversy to Christian world. Tsugumichi Ohkawa, the chief pastor of the Yamato Calvary Chapel, preached on television that after death non-Christians do not go to Hell, but go to Hades which is the temporary place until the final judgment of God, and in Hades they can hear the Gospel as the “Second Chance” to be saved.
Ohkawa’s sermon gave rise to controversy. Debates began on magazines and at seminars. At the debates, denialists opposed that the idea of the second chance will let people postpone their conversions to afterlife. Affirmationists answered that Christianity is not only for afterlife, but also for life on earth, and people will never postpone their conversions if the merit to have faith on earth is well preached.
As the biblical basis of the second chance, most affirmationists referred to the following Bible verses:
“the gospel was preached also to those who are dead” (I Peter 3:18–4:6),
God is merciful “to the dead” (Ruth 2:20),
God is the one who “relents” (Jeremiah 18:8),
The Gospel is not only for the living, but also for “those under the earth (Hades)” (Philippians 2:10–11),
“The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live… all who are in the graves will hear his voice” (John 5:25–28),
The voices of worship to God will be heard from “under the earth” (Hades) near the end of the world (Revelations 5:13),
The “Book of Life,” the name list of the saved, is submitted to the court of God’s final judgment (Revelations 20:12–15),
“If you confess the Lord Jesus… you will be saved… Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living” (Romans 10:9, 14:9).
Denialists interpreted these verses as all no-related to the second chance. William Wood, an American missionary, writes in his book that the bible verses, which the affirmationists referred to, are all not in the context of the second chance, and do not mean salvation after death. Wood referred to the Bible verse, “As many as have sinned without law will also perish without law” (Romans 2:12), as a proof of the second chance denial. Certainly, people will perish without law if they do not have Christ, but if they have Christ, they can be be saved.
Postmortem Evangelism?
Affirmationists think that the Gospel is told not only on earth, but also in Hades, while denialists deny that possibility.
Donald G. Bloesch, a professor emeritus of the Dubuque Theological Seminary in the US, writes in his book “The Last Things” that if the Gospel was told to the dead by Jesus (I Peter 3:18–4:6), we can expect that the opportunity for salvation after death will be given even after that.
Gabriel Fackre, a professor emeritus of the Andover Newton Seminary in the US, writes in his book “What About Those Who Have Never Heard?” that “God’s Divine Perseverance” will give the opportunity of salvation even after death to all who died without hearing the Gospel.
Valery Kuzev, a faculty member of the Pryazovskyi State Technical University in Ukraine, writes that the traditional model of Hell is incompatible with the idea of God’s justice, and he puts forward the second chance theory.
James Beilby, a professor of the Bethel University, teaches salvation after death in his book “Postmortem Opportunity,” writing that the God of love hopes the way to salvation is in reach of everyone. In the world, there are many who died without any experience to hear the Gospel even once in their lives. They will get opportunities for salvation after death.
Another pastor says that Christianity has been criticized when saying that all such dead non-Christians are already in Hell with no hope to be saved. It made Christianity sound unreasonable, but the distinction of Hades from Hell with the second chance theology will solve the problem. The belief in the second chance is compatible with the passion for evangelism, for the Bible orders Christians to tell the Gospel, and it is an inevitable responsibility for those who received God’s grace to share the grace to others.
Denialists oppose these ideas mainly because they think those will let people postpone their conversions to afterlife. William Wood writes that if there were second chances, people would think, “OK, we can convert after death,” and on the contrary, if there are no second chances as the affirmationists say, it would send them who postponed their conversions to Hell. He also points out that the thought of the second chance will make believers lose their passion for evangelism.
However, having faith in Christ is like a marriage which a woman decides to live with a man. If she loves him, will she postpone the marriage to after her death? If we preach how good the life with Christ is, people will never postpone having faith in Christ. And either there is the second chance or not, it is our passion to share God’s love and grace with others.
The Rich Man Has No Hope?
Between affirmationists and denialists, the interpretation of the story “The Rich Man and Lazarus” (Luke 16:19–31) differs largely. In the story Jesus told, the rich man who had lived self-centered died, and went to a place of torment. The rich man regretted his self-centered life on earth, and asked Abraham, who were in the place of comfort, to send Lazarus to testify to the brothers of the rich man, lest the brothers also come to that place of torment.
Affirmationists explain that the rich man was in a place of torment in Hades, while Abraham and Lazarus were in the place of comfort in Hades. The story is all about Hades, not about Heaven and Hell. In Hades, the rich man could regret his life and showed his love to his brothers.
At the court of God’s final judgment, the rich man’s love will be in God’s considerations. The rich man’s wish was rejected by Abraham in Hades, but if Jesus was there, he would have rejoiced to hear the rich man’s love. For affirmationists, Hades is the place of the second chance.
Denialists, on the other hand, interpret the same story as denying the second chance. A Music Group Whitecross sings “No Second Chances” and in the words of the song go like this: the rich man died and in the torment of Hell he said, “Give me one more chance to do things right. I’ll follow the light,” but there were no second chances.
A television evangelist taught that this story is an example of the man who did not repent even after he died, he is suffering greatly but did not repent and only begged Abraham to send Lazarus to his family, this story is thus to show that man’s heart does not change by only dying.
However, didn’t the rich man repent? His words sound like he is repenting. His soul is like the tax collector who identified himself as a sinner and prayed God’s mercy on him. Jesus said the tax collector was “justified” by God(Luke 18:10–14). He will believe in Christ when he hears Christ’s Gospel. Hades is such a place with the second chance.
