Search — Theology Explorer

Mormon afterlife three degrees of glory telestial kingdom

Christian view of heaven: dwelling in God's presence. Mormon view: one of three tiered kingdoms — telestial, terrestrial, celestial.

Sixth vocabulary comparison: 'going to heaven.' The Mormon afterlife is a complex tiered system rather than a simple presence with God.

Mormon afterlife telestial kingdom LDS soteriology

Mormon telestial kingdom: lowest level, for the wicked who may burn off sin in hell before arriving; no access to God the Father or Jesus, only the Holy Spirit visits.

Details of the lowest tier of the Mormon afterlife.

Mormon afterlife terrestrial kingdom LDS soteriology

Mormon terrestrial kingdom: middle level for 'lukewarm Mormons'; Jesus and Holy Spirit present, but no access to God the Father.

Details of the middle tier of the Mormon afterlife.

celestial kingdom LDS soteriology Mormon exaltation

Mormon celestial kingdom: highest level, where one may become a god. Leads into the concept of Mormon exaltation.

Overview of the highest tier of the Mormon afterlife, previewing the exaltation concept discussed in more detail later.

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-21

Q&A — Matthew 18:34 ('delivered to the torturers until he pays all') examined as a tertiary purgatory text

Viewer raises a third passage sometimes used for purgatory — the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Matthew 18:34 Matthew 18:21-35 purgatory Matthew 18:34 Matthew 18:21-35

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-21

Q&A — Why did none of the resurrected dead (Lazarus, etc.) speak about the afterlife?

Question on what those raised from the dead could reveal about life after death

2 Corinthians 12 Paul resurrection 2 Corinthians 12

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-21

Warning against near-death experience books and hell-tourism ministries as a soft case

Critique of popular NDE-based ministry and books

discernment false teaching near-death experience

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-17

Infants and young children who die are saved — Mike holds this as a personal conviction based on David's hope of reunion with his deceased infant son.

Q&A section: a viewer asks whether their 8-month-old sister who died will be in heaven.

2 Samuel heaven Q&A infant salvation

Mike Winger idea 2018-12-19

Philippians 3:10-11 — resurrection is found only through Christ, not through Jewish law-keeping

Continuing the Philippians 3 passage

Philippians 3:10-11 Paul resurrection Philippians 3:10-11

Mike Winger idea 2019-02-13

Marriage does not exist in heaven; relational bonds persist but are not exclusive spousal bonds

Second part of viewer's marriage question about afterlife

Matthew 22:30 Christ and the Church eschatology resurrection

Mike Winger idea 2019-03-13

Are ghosts real? Mike's view: likely evil spirits, not the spirits of the dead.

Jim McGregor asks whether ghosts are real or evil spirits.

Luke 16 (Lazarus and the rich man) Ghosts Luke 16 (Lazarus and the rich man) Demons / evil spirits

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

Q&A on John 14:2-3 "I go to prepare a place for you" — Mike's understanding of the intermediate state and the new heaven and new earth

Viewer question on the afterlife and the meaning of Jesus preparing a place

John 14:2-3 Revelation 21 eschatology new heaven and new earth intermediate state

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-30

Q&A: Are the dead conscious after death? Are loved ones watching over us? — Believers go immediately to God's presence; watching over us is uncertain

Viewer Q&A about the state of the dead and whether loved ones watch over the living.

Ecclesiastes resurrection soul sleep intermediate state

Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

No marriage in heaven does not mean demotion — relationships will be closer and better in the resurrection

Question: Since there is no marriage in heaven, will married couples be strangers? Mike addresses Matthew 22:30.

Matthew 22:30 resurrection eschatology Matthew 22:30

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

1 John 4 on love and assurance: knowing and believing God's love is the foundation for freedom from fear about the afterlife

Q&A from Taste Remains about anxiety regarding the afterlife and assurance of salvation

1 John 4:7-16 propitiation assurance of salvation 1 John 4:7-16

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Anxiety about the afterlife hinders prayer and joy; confidence before God enables effective prayer

Pastoral application of the 1 John 3 text

1 John 3:21-22 prayer assurance of salvation fear of judgment

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Introduction to soul sleep vs. immediate presence with God at death

Opening question of the 20 Questions livestream format

soul sleep intermediate state death and afterlife

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Immortal soul — JW/annihilationist claim that it is a Greek import, not Jewish or biblical

Q from Grace Lou 22 about a JW friend who says the Greek word for soul just means any living being and that the immortal soul concept is Greek philosophy smuggled into Christianity.

1 Samuel 28 Samuel Saul Jehovah's Witnesses

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

In Jewish thought: first heaven = atmosphere, second heaven = space/stars, third heaven = God's presence

Mike explains the consistent rabbinic framework for multiple heavens

Mormonism rabbinic literature hermeneutics

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Assurance about a loved one's salvation: if they professed faith and their life evidenced it, trust they are in heaven; if they clearly rejected Christ, honest uncertainty is appropriate.

Question: how can you know a loved one went to heaven?

salvation assurance death and afterlife

Ecclesiastes 9:5 afterlife Ecclesiastes 9:5 state of the dead

Q2: Can the dead be aware of what happens on earth? Ecclesiastes 9:5 examined

Response to viewer question citing Ecclesiastes 9:5 ("the dead know nothing")

Revelation 6:10 afterlife state of the dead Revelation 6:10

Revelation: saints in heaven concerned for earthly events, asking "how long, Lord?"

Continuing discussion on dead's awareness of earth

resurrection soul sleep personal identity

Q4: Soul sleep, resurrection, and the problem of personal continuity

Response to question about whether resurrection is "snatching" someone from paradise/hell

Matthew 25:41 Revelation 20:10 metaphor eschatology fire

Q20: Is hell a literal place of fire and gnashing of teeth, or metaphorical? Open question, research project planned

Response to question about the nature of hell

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: What happens to animals and insects when they die?

Viewer Samantha Hott asks whether animals and insects have souls and what becomes of them at death.

death soul new creation

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: What is the difference between Hades and Hell — do people go directly to hell at death?

Viewer Henry Avery's Gravery asks Mike to elaborate on his view that people do not go directly to hell when they die.

Revelation Luke 16 millennium eschatology Revelation

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Ghosts, the witch of Endor, and demonic impersonation of the dead

Lindsay Kelso asked whether the Bible supports ghosts, and whether those who claim to see them are actually encountering demons.

1 Samuel 28 Leviticus 19:31 Deuteronomy 18:11 Samuel Catholicism afterlife

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Paradise in Paul's vision, the thief on the cross, and Lazarus — same place?

David's Kinion Memoirs asks whether paradise in Paul's third-heaven vision, Jesus's promise to the thief, and the Lazarus/Abraham account are the same place.

Luke 23:43 1 Peter 3:19 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 intermediate state Luke 23:43 Hades

Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Hebrews 12:1 — the cloud of witnesses is the inspiring example of their lives, not people watching from heaven; secular inspiring figures are fine but cannot be primary mentors

Responding to whether it is sinful to be inspired by historical people outside the Bible

Hebrews 11 Hebrews 12:1 Hebrews 11 inspiration Hebrews 12:1

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-16

The Sadducees: no resurrection, no judgment, no afterlife, no angels/spirits; aristocratic minority of educated elites; publicly pretended to be faithful Jews while privately rejecting core beliefs. Modern progressives follow the exact same pattern.

Detailed profile of the Sadducees and their modern parallels

John Dominic Crossan Alisa Childers Josephus Josephus

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-16

Jesus agreed with the Pharisees on 4 points (supernatural worldview, resurrection, Scripture authority, messianic focus of OT) but disagreed on 3 (traditions as doctrine, authority claims, works-righteousness). Jesus agreed with the Sadducees on NOTHING.

Summary: Jesus vs. Pharisees vs. Sadducees mapped to modern groups

Roman Catholicism sola scriptura resurrection

Mike Winger idea 2021-06-18

Why do Animals Die or Become Extinct?: If “the wages of sin is death,” why do animals die? (My question also involves the extinction of the dinosaurs - why would God create them to be exterminated?)

Q&A question: Why do Animals Die or Become Extinct?

death and afterlife creation and science

Mike Winger idea 2021-06-18

About the Death of our Pets: My cat died this week. Where did he go?

Q&A question: About the Death of our Pets

Mike Winger idea 2021-08-06

About the Timing of our Death: Are our deaths appointed to us in both time and manner? If a person dies being hit by a car on the corner of Times Square, was it always going to end that way?

Q&A question: About the Timing of our Death

Mike Winger idea 2022-04-08

Biblical or Unbiblical Use of a Verse?: Many Christians use "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away" from Job (1: 21) to explain difficult things such as the death of a loved one. Is this biblical, or is it a misinterpretation of Job?

Q&A question: Biblical or Unbiblical Use of a Verse?

hermeneutics death and afterlife

Mike Winger idea 2022-05-06

Is it Sometimes Biblical to Pray for Death?: Is there ever a biblical case to pray for someone to die? Didn't Paul pray for the destruction of some peoples’ flesh for the spirit to be saved in the day of judgment?

Q&A question: Is it Sometimes Biblical to Pray for Death?

Mike Winger idea 2022-07-22

About Near-Death Experiences: What do you think about near-death experiences?

Q&A question: About Near-Death Experiences

Mike Winger idea 2022-08-13

Should we Pray for those who Pass Away?: I just lost a friend to an overdose. I don't think she was a believer. Should I pray for her mercy or is there no point after death?

Q&A question: Should we Pray for those who Pass Away?

Mike Winger idea 2023-04-21

How to Biblically Process Grief: How do we deal with grief in the right & biblical way? I lost my dad months ago by sudden death. I feel worried, I’m angry, and I cry. I’m so tired of the rollercoaster feelings.

Q&A question: How to Biblically Process Grief

suffering death and afterlife

Mike Winger idea 2024-06-07

What Exactly Is Sin?: What exactly is sin? Is there a difference between sins against the flesh and sins against the heart/spirit? Does 1 John 5: 17 have anything to do with that? Is sin only sin when it causes death?

Q&A question: What Exactly Is Sin?

Mike Winger idea 2024-07-12

Is there Really an Afterlife?: Why do Christians think there is an afterlife? Why not just look at death as a return to the quantum state, like before we were born?

Q&A question: Is there Really an Afterlife?

Mike Winger idea 2025-01-03

What is Hades Like?: Looking at Luke 16: 19-31 (Rich Man and Lazarus), what does this parable teach us about the afterlife, and how literally should the depiction in that passage of Heaven and Hell be taken?

Q&A question: What is Hades Like?

Luke 16 Lazarus Luke 16 hell

Mike Winger idea 2025-09-12

Does History Really Repeat Itself?: With the death of Charlie Kirk, it feels like we are in times similar to the 60s. Is it biblical to think that history repeats itself, or is mankind just predictable?

Q&A question: Does History Really Repeat Itself?

Mike Winger idea 2025-11-14

God’s Presence Upon Death?: Will we see God right away when we die?

Q&A question: God’s Presence Upon Death?