Then I saw see it here a beast come out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads; on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads blasphemous name[s]. 2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, but it had feet like a bear’s, and its mouth was like the mouth of a lion. To it the dragon gave its own power and throne, along with great authority. 3 I saw that one of its heads seemed to have been mortally wounded, but this mortal wound was healed. Fascinated, the whole world followed after the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon because it gave its authority to the beast; they also worshiped the beast and said, “Who can compare with the beast or who can fight against it?”

5 The beast was given a mouth uttering proud boasts and blasphemies, and it was given authority to act for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was also allowed to wage war against the holy ones and conquer them, and it was granted authority over every tribe, people, tongue, and nation. 8 All the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, all whose names were not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life, which belongs to the Lamb who was slain. 9 Whoever has ears ought to hear these words. 10 Anyone destined for captivity goes into captivity. Anyone destined to be slain by the sword shall be slain by the sword. Such is the faithful endurance of the holy ones.

All sorts of nasty things happen to those who give in to the power of the Empire. In the end, Revelation promises a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem in which the righteous will enjoy the blessing they deserve.

Consistent with Daniel 7, the Son of God is expected to judge all nations. The following passage from Matthew suggests that the criterion for being judged is charitable treatment of fellow humans, particularly those most in need. Other passages emphasize other criteria for judgment. Some emphasize belief that Jesus is Lord is most important. Others emphasize enduring suffering for Christ. Some passages suggest that God already knew from the beginning of the world who would be saved and who would be condemned.

Matthew 25 does not mention any dead people being judged, but other passages suggest the dead will be resurrected so that they can be judged.

3.5.3. The Resurrection of the Body and the Intermediate State

The earliest Christians expected Jesus to return soon, before they died. Paul assured Christians that those who died believing in Christ would be resurrected with their bodies when Jesus returns. As we have seen, Paul balanced the Jewish idea of the resurrection of the body with the aristocratic Greek aversion to zombies by saying that the resurrected body would be incorruptible.

As time went on and followers of Jesus started dying of old age, the question came up of whether they would miss out on Jesus’ glory and the Kingdom of God when he returns

For several centuries it was assumed that Christians who died are just dead, waiting for the second coming of Jesus. Over time, people more and more were asking what happens to people between the time they die and the time Jesus raises them from the dead. This time is called the intermediate state . Eventually, the teaching that most stuck is the following:

• At death the soul separates from the body. The body is put in the ground.