​IB Exam Material

FQ#2: Where are we going?

To Heaven: eternal union with God. Heaven is eternal bliss and joy as experienced by true believers in Christianity.  Some Christians believe that Heaven is an actual physical place, while others consider it to be a spiritual state of being in the presence of God, which brings glory, holiness, beauty, light, perfection and love. Per John 14:1-3, "There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you." Heaven is for both worshipping God and reigning with him, per 2 Timothy 2:12: "If we endure, we will also reign with him."

To Hell: separation from God. Like Heaven, different Christians have different views on whether Hell is a physical or spiritual place, but all agree that it is eternal separation from God. Some believe that it is a place of eternal torment and torture, ie burning flames, while others believe that it is a place of annihilation where unbelievers cease to exist.

Some Christians, notably Catholics, also believe in purgatory, which is considered to be a temporary place of punishment for Christians who died with unconfessed sins. The purpose of this temporary punishment is to cleanse one of temporal consequences that they incurred due to their sins on Earth.