Paradise
Most of "mainstream" Christianity is used to thinking of "heaven" and "hell" as the only two potential outcomes following judgement. While the Savior does speak of heaven or paradise, as he did to the thief on the cross, these are references to a state that applies before resurrection. Note that in the case of the thief on the cross, the Savior said, "thou shalt be with me today in paradise". In other words, this shared moment in paradise was to occur before the Savior was resurrected and rose again the third day. (see Luke 23:43)
King David prophesied (and Peter quoted him), speaking "messianically", or in other words, as though he were the Savior:
Hell
Those who are found in the book of life when they die enter into paradise to await judgement. Those who accept Christ while in hell - before judgement - will also be found in the book of life. All those who ultimately accept Christ will see some kind of salvation at judgement:
"While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." (John 17:12)
The "Third Heaven"
But mainstream Christianity rarely talks about what happens after resurrection.
In the New Testament, Paul makes reference to what he called a "third heaven":
As Latter-Day Saints, we believe that, even though we fail miserably sometimes, for those who are trying to do what we know is right in the sight of God and who have made covenants with Him (either before or after death) to have Jesus Christ be our Savior (see John 3:3-5), the resurrection will remove the sting of death, and it will be a day of joy and of glory.
Note Paul's emphasis on the importance of covenants in reconciling us to God through the blood of Christ:
We also believe the resurrection will bring a day of reunion.
Jesus promised Martha: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live..." (John 11:25)
Most of "mainstream" Christianity is used to thinking of "heaven" and "hell" as the only two potential outcomes following judgement. While the Savior does speak of heaven or paradise, as he did to the thief on the cross, these are references to a state that applies before resurrection. Note that in the case of the thief on the cross, the Savior said, "thou shalt be with me today in paradise". In other words, this shared moment in paradise was to occur before the Savior was resurrected and rose again the third day. (see Luke 23:43)
King David prophesied (and Peter quoted him), speaking "messianically", or in other words, as though he were the Savior:
"Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." (Acts 2:26-27)
King David's portrayal of Christ's suffering in hell is a reference to the fact that He suffered for our sins. (see also Isaiah 53:4-11, Luke 22:42-44) This He was allowed to do in the flesh because it was an essential part of His completion of the Atonement. But His suffering ended before He was resurrected - the Father "did not leave [His] soul in hell". After death, His "flesh rest[ed] in hope" of being raised to glory, in the hope that the third day would He would rise again and be "divided his portion with the great". (see Isaiah 53:12)
Hell
Rather than "hell-fire" being physical and actual, these are figurative
images which preachers of many religions, and even the prophets, have
used to illustrate the feelings of guilt, regret, sorrow, and fearful
anticipation of the judgement that would place us in our eternal
"mansion".
The Savior used this type of "hell-fire" imagery in one of His sermons:
"...whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." (Mattthew 5:22) For more examples, see also Matthew 25:41, Mark 9:43.
Note that these verses describe hell as "everlasting" and "fire that shall never be quenched". However, there are other verses in the Bible that suggest hell may only last until judgement for some, while it can last forever for others.
"Hell" is a state reserved for those who knowingly and willfully did things they knew knew in their hearts were not right, and failed to repent and turn unto Christ for forgiveness. Because of this, these are "reserved unto judgement":
"...God spared not [them] that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment" (2 Peter 2:4)
A hell that lasts forever is only for those who, despite having suffered for their evil until the very last opportunity for repentance, still will not acknowledge or receive Christ.
Peter speaks of those who are "reserved unto fire against the day of judgement" and those who are the "perdition of ungodly men". (see 2 Peter 3:7) For most, the fire ends with the day of judgement, but not for the sons of perdition. They have made of themselves His enemies and refuse to change or submit to His grace and government. John the Revelator tells us these are cast into a lake of fire and brimstone that will never end. (Revelation 19:20) Again, this imagery is symbolic of the regret, emptiness, and spiritual misery of this bitter state.
Judgement and Resurrection
This same John also describes a moment where death and hell will have to deliver up their respective souls, and judgement will be had:
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:12-15)
The destruction of death is a reference to the fact that, following judgement, all will be resurrected, whether good or evil, as John the Beloved taught:
The Savior used this type of "hell-fire" imagery in one of His sermons:
"...whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." (Mattthew 5:22) For more examples, see also Matthew 25:41, Mark 9:43.
Note that these verses describe hell as "everlasting" and "fire that shall never be quenched". However, there are other verses in the Bible that suggest hell may only last until judgement for some, while it can last forever for others.
"Hell" is a state reserved for those who knowingly and willfully did things they knew knew in their hearts were not right, and failed to repent and turn unto Christ for forgiveness. Because of this, these are "reserved unto judgement":
"...God spared not [them] that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment" (2 Peter 2:4)
A hell that lasts forever is only for those who, despite having suffered for their evil until the very last opportunity for repentance, still will not acknowledge or receive Christ.
Peter speaks of those who are "reserved unto fire against the day of judgement" and those who are the "perdition of ungodly men". (see 2 Peter 3:7) For most, the fire ends with the day of judgement, but not for the sons of perdition. They have made of themselves His enemies and refuse to change or submit to His grace and government. John the Revelator tells us these are cast into a lake of fire and brimstone that will never end. (Revelation 19:20) Again, this imagery is symbolic of the regret, emptiness, and spiritual misery of this bitter state.
Judgement and Resurrection
This same John also describes a moment where death and hell will have to deliver up their respective souls, and judgement will be had:
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:12-15)
The destruction of death is a reference to the fact that, following judgement, all will be resurrected, whether good or evil, as John the Beloved taught:
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28-29)
Latter-Day Saints believe the concept of being "damned" is really about being "dammed" in a spiritual sense. Latter-Day Saints believe that in the hereafter there will be eternal growth and development for those who have sought it earnestly, that "damnation" has more to do with not qualifying for those opportunities than it does with eternal condemnation. (see Damnation in the LDS Guide to the Scriptures)
Latter-Day Saints believe the concept of being "damned" is really about being "dammed" in a spiritual sense. Latter-Day Saints believe that in the hereafter there will be eternal growth and development for those who have sought it earnestly, that "damnation" has more to do with not qualifying for those opportunities than it does with eternal condemnation. (see Damnation in the LDS Guide to the Scriptures)
Those who are found in the book of life when they die enter into paradise to await judgement. Those who accept Christ while in hell - before judgement - will also be found in the book of life. All those who ultimately accept Christ will see some kind of salvation at judgement:
"While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." (John 17:12)
In other words, for most, paradise and hell are temporary states where the souls of the dead dwell in anticipation of judgement and the resurrection.
The "Third Heaven"
But mainstream Christianity rarely talks about what happens after resurrection.
In the New Testament, Paul makes reference to what he called a "third heaven":
"It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." (2 Corinthians 12:1-4)
This seems to have gone largely unnoticed by "mainstream" Christianity. But to Latter-Day Saints, the concept of three heavens or glories is strikingly familiar - a doctrine that, although it was revealed through prophets in the latter days, obviously existed in the primitive Church.
Paul taught the Corinthians what he meant by this "third heaven":
"There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead." (see 1 Corinthians 15)
In this same chapter, Paul speaks extensively of the resurrection, how it is a precursor - a prerequisite - to inheriting glory in one of the three heavens:
"...and as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:49-55)
As Latter-Day Saints, we believe that, even though we fail miserably sometimes, for those who are trying to do what we know is right in the sight of God and who have made covenants with Him (either before or after death) to have Jesus Christ be our Savior (see John 3:3-5), the resurrection will remove the sting of death, and it will be a day of joy and of glory.
Note Paul's emphasis on the importance of covenants in reconciling us to God through the blood of Christ:
"...at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:12-13)
We also believe the resurrection will bring a day of reunion.
Jesus promised Martha: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live..." (John 11:25)
Many Mansions or Glories
When Jesus was resurrected, many others were resurrected with Him.
"And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." (Matthew 27:52-53)
This event occurred in conjunction with the "preparation" of the the three heavens, containing the many "mansions" of the father. Concerning it, the Savior said, anticipating His own death:
"In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2)
When you associate "mansions" with the "places" or "bodies" or "glories" or "portions" as described above, it becomes clear that there are in fact three heavens, wherein the Savior has prepared many mansions in the house of his Father - for us! There are those that are celestial or of a glory comparable to the brightness of the sun, those that are terrestrial or comparable to the brightness of the moon, and those that are telestial, or comparable to the brightness of the stars, and just as variegated.
Thus, the Bible teaches that in the hereafter, we will live again in eternal immortality because of the resurrection. We will be reunited with our loved ones in death and in the resurrection through the power to bind on earth and in heaven. (see Temple Ordinances as described in the Bible)
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