존 웨슬리의 중간 상태와 새 하늘과 새 땅

The purpose of this article is to uncover John Wesley’s understanding of the middle stage of paradise and Hades, and the new heaven and new earth by investigating primary sources, especially focusing on his sermons. Wesley refused to accept the conventional view of heaven, which upholds that as soon as a Christian is out of breath, (s)he directly goes to heaven, because it is not biblical. Chapter 2 deals with Wesley’s views on the middle state. According to Wesley, Hades and hell are completely different realms and paradise and heaven are also two entirely different realms. Chapter 3 handles Wesley’s view on the new heaven and new earth. To Wesley, heaven and the new heaven and new earth are synonymous. Chapter 4 concludes this article by introducing Howard A. Snyder’s remark about the goal of life, which is not to reach heaven, but to have full fellowship with God and one another now and in the final new creation.