Why are so many Christians still so confused about the afterlife?

Enoch111 said:

Both these words have been used INCORRECTLY in the KJV (which I use all the time).

Since Sheol/Hades is in the lower parts of the earth (or near the core of the earth) it cannot possibly be the grave (six feet under). And since Hell is Gehenna -- the Lake of Fire in "outer darkness" -- it cannot possibly be Sheol/Hades.

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The lake of fire is of course not hell, because those in hell awaiting judgment are thrown into the lake of fire, after judgement.

atpollard said:

Aren't they past needing prayer?

In Hades awaiting Hell, they seem past making a choice.
In Heaven, they seem past needing anything from us.

(Not arguing, just curious what the dead gain from our prayers.)

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Nothing we can do to save someone else. Only Jesus saves. Your spot on, no prayer is going to benefit them.

One proof no person went to heaven before Christ came down to earth is John

John 3:13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.

So when all people of the OC time died, all of them descended into the lower parts of the earth to the place of the dead to await Christ and what He would do.

Then when Christ ascends He leads the captivity (those in paradise in hades) captive, and takes them all up into heaven, those who were in Paradise, the good side of hell (hades) close by was the fiery torments.
And he gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the church as He goes back into Heaven.

Ephesians
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says:

“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”

9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Imagine the excitement for the people in Paradise when Christ came down and told them the good news. Then also with Paradise take up into heaven with everyone in there along for the ride. Imagine if you were the wicked in fiery torments and saw and heard all those things
as each side could see and talk with the other side
And it must have been a beautiful thing to behold, paradise in the midst of sheol.
Then when Paradise left, you were really left behind, Christ came and took Hi people with Him and for you like Christ says there is only weeping and gnashing of teeth left.

Peter in Acts 2 and in his letters, also tells us Christ went to Hades (Hell in the KJV) after He died on the cross. We also know Christ says He went to Paradise, so you understand both are deep under the earth with Hades being compartmentalized, having Paradise as a part of Hades (Hell). There is only heaven, the earth and under the earth where spirits exist. The fallen angels God locked up in Tartarus, another compartment of Hell. Paradise was still a captivity, it was not heaven, but it was a pleasant place to be, but those present there were still in captivity in Hades.

Christ is the one that opened up eternal life and lead the way into living in Heaven. And Hades, (Hell) is the place of the dead.

29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,

31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Apostle Peter teaching on Tartarus, the depths of Hell.
What is Tartarus? | GotQuestions.org

Scott Downey said:

Apostle Peter teaching on Tartarus, the depths of Hell.
What is Tartarus? | GotQuestions.org

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Those fallen Angels I suspect are in Tartarus (the prison).

I'll answer your question with one word :
Hollywood.

Enoch111 said:

Both these words have been used INCORRECTLY in the KJV (which I use all the time).

Since Sheol/Hades is in the lower parts of the earth (or near the core of the earth) it cannot possibly be the grave (six feet under). And since Hell is Gehenna -- the Lake of Fire in "outer darkness" -- it cannot possibly be Sheol/Hades.

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Where in scripture is the lake of fire described as being located in the "outer darkness?" The Old Testament, which Jesus was familiar with and taught, referred to outside the camp of Israel as the "outer darkness." Are all gentiles destined for eternal burnings?

Enoch111 said:

I'm sure you understand that we are expected to connect the dots. So here are the Scriptures by which you should connect the dots:
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mt 8:12) [Note: "the children of the kingdom" in this context are unsaved Jews, who all should have been within the Kingdom of God]
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mt 22:13)... And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mt 25:30)... And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Mt 25:46)... Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jude 1:13)

I do not believe that there is any such Scripture in the OT.
No. Only these people: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Rev 21:8)

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No, I don't believe it's our job to connect the dots at all. Did the Holy Spirit teach you this, or is it what you "reasoned out" for yourself?

Enoch111 said:

I'm sure you understand that we are expected to connect the dots. So here are the Scriptures by which you should connect the dots:
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mt 8:12) [Note: "the children of the kingdom" in this context are unsaved Jews, who all should have been within the Kingdom of God]
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mt 22:13)... And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mt 25:30)... And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Mt 25:46)... Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jude 1:13)

I do not believe that there is any such Scripture in the OT.
No. Only these people: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Rev 21:8)

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After review, I think that the "outer darkness" being in the OT was a conclusion taught by some radio show host (or maybe it was just the Holy Spirit during one of my read through of the scriptures.) I can't really remember where I heard or saw that teaching, but if you do a quick study on the phrase "outside the camp", you'll find quite a few verses from the law. The unclean were always to be put outside the camp (during the wilderness wanderings.)
As I can't recall where I heard it, I can't actually say whether the text was illuminated by the Holy Spirit, or just a reasoned conclusion (connecting the dots.)

Why are so many Christians still so confused about the afterlife?
because they think it involves an after burner.

Enoch111 said:

3. Christ preached to the spirits in prison while in Sheol/Hades
While the body of Jesus lay in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, He proclaimed to the spirits in Sheol/Hades His victory at the cross (1 Peter 3:18,19): For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison. Since no one can be saved after they die (Heb 9:27), Christ did not preach the Gospel of salvation in Sheol/Hades. That word “preached” means “proclaimed”, so what else would Christ have proclaimed other than His victory over sin, death, Hades, Hell, Satan, and all his evil spirits? This victory would include the removal of the saints from Sheol/Hades to Paradise in the New Jerusalem. Thus the gates of Hades would not prevail against the Church.

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That part above is in error. The "spirits in prison" were not about demons.

1 Peter 4:5-6
5 Who shall give account to Him That is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

6 For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
KJV

Isaiah 42:7 is the prophecy that Lord Jesus would do that, and let the prisoners in the heavenly prison house free.

Enoch111 said:

Did I say anything about demons? The spirits in prison were all those (righteous and unrighteous) in Sheol/Hades. Possibly even those evil angels in Tartarus (which would have been close by).

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You said:
"Christ did not preach the Gospel of salvation in Sheol/Hades."

Well yeah, He did... preach The Gospel, like the 1 Peter 4 Scripture I quoted...

1 Peter 4:6
For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
KJV

That idea of being judged 'according to men in the flesh' means what? It simply means because of their already being dead, they had no chance to hear and believe The Gospel when alive, not until Jesus came to them and preached The Gospel to them.

Davy said:

You said:
"Christ did not preach the Gospel of salvation in Sheol/Hades."

Well yeah, He did... preach The Gospel, like the 1 Peter 4 Scripture I quoted...

1 Peter 4:6
For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
KJV

That idea of being judged 'according to men in the flesh' means what? It simply means because of their already being dead, they had no chance to hear and believe The Gospel when alive, not until Jesus came to them and preached The Gospel to them.

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It may not mean anything mysterious like it does in 1 Peter 3 and Christ preaching to the spirits in prison when he descended in hades.

Preached to the 'dead', could simply mean those dead in trespasses and sins, whom God has not yet made alive, as Ephesians 2 says.
And note also the context, Peter is talking about these gentiles and their evil deeds. As if Peter is saying we apostles are not just preaching to the choir, the church. Plus these particular dead men in 1 Peter 4, can live according to God in the spirit because of that preaching, so they can not have died and gone to hell.

Note the similarities between 1 Peter 4 and with Ephesians 2
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Scott Downey said:

It may not mean anything mysterious like it does in 1 Peter 3 and Christ preaching to the spirits in prison when he descended in hades.

Preached to the 'dead', could simply mean those dead in trespasses and sins, whom God has not yet made alive, ....

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Nah, that kind of thinking is spiritualizing God's Word. Just because you may not yet understand matters of the Heavenly, that doesn't mean you can deny them as being literal. Peter literally... meant that Lord Jesus at His resurrection went and literally... preached The Gospel to the dead who were captives in Satan's heavenly prison. And that is what the Isaiah 42:7 prophecy was about.

Now those on the 'soul sleep' theory instead think Jesus only preached victory to evil spirits in hell, and not to unsaved souls of men who had died in the flesh. Since those refuse to understand God's Word about how our soul and spirit leaves our dead flesh body at death, and goes into the heavenly, like Jesus and His Apostles showed, then they come up with that excuse that Jesus was just proclaiming victory to Satan's host in the pit. No, Jesus preached The Gospel to those who had died, like Peter says. So the Scripture is meant literally, not symbolically.