The Ancient Witnesses

Chapter 8: The Fulfillment of Time • 271

“All believers will experience Hades for a season after they die,” repeated Tertullian. “Everyone?” asked Joseph. “Not the martyrs, of course,” said Tertullian, “but everyone else.” “I don’t buy that,” said Joseph. Tertullian, puzzled, looked at Joseph. “Sorry,” said Joseph, “I mean I don’t accept that,” “Whether you accept it or not,” replied Tertullian, “after death and before the second coming, the soul experiences both punishment and comfort in Hades, awaiting gloom or glory—its final judgment.” “I like to say the soul is secure in God,” replied Joseph, “but that it knows nothing of its final destination before the judgment.” “But what do you believe the soul does after the person dies and before Christ returns to judge?” asked Tertullian. “The Bible says we are fallen asleep,” explained Joseph. “But souls do not sleep, bodies do,” insisted Tertullian, “the soul is always awake.” “Okay,” agreed Joseph, “the soul is awake, so what?” “Then it recalls the rights and wrongs done in its past life and, as I have said, it gets an introduction—a foretaste—of its future in heaven or hell,” “How can the soul know its destiny before it stands before Christ to be judged?” asked Joseph. “Do you really believe that, in the interim, the soul is uncertain and without hope or any knowledge of its destiny? Does that uncertainty await us all when we die?” asked Tertullian.