A few thoughts on this one.
“Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ” (1Cor 15:22).
But when St. Paul talks about all men how will that include the un-baptised, including the unborn? Various theological proposals have been put forward over time:
Limbo – where those un-baptised and incapable of moral choice live a natural happiness, but without the beatific vision of God. This has gone out of favour with theologians. There are several objections to this, at least as a final solution. Firstly Jesus came that all might have eternal life, and “eternal life is this; to know you , the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (Jn 17:3). Here to know is the biblical usage of experience intimately. Secondly there is no mention in the Bible of at third state at the end of time. Jesus, talking of the Last Judgement says “All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.” (Mt 25:32-33) – only two kinds, only two destines.
Baptism of Desire – a proposal covering those who are capable of moral choice, but do not have the opportunity for baptism, talks about “Baptism of Desire”; those desiring baptism but who die before receiving it, or those who try to lead a good life and therefore would desire it if they knew about it. This however sounds to me more of a theological fiction than Limbo and has no basis in scripture.
In his book *From Limbo to Heaven * Fr. Vincent Wilkin S.J. offers some interesting thoughts on this topic. This is a summary of my understanding of these thoughts.
He proposes three types of baptism that will give an opportunity for all to be reborn into Christ.
Firstly there is the normal baptism by water and the Holy Spirit. This plunges us into the death of Christ (and therefore no longer in Adam) and into his resurrection, thus being reborn “in Christ”. In this baptism Fr. Wilkin suggest we are united with Christ at Christ’s baptism in the Jordan, at the beginning of his public life. To these Christ comes by water.
Secondly there is “Baptism of Blood”. This has long been recognised by the Church as a form of baptism. It covers those who are killed for the sake of Christ. These join Christ at the moment of his death, and of their own death. To these Christ comes by blood. “Who can overcome the world? Only the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God: Jesus Christ who came by water and blood, not with water only but with water and blood;” (1 Jn 5:5-6)
But this still leaves the majority of mankind, the un-baptised by water or blood. For these Fr. Wilking proposes a third baptism – baptism by the Holy Spirit (not to be confused with that usage in Charismatic Renewal). He argues that St. John continues the above sentence “with the Spirit as another witness…so that there are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water and the blood, and all of them agree.” He spends some time justifying this but I shall only briefly summarise here. He proposes that this will take place at the Final Judgement, the Last Day when Christ comes in power to make all things new; at the general resurrection. In this baptism those so baptised join Christ at his resurrection. At this resurrection all must rise in Christ, as if they rose in Adam they would still be subject to death. Only by rising in Christ can there be eternal life, whether that be in heaven or in hell. It is at this point that the whole of creation is renewed; that the Spirit is finally poured out on *all *mankind (Joel 3:1). For the un-baptised this resurrection is their rebirth into Christ. Fr. Wilkin supports this thesis by many arguments and quotations from scripture, for example “… God’s power will save you until the salvation, which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time.” Also he goes into some depth into St. Paul’s description of the resurrection in 1 Cor 15.
This leaves the question of where the un-baptised are between their death and the resurrection. For this Fr. Wilkins proposes Limbo. But has not this already been dismissed this as unscriptural? Yes, as far a permanent place or state, but an intermediate state has precedents e.g. Purgatory. Another temporary place was Hades. In the Apostles Creed we declare “On the third day he rose again and descended into hell”. This is not the hell of the damned, but Sheol, or Hades, the place where the Just of the Old Testament were awaiting the reopening of heaven. So there can be no objection to the suggestion of a place of Limbo or Hades for the un-baptised of the new Covenant, whilst they await the final day.
This is of course still speculation.
