Here is a video on this subject.
Life After Death
One of the last prophecies to be fulfilled before the return of Christ is …
1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”
As many are aware, today we see the majority of religions, including some Christians denominations are proclaiming that prayers to the dead are acceptable and should be done often if the dead are in fact considered a saint. Most teach that when a person dies they go to a spirit world where they can be contacted by us in prayer, or by a psychic or spirit guide in a séance. Some also teach re-incarnation where the soul goes from one life to the next forever in the hopes of cultivating enough wisdom to become perfect and therefore eternal in nature. Then there are those that teach the spirit of the deceased can actually haunt people if the deceased had been wronged in some major way in their mortal life. And finally, some teach that dead saints are allowed to come back from heaven, physically appear unto us and warn us of mortal dangers if we don’t heed their Heavenly warnings and follow their advice. One of these denominations even go so far as to claim that the mother of Jesus Christ Himself appears from time to time to relay messages from heaven.
Before making a judgment about which church is correct, if any, let’s go to the Bible and see what the Bible has to say about where we go when we die. We’re going to the Bible because these are churches and religions we are investigating. If we were investigating something someone told us about how to properly tune an engine we would go to the mechanics manual of that particular engine to find out if what was being said or done was correct and acceptable for that engine type. These are churches we’re dealing with which claim to be teaching us what the Bible says about these topics, so let’s see if they’re right.
For Whoever Picks This Up. God bless!
Psalms 6:3-5 “My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?”
The Psalmist is praying for deliverance to arrive before death here because he knows he won’t have the ability to remember anything from the grave, nor can he give thanks from the grave.
Psalms 115:17 “The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.”
Psalms 146:4 “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.”
In Isaiah, we see that king Hezekiah was sick and Isaiah told him he was about to die. The king turned his face to the wall and prayed. In his prayer he says the following …
Isaiah 38:18-19 “For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.”
It appears rather plain here. The dead seem to be just that … DEAD! They can’t remember, they can’t thank anyone, they can’t praise God, they can’t think, they can’t even dream because the verse says, “his thoughts perish.” All their abilities have perished, “the dead know not any thing.” Notice the last verse shared where it said, “… neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.” The Bible is stating that the dead can in no way take part in anything under the sun. The (RSV) Bible actually translates the above last verse like this. “… they have no more for ever any share in all that is done under the sun.” Pretty plain is it not?
If the Bible is saying the dead can’t affect anything that happens here on earth, why are people still praying to these dead saints when the dead can’t hear them? Why do people still believe in hauntings, seances, apparitions, etc.??? They believe it because they never read in their Bibles the truth about these things. They just trusted their church leaders to tell them truthfully what the Bible says. So, who or what are these people seeing at these seances, hauntings and apparitions? Some churches believe that Mary the mother of Jesus is showing up in apparitions around the world. Many also believe that paintings or statues of Mary are actually bleeding real blood or crying real tears. Does this mean Mary is not only alive and well, but now trapped inside statues made by men? How can this be? Does not the Word of God plainly state that the dead can in no way affect anything that happens here on this earth? If these apparitions aren’t Mary, then who are they?
In short, demons. The horde of Satan has the ability to show themselves as anyone, to anyone. They can and do show up even as our loved ones who have passed. They, in their vast intelligence, have the ability to display every mannerism, every speech impediment, every awkward foot step, every smile, and everything else our loved ones showed. They do this simply to keep us in a state of believing lies. When the Word of God is so clear that the dead cannot affect anything under the sun, demons prefer that we believe the opposite so that we stray further away from God. When they show themselves of people we recognize, our hearts cry out and we want nothing more than to believe we are seeing our dear loved ones once again.
I’m sure you’re wondering. “Just where do we go when we die?” Don’t go running to get this answer from your preacher, teacher, friend, pastor, or priest. Just go back in the Bible to find out. It is where you should always go when you’re in question. However, if you do at times have to go to a person for answers, always verify it in the Word of God before making any final decisions! Don’t trust me or any man! Go to God’s Word for the final answer and you will never go wrong.
So … where do we go when we die?
Psalms 13:3 “Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;”
The Bible refers to death as sleep. During this dreamless sleep, “his thoughts perish,” so, is it possible to affect the lives of others or carry on normal day to day activities in normal sleep? I think not. In the book of John, we find a situation where Jesus Himself refers to the dead as being asleep.
John 11:11-14 “… Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.”
The disciples thought when Jesus said Lazarus was sleeping that he would be okay. So, Jesus had to plainly say “Lazarus is dead.” Before going on, I must interject as to the main reason Jesus calls death “sleep” here. It is because He knows that everyone will awaken one day out of death as we awaken each morning from sleep. Some will awaken to receive eternal life, and others will awaken to be destroyed in eternal damnation.
John 5:28-29 “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.”
Getting back to Lazarus, we discover that a few verses later we realize how long Lazarus would have been sleeping the sleep of death if Jesus had not raised him from the dead later on in verse 43.
John 11:23-24 “Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Martha, the sister of Lazarus understood the Biblical truth about the state of the dead. She knew Lazarus wasn’t going to awaken until the last day when Jesus splits that eastern sky at His second coming. The book of Job also mentions the length of sleep for the dead.
Job 14:12 “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.”
Notice the word till in that verse. This means the dead will not or cannot awaken until the last day as Martha calls it in the previous verse shared.
My Favorite verse on this subject …
1Corinthians 15:20-23 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.”
According to this verse, the dead in Christ will remain in their graves awaiting the order of resurrection. What is that order you ask? Jesus is the “firstfruits of them that slept” And then those that are believers in Jesus will “be made alive”. But when will they be made alive? According to the Bible, they will have to be made alive in the order that the Lord set up. Jesus, the “firstfruits” and then those that are His followers, “at His coming” … Rather blunt is it not?
So, I ask … How did this LIE get started?
It’s all in PUNCTUATION folks! That’s right! Punctuation! Let me explain … The two short letters below are identical, only the punctuation has been changed. Notice how you can perceive a totally different meaning by altering simple punctuation …
Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have
no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy – will you let me be yours?
Susan
Dear John,
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have
no feelings whatsoever. When we’re apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
Yours, Susan
There is another example I would like to share that I just found recently. Note the following 2 phrases. They are the exact same. Only the punctuation is different …
A woman, without her man, is nothing
A woman: without her, man is nothing.
Now read Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Is Luke 23:43 REALLY saying we go to Heaven directly at death?
NOTICE:
Jesus is crucified. Just before breathing His last, HE tells the thief on the cross he will be with Him in Paradise. Then three days later, Jesus rises from the dead and Mary Magdalene approaches Him in,
John 20:17 “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father:”
Why did Jesus tell the thief in Luke 23:43 that they’re going to Heaven that day, and then three days later tell Mary He hasn’t gone yet? Some say this proves the Bible contradicts itself. However, the fact of the matter is, many years after the King James Bible was written, punctuation was added to it. The comma in Luke 23:43 is actually mis-placed. It should be placed after the word “today.” If it is left before the word “today,” it appears Jesus is being dishonest either to Mary or the thief on the cross. However, if it is placed correctly after the word “today”, He is now telling them both His truth and no contradiction is assumed. Now read Luke 23:43 with the comma in the correct place …
Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee To day, shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
One more thing to ponder in regard to this Biblical fact.
John 19:31-33 “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:”
The Sun is about to set. The Jews are wanting all the bodies off the cross before the “high Sabbath” day (A “High Sabbath” is when an annual feast day and weekly seventh day Sabbath hit at the same time) They break the legs of the two men. The thief of course is one of those men, but when they get to Jesus, they find that He had already died! However, the thief didn’t die that day, did he? Did Jesus lie again? According to the worldly Bibles with the comma misplaced, Jesus said He and the thief would go to Heaven THAT DAY. Yet, Jesus went a day early didn’t He? The misplaced comma allows for a multitude of errors and so called contradictions that Satan has convinced billions to view the Bible as an untrustworthy book. The devil has indeed been cunningly BUSY! That’s why I love the Word of God so much! It so EASILY proves lies to be just that … LIES. When you use the preferred Biblical method the prophet Isaiah mentions when defining doctrine in,
Isaiah 28:10 “… precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”
Then you will never be confused. Letting the Bible define itself opens it up to a grand adventure into the Truth!
Want it bluntly?
Psalm 89:48 “What man [is he that] liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.”
You see? It is not until Jesus MAKES us immortal on that last day that we will be able to “get out” of the blunt fact that there is a grave for each of us that sees death BEFORE He returns on that day. For those of you that have lost loved ones, this TRUTH is a blessed comfort. You no longer have to worry about your beloved deceased as wondering in an unknown landscape looking for deceased loved ones or being scared they are all alone in the vast emptiness, or worse yet floating in the flames of Purgatory as the Pagan’s once believed and Rome adopted into Catholicism. The Scriptures declare that they are sleeping soundly, totally unaware of what is going on around them. They don’t even realize they are dead! They simply, sleep.
Ever notice this …?
Now, yes, it’s true that some have bypassed the grave and some have even resurrected 2000 years ago with Christ. The amazing thing about these people are that EVERY ONE of them that has ascended into Heaven HAVE COMPLETE BODIES! Enoch, Elijah, Moses and Jesus, ALL HAVE BODIES! Jesus even made this point quite clear when He stated to the disciples after His death the following truths.
Luke 24:36-39 “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”
Have we all forgotten what Christ said about how our bodies in Heaven will be fashioned?
Philippians 3:20-21 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.”
Seeing how this is Biblical fact, want further confirmation? Ask all those elected officials that have exhumed dead bodies over the years due to criminal investigations. 100% of the time, each and every single time they dug up a grave they FOUND A BODY in the casket!
Now I know there are still some questions for those of you that have been taught certain things regarding this topic. And below I have a list of every one of them I have come across over the years explained using Scripture. However, I would like to share one of them right off because it’s my favorite method to prove this point. It has to do with King David. As we all know, out of the family tree of David we have Christ the Lord. David was a sinner yes, but he repented and was considered a Heaven bound man. In fact, all the Jews in the days after the cross of Christ believed David was in Heaven. Peter the Apostle was forced to address this issue quite boldly in Acts chapter two.
Try this the next time you are sharing this Biblical fact with a Christian confused on this issue. Ask them, “do you believe King David is in Heaven right now?” Most will say yes. Then share with them what Peter told those gathered before him on the day of Pentecost.
King David is Biblically headed for Heaven because the Scriptures declare him as such. Is he in Heaven now?
Acts 2:29,34 “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. For David is not ascended into the heavens: …”
Keep in mind this verse is penned AFTER the death and resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many preach that everyone that was in the graves are in Heaven after the resurrection of Christ because they think He brought them all out of Gehenna (Hell) when He was dead. Yet, this verse proves that they are indeed in error. It seems even the early believers thought David was already in Heaven. But Peter made it plain that the passage they were questioning (which was Psalm 16:10) in regard to the Lord not allowing His soul to stay in hell or His body to rot. The passage was indeed speaking of Jesus Christ ascending to Heaven, not David. For it is also explained in this same chapter of Acts …
Acts 2:30-32 “Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.”
Frequently Asked Questions
- Explain the spirit that appeared to Saul, doesn’t this prove life after death immediate…?
- Doesn’t “being absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” mean immediate life after death?
- King David is Biblically headed for Heaven because the Scriptures declare him as such. Is he in Heaven now?
- Doesn’t Ecclesiastes 12:7 confirm life after death immediate?
- You mean to tell me our loved ones are not looking down on us? They don’t see us succeed or fail?
- Doesn’t John:5:24 state we “pass from death unto life” ?
- Doesn’t the Bible say the Soul lives on forever? Doesn’t that prove that even the wicked will be alive in Hell for eternity?
- What about the rich man and Lazarus?
- Don’t people go to Hell or Heaven at the moment of death?
- Is He the “God of the living?
- Doesn’t the “voice of Abel’s blood” crying out in Genesis 4 prove he’s in Heaven?
Explain the spirit that appeared to Saul, doesn’t this prove life after death immediate …?
1 Samuel 28:7,11 “Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.”
Many use this passage to prove life after death is immediate because the woman appeared to conjure the prophet Samuel from the grave. Basic reality here is, Saul sought counsel of a witch. It wasn’t Samuel he saw in the spirit. It was a demon. There are many reasons this is so. First of all, we are told in God’s Word not to seek counsel of witches. Therefore, Satan was already in control here.
Deuteronomy 18:10 “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,”
Plus, the demon impersonating Samuel claimed the witch had the power to raise him, yet we know by God’s Word in numerous areas that only the Lord Himself can do this. For only Jesus Christ has the power of “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25) NOT witches or demons.
John 11:25 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”
Another distinguishing fact here is that the demon gave a bogus prophecy. If it had been of the Lord, or even Samuel himself, who was a holy man, the prophecy would not have failed. The demon said, “Tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me”.
1 Samuel 28:19 “Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
Besides the fact that Samuel is not “in Heaven” yet according to the order by which all men gain Heaven, Scripture tells us that Saul appears to have grieved away the Holy Spirit of the Lord in his latter years. If that demon was truly Samuel, then he would have known Saul was not worthy of Heaven. Saul died lost. Yet the “real” Samuel died a prophet of God and a saved man. So, the Truth here is the devil can manifest in a bevy of ways to confuse the one looking on. In fact, Satan can do just about anything he can get permission to do.
2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
This “spirit” that Saul looked upon was merely one of those manifestations of Satan.
Doesn’t “being absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” mean immediate life after death?
Another favored verse that is used to try and prove there is life after death immediate is …
2 Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
MANY use this passage as a basis of “proof” that because it says, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord,” it must mean Paul is advocating life after death immediate. One point many miss in regard to this passage is the fact that Paul is commenting on the carnal nature of the people that should be “absent” so as to walk “in the Lord” as true and obedient Christians. With that said, do these next two passages declare Paul dead and speaking from the grave?
1 Corinthians 5:3 “For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,”
Colossians 2:5 “For thoughI be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.”
The meaning is obvious when taken in context to that which is written. To be absent from the body is to deny the flesh and therefore present with the Lord as we walk in the Spirit. Romans 6:6-8 put it ever so plainly when it said,
Romans 6:6-8 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:” And John 3:6 says,
John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Let’s not forget Romans 8:1 wherein it says,
Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
But to further illustrate this fact. We need to ask another question which we find answered next in this series …
Doesn’t Ecclesiastes 12:7 confirm life after death immediate?
ANSWER:
Verse in Question:
Ecclesiastes 12:7 “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
The fact here is that the word spirit is used to speak ofthe “Breath” in Human terms. The Biblical evidence used to support that fact is found in James 2:26, where it states,
James 2:6 “For as the body without the spiritis dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
It gives BOTH realities here. It first shares the makeup of the BODY, and then it shares the makeup of FAITH within the body or heart as is better understood. The body without the spirit or breath is dead, like the faith without works or fruits is dead as well.
Job defines it rather nicely for us in Job 27:3, he says,
Job 27:3 “All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;”
Here he is giving breath and spirit the same definition. The breath IN me, and the spirit in my nostrils is too blunt to miss. Can the Holy Spirit be in a nostril? No, of course not. In this verse we have the word “spirit” being used in the nostrils which is actually the Greek word, “Pneuma” which means Air or Breath.
For example, Pneumonia = sickness of the breath, Pneumatic tires = “filled with air”, and so on. To further confirm this, it says in,
Genesis 7:22 “All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.”
That is of course in regard to Noah and the flood. The connection between the breath of life and nostrils is undeniable.
One more point I want to make regarding James 2:26 here. If someone has NOT the Holy Spirit of God, are they dead? Are people that are not saved BURIED in the ground? Of course not. James is not talking about the Holy Spirit in this verse. He is making a clear comparison. He is merely saying; just as a body without the ability to breathe air is dead in reality, so is the faith of the person who has no works dead in spirituality. Both the carnal and spiritual are being used here to illustrate a point. There is no mistaking that, it’s that plain.
Notice this …
Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Psalms 146:3-4 “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”
Now notice the similarity here with the verse the World uses to preach “Life after death immediate …” This is actually the verse that was mentioned in the original “QUESTION”
Ecclesiastes 12:7 “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
Sounds like Genesis 2:7 and Psalm 146:3-4 doesn’t it? All three speak of the “spirit” or the “breath” in the same manner. If you really think about it, Death is creation in reverse! The body goes back to the earth, the breath goes back to the Lord.
Basic reality here is, there is a reason Jesus used the term “sleep” in John 11 when speaking of Lazarus. He was showing how He (Jesus) looks at death, and how mankind looks at death. Even the Apostles didn’t catch that.
By the way … Jesus said “Lazarus come forth” didn’t He? Ever wonder why Jesus said his name? Had Jesus just said, “come forth” ALL the graves would have opened! For it is written in,
John 11:25 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”
If Jesus would have just said COME FORTH at that graveyard, ALL of them would have done so!
PICTURE THIS … A little girl standing next to her mommy at the grave of her Aunt Polly. Her mommy is putting flowers on the grave. She finally asks her mommy. Is Aunt Polly in there? Her mommy says no, Aunt Polly’s up in Heaven. The little girl responds, “Then why are we putting flowers here?” Then her mom says, “No, her body is here, and Aunt Polly is up in Heaven” The little girl responds, “You mean to tell me Aunt Polly is running around in Heaven without a body?”
Simple Biblical fact is, we don’t go until Jesus returns. In fact, it says this in,
John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
If the Christians are already in Heaven when they die, why is Jesus saying He will receive them unto Himself when He comes again? I go into a lot more detail on this twisted theology in my “The Rapture” writeup wherein I show all the Bible verses exposing that false doctrine.
When we do eventually go to Heaven, we will be in our own bodies. Jesus had a flesh and bone body when He appeared to the Apostles, and He did say that we will have a body like unto His did he not? it says in
Luke 24:39 “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” It also says in,
Philippians 3:21 “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
Also notice that Elijah went to Heaven with a flesh and bone body …
2 Kings 2:11 “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”
And Moses was resurrected with HIS BODY as well.
Jude 1:9 “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”
One more strange “tale” that runs rampant across the land, according to the world. If I get hit by a car and knocked unconscious, I know nothing. They take me to the hospital and find I have internal damage and need an operation, so they put me to sleep, I still, know nothing. During the operation my heart stops, and according to the preachers I now know EVERYTHING?
If a person goes to hell immediately if he’s bad, and Heaven immediately if he’s good at death, then riddle me this … What’s the reason for a resurrection? In fact, what is the reason for Judgment day for that matter? According to this theology, man is judged at the moment of death. Then that means no need is apparent for a resurrection is there? They are already judged, and already in Heaven. Problem with that is, it is NOT what saith the Lord. For he IS returning, and His reward IS with Him because judgment would have been done beforehand.
Isaiah 62:11 “Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.”
If His reward is WITH Him, then how can they be judged and IN Heaven or Hell already when the reward never comes until Jesus comes? So … the question remains, are there people in Heaven?
Yes. Elijah, Enoch, and Moses are in Heaven. It also says there was a GREAT resurrection at the day Jesus rose as well in Matthew 27:52-53. Plus, the 24 Elders in Revelation are those that were “redeemed of the earth” as well.
Matthew 27:52-53 “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.”
Revelation 4:4 “And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.”
Fact remains, the vast majority are still in the graves. Does the Bible explain why some went in advance? No. However we do know that Moses, and Elijah were “examples” used at the mount of transfiguration so as to depict the second coming with Jesus. But the Bible is silent regarding the others. It’s simply not necessary for us to know, nor is it something needed to know regarding our resurrection. Kinda like the lack of info on Dinosaurs, eh? We do know they existed, we do know Job spoke of them, yet, not much else is revealed.
BLUNTLY … 1 Timothy 6:15-16 “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”
Satan has been lying a long time! He told Adam and Eve “… ye shalt not surely die” in Genesis 3:4, and all he’s been doing since then is repeating the same worn out lie. AND IT WORKS! Why? Well first of all, we are not long living beings anymore. He can use what appears as “new info” to us short living humans simply because he knows those that understood the Word better than us eons ago are dead and buried and unable to preach on. So, when will we become immortal? At death? Or at His coming?
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 “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.”
Did you notice it said ALL will be changed on that day the LAST TRUMP is sounded? Did you also notice it said the dead will be RAISED? If everyone is already in Heaven or Hell at death, then what does Jesus have to come back for? Why do they raise out of the grave when He gets here to be with the Lord if they are already with him anyway? Fact is, the world preaches lies. The Word of God preaches TRUTH.
What will Jesus actually say on the day he returns to awaken the dead in Christ?
Isaiah 26:19 “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.”
What will they sing?
1 Corinthians 15:55 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?“
You mean to tell me our loved ones are not looking down on us? They don’t see us succeed or fail?
Job 14:21 “His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.”
Need I say more?
Doesn’t John 5:24 state we “pass from death unto life”?
Verse in question:
John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
To “pass from death unto life” is defined two ways …
To pass from “death” unto life is for those that arise on the last day when Jesus returns. They “were” in fact dead, and they WILL arise when Jesus returns. Therefore, they pass form “death unto life” eternal when He takes them home on that day.
Plus “many” will also be changed in the “twinkling of an eye” on that day as well.
1 Corinthians 15:52-53 “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.”
They will be changed from “mortal” to “immortal” and in so doing pass from “death unto life” as well because a mortal body is in fact subject to DEATH, but an immortal body is not.
The other toss of the coin is in fact the wicked and their final state. The wicked will not pass from “death unto life” at all. They will not arise when Jesus returns, they will remain in the graves until the 1000 years end. Then they will pass from “death” unto DEATH, when the “second death” consumes them for all eternity.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
Doesn’t the Bible say the Soul lives on forever? Doesn’t that prove that even the wicked will be alive in Hell for eternity?
Ezekiel 18:4 “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.“
Ezekiel 18:20 “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
What about the rich man and Lazarus?
Parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus
The Scriptures declare in the book of Mark 4:34 “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”
In all the Bible, there is only one passage which suggests conscious suffering in death – Luke 16:19-31. The inspired testimony of the rest of Scripture teaches that death is as sleep, and that punishment is at a future time. The reason why Christ used this ALLEGORY was not to describe the state of the dead, but to teach several important points of truth.
Luke 16:19-31 “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
Such as: The parable definitely teaches that every person will reap what he sows’ God will not bend the rules in order to spare those who have consistently spurned His grace.
The parable teaches that in this life men decide their eternal destiny. While they are alive, God’s grace is freely offered to all people. But if they selfishly waste their lives, and fail to take eternity into consideration now, they have lost their opportunity for eternal life. There will be no chance to repent after they die.
The parable also is a warning to those who trust in their riches rather than in God. And it tells that the time is coming when those who are poor in this world’s goods but have trusted in God, will be exalted.
When the parable is closely examined, it is doubtful that anyone would claim its details as the basis for a doctrinal position on the subject of life after death. The details certainly do not present the beliefs of those who teach the immediate torment of a bodiless “soul” at death.
For example:
1 – In the parable, there is no mention of a bodiless soul at all. The rich man was in hell with a body. He had eyes, a tongue, etc. No one believes that the bodies of the wicked go into the flames as soon as they die.
2 – Nobody believes that Abrahams’s literal bosom is the abode of the righteous dead. In keeping with the nature of the allegory, this is obviously a figure of speech. Incidentally, the angels will gather the saints (see verse 22), but according to Matthew 24:31, that takes place at the coming of Jesus, not at death.
Matthew 24:31 “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
3 – Another point is that paradise and hades are here pictured to be so situated that their inhabitants may hold normal conversation with each other across the gulf. But the Bible says that for the redeemed, the former earth will “not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17).
Isaiah 65:17 “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
4 – The rich man’s request in verse 24 is hardly characteristic of someone in his condition. His whole body is on fire, and all he asks for is that Lazarus dip the tip of his finger in water and then come and touch his tongue!? How much relief could he expect to get from that? Especially after Lazarus has to traverse the gulf and make his way through the flames to get to him. How much moisture did he think would be left on his finger after such a journey? No one believes that this type of thing takes place between the righteous and the wicked after death.
5 – In speaking of the request for Lazarus to go and warn the rich man’s living brothers, the Bible says that Lazarus would have had to have “rose from the dead.” (Verse 31). Far from supporting the idea of conscious communication or mobility in death, this gives support to the fact that in order for Lazarus to do anything at all he would have to be resurrected!
6 – In the parable, Jesus points us to the source of divine instruction: “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them” (verse 29). So, this, in other words – the Bible – is where we must look to learn the fate of the wicked.
Jesus made the details of His story so obviously unreal that no one should take them literally. He wanted His hearers instead to focus on the lessons brought out in the parable.
Apart from the intended point or moral of the story, we cannot base doctrinal beliefs on the incidentals of an allegory. For instance, a thistle cannot ask for the daughter of a cedar for the wife of its son (see 2 Kings 14:9). Neither can trees go forth to anoint a king over themselves (see Judges 9:8-15). So, when dealing with parables, ask yourself, “What is the speaker trying to illustrate by this parable?” Then if you want to know about the nature of trees or the nature of dead people, find all the Scriptural passages where that specific topic is being discussed, put all the meanings together, and then you will know the complete truth on that subject.
2 Kings 14:9 “And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.”
Judges 9:8-15 “The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”
Don’t people go to Hell or Heaven at the moment of death?
Matthew 25:31-33 “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.”
No, the Bible says that Jesus will SEPARATE the sheep & goats when he COMES.
Isn’t He the God of the living?
This term is always taken out of context because of what Jesus says here …
Matthew 22:31-32 “But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.“
If we place it back IN CONTEXT, we understand why Jesus used such words. He was responding to the Sadducee’s belief that EVERYONE dies and never resurrects from the grave. Reading verse 23 which started the conversation confirms this …
Matthew 22:23 “The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,”
Doesn’t the “voice of Abel’s blood” crying out in Genesis 4 prove he’s in Heaven?
If this is true, then the stone and timber in Habakkuk chapter two are alive merely because they have a voice.
Habakkuk 2:11 “For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.”
Is the money that cries out for the labourers in James chapter five also a conscious being?
James 5:4 “Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: …”
| The word “HIRE” as Strong’s defines… 3408 misthos {mis-thos’} apparently a primary word; TDNT – 4:695,599; n m AV – reward 24, hire 3, wages 2; 29 1) dues paid for work 1a) wages, hire 2) reward: used of the fruit naturally resulting from toils and endeavours 2a) in both senses, rewards and punishments 2b) of the rewards which God bestows, or will bestow, upon good deeds and endeavours 2c) of punishments |
If it is true that a “voice” denotes a conscious state of being. Then I must declare that Abel’s blood, the stone of the wall, the beam in the timber, and the money in the pocket ARE ALL ALIVE with viable voices and a conscious state of being. Common sense prevails when the light of day shines brightly, doesn’t it?
By the way … ever notice this? Life on earth with all its hardships, pain, and suffering can in no way compare to Heaven; a place of perfect peace and contentment to say the least. Why would anyone seek to have anything to do with anything on this sinful orb after standing within the walls of Heaven?
The State of the Dead
One of the very last prophecies to be fulfilled before the return of Christ is:
1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”
Many are aware today that the majority of religions, including some Christian denominations, proclaim that prayers to the dead are not only acceptable, but necessary, and should be done often if the dead are considered a saint. Most teach when person dies they go to a spirit world where they can be contacted by us in prayer, or by a psychic or spirit guide in a séance.
Some also teach reincarnation where the soul goes from one life to the next forever in the hopes of cultivating enough wisdom to become perfect and therefore eternal in nature.
Then there are those who teach that the spirit of the deceased can actually haunt people if the deceased had been wronged in some major way in their mortal life.
Then there are those that teach that dead saints are allowed to come back from heaven and physically appear unto us and warn us of mortal dangers if we don’t heed their Heavenly warnings and follow their advice.
One of these denominations even teaches that the mother of Jesus Christ Himself appears from time to time to relay messages from heaven.
Before making a judgement about which church is correct, if any, let’s go to the Bible to see what it has to say about where we go when we die.
Psalm 6:3-5 “My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? 4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?”
The Psalmist is praying for deliverance to arrive before death here because he knows he won’t have the ability to remember anything from the grave, nor can he give thanks from the grave.
Psalm 115:17 “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.”
Psalm 146:4 “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.”
In Isaiah, we see that king Hezekiah was sick and Isaiah told him he was about to die. The king turned his face to the wall and prayed. In his prayer he says the following:
Isaiah 38:18-19 “For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. 19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.”
So, it is rather plainly stated; the dead seem to be just that … DEAD! They can’t remember anything, they can’t thank anyone, they can’t praise God, they can’t think or even dream because the verse says, “his thoughts perish”. As “the dead know not any thing”, all their abilities have perished.
Please take note of the end of
Ecclesiastes 9:6 “… neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun”
The Bible is stating that the dead can IN NO WAY take part in anything under the sun!
If the Bible is saying the dead can’t affect anything that happens here on earth, then why are people still praying to these dead saints when they can’t hear them? Why do people still believe in hauntings, séances, apparitions, etc.?
They believe it because they never read in their Bibles the truth about these things … they just trusted their church leaders to tell them truthfully what the Bible says.
So, who or what are these people seeing at these séance, hauntings, etc.?
Some churches believe Mary the mother of Jesus is showing up in apparitions all over the world. Many also believe that paintings/statues of Mary are actually bleeding real blood and crying real tears. The Bible clearly says the dead cannot affect anything that happens here on earth! So, if these apparitions aren’t Mary, then who are they?
In short, they are demons. Every person has their own personal demons. Since demons, who were once angels, are vastly more intelligent than we are and have had 6000 years to perfect their craft, they can imitate whoever they wish. Since we all have our own demons that stick with us through our lives, they know every little mannerism, every facial twitch, every measurement of our bodies, every sin, and every nuance about us including our voices. It is beyond simple for them to take the form of our loved ones or anyone else. From there, they have an easy time tricking humans into believing in ghosts since most humans are lacking protection from God as well as knowledge of what His Word says about the dead.
I’m sure your wondering, “well, then where do we go when we die?” Please don’t go running to a priest, friend, teacher, or “holy man” to find the answer. Always allow the Word of God to be the final authority before making any decision. Your very relationship with God is at stake. The Bible is the place we should always go to find answers to our questions.
However, if you must go to a person for answers, always verify their claims with the Word of God! Never allow the words of mere men to sway you. When we go to God’s Word for the answer, we will never go wrong.
So, where do we go when we die?
Psalm 13:3 “Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;”
The Bible refers to death as sleep and during this dreamless sleep, “his thoughts perish”. Is it possible to affect the lives of others or carry out normal day to day activities in normal sleep? Jesus Himself refers to the dead as being asleep in the story of Lazarus.
John 11:11-14 “These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 The said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.”
The disciples weren’t getting it and thought that when Jesus said Lazarus was sleeping that he would be okay. So, Jesus had to plainly say “Lazarus is dead”.
Before going further, we need to understand the main reason Jesus calls death “sleep” here. It’s because He knows that everyone will awaken one day out of death, just as we awaken each morning from sleep. Some will awaken to receive eternal life, most will awaken to be destroyed in eternal damnation.
John 5:28-29 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 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.”
Back to Lazarus. A few verses later we realize how long Lazarus would have been sleeping the sleep of death if Jesus had not raised him from the dead.
John 11:23-24 “Jesus said unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Martha, the sister of Lazarus, understood the Biblical truth about the state of the dead. She knew Lazarus wasn’t going to awaken until the last day when Jesus returns at His second coming.
The book of Job also mentions the length of sleep for the dead.
Job 14:12 “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.”
Notice the word “till”. This means the dead will not, or cannot, awaken until the last day as Martha calls it.
BEST PASSAGE ON SUBJECT:
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.”
The dead in Christ will remain in their graves awaiting the order of resurrection. What is that order? Jesus is the “firstfruits of them that slept”. So, the righteous dead will be taken up into the clouds to join Christ first. Then, secondly, the righteous living (the 144,000) will be caught up in the clouds with them.
What about the following passage? Is Paul saying there is immediate life after death?
Philippians 1:21-25 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;”
Like any Christian, Paul is stating it would be better to be dead because we all know the saved will gain Heaven, once Heaven starts for mankind. But because the work he is doing is needed to help souls discover truth that leads to Heaven, he is still alive to help those the Lord sends his way. Truth is, Paul was so weighed down with responsibilities at this time that he no doubt wondered if the work would lead to his death. Would he press on for the good of others and abide in the flesh, or would he collapse under the pressure and give up the conflict. He knew what was best, and so he moved on and did the work. As for “being with Christ” in this statement. When we use the “line upon line and precept on precept” as Isaiah instructs, we know that Paul wasn’t saying he would go to heaven immediately after his death. He knew the state of the dead meant sleep, and when awakened the time passed between those two events would not be known to him, and so at death, he would only know immediate life with Christ. After all, since the Word says at death “our thoughts perish” (Psalm 146:4) Paul would have no recollection of the time that passed between his death and his resurrection. Back then, everyone knew about the state of the dead thanks to Peter’s clarifying sermon in Acts chapter 2. So, Paul didn’t need to explain his statement about being “with Christ.” But today, with 2000 years’ worth of twisted theology from Rome that is bouncing between the ears of most Christians and has spread into all churches because prophecy said all the world would wonder after that beast, we need to touch a little further on such subjects so as to shed a bit more light on the truth.
This page was copied and pasted by permission from remnantofgod.org
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