Death

[Faithful Son]

Is there someone that explain death to me? I have conflicting views about the subject and I'd like to get one view so that I don't confuse other people.

When a person dies, let's assume the person is a Christian.

Does he fall asleep?

Does he go to heaven?

Which one of those two.

I watched a program on television a while back that gave strong scriptural backup that all people, irrespective of their belief falls asleep when they die.

Please backup what you say with scripture and be thorough, I think it could be a good topic to discuss.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Is there someone that explain death to me? I have conflicting views about the subject and I'd like to get one view so that I don't confuse other people.
When a person dies, let's assume the person is a Christian.
Does he fall asleep?
Does he go to heaven?
Which one of those two.
I watched a program on television a while back that gave strong scriptural backup that all people, irrespective of their belief falls asleep when they die.
Please backup what you say with scripture and be thorough, I think it could be a good topic to discuss.

Physical death occurs when all our bodily functions cease operating and our soul leaves our body. "Falling asleep" is a metaphor for death based on what it looks like when our eyes are permanently closed.

Does a Christian's soul go to heaven when he/she dies? Yes, provided they have truly walked the walk according to Jesus' instructions in Mt 25:31-46. Remember, however, that only God decides who is truly saved. Unlike the proverbial duck; walking like a Christian and talking like a Christian, doesn't necessarily make one a Christian.

SLE

 

[Word of Life]

This might help you to understand it better.

Death

How can we face death? We need not be afraid if God is with us. It's in the Bible, Psalm 23:4, TLB. "Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way."

What is death like? It is like falling asleep. It's in the Bible, I Thessalonians 4:13, NIV. "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope." and in John 11:11-14, NIV. "After He had said this, He went on to tell them, 'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.' His disciples replied, 'Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.' Jesus had been speaking of his death, but His disciples thought He meant natural sleep. So then He told them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead'."
Where does Daniel say the dead are sleeping? It's in the Bible, Daniel 12:2, NIV. "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake."

Do the dead know anything? It's in the Bible, Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, 10, NIV. "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun… Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."

But death is not the end! It's in the Bible, Isaiah 26:19, NIV. "But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy."

What does Jesus promise those who die? It's in the Bible, Hosea 13:14, NIV. "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death."

Resurrection power comes from Christ. It's in the Bible, I Corinthians 15:21-22, NIV. "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

Why did God give His Son to the world? It's in the Bible, John 3:16, NIV. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Both good and evil people are resurrected. It's in the Bible, John 5:28-29, NIV. "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned."

The righteous are resurrected at the second coming of Christ. It's in the Bible, I Thessalonians 4:16-17, NIV. "For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."

What will we be like after the resurrection? It's in the Bible, Philippians 3:20-21, NIV. "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body."
How long will the resurrected righteous live? It's in the Bible, Luke 20:36, NIV. "And they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection."

How long do the wicked wait after the first resurrection before they are raised? It's in the Bible, Revelation 20:4-5, NIV. "They [the righteous] came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.)"

What is their fate? It's in the Bible, Revelation 20:9, NIV. "Fire came down from heaven and devoured them."
Who are the wicked? It's in the Bible, Revelation 21:8, NIV. "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

 

[Faithful Son]

Thank you SLE and Word of Life,

Word of Life I enjoyed your reply so much, no offense SLE, I thought it sounded sweet when you kept saying "It's in the Bible" hehe, that made me smile.
So from the looks of it we can assume two things, correct me if I'm wrong.

No one is currenlty in hell and all dead people are asleep.

That's my understanding.

 

[Word of Life]

Yes teraside, all people good or bad are dead and stay dead, until Jesus Christ comes back for us. The ones who are born again, dead or alive, will be given new bodies, so we can spend eternity with Jesus and with all our other brothers and sisters and we will all be together in worshiping God.

There will be a tribulation period before all this happens though, as I have read few weeks back, which I may be wrong, so I stand to be corrected. There is going to be a thousand year tribulation period, which will give the sinful people, dead or alive, a second chance to repent, to turn away from their sinful ways, so they also can be born again.

The ones that don't will be cast into the Lake of Fire.

 

[Faithful Son]

Thank you so much, I believe there will be people that have different opinions, but you have confirmed the way I perceive death, thanks Word of Life

 

[Fellowservant]

There is another belief on this, Paul talked about death and how he would like to be with the lord.

2Co 5:6 Therefore [we are] always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight
2Co 5:8 We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

And of course we have the thief on the cross who Christ said this day you will be with me in paradise.

We also have the spirits of Moses and Elijah at the transfiguration show up, so are they asleep or in paradise? Paradise sounds better to me because of the thief on the cross...

Absent from the body, present with the lord...in the book of revelation we see some souls under an alter talking as well, plus we have the story of the rich man and Lazarus...


God bless

 

[Faithful Son]

Thanks Fellowservant, now I'm back to step one again, you make a strong case, I appreciate you taking the time to post that. I think it is better if I don't toil and trouble about this issue, it is a good topic to converse about, so I'll see in what direction this thread leads me, or should I rather say, in what direction God leads me.

I would love to believe that I would be present with the Lord when I die, that's what I always believed beofore watching that show. I will pray about this issue and do some Bible reading of my own, thanks Fellowservant.

 

[christserf]

teraside, word of life:

Greetings!

Do the dead know anything? It's in the Bible, Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, 10, NIV. "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun… Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." (emphasis mine)

Yes, the dead know nothing under the sun. Solomon was writing about what happened on earth. That doesn't mean that this is true in Paradise.

Luk 10:24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The doctrine that all the dead are "asleep" is most commonly known (to me) as "soul sleep". I think that it is incorrect. Most of the people that I know who teach this (I don't know about you, Word of Life) teach that the soul is the union of a body and a spirit, "body + spirit = soul." Hence, if you destroy the body then there is no more soul, and the spirit (which, they say, is not an individual, but merely the breath of life) goes back to the LORD. In essence, you have ceased to exist. Then, they say, when you are "resurrected" the LORD recreates you from memory.

One major problem that I have with this is: what about Jesus? When He died, did He cease to exist? Did Jesus have no knowledge, wisdom, or planning?

I believe that the dead are conscious for the reasons that Fellowservant listed, and a few others. Here's another:

Luk 20:37-38 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth Yahweh the Elochim of Abraham, and the Elochim of Isaac, and the Elochim of Jacob. For he is not an Elochim of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

Do you have any specific questions?

In Yahweh's Love and Truth,

Christ's Serf

 

[Faithful Son]

Thanks so much Christserf, I guess I still have the same questions

When a person dies, let's assume the person is a Christian.

Does he fall asleep?

Does he go to heaven?

You made it clear through specific text, but I would love more scripture

Let me be honest, my conviction, what I feel deep down in my heart, with a warm fuzzy feeling is that when I breathe my last breath, I will feel the touch of Gods hand, that's my conviction, but eversince I watched that show, they hammered on the scripture supporting soul sleep, and I guess that has shaken my conviction a bit.

Just more scripture, please.

Thanks
Much love
teraside

 

[Word of Life]

I cant give definate answers teraside, but I found something else for you to read, which does reveal more scriptures.

For me personally, it doesn't bother me at all, whether I wait a thousand years to be with God or go straight to heaven when I die.

Rom 9:11 Before the children had come into existence, or had done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose and his selection might be effected, not by works, but by him whose purpose it is,


Death:

What does the Bible say about it?

The Bible talks about death as a sleep, refers to resurrections, the soul and spirit in death, and immortality.

A SLEEP - In John 11:11-14 (NIV) Jesus compares death to sleep. "'…Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.' His disciples replied, 'Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.' Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead,.'" The Bible compares death to sleep over 50 times.

We are told in I Thessalonians 4:15-16 (NIV) that those asleep in Jesus rise at His Second Coming. "According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first."

RESURRECTIONS - There are two resurrections-one to life and one to eternal condemnation. John 5:28-29 (NIV). "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out-those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned."

Genesis 2:7 (KJV) records the creation of man in the beginning. "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." God did not put a soul into man. It is like an equation: Dust + Breath = a living soul. If you were going to make a wooden box you could say: boards + nails = a box. You take a few wooden boards and nail them together to make a box. If you take them apart again and pull all the nails out of the wood and put the nails in a pile and the boards in a stack. What happened to the box? It just ceased to exist until you put it back together again. That is the way it is with death. You take away the breath, that spark of life which comes from God and the body will return to dust (or sometimes to ashes in the case of cremation). What happened to the soul? It just ceases to be until God comes at the resurrection and puts it back together again. At that time the dust and the breath of life are reunited and then you have a life, a live person or live soul again.

The interval between death and the resurrection is described in the Bible as "sleep." No consciousness of what is happening, or time passing, etc. Dying is like going to sleep and your next conscious thought-it will seem like the next moment-is when God resurrects you giving you back your life.

SOUL AND SPIRIT IN DEATH - Ecclesiastes 12:7 says the body returns to the dust and the spirit [or breath of life] returns to God. Job 27:3 tells us that the spirit is the same as God's breath of life or His power.

Psalm 146:4 (KJV) says, "When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing." The dead do not praise God, Psalm 115:17. The dead do not know anything, Ecclesiastes 9:5, "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing."

IMMORTALITY - Human beings do not have immortality, only God does. (see I Timothy 6:16). We receive immortality when Jesus comes again. (see I Corinthians 15:51-54). When Jesus comes His reward of eternal life will be with Him. (see Revelation 22:12).

The Bible says heaven is a real place in John 14:1-3 (NIV), "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

God will give us glorious immortal bodies. Philippians 3:21 and I Corinthians 15:51-54. All physical deformities will be cured. (The eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf unstopped and the crippled healed.) Isaiah 35:3-6. They will build houses and inhabit them. They will plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. Isaiah 65:21-23. The wolf and lamb will feed together. God's New Kingdom will be one of tranquil peace. Isaiah 65:25. We will fellowship with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the greatest minds of the ages forever. Matthew 8:11.

God Himself shall be with us and be our God. Revelation 21:3. We shall lovingly serve our God forever and enjoy the closest fellowship with Him. Revelation 22:3-4.

 

[baruch]

Hi Teraside, I take Paul's view in Philippians ch 1:21-26 21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. I think Paul believed he would immediately go to be with Jesus at his death. Hope this helps.

 

[led by the spirit]

Greetings
We know that no man has gone to heaven only our saviour.Next .Yes all throughout the books death is likened to falling asleep.Perhaps as a deep coma if you will.There is no passing of time so when ressurected "Hey! what happened?all I remember was a freight train heading for me and next here I am."
You must understand that our soul's will die and be eaten up by the earth (rot) and that our spirits is what will sleep untill ressurrected.See a soul is our physical bodies and thus we are in common to all animals.We have the breath of life so that makes a soul a living soul.We as humans have a spirit and that is what makes us different.And it get's better than that.
.I hope this helps.So be it.

 

[baruch]

Hi LBTS, in 1Peter 3:18-20 Jesus, after he died went in Spirit to preach to imprisoned spirits, who were alive in spirit!

 

[jiggyfly]

Greetings
We know that no man has gone to heaven only our saviour.Next .Yes all throughout the books death is likened to falling asleep.Perhaps as a deep coma if you will.There is no passing of time so when ressurected "Hey! what happened?all I remember was a freight train heading for me and next here I am."
You must understand that our soul's will die and be eaten up by the earth (rot) and that our spirits is what will sleep untill ressurrected.See a soul is our physical bodies and thus we are in common to all animals.We have the breath of life so that makes a soul a living soul.We as humans have a spirit and that is what makes us different.And it get's better than that.
.I hope this helps.So be it.

"led by the spirit" do you happen to have any scriptures to support what you stated? please be kind and list them .

 

[SpiritLedEd]

If, as you say, no man has gone to heaven except Jesus, how is it that Elijah spoke with Jesus at the Transfiguration? (See 2 Kgs 2: 1, 11 and Mark 9: 2-4).

SLE

 

[led by the spirit]

Hi LBTS, in 1Peter 3:18-20 Jesus, after he died went in Spirit to preach to imprisoned spirits, who were alive in spirit!

Greeting's Go and seek this matter out biblically.All throughout scripture never is man's spirit ever imprisoned.The only spirit's referred to as imprisoned are Satanic,evil spirit's.
Just think Jesus overcame satan,and in this passage he is proclaiming this fact.A sort of IN YOUR FACE ! kind of thing to the evil spirit's.So be it. God bless.

 

[led by the spirit]

If, as you say, no man has gone to heaven except Jesus, how is it that Elijah spoke with Jesus at the Transfiguration? (See 2 Kgs 2: 1, 11 and Mark 9: 2-4).
SLE

Greet's Simple he has the key's to hell does he not?And when I say hell I mean The grave as it is proprly rendered.So be it. Gotta go I dont get long at home during the week.God bless.So be it.

 

[led by the spirit]

"led by the spirit" do you happen to have any scriptures to support what you stated? please be kind and list them .

Greet's be happy to.How 'bout this sabbath? I haul car's during the week and so I dont have much time at home.But I didnt forget you ,your request will require a bit more time than I have at the present.God bless.So be it.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

From the Life Application NIV Study Bible study notes for 1 Peter 3: 18-20 -

"The meaning of preaching 'to the spirits in prison' is not completely clear, and commentators have explained it in different ways.The traditional interpretation is that Christ, between his death and resurrection, announced salvation to God's faithful followerswho had been waiting for their salvation during the whole Old Testament era. Matthew records that when Jesus died, 'the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.' (Mt 27:52-53)."


SLE