One of the greatest deceptions in the Christian world is about what happens when we die.
Are the dead really dead, or are they in Heaven with God?
Let’s go straight to the Bible to reveal the truth!
Hi, this is Dustin with Hope Through Prophecy, where we help you understand Bible prophecy
and prepare for the return of Jesus.
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Here I am at this beautiful cemetery in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.
Surrounded by loved ones and family members, all around.
But before we discover what happens to people when they die, we must understand how we were
created.
As we travel back to the beginning of time to the Garden of Eden, we read:
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 being.
Genesis 2:7 Here, we learn that soul is a human being,
and that it is made of two things: 1) The dust of the ground and
2) The breath of God (which Job 27:3 reveals is called the Spirit of God).
What happens to these two things when we die?
The Bible tells us: Then the dust will return to the earth as
it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 When someone dies, the dust goes back to the
earth and the spirit, or breath, goes back to God.
Remember, a person, or soul, is made up of two things – breath and dust.
So, what happens to the soul when the breath returns to God and the dust returns to the
earth?
It dies!
It ceases to exist.
A soul without breath or dust is no longer a soul – it is dead.
It’s the same thing that happens to light when you take away the electricity or the
light bulb – it ceases to exist.
The light does not float away or go somewhere, it simply does not exist.
In the same way, when someone dies, their soul does not float away somewhere.
No, there is no more soul – it is dead.
You may be thinking “But I have always heard that when someone dies, they go directly to
Heaven or Hell.”
This is a very common teaching in various Christian churches.
And many sincere believers have this understanding.
But is it true?
Is this really what the Bible teaches?
I realize that this is a sensitive topic.
Here we have the tomb of what appears to be a child, whose life was lost far to soon.
When we discuss these matters, we must do it with sensitivity, making sure that the
Bible is our guide.
You may have encountered the following scenario: Often times at a funeral, you will here the
pastor trying to comfort the congregation, saying “Don’t worry – Sam is in Heaven,
looking down on us”.
Then later at the gravesite, that same Pastor says “Don’t worry, Sam is resting in the
grave, awaiting the resurrection at the return of Jesus.”
Pastor, which one is it?
Does the person go to Heaven as soon as they die, or are they resting in the grave, awaiting
the resurrection when Jesus returns?
Friends, there need not be any confusion.
Let us allow the Bible to answer this question: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at
the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1
Corinthians 15:52-53 As you can see, it will be at the last trumpet
– the second coming of Jesus, that the dead will be raised.
Not before that time.
This verse also reveals that it will be at THAT time – the second coming of Jesus – that
we will change from mortal beings to immortal beings.
Right now, each of us are mortal – we are subject to pain and reality of death.
In fact, the Bible teaches that only God has immortality:
…He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone
has immortality…
1 Timothy 6:15-16 If we went directly to Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory
directly when we die, then we would have immortality – but this is simply not the case.
The teaching of an immortal soul is simply not in the Bible.
The word soul is used over 1600 times in the Bible, but not once does the Bible ever call
the soul immortal.
The teaching of an immortal soul has it’s origin in ancient pagan beliefs from Egypt
and Babylon, and unfortunately has crept into many modern Christian churches.
But the Bible is clear, besides the notable exceptions of Elijah, Moses, Enoch, and the
select group that arose when Christ was resurrected, the dead are NOT in Heaven right now.
To further prove this, the Bible reveals: The dead do not praise the Lord, Nor any who
go down into silence.
Psalm 115:17 The dead do not praise the Lord.
And what does the Bible say about King David – is he in heaven, or in the grave?
Acts 2:29 reveals: 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.
Acts 2:29 And Acts 2:34 affirms:
For David did not ascend into the heavens…
Acts 2:34 When we die, we are dead.
We simply remain in the grave until the resurrection.
In a sense, we are just resting in the grave.
Notice that this tombstone says “in sweetest sleep”.
You might have also heard of “rest in peace”.
Is it true?
Are the dead truly resting in the grave?
Or are they in Heaven or Hell right now?
Interestingly, the Bible repeatedly refers to death as a sleep.
Here is one of over 50 verses that refer to death as a sleep:
When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed
after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
2 Samuel 7:12 And in this passage, Jesus makes it clear
that death is a sleep: These things He said, and after that He said
to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”
Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.”
However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking
rest in sleep.
Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”
John 11:11-14 Some may say, “Yes the soul dies, but the
conscious spirit goes to Heaven when we die.”
This is only partially true.
We have already learned, from the Bible, that the spirit is simply the life-giving breath
of God.
It is not a conscious being.
The Bible makes this crystal clear in the following verses:
For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more
reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.
Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have
a share In anything done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 God reveals that the dead know nothing – their
thoughts, emotions, and activities perish when they die.
Speaking of the time after one dies, the book of Job reveals:
His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; They are brought low, and he does not
perceive it.
Job 14:21 The Bible has revealed to us that the dead
do not praise the Lord in Heaven, or have any part in any activity here on earth.
In fact, there is great danger in believing that the dead are still conscious and can
think and communicate.
This belief is known as spiritualism.
First, it is not Biblical.
When we misunderstand one Bible doctrine, it can cause a domino effect that leads us
to be deceived about other teachings.
Second, this belief opens us up to being deceived by evil spirits.
You see, when people are visited by supposed dead loved ones, these are actually demons
impersonating their loved ones.
We have learned that the dead know nothing, are in the grave, and cannot communicate with
the living.
Satan and his demons, known as familiar spirits, actually have the ability to impersonate the
dead: And no wonder!
For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14 Dear friend, do not be deceived.
The dead are resting in the grave, cannot communicate, and are awaiting the resurrection.
And that is the great event that we can look forward to!
Let us prepare every day for it!
The Bible describes it in this thrilling verse!
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel,
and with the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 Notice the order of events – first Jesus
descends with a powerful shout, then, those who have died in Christ will rise from the
grave, and now look what happens next!
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Friends the Bible is clear.
The righteous dead will be resurrected at the second coming of Jesus.
And I want you to be ready.
If you would like to be ready for that first resurrection, just write in the comment section
below “Lord, raise me up.”
Amen!
To learn more critical information about how to prepared for the soon return of Jesus,
make sure to watch this bombshell video that reveals the Antichrist and the Mark of the
Beast – Final Days.
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And remember friends to keep your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith!