Christianity - The State of the Dead

---THE BIBLE TEACHES WE ARE MORTAL, WE DIE, WE ARE SOULS, SOULS DIE:

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. (The soul is who a person is themselves, not something they possess within their body)

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. (When a person dies it is creation in reverse, the word spirit here means the same as breath: the breath of life)

Job 27:3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; (Here we have breath and the spirit of God, it's like the electricity that powers a light bulb)

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (Without God's spirit we have no life within the body)

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. (Humans are created, life has a beginning to it and an end. The soul is not something immortal, it shall die)

Revelation 16:3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. ("Soul" refers to people and here again, we see that the soul dies)

Job 4:17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? (We are mortal according to the Bible)

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. (God alone has immortality)

Genesis 3:4

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die (Satan started the lie from the very beginning that when people die they don't really die)

Conclusion: The soul is a person's being, that is who they are. The soul is in no way a separate spirit or ghost but it is the person themselves. Without the spirit of God there is just a body without life. A computer is a great example, when it receives power it can gain a lot of information and when the power is gone it still retains the information it received but it cannot be accessed. When power is resupplied the computer is "alive" again. Living things are the same as the computer in that the electricity is the spirit of God, so without it they are dead...asleep...but when the spirit returns life returns "resurrected" with all the information or the "soul" which is the essence of that person. Consider the hard drive of the computer to be the soul, everything that was done and saved is on the hard drive, just as all of a person's being, their knowledge and memory is their soul, their very essence.

---THE STATE OF THE DEAD ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE:

Job 17:13, 16 If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust. (When we die we sleep in the grave)

Psalms 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? (The dead remember nothing)

Psalms 115:17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. (The dead do nothing)

Psalms 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. (The dead do not think)

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. (The dead know nothing and feel nothing and have no part of anything done on the earth)

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. (In the grave the dead do not work, or think or do anything)

Isaiah 38:18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. (The dead really cannot do anything)

Job 7:9, 10 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. (Evil spirits/devils may impersonate a dead person and haunt a house but it is not that person or their "ghost" haunting)

Acts 2:29, 31, 34, 35 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. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. (David is dead and buried and he has not yet ascended into the heavens)

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. 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. (Many times throughout the Bible death is referred to as sleep)

Psalms 13:3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; (death is referred to as sleep)

Conclusion: When we die it is like being asleep, a dreamless sleep like being unconscious. We can't really comprehend not existing but we know we had a beginning at birth and we don't remember existing before then. When dead we do not even have a concept of time but after dying the next thing we are conscious of is the resurrection. To us today the dead are still in their graves asleep but to them, they are unconscious until the time of the resurrection.

---THE GOOD NEWS: WE WILL NOT REMAIN ASLEEP "DEAD" IN THE GRAVE, BUT WILL BE RESURRECTED"

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (Every human throughout all time has one of two outcomes summed up here: Either to perish or to have everlasting life)

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. (All that have died and are in their graves will come forth at either the resurrection of life or else the resurrection of damnation)

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. (When Jesus returns the Bible declares that the heavens shall pass away, this is the time of the resurrection and until then the dead riseth not)

Job 21:30-32 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. (The wicked remain in the grave until the day of wrath which would be the resurrection of damnation)

John 11:23-25 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. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (The righteous who are now dead will eventually rise again at Jesus second coming: referred to as the last day)

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 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. (This refers to the Jesus second coming, those alive will not sleep "die" but will be changed as the dead are resurrected and will be gifted at that time with immortality and be incorruptible)

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Jesus says that He will give every man his reward when He comes again, they receive their reward at the resurrection and not before)

1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (The dead in Christ rise the last day and after they rise the living in Christ are caught up together with them)

John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (Jesus raises the dead in Christ at the last day)

1 Corinthians 15:22-26 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. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (The dead in Christ rise at his second coming and in the end are given the gift of immortality as death itself is destroyed)

Revelation 20:6, 14, 15 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (The dead in Christ are raised in the first resurrection but the rest are raised to the second death)

Conclusion: All who are dead remain in the grave until the last day which is Jesus second coming. When Jesus returns the dead in Christ will rise from their graves and the living in Christ will then be caught up together with them and meet Him in the clouds. The dead who are not in Christ will be resurrected later which is the resurrection of damnation and they shall die the second death. The final enemy to be destroyed is death itself, after this no one will ever die again.

Almost all of the dead are in their graves awaiting the resurrection, however, there are a few people mentioned in the Bible that are in heaven now: Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, also:

Mathew 25:52, 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. (Whether these rose to eternal life just as Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, or were simply resurrected to live on earth until dying again such as were the cases of others mentioned in the Bible (Lazarus for example), it is not clear in this verse)

---BELIEF IN AN IMMORTAL SOUL IS OF GREEK AND PAGAN ORIGIN AND NOT TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE. BELIEVING THIS KIND OF DECEPTION LEADS TO FURTHER DECEPTION:

Leviticus 20:27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. (God told the Hebrews not to allow these people in their society because He knew the dangers they were dealing with. They do not speak to the departed but rather are in contact with evil spirits/devils/demons)

Isaiah 8:19, 20 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (People seek out those with familiar spirits to try and talk to the deceased when they should be seeking God. Anyone who teaches something that does not agree with scripture has no light in them and are not to be trusted)

Mathew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (False teachings will deceive those who don't fully follow the clear teaching of scripture)

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; (In the last days people will be deceived by seducing spirits and doctrines of devils)

Revelation 18:23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. (All the nations are deceived by sorceries)

Conclusion: God is immortal and humans are not. We die which is like being asleep or to be completely unconscious. God, however, will raise us from the dead at some point in the future. Many pagan beliefs have been incorporated into Christian teaching over the years. To stand on true Bible teaching we get a clear picture of what the truth is. Those who do not study it will be easily lead astray by popular belief and deceived by seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. The teaching that people go straight to heaven or straight to hell when they die before the judgment takes goes very much against the clear teaching of the Bible.

---NOTE: THE THIEF ON THE CROSS:

Luke 23:39-43 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Did Jesus here tell this man that he would be going to paradise that same day which he died? Even if there is absolutely no explanation to this verse should we negate the consistent teaching of the Bible and build a whole doctrine around it? Even if Jesus really told this man that they would go to paradise that very day there is still a number of explanations which would harmonize this with the rest of the Bible. Perhaps Jesus was giving this man a special case such as Enoch, Moses, and Elijah. Perhaps for some reason, Jesus was speaking prophetically and the day mentioned was a year, a thousand years, an age, etc. There really is no reason to speculate about this however because there is a perfectly reasonable explanation. According to the Bible Jesus did not go to paradise that day. Jesus was “asleep” in the tomb until His resurrection Sunday morning. After His resurrection He appeared to Mary Magdalene:

John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

So now we know Jesus didn't go to paradise the day He died. Did Jesus lie or did Luke misquote Him? Neither, the fact is that when the New Testament was translated into English the translators had to add the punctuation, as the English language has punctuation whereas the Greek does not. For some reason, they put a comma in the wrong place. For this verse to make sense they should have put the comma after today: “Verily I say unto thee To day, shalt thou be with me in paradise.” It would seem that Jesus was saying that though He must not have looked anything like God at that moment, yet this man proved he believed Jesus was God by saying “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” Jesus was making him a promise that day, that moment that He didn't look like God He told that man “Verily I say unto thee today, you shall be with me in paradise.”

---NOTE: THE WITCH OF ENDOR:

1 Samuel 28:3-20 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 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. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? And the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day. 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. Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

In light of everything the Bible has to say on this subject, how are we to understand this event. Well we know God's attitude toward witches, medium, and consulting familiar spirits, which is why Saul had previously done good by putting them out of the land:

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 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. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Isaiah 18:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

Leviticus 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

Essentially this is an event displaying dangers with witchcraft, mediums, consulting familiar spirits, etc. Which God condemns as abominations. This is because God knows such people cannot actually contact the deceased but instead are dealing with devils and evil spirits which deceive them, or worse! There are a couple clues in the text, such as the witch seeing “gods ascending out of the earth.” which would only be a reference to supernatural entities, evil spirits. And then it says that Saul “perceived” that it was Samuel. So we have an evil spirit posing as Samuel here, giving Saul a discouraging message. If you read on you find that Saul loses the battle and ends up committing suicide. This story is an example to us why God gave the command to drive out anyone who takes part in consulting with demons.

-Caleb D Stroman