Where do people go?

AubreyM · Mar 27, 2021

Hello you and welcome.

Just a friendly question here:

Where do people go when they die?

How do you know?

Why do you say that?

~~~~

In this day in age many people say people go to hell forever and burn in the lake of fire forever.

Some may say differently.

Would like to share of what it is that is believed in my own head using scripture.

~~~~

So from what scripture tells us. If you are still reading all of this post that believers go into the city - Heavenly Jerusalem. And non-believers are outside of the gate of this City.

In my thoughts all people are going to be resurrected, but some will be going into the city, while others will be outside. Also scripture tells us if anyone takes or adds anything to this 'letter' 'scroll' named the Revelation - written to the seven churches plagues will be sent upon them, as well as God taking away from a person who will share in the tree of life, and in the Holy City - which is described in this 'letter' 'scroll'.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Revelation 22:

12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Philip_B · Mar 27, 2021

This reminds me of an essay a theology class faced: What happens after death? Give evidence.

I think that we should acknowledge that death is a mystery, and indeed it may well be a holy mystery.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the evidence that assures us that death is not the full stop at the end of our life sentence. Christ when he rose on high has led a host of captives.

Freth · Mar 27, 2021

When you die, you are asleep until resurrection. The dead in Christ are resurrected at the second coming. The wicked dead are resurrected after the thousand year reign of Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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.

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.

Revelation 20:4-5 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead [the wicked] lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection [of the wicked].

Happy Sabbath!

Basil the Great · Mar 27, 2021

We do not know for certain where we go. Most Christians today believe that we either go to Heaven, Hell or Purgatory, in the case of Catholic theology anyway. A minority of Christians believe that we sleep until Jesus returns. The Eastern Orthodox believe that people either go to a place which is a foretaste of Heaven or a foretaste of Hell, but that the ultimate reward and punishment do not occur until Jesus returns. Some Christians believe that certain souls remain on Earth after death as ghosts, for an undetermined period of time. A very small minority of Christians believe in reincarnation. Most will say that such is hardly worth mentioning, but as long as we are in the controversial theology section, it seems proper to list it as an option.

I think the main thing that we all need to remember is that the Bible, and every religion on Earth for that matter, teaches that what we do in this life impacts what will happen to us in the next life.

renniks · Mar 27, 2021

Believers go to paradise. Where that is is kinda hazy. But it's to be present with God.

Non believers go to hades.

Eventually we will be back on the new earth and the unsaved will be put in the lake of fire.

St_Worm2 · Mar 27, 2021

AubreyM said:
Where do people go when they die?
How do you know?
Why do you say that?

Hello AubreyM, I was going to ask you if you meant the Intermediate State or the Final State, but since both have now been broached, I'll start with the Intermediate State (the period of time between our physical death and our bodily resurrection).

Historically, every church within the pale of Christian orthodoxy, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Lutheran, Anglican, Baptist, etc., etc., has taught that believers, during the Intermediate State, are awake and at home with the Lord.

Here are some of the Scriptures that help form the foundation for the church's belief about the Intermediate State.

Matthew 17
1 Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.
2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.
3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”

Luke 16
19 There was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.
20 And poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,
21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.
22 Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.
23 In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’
25 But Abraham said, Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.
26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’
27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house—
28 for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
30 But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’
31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’

2 Corinthians 5
6 We are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

Philippians 1
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.
23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;
24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

Revelation 6
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

Finally, here are some of the arguments that have been made against the doctrine of "soul sleep" on the basis of the Scriptures I just posited above.

1) How can the Scriptures cited above be true if the dead in Christ remain unconscious in the ground until the Bema Seat Judgment?

2) How can those who are absent from the body make it their aim to be well-pleasing to the Lord (in life AND in death) if their souls are not conscious when they are with Him after they die?

3) How could Paul have possibly believed it better to depart and be with Christ, if being with Christ means nothing more than lying interred in an unconscious state until the end of this age?

4) How could the Apostle say, "to die is gain", if dying means nothing more than lying dead in the ground with our bodies until the resurrection?

5) Finally, how do those who are in Hades, Paradise, and/or under the altar in Heaven, "cry out in a loud voice", if their souls are not conscious in death :scratch:

It's because of verses/passages like the ones above that all of our churches (all but one now, the SDA) continue to teach that the doctrine of the "sleep of the soul" is heretical .. :preach:

God bless you!

David

Clare73 · Mar 27, 2021

AubreyM said:
Hello you and welcome.
Just a friendly question here:
Where do people go when they die?
How do you know?
Why do you say that?

~~~~

In this day in age many people say people go to hell forever and burn in the lake of fire forever.

Some may say differently.

Would like to share of what it is that is believed in my own head using scripture.

~~~~

So from what scripture tells us. If you are still reading all of this post that believers go into the city - Heavenly Jerusalem. And non-believers are outside of the gate of this City.

In my thoughts all people are going to be resurrected, but some will be going into the city, while others will be outside. Also scripture tells us if anyone takes or adds anything to this 'letter' 'scroll' named the Revelation - written to the seven churches plagues will be sent upon them, as well as God taking away from a person who will share in the tree of life, and in the Holy City - which is described in this 'letter' 'scroll'.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Revelation 22:

12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For Paul, to be absent from the body was to be present with the Lord (Philippians 1:21-24).

I know that because Paul received his revelation from Jesus Christ personally, in the third heaven
(2 Corinthians 12:1-5).

And I say that because I believe the God-breathed Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16).

And that would apply to all the redeemed.

St_Worm2 · Mar 27, 2021

Basil the Great said:
Some Christians believe that certain souls remain on Earth after death as ghosts, for an undetermined period of time. A very small minority of Christians believe in reincarnation.

Hello brother, there is one Christian church now (the SDA) that holds to the doctrine of the sleep of the soul, but which Christian church/churches teach reincarnation and/or that disembodied spirits are living among us here on earth :scratch:

All of that sounds far more non-Christian and/or cult-like than anything that a Christian church would ever teach.

Thanks

--David

NomNomPizza · Mar 27, 2021

AubreyM said:
Hello you and welcome.

Just a friendly question here:

Where do people go when they die?

How do you know?

Why do you say that?

~~~~

In this day in age many people say people go to hell forever and burn in the lake of fire forever.

Some may say differently.

Would like to share of what it is that is believed in my own head using scripture.

~~~~

So from what scripture tells us. If you are still reading all of this post that believers go into the city - Heavenly Jerusalem. And non-believers are outside of the gate of this City.

In my thoughts all people are going to be resurrected, but some will be going into the city, while others will be outside. Also scripture tells us if anyone takes or adds anything to this 'letter' 'scroll' named the Revelation - written to the seven churches plagues will be sent upon them, as well as God taking away from a person who will share in the tree of life, and in the Holy City - which is described in this 'letter' 'scroll'.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Revelation 22:

12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nah 1st Resurrection of living
2nd Resurrection of damned and they go to lake of fire after 1000 year kingdom and the judgement takes place

Basil the Great · Mar 27, 2021

St_Worm2 said:
Hello brother, there is one Christian church now (the SDA) that holds to the doctrine of the sleep of the soul, but which Christian church/churches teach reincarnation and/or that disembodied spirits are living among us here on earth All of that sounds far more non-Christian and/or cult-like than anything that a Christian church would ever teach.

Thanks

--David

I did not say any particular denomination believed in such, but certainly some individual Christians do.

ViaCrucis · Mar 27, 2021

AubreyM said:
Hello you and welcome.

Just a friendly question here:

Where do people go when they die?

How do you know?

Why do you say that?

~~~~

In this day in age many people say people go to hell forever and burn in the lake of fire forever.

Some may say differently.

Would like to share of what it is that is believed in my own head using scripture.

~~~~

So from what scripture tells us. If you are still reading all of this post that believers go into the city - Heavenly Jerusalem. And non-believers are outside of the gate of this City.

In my thoughts all people are going to be resurrected, but some will be going into the city, while others will be outside. Also scripture tells us if anyone takes or adds anything to this 'letter' 'scroll' named the Revelation - written to the seven churches plagues will be sent upon them, as well as God taking away from a person who will share in the tree of life, and in the Holy City - which is described in this 'letter' 'scroll'.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Revelation 22:

12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Where do people "go"? Nobody knows what happens after death. The only ones who have experienced death and lived to talk about it never told us about this.

However Scripture does give us information that we should take seriously, namely that we have hope between death and resurrection of being present with the Lord. St. Paul in 2 Corinthians speaks of an emigration from the body and a migration to the Lord, or as usually translated, "absent from the body" and "present with the Lord".

What does that mean? And the short and plain answer to that is simply we don't know. We know it will be with the Lord, and the clues given to us--though in large symbolic form--in the Apocalypse of St. John that those who are Christ's are "in heaven" that is before God's throne and in His presence.

For this reason Christianity has always talked about the existence between death and resurrection--the intermediate state--as going to be with the Lord in His presence, experiencing a conscious foretaste of what is to come when God makes all things new. Which often has short-handed into the expression of "going to heaven". Though it's not really about going to some place called "heaven"; but is rather about the immediate experience of God in our rest between bodily death and resurrection.

-CryptoLutheran

St_Worm2 · Mar 27, 2021

Basil the Great said:
I did not say any particular denomination believed in such, but certainly some individual Christians do.

Hello @Basil the Great, thanks! Of course, almost anything that you can imagine (and many things that you never would) have been held up as the truth by "individual" Christians over the years

--David

AubreyM · Mar 28, 2021

Hello Stworm,

Thank you for sharing. Due our human nature our brains have critical thinking measures, and questionings when it comes to these things like death and what happens afterwards.

It would seem those who are curios to know the truth are indeed seeking for the truth. With this beings said that final validation for truth is most certainly to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the saviour of all man kind.

Those who believe in different doctrines of whether,

Soul sleep,
People go to hell forever,
People go to heaven for belief,
Are all practical ideas and theology and have been created since the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Personally do not believe in Soul sleep, or that people go to hell forever. Hell was and use to be a place that was a holding tank for all people and Jesus Christ overcame this place, and now it seems things have changed since is overcoming of Hell, overcoming Satan, overcoming Sin, overcoming the grave.

Do however believe that the Revelation 22 The ending chapter holds true for all human beings after this life.

(Some disagree and that is okay but it is my only source of proof of what can be seen in what seems to be the unseen future of all people which is to be resurrected either to condemnation or life.)

God will give a spiritual body as it is pleasing to him, and people by the predication of their own choices will go A ) Outside of the kingdom or B) Inside of the kingdom of God.

Now others may believe differently and that is totally okay. Still love them as brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ. As human beings we can share our beliefs, and people can go and check the information in the bible to see if that it is true or not.

Would digress the venture of anyone ever following me and my beliefs - though do support you in your relationship with God, and the Lord Jesus Christ and to continue in your faith with them and Love others while you are here in this earth and let God work on your heart in and through as a believer, as Child of God, or Son and Daughter of God.

Thank you for your comment Stworm_

And thank all of the rest of you for sharing your different viewpoints.

Goodhuman · Mar 28, 2021

They go to heaven, but they are in emergency need of our prayers, they don't have the perfect afterlife.

AubreyM · Mar 28, 2021

Hello Goodhuman,

What does that mean?

Goodhuman · Mar 28, 2021

I mean there is people who was worthy of God on this earth and now enjoy forever blessed state. But it is very hard and rare, it need much work from our side to be without need of prayers and to have the perfect afterlife. Such examples are the saints, the angels and such creatures.

AubreyM · Mar 28, 2021

Hello Goodhuman,

Thank you for explaining a little bit more; Personally would never desire the title of a saint. Much respect for those who read and study on the saints. It is a very difficult life to live that is for sure, hard believe it is possible to match up to what the Lord Jesus Christ himself had done and did, as well as the first church that had to keep itself spotless and without blemish.

You are absolutely right however, Goodhuman. We most certainly need prayer daily in our lives and asking of God to help us with the holy spirit inside of us to have patience, to kind, to be humble, to be gentle, to be forbearing, to have goodness, to have joy, to have peace, to have self-control, to have faithfulness. By our choice in continuing to trust God through and through the timeless trails and tribulations that come and go through out our entire life until we finally pass away from this life onward to God.

In which we can not say look at all we done for you God haven't we done good works!

Ay, No. The only option is God, thank you all you have done for the World, in and through your blessing by sending your Son Jesus Christ to die for all the world, and raising him up again where while we were on earth we could have a relationship with you Lord God Almighty.

Never what we can amount up to but what work He is and capable of doing through you by your choice in trusting and having faith.

Glory to God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your comment sir.

To Love God, and to Love Others is the goal. Pray for everyone, and let us be thankful ~ even though hard and rough times come and go.

Saint Steven · Mar 28, 2021

@AubreyM as @Basil the Great indicated, there are different views of the afterlife in Christianity. I boil that down into three categories of the doctrines of the final judgment. Each having a different ending story and transitional story.
1) Damnationism (forever burning hell)
2) Annihilationism (incineration of "the damned")
3) Ultimate Redemption (universal restoration)

Here is an unbiased video that explains the three views and gives biblical support for each view.

Hell - Three Christian Views Lecture by Steve Gregg

Shrewd Manager · Mar 29, 2021

Revelation 22:14 answers your question:

AubreyM said:
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

The reprobates in their filthy get up are permitted entry on the sole condition they clean their apparel.

It's not rocket surgery. The Pearly Gates stand ever-open (Revelation 21:25), the encouragement to come partake of the eau de vie is a standing invitation (Revelation 22:17). And you better get your gospel-shaped winch out, because:

Fishermen will stand by the shore; from En-gedi to En-eglaim they will spread their nets to catch fish of many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. (Ezekiel 47:10)

That's our job. Plus ca change. When God's busy renovating the whole house (Revelation 21:5), the least we can do is come out and lend a hand.

AubreyM · Mar 29, 2021

Okay.

Where do people go?

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