Or prove to me that can't be right.
It's all over the place
State of the Dead - Part 2
Are The Dead Really Dead?
Reincarnation is impossible. Because God says all who died, both good and evil, are in their graves.
17. Belief in reincarnation is expanding rapidly today. Is this teaching biblical?
"The living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing. ... Neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun." Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6.
Answer: Almost half the people on earth believe in reincarnation, a teaching that the soul never dies but is instead continually reborn in a different kind of body with each succeeding generation. This teaching, however, is contrary to Scripture.
The Bible Says
After death a person: returns to dust (Psalms 104:29), knows nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5), possesses no mental powers (Psalms 146:4), has nothing to do with anything on earth (Ecclesiastes 9:6), does not live (2 Kings 20:1), waits in the grave (Job 17:13), and continues not (Job 14:1, 2).
Satan's Invention
We learned in questions 11 and 12 that Satan invented the teaching that the dead are alive. Reincarnation, channeling, communication with spirits, spirit worship, and the "undying soul" are all inventions of Satan, with one aim to convince people that when you die you are not really dead. When people believe that the dead are alive, "spirits of devils, working miracles" (Revelation 16:14) and posing as spirits of the dead will be able to deceive and lead them astray virtually 100 percent of the time (Matthew 24:24).
Those who insist on Scripture proof for all doctrines will not be led astray by Satan.
18. I am thankful for the Bible, which tells us the truth on this sensitive subject of death.
Other considerations
1. Didn't the thief on the cross go to paradise with Christ the day He died?
No. In fact, on Sunday morning Jesus said to Mary, "I am not yet ascended to my Father." John 20:17. This shows that Christ did not go to heaven at death. Also note that the punctuation of the Bible is not inspired, but was added by men. The comma in Luke 23:43 should be placed after the words "to day" rather than before, so the passage should read, "Verily I say unto thee to day, shalt thou be with me in paradise." Or, "I'm telling you today--when it seems that I can save no one, when I myself am being crucified as a criminal--I give you the assurance today that you will be with me in paradise." Christ's kingdom is set up at His second coming (Matthew 25:31), and all the righteous of all ages will enter it at that time (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) and not at death.
2. Doesn't the Bible speak of the "undying," "immortal" soul?
No, the undying, immortal soul is not mentioned in the Bible. The word "immortal" is found only once in the Bible, and it is in reference to God (1 Timothy 1:17).
3. At death the body returns to dust and the spirit (or breath) returns to God. But where does the soul go?
It goes nowhere. Instead, it simply ceases to exist. Two things must be combined to make a soul: body and breath. When the breath departs, the soul ceases to exist because it is a combination of two things. When you turn off a light, where does the light go? It doesn't go anywhere. It just ceases to exist. Two things must combine to make a light: a bulb and electricity. Without the combination, a light is impossible. So with the soul; unless body and breath are combined, there can be no soul. There is no such thing as a disembodied soul.
4. Does the word "soul" ever mean anything other than a living being?
Yes, it may mean also (1) life itself, or (2) the mind, or intellect. No matter which meaning is intended, the soul is still a combination of two things (body and breath), and it ceases to exist at death.
5. Can you explain John 11:26, which says, "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die"?
This refers not to the first death, which all people die (Hebrews 9:27), but to the second death, which only the wicked die and from which there is no eternal resurrection (Revelation 2:11; 21:8).
6. Matthew 10:28 says, "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul." Doesn't this prove that the soul is undying?
No, it proves the opposite. The last half of the same verse proves that souls do die. It says, "But rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." The word "soul" here means life and refers to eternal life, which is a gift (Romans 6:23) that will be given to the righteous at the last day (John 6:54). No one can take away the eternal life that God bestows. (See also Luke 12:4, 5.)
7. Doesn't 1 Peter 4:6 say the gospel was preached to dead people?
No, it says the gospel "was" preached to those who "are" dead. They are dead now, but the gospel "was" preached to them while they were yet living.
8. What about the souls crying out from under the altar in Revelation 6:9, 10? Doesn't this show that souls do not die?
No. This cry was figurative, as was the cry of Abel's blood (Genesis 4:10). The word "soul" here means people (or living beings) who had been slain for their faith. Surely no one believes that souls who die literally lie under the altar, nor do people believe that the righteous beg God to punish their enemies. Rather, the righteous beg for mercy for their enemies, as Christ did on the cross (Luke 23:34).
9. Doesn't the Bible say Christ went and preached to lost souls in hell between His crucifixion and resurrection?
No, the Bible passage in question is 1 Peter 3:18-20. The preaching was done "by the Spirit" (verse 18) in Noah's day--to people who were then living (verses 19, 20). The "spirits in prison" refers to people whose lives were in bondage to Satan. (See Psalms 142:7; Isaiah 42:6, 7; 61:1; and Luke 4:18.)
++++++
What is the Holy Bible? It is mostly a written transcription about Jesus/God and a history of certain people (groups of people and/or individuals) that have lived since God created the earth with some information before creation.
There are three biblical doctrines that need to be studied first together because if you get one of them wrong, you will get all of them wrong.
They are:
1. State of the Dead
2. The Judgement
3. The 2nd coming of Jesus
State of the Dead
Genesis chapter 2 verse 7
The physical form of man. For the body to function it needed a power source, i.e. breath of life.and man became a living being (soul)
The brain, thinks, calculates, reasoning, thoughts, feelings, etc. It is likened to a computer, it collects information and processes it. This is accomplished through the 5 senses and is stored in our brains (the human hard drive, so to speak. Depending on how long a person lives determines how much “information” has been collected. This collection of information is what forms each individuals “identity” or “personality”.
What the bible says about death.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 12, verse 7 - Death is the opposite of Life. Man will return to the dust. Spirit (breath of life will return to God)
What does the bible mean “by the spirit”? Simply it is the breath of life, the power source given to Adam when he was created. Nothing more …. nothing less. So when Adam quit breathing his “breath returned to God” and therefore he died. Ok, so Adam lived approximately 920 years. So what happened to his “personal identity/character” that he formed while he was alive? The record of your life is from your first breath taken to your last breath taken. The breath of life returns to God and thus completing their entire life record until judgement occurs when their “book” is opened and reviewed.
The bible teaches that everything in a person’s life every thought, emotion/feeling, word spoken and action taken (identity/character) is “recorded” in “books” in heaven (the ultimate supernatural iCloud, if you will) . Every person from Adam to you. Basically there is a recording of you everything you are (in every aspect inside and out) in heaven happening/updated in real time until earthly death. This “record” is referred to in the bible as “the books” (plural).
Ecleasties Chapter 12, Versus 13 & 14
Fear God and keep his commandments…. i.e. secret things (our thoughts) as well.
What the bible says about “the books”.
All will go to the heavenly court. The books (evidence) will be opened/presented all will be judged according to that and a sentence will be given. (Now hang on to this thought for a while more on this later). It’s interesting to note that this is the basic judicial process of our earthly court system in the United States except not every single minute aspect of a case is available.
2nd Corth, Chapter 5 verse 10
According to the bible all will be judged (by God) our entire life will be judged in the presence of God. EVERYTHING. There personal record “book of our life” will be opened and looked at and judged. You are in the “court” of God and the entire “record of your life” is opened as indisputable evidence
Matthew 12, verses 36 & 37
Jesus speaking:
More on the “books”
Daniel Chapter 7, versus 9 & 10
Rev 20 Chapters 12 & 13 - Notice you have books (more than one book) The “Book of Life” (singular) and the dead were judged according to their works; (At this point in time (judgement), Jesus is in heaven.)
So in basic summary we (those currently) alive are here on earth and our entire “life” is recorded and being recorded (identity/character). Those who are dead, the total record of their life is “stored” in heaven …. in the books. Jesus is “personally” in heaven but is also on earth in the form or “books” (the Holy Bible) The flip side of that of is of course that we are “personally/physically” on earth and in “books” in heaven in written “format”. In a sense and sense only 2 yous. One being a physical form (on earth) and one in a written form (in heaven). So, the “books” contain the records of all lives.
Now what about the “book” singular? Book of life. Following are bible versus that refer to the Book of Life.
Plipiands Book 4 Chapter 3
Apostle Paul speaking abut his fellow laborers. Help this woman ….
names in the “Book of Life” … (names are in the book of life)
Rev 3 verse 5
He who overcomes …..
Rev 13 verse 8
Exedous 32, verse 31 33
Daniel 12, verse 1
Summary to this point: The “books” contain the entire transcription of a persons life and the “book” (Book of life) contains names.
Ok now back to “the judgement” and how it relates to “the dead”
2nd Corith Chapter 5, verse 10 …. ALL (no exceptions) have to render an account to God in the heavenly court. ALL will be judged according to what is written in the “books” (the transcripts of each one’s life) Both the dead and the living.
Where does this take place? Daniel 7 versus 9&10 …thrones in place…. God the father in heaven. Who’s there at judgement God, angels …
When does this judgement take place according to the Bible?
Many people believe judgement takes place at the 2nd coming of Jesus however, the bible does not teach this belief. The bible teaches that judgement occurs before the 2nd coming of Jesus.
Rev 14, verses 6 & 7 is come as apposed to “will come” … at the 2nd coming of Jesus notice the ever lasting gospel is still being preached so therefore there are some people still alive here on planet earth (else there would be need to preach the ever lasting gospel to anyone)
Review to this point.
1. We all must appear
2. Judgement takes place in heaven before God and his angels
3. The judgement is before the 2nd coming of Jesus
Ok so that outlines the judgement.
When will God’s people be rewarded according to the Bible?
Matthew 16 verse 27 - …. 2nd coming and THEN (important word)
Rev 22, verse 12 - Jesus speaking …. coming quickly … reward determined BEFORE he comes ..
State of the Dead
Most Christians today believes when a person dies if they were “good” they go to heaven, if they were “evil” they go to hell. Many believe if they were half good and half evil
they will go to a place called purgatory and if they had not yet reached “the place of reason” then they go to a place called “limbo”.
NOTE: What about “my soul” ? When you look up the definition of “soul” in the Hebrew and Greek it is translated “being”. The “soul/being” is not something you possess (some supernatural power invisible force) … rather .. it is what you are. You are a human BEING, a human soul. The idea of a soul being a “invisible power source” dates back to Greek philosophers, and is a interesting and worth while read. You are a human being and are alive here on earth until you are unable to breath on your own no more. The main Greek philosophy was that if somehow time and matter (time & the body) could be eliminated then one could live forever. During their lifetime the Bible was not available to them.
But in the context of “the judgement”, this is simply not possible. If you went to heaven or hell at your earthly death why would Jesus give you your reward when he comes? If you received your reward when you die then why would Jesus bring your reward with Him at his second coming? With this thinking, those who have died have already received their reward (heaven or hell). If your fate was already determined before you die then why would he call a judgement BEFORE his second coming in heaven if you were already judged at the moment of your death? Further, what happens with those who have died and thought to be in purgatory or limbo?
Rev Chapter 20, verse 11 - book/books - standing before God thru their “records”… good and bad ….
Then what?
One needs to understand the Sanctuary …. this will be the next topic
Hebrews spirit made perfect …..
What about “my soul”? Immortality
Now think about this …. “IF” you have within yourself a immortal “soul” that goes either to heaven or hell when you die the “IF” the “immortal saved” you go to heaven (eternally) then what is the necessity of Jesus dieing on the cross to provide a way for you TO receive the gift of eternal life (immortality)? “IF” the wicked are condemned to “burn in hell forever” … that IS also immortality …. a tortuous one … but the point is … it is still immortality (eternal). Either way, with this belief one is believing human beings already have within themselves immortality.
No where in the Bible will you find a the phrase immortal soul existing outside of resurrection at the 2nd (or last) coming of Jesus Christ and He at that time He gives unto those written in the book of life eternal life (immortality) referred to at the “first” resurrection. Yes there is more than one resurrection. One for the saved, one for the not saved.
So what does the Bible teach about this?
Fake news about the Bible
Your soul
Hebrew - nephesh
meaning - a soul, living being, life, self, person
Greek - psuché
meaning - the self, a human person, an individual, the vital breath, breath of life
Romans 8, Verse 11
I am the resurrection - Jesus
Only one immortal is - God
