Darkness after Death

[nick garai]

I have recently been grappling with the thought that there is only darkness after death. That there is really nothing there. Maybe my spiritual life is kind of dry but I can help but shake the feeling that after I die in forty or fifty years, there will be no choirs of angels singing heavenly songs, no great kingdom, no eternal reward, etc...

Only blackness. Especially after reading Ecclesiastes 9 where the dead do not even know they are dead - there is only nothingness.

How do I shake these thoughts and fears? Am I the only one who has these apprehensions?

 

[morethanenough06]

I spent the last days of my husband's life watching him as he went between life and death, earth and heaven. So often his eyes were fixed on the corner of the ceiling, as if he was seeing something more, something more wonderful than what he had here on earth. He didn't want to go at first, because that meant saying good-bye to his 5 amazing kids, and me. But eventually the pull took over. In the last hour of his life, he couldn't take his eyes off that corner of our ceiling. In the end, I held him till he took his last breath, and I have no doubt that he went from my arms into Jesus' arms. If I never believed in the afterlife before, I certainly would have after that experience. Now, I am happy just knowing that he is whole and well, dancing with Jesus. I miss him, but just knowing that, is such a beautiful thought.

I would recommend the book Ninety Minutes in Heaven, by Don Piper. It was given to me as a gift when my husband was sick, and was so wonderful in helping me understand what happens after death.

 

[wolfee]

I am also confident about where my husband is. He knew he was going to be with Jesus, and he wasn't afraid at all. I know he's happy in Heaven now with the Lord, and I am happy for him, although I miss him very much!

Also, when I lost my dad, I felt peace from God, because I knew my dad had gone to Heaven and was now with Jesus

 

[Kyle Arn]

Pray that God will show you there is a place called heaven. You know the only thing that makes heaven so great is the presence of God. When you worship you enter the presence of God. All fears and all things of the natural fade away all things become super natural. So worship God a little bit more. To have a snap shot of heaven.

 

[MountainBluebird]

My son told be that when the bible mentions things like that in Ecc. 9 in the old testament, it is because the writers and people of the old testament weren't aware of life after death. They wrote based on their view of death being simply the end.

 

[QueSeraSera]

Its the leap of faith.There is no "proof" that we can see that there is an afterlife.Its in our bones .And do not feel guilty over doubts.Questioning is good.A learning process.Imagine trying to explain to a child /toddler than one day they will be grown and they don't understand yet.That doesn't mean adulthood does not exist.

 

[andy b]

I have recently been grappling with the thought that there is only darkness after death. That there is really nothing there. Maybe my spiritual life is kind of dry but I can help but shake the feeling that after I die in forty or fifty years, there will be no choirs of angels singing heavenly songs, no great kingdom, no eternal reward, etc...

Only blackness. Especially after reading Ecclesiastes 9 where the dead do not even know they are dead - there is only nothingness.

How do I shake these thoughts and fears? Am I the only one who has these apprehensions?

most people have the thoughts nick...you experience black every night in deep sleep and is it that bad....the problem is we cant imagine the unimaginable on a physical level because our lives are governed by time and laws and boundaries...which dont exist on a spiritual plane .....the one thing i know is life is to be enjoyed as jesus stated dont worry about tommorrow as today has problems enough

 

[Kyle Arn]

That's not necessarily true Andy. Moses saw a portion of God. John the revalator had visions of the end times. Joseph king of dreams had visions from God. You see once you are in the presence of God all earthly matters fade away and you start to live supernaturally. Now Jesus lives with in you so he is with you all the time. So you are living supernaturally.
I think that what he should do is go further in his relationship with God.

 

[Ministrymama]

Nick

the question is "do you know Jesus"? Cause if you don't you may end up in darkness or whatever, certainly outside the presence of God. Perhaps the weighty questions you have are the Lord's way of telling you that this is the time to seek Him, dig, ask, search for the Truth. Jesus said "seek and you shall find". Christians are not offended by seeking, we welcome the tough questions and want you to be satisfied and grow in your own personal journey and faith.

 

[unlikeable1979]

I am confident that those who believe in Jesus will be with Him in paradise the moment they die.

My fear is that I am going to hell.

 

[Kyle Arn]

It seems like the devil is trying to get you of course let me assure you those who believe in Christ will be saved.
John 8:36/KJV
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

If you have repented of your sins you are free. Now the devil does not want you free. So he will do everything he can to stop you. It seems like you have a spirit of fear. In that case you must pray that God will set you free. I will be praying for you as well. And declare in the name of Jesus that this must leave. And it must leave.

JESUS LOVES YOU

 

[Kyle Arn]

Oh man you mean you do not know. You only still believe has God not proven his existence to you. Who feeds the birds what power tells them to fly south? Who places the mountains where they are. Who spreads the countries in between the oceans. Is it not the lord. Then let that be the proof of your existence in either hell or heaven.

 

[Kyle Arn]

Psalm 19
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 19[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

This verse does it not say that creation declares he is real? Then this must prove he is real. If this proves he is real and he declares there is life after death. Then it must be true. You will either believe this or not.

 

[Kyle Arn]

It is both a matter of faith and of physical proof. Can you put a block together without touching it? Can you paint a picture with out drawing a single brush? Can you even speak a word with out moving your mouth? Can you cut a tree with out lifting a blade? The buildings need a constructor. The software needs a creator. The painting needs an artist. The book needs an author. Is it not so that we need a creator. You see a software needs coding to have it run. Yet someone needs to wright it. The DNA of your body is set up in a specific way. So as a software needs a creator. We need a creator.

 

[Kyle Arn]

And i respect your beliefs. Just why do you even believe that? I have debated many atheist's i just never understood why they would rather choose evolution over creation. I mean living the christian life is hard yet it is also exiting and fun at times. And in the end you go to heaven that is fun is it not. Most say Because it is the most logical answer. I say how could that be logical. What would you rather do starve for a little while and then have a thanksgiving dinner and keep having them? Or would you rather have a thanksgiving dinner and then starve and not eat ever again? So it is with life. You may have the small good pleasures of this world. And loose it forever. Or you may suffer a little while and then. And then have joy forever. Which would be the logical answer. I am just trying to see things through your prescriptive. So all in all why do you believe what you believe?

 

[Kyle Arn]

Now i have asked many this question please i am trying to convert you. I am just learning from your point of view. What makes something true or false? If what is true for me only true for me and what is true for you only for you. Then truth cannot be that way. It cannot be by the majority of people that think something is true. If that were so then the world would believe one thing for one while and something else the next. No something is true weather i say it is or not. So how do you think something becomes true?

 

[Kyle Arn]

Then educate me if you will. What have i been falsely taught? Tell me. Find me a course or something to take so that i may understand.

 

[cardigon]

yes

 

[jsimms615]

I don't think you are the only one with those apprehensions. I think most people are afraid of death.

I would focus on the New Testament verses that contradict that. Such as when Paul says that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

 

[JoshuaDaryl]

I have recently been grappling with the thought that there is only darkness after death. That there is really nothing there. Maybe my spiritual life is kind of dry but I can help but shake the feeling that after I die in forty or fifty years, there will be no choirs of angels singing heavenly songs, no great kingdom, no eternal reward, etc...

Only blackness. Especially after reading Ecclesiastes 9 where the dead do not even know they are dead - there is only nothingness.

How do I shake these thoughts and fears? Am I the only one who has these apprehensions?

I was dead for 6 minutes. In 1993 I was a rebellious 17 year old kid, on Easter Sunday I was riding my motorcycle home, crossing the highway when I was struck broadside by a car. The paramedics declared me dead on the life line helicopter to the hospital. I was perfectly conscious. The good news is there is life after death, been there, done that. Bad news for me at the time is I was lost. I went to the outer darkness. You do not have a body, or form really of any kind. I know now that is why we are to be given new bodies, we are a spirit, a consciousness, we have all our memories, we recognize ourselves for who we are, we can see, and we can hear, and we can think. I did not get to see heaven, but I did get to realize that we do not cease to be after death.