State of the Dead Study

Interestingly enough, I have spoken on this subject before but feel it is important that people understand the importance of knowing this truth in today's day and age. Right now there are many Television programs showing very spiritual things such as "John Edwards - Crossing over", Scifi shows like - supernatural, buffy and such things. There a hundreds, even thousands that have been and are coming to the big screen over the past decade. What does the Bible have to say about the spirit world? When we die, do we go to heaven or hell or a temporary waiting area and then on to judgment? Well if these movies / TV shows have to survive - then people must believe this to be the case! Lets look at today's study regarding this....

According to the following scriptures, what does it say happens to humanity at death:

Psa 146:4 His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish.

Ecc 9:5 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.
Ecc 9:6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.

Joh 11:11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up."
Joh 11:12 Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well."
Joh 11:13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
Joh 11:14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.

"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." Genesis 2:7.

"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." Ecclesiastes 12:7.

"So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more." Job 14:12. "The day of the Lord will come ... in the which the heavens shall pass away."
2 Peter 3:10.

Inspiration teaches that God is immortal (1 Tim 6:16) and that human beings are subject to death. Jesus taught that death was a sleep that ends in one of two resurrections. Either the resurrection to eternal life or eternal damnation (John 5:28,29)

There are some confusing texts at first like -
Mat 25:46 "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
and
Rev 14:9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,
Rev 14:10 "he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
Rev 14:11 "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

Do they imply that there is eternal hell?

This idea came from Greek philosophy, which conceived of Hades as a ghostly, shadowy underworld, that the soul lived in twilight existence. The Greeks viewed Human beings of consisting of matter and soul. At death, matter and soul separated, releasing the soul from the prison house of matter into an independent existence.
In Mathew 25 and Revelation 14, the words translated of "Everlasting" and "for ever" do not mean necessarily never ending. The greek words aion and aionios express duration as long as the nature of the subject allows. For example in Jude 7 we are told that the Cities Sodom and Gomorrah are suffering the punishment of eternal (aion-ios)fire. Yet, 2 Peter 2:6 says that they were turned into ashes. When the subject of the words ETERNAL or FOREVER is the life of the redeemed who has received immortality, the word means a time without end. When it refers to the punishment of the wicked, who do not receive immortality, the word has the meaning of a limited time period.

So if you come across anyone who says that your passed on family member or friend is trying to reach you, its a lie - its a Demon pretending they are your friend or relative.

Think about it this way: A woman dies from being beaten by her husband - passes on to "heaven" now as the movies say, to only look down upon her husband from "heaven" while she watches as he starts beaten the kids! What kind of heaven is that?

or
God being so loving and gracious and kind would allow to see his creation in eternal fire or "hell" that would go on eternally!??? God would not be a God of eternal punishment in this sense. This does not mean that God is not going to destroy sin, in fire, and that means, the second Death is eternal - you are dead forever! That is what eternal damnation means!

I pray that you are on the right side of God and have Christ as your savior so that you are resurrected for the Glorious return of Christ and not the Damnation!

God bless