The Dead — Where Are They? 24 Stories, first death and heavens

When people ask what happens after death (the passing away) and where the dead are in god believing people can only try to give a picture of what the words in the Bible tell.

There are also too many people who call themselves Christian, but do not believe many words of Christ and his heavenly Father, and who believe more the words of philosophers and so-called theologians, instead of trusting the words of the Bible. They also forget that the parables of Jesus are lessons to take at heart and to have an idea of what will happen in the future with mankind, the righteous and unrighteous people.

To answer the question “The Dead — Where Are They?” it might for some look strange that we also paid attention to some stories or parables Jesus told. But they should also give a picture of what shall happen in the future when Jesus shall return and will come to judge the living and the dead. In case people would go straight after their death to heaven, purgatory or hell, then out of those who died before Jesus’return, there would be nobody to be judged. So that is in contradiction to the sayings in Scripture that there shall come a time that all people (those who have died and those still alive) should come in front of the judgement seat of Jesus Christ.

Too many Christians forget what is written in the Holy Scriptures, about the situation when we die, even when Jesus says that his words are “spirit and life”. For all people, it will be the same as it is for animals. When a man is alive he knows what happens, can think and act whilst he is aware that he can die. When people come to the end of their life they shall come into a state where they shall know nothing any more and where their body shall decay. Nature shall take its course and therefore everyone, both righteous and wicked, will end up in Sheol (hell or grave) and no one will be able to escape.

“All things come alike to all: and the same condition is to the just and to the wicked, to the good and to the pure, and to the polluted, and to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner, he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.” (Ec 9:2 GenevaBible)

“7  Remember that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall not return to see pleasure. 8 The eye that hath seen me, shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I shall be no longer. 9 As the cloud vanisheth and goeth away, so he that goeth down to the grave, shall come up no more. 10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.” (Job 7:7-10 GenevaBible)

“For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know nothing at all: neither have they anymore a reward: for their remembrance is forgotten.” (Ec 9:5 GenevaBible)

“ All that thine hand shall find to do, do it with all thy power: for there is neither work nor invention, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest.” (Ec 9:10 GenevaBible)

“19 For the condition of the children of men, and the condition of beasts are even as one condition unto them. As the one dieth, so dieth the other: for they have all one breath, and there is no excellency of man above ye beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place, and all was of the dust, and all shall return to the dust.” (Ec 3:19-20 GenevaBible)

“His breath departeth, and he returneth to his earth: then his thoughts perish.” (Ps 146:4 GenevaBible)

According to the Scriptures when the breath of life departs us, we shall be lifeless and in the old times people were then buried or placed into the earth. But also in modern times when the dead are cremated, the dust of their body shall also come to earth. In both cases, there shall not be much leftover of that physical being with a skeleton, body, flesh and blood, man having come from dust gone back to dust.

Those who behaved well, did good and believed in God, shall also die, the same as those who do not believe and do bad. So you could wonder where there is a difference. There we have all those stories or words of Christ and other prophets, which tell us more about the promise God made in the Garden of Eden and afterwards, like to Abraham. God told man that there would come an end to the curse of death and that the righteous people would be enabled to find the way to the Kingdom of God and to enter the Holy Land. That Holy Land is not somewhere in the heavens but a real kingdom here on earth. Therefore we also pray for it in the Lord’s prayer “Our Father“. Nobody shall be able to keep himself alive.

“28 For the kingdom is the Lords, and he ruleth among the nations. 29 All they that be fat in the earth, shall eat and worship: all they that go down into the dust, shall bow before him, even he that cannot quicken his own soul. 30 Their seed shall serve him: it shall be counted unto the Lord for a generation.” (Ps 22:28-30 GenevaBible)

It shall be up to God to give life and to take life away. All souls or all beings belong to God.

“Behold, all souls are mine, both the soul of the father, and also the soul of the son are mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Eze 18:4 GenevaBible)

“9 Who is ignorant of all these, but that the hand of the Lord hath made these? 10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:9-10 GenevaBible)

“ But if thou hide thy face, they are troubled: if thou take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.” (Ps 104:29 GenevaBible)

Having gone to dust we shall be as nothing, not feeling anything and not able to do anything.

God breathed in the nostril of man, so that man became a living being, God has given His breath to many ‘souls’ (beings). By His breath, everything came into being, but by His Breath, His Word could also come to man and offer us a way out of death. That way those who trust God shall be able to be glad.

“ I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, and my soul shall be joyful in my God: for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, and covered me with the robe of righteousness: he hath decked me like a bridegroom, and as a bride tireth herself with her jewels.” (Isa 61:10 GenevaBible)

God provided salvation by His beloved son Jesus Christ. That man of flesh and blood always did the Will of God and was willing to give himself as a ransom for the sins of all. He, too, died and was buried to be for three days in hell or sheol (the grave). Like everybody else, he could not escape death.

“ What man liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.” (Ps 89:48 GenevaBible)

But we have some good news. By one man death could now be destroyed or be overwon in the same way as death came unto us by one man.

“ Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into ye world, and death by sin, and so death went over all men: in whom all men have sinned.” (Ro 5:12 GenevaBible)

Those who believe in the Only One True God and His only begotten beloved son may have the hope of something better to come after death. They can trust God and believe all those stories which talk about lost sheep, prodigal son, bad people who came to repent and went to restore what they did wrong. They shall be able to see a resurrection of righteous and unrighteous people and by their repentance might convince their mediator between God and them that they are the once willing to walk on the right path to enter the small gate to the Kingdom of God.

“ And have hope towards God, that the resurrection of the dead, which they themselves look for also, shall be both of just and unjust.” (Ac 24:15 GenevaBible)

“20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and was made the first fruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive,” (1Co 15:20-22 GenevaBible)

It is there where we should take into account the words of the first death but also about a second death. Because those words about a second death, means that not all people will be saved forever (like some Christians want you to believe). By the grace of Christ all can be saved but when doing nothing with that salvation, man shall be nothing and have to face the second death. (See our next chapter.)

We may not forget that there shall come a Day of Atonement, a Day of Judgement where every work shall be brought into judgement and a Day of entering the Kingdom of God or entering a world where people shall be able to live forever in a restored Paradise (= here on earth).

“13  Let us hear the end of all: fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every work unto judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil.” (Ec 12:13-14 GenevaBible)

Believers may live spiritually with the hope that Christ will come, and his reward will be with him to give to every man as his work shall be.

“19 Amend your lives therefore, and turn, that your sins may be put away, when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you,” (Ac 3:19-20 GenevaBible)

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Preceding

The Dead — Where Are They? 1 Universal Inquiry

The Dead — Where Are They? 2 Scientific Answer

The Dead — Where Are They? 3 The Spiritualist’s Answer 

The Dead — Where Are They? 4 The Bible’s Answer

The Dead — Where Are They? 6 Death for man and beast

The Dead — Where Are They? 7 Man became a living soul

The Dead — Where Are They? 8 Man in God’s likeness

The Dead — Where Are They? 9 The Resurrection of the Dead

The Dead — Where Are They? 10 Depart and be with Christ

The Dead — Where Are They? 11 Absent from the Body, Present with the Lord

The Dead — Where Are They? 12 The Thief on the Cross

The Dead — Where Are They? 13 The Souls Under the Altar

The Dead — Where Are They? 14 The Spirits in Prison

The Dead — Where Are They? 15 Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration

The Dead — Where Are They? 16 Elijah taken up to Heaven

The Dead — Where Are They? 17 Enoch Translated

The Dead — Where Are They? 18 King Saul and the Witch of Endor

The Dead — Where Are They? 19 Body, Soul and Spirit

The Dead — Where Are They? 20 Dives and Lazarus

The Dead — Where Are They? 21 The Prodigal son

The Dead — Where Are They? 22 The unjust steward

The Dead — Where Are They? 23 The Rich Man and The Beggar

Identity in the Resurrection

Next

The Dead — Where Are They? 25 The Second Death

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Additional reading

1. Science, belief, denial and visibility 1
2. What is life?
3. Bible Teaching and Vital Doctrines to Discover
4. Realities concerning Human Life and Death
5. Dying or not
6. What happens when we die?
7. Where do we go when we die?
8. Heaven and hell still high on the believers list showing a religion gender gap
9. This month’s survey question: Heaven and Hell
10. Indulgence still offered by roman Catholic Church
11. Understanding God’s Wrath
12. Ezekiel 18:4 – What the Bible teaches about Soul and Spirit
13. Matthew 16:5-12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Watch Out for the Leaven of False Teaching
14. Matthew 19:27-29 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: We Have Left Everything for You!
15. Matthew 22:29-33 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Resurrection Proof from Moses
16. Ransom
17. Ransom for all
18. Infinite payment of sin by the son of God
19. Jesus three days in hell
20. Why think that (3) … Jesus rose from the dead
21. Jehovah can make him stand
22. Gospel or Good News
23. Concerning the Spiritual Body
24. Mortal Soul and Mortal Psyche #5 Mortality of man and mortality of the spirit
25. Autumn traditions for 2014 – 2 Summersend and mansend
26. In October-November People often too busy with death and the dead
27. October month of witches and spirits
28. To believe in the liberation of slavery and to repent
29. After darkness a moment of life renewal
30. Sign of the Times and the Last Days #3 Coming events revealed in the prophetic writings
31. Resurrectional Responsibility
32. Memorizing wonderfully 51 Acts 2:22-38 Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God
33. Memorizing wonderfully 72: Colossians 3:1: Christ seated on the right hand of God
34. I Can’t Believe That (1) … God would send anyone to hell
35. A promise given in the Garden of Eden
36. Genuine message of salvation
37. The New Testament and Judgement
38. The Rapture Wars
39. Looking for the blessed hope
40. Hope
41. Hope for the future
42. God’s hope and our hope
43. Making the time ready for Jesus to return
44. Departed Souls Await Judgment
45. One Mediator
46. Kingdom of God what will it be like
47. Paradise restored

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Related

1. 7 Shocking Biblbical Truths About Death You Most Likely Won’t Believe | Becoming Christians
2. Are Near Death Experiences or Out of Body Experiences Biblical?
3. Five Shocking Bible Verses that Prove the Immortal Soul Teaching is False
4. Resurrection of the Dead, Part I
5. The Investigative Judgment
6. Resurrection and Afterlife in the Old Testament
7. Infinite payment of sin by the son of God
8. Did Jesus Go To Hell?
9. Sheol, Sheool, Sjeool, Hades, Hell, Grave, Tomb, Sepulchre
10. Decomposition – decay
11. The Soul is Not Dead
12. To Hell with Hell
13. There Is No Hell, Look It Up
14. You Have Eternal Life
15. Salvation
16. Plan of salvation
17. Does Hebrews 6:4-6, Teach That You Can Lose Your Salvation?
18. (Part 1) Can A Christian Lose Their Salvation?
19. Dying to Live
20. Judgment and Promise
21. Let Go
22. Fantastic Article Proving that Hell = Complete Annihilation, Not Eternal Torment