The State Of The Dead

 A. One of the most beautiful passages in all of God's Word is found in Matthew 11:28-30 where the Lord says:  "Come unto me, all ye that labour & are heavy laden, & I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, & learn of me; for I am meek & lowly in heart: & ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, & my burden is light."

B. The New Testament makes it quite clear that God does not want anyone to perish (i.e., be lost).II Pet. 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

C. This truth is further evidenced by God's plan of redemption which began in Eden & culminated in the sending of his Son.   Jn. 3:16  For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son…

D. Such a beautiful thought--salvation has been made possible for every responsible, obedient person.   Rom. 1:16; For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek

Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

E. The desire of Christ for our salvation is expressed in the words of Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

THERE ARE THREE CLASSES OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE WORLD:

Those who cannot obey the gospel (Children who have not reached the age of accountability).

They are neither saved nor lost--simply safe (Matt. 18:3; 19:4)--should they die in infancy, they will go to heaven.

They cannot respond to the gospel invitation because it does not apply to them.

This is also true of the mentally deficient (assuming they were such before reaching the age of accountability).

Those who can & do obey the gospel.

All who reach the age of accountability (i.e., knowing right from wrong) are subject to the invitation of the gospel.

Paul tells us that the gospel is God's power to save.   Rom. 1:16

The gospel consists of commands which must be obeyed before salvation can be obtained.  (H.B.R.C.B.)

Those who obey the gospel are saved from past sins & are added to the church.   Acts 2:38,47

The church has been called the preparation room for eternity.

Those who can, but don't obey the gospel.

            Aliens--separated from Christ, without God & without hope in this world. 

                    Eph 2:12  that at that time you were without Christ, having no hope and without God

            Those who obey not the gospel will be lost.

                    2 Thess 1:8 In flaming Fire taking vengeance on those who know not God

                             on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

             It's hard to conceive of folks refusing salvation.

In actuality, most are not planning on going to hell--they intend to prepare later.

 Words of song, "Oh How Sad To Face The Judgment Unprepared To Meet thy God

 There are only two ways out of the church -- faithful or unfaithful.

 WHERE ARE THE DEAD BETWEEN DEATH & JUDGMENT?  (Where do the dead go after death?)

The Bible does not give us a lot of information on this subject.

Many questions are unanswered

Basically there are three views in regard to this question.

Some teach that the dead sleep in an unconscious state.

      This doctrine is taught by the Jehovah's Witnesses.

      The error of this view will be seen a bit later in our study.

Others teach the dead go to an intermediate state to await the judgment.

Others believe dead go directly to their eternal destiny heaven or hell.

If this view is correct then the saved will have to leave heaven to    appear in the judgment.

Remember, the judgment is an appointment that must be kept by all.   Heb. 9:27      And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

II Cor. 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

 JUST WHAT IS DEATH:

 The word death simply means a separation; the end of a condition or state.

We must believe man is a dual being,  body & soul.

II Cor. 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

When physical death occurs it simply means that the spirit (soul) has left the body & our earthly existence is at an end.

There is no longer any life in the flesh.

 Js. 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead

Numerous passages of scripture show that man's soul or spirit is separated from his body in death.

Gen. 35:18; and so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died)

1 Kings 17:22  Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.

Ecc. 12:7  Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.

Even after death, the spirit lives on.

One of our songs says, "I'm on my way to that fair land where the soul of man never dies."

Jesus said in Matthew 10:28:  "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul & body in hell."

The story of the rich man & Lazarus (Lk.16:19-31) destroys the doctrine of the annihilation of the soul in that these two individuals did not cease to exist after death.

WHERE DOES THE SPIRIT OF MAN GO WHEN HE DIES?

The Bible teaches that the spirit goes into an intermediate state & remains there until the judgment when they will be rewarded or punished.

This intermediate state is called hades (the Hebrew word is Sheol).

Hades is the realm of departed spirits.

Every soul after departing the body goes into hades.

Hades consists of two parts as seen in Luke 16:19-31.

Paradise (means garden of pleasure)

Paradise is used in reference both to heaven & that part of the hadean world where the departed spirits of the righteous are found.

In Luke 23:43 paradise is used to refer to part of the hadean world. "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." 

In Revelation 2:7

To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."

 The same word is used in reference to heaven.

 Tartarus  (torment). In II Peter 2:4 the word translated "hell" (tartarus--ASV footnote) does not refer to the place of eternal punishment -- notice that these angels are being reserved for judgment & judgment precedes eternal punishment. For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;

Tartarus is where the wicked are being held until the day of judgment.

Punishment for sin begins when one dies.

Lk. 16:23,24; And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

  II Pet. 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

These two places are separated by a great gulf.

This gulf is impassible.   Lk. 16:26

There was no way for the rich man to pass over to where Lazarus was.

His opportunities were all gone -- he had neglected or ignored them.

His eternal destiny was sealed.

The doctrine of purgatory is here refuted along with the idea that the lost will be given a second chance

the rich man pleaded for mercy but he was too late

his fate had been fixed for eternity.

People sometimes ask, "Why have a judgment?"

Since God has not told us why, we cannot know with any certainty.

It is my opinion that judgment will not be for the purpose of determining guilt or innocence -- that will already be known

The books will be opened that we might know why we have been given the sentence we received

Much like a man who has been convicted of murder is not sentenced until weeks or months after his trial.

Another possible explanation is so that all will confess Jesus as Lord & bow to him.   Rom. 14:11 Every knee shall bow to Me,And every tongue shall confess to God."

Phil. 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow

WILL THERE BE CONSCIOUSNESS AFTER DEATH (IN THE HADEAN WORLD)?

Yes!  The story of the rich man & Lazarus confirms this. Lk 16

Notice -- the rich man was able to . . .

See -- v. 23    Talk -- v. 24   Feel -- v. 24  Be tormented -- v. 24

Remember -- v. 25, 27,28          Reasoned -- v. 30

If there were no consciousness after death, how could there be any punishment?

PRIOR TO THE JUDGMENT THERE WILL BE A RESURRECTION OF BOTH THE JUST & THE UNJUST:   Acts 24:15

I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.

Jn. 5:28,29

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice  29 and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

There will be a simultaneous resurrection of both the good & the bad.

The Bible nowhere teaches that there will be two resurrections with a thousand years between.

JUDGEMENT:

The judgement is an appointment that all must keep.   Heb. 9:27

Christ will be the judge on that great day.   Acts 17:31

because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world

On the day of judgment all the secrets of men's hearts will be revealed.

What will be the standard of judgment?  The Bible tells us that. . .

We will be judged by the words of Christ. Jn. 12:48 same passage we used

We will be judged according to what we have done or not done in this life.   II Cor. 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

We will be judged by our works.Rev 20:12

And the dead were judged according to their works,

From the judgment we will go to one of two places -- heaven or hell.   Matt. 25:31-46  Sheep on the right, goats on the left`

The righteous will hear him say "Come."   Matt. 25:34,46

The wicked will hear him say "Depart."   Matt. 25:41,46

The idea of a judgment day should be a sobering thought (especially if one is unprepared).   Acts 24:25

Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered

HEAVEN:

Heaven is the eternal home of the soul for the righteous.

It is far more beautiful & wonderful than any description in the Bible or anything that we can imagine.

A little girl looked up at the starry heavens one summer evening & said to her father,  "If the bottom side of heaven is so beautiful, how wonderful the other side must be."

It is eternal -- never ending.   Matt. 25:46

And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

We could spend an entire lesson dealing with this subject of heaven.

HELL:

Rev 20:14 describes hell as a "lake of fire" & calls it "second death."

Verse 10 of the same chapter describes hell as a "lake of fire & brimstone" whose occupants shall be tormented day & night for ever & ever.

The Lord describes hell as a place of "outer darkness" where there shall be the weeping & gnashing of teeth.   Matt. 25:30

In Mark 9:48 hell is further described as a place where "...the worm dieth not & the fire is not quenched."

Hell is a place of eternal separation from God.

It is a place of eternal, endless punishment.   Matt. 25:41,46

The irony is that hell was not provided for man, but "...for the devil & his angels."   Matt. 25:41

into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

A. Granted there are many questions left unanswered regarding death, the judgment, the hadean world, etc.

1. Unlike the works of men, the Bible makes no attempt to satisfy man's curiosity.

2. However God has given us all the information we need to make our way from earth to heaven.

 B. It is not so important to have all our questions answered as it is to be prepared for eternity.

 C. If you have not yet begun to prepare for death & the judgment you need to do so immediately.