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What happens when a person dies? Do they go straight to heaven? Do they go to a place between heaven and earth? Can our loved ones who’ve died see us? Do they know what’s happening in our lives?
Many comfort themselves with the idea that their loved ones are in heaven watching over them, sometimes even sending down a token of their love from time to time.
Is this Biblical? What does the Bible teach about what happens when a person dies?
 
1) When God warned Adam not to eat from the tree, what did He say would happen if he disobeyed?
GENESIS 2:17 “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt __surely die__.
2) How did Satan contradict God’s warning?
GENESIS 3:4 “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall ___not surely die_ .”
3) How did God originally create human beings?
GENESIS 2:7 “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.”
NOTE: In order to fully understand what happens when a person dies, we need to go back to see how man was created in the beginning. Man was formed from two distinct components: the dust of the ground, and the breath of life. The result of this union was that “man became a living soul.” This is a point that cannot be overstated. Many, believe that man receives a soul, but the Bible teaches very plainly that, “man became a living soul.” We’ll consider this important distinction further on in this study.
4) Complete the equation based on the above verse: Body + _breath_= Living __soul__.
5) What happens when a person dies?
ECCLESIASTES 12:7 “Then shall the __dust__ return to the earth as it was: and the __spirit__shall return unto God who gave it.”
NOTE: When a person dies, the process that happened during the creation of man is reversed. The dust that God used to form man returns to the earth. And the spirit or breath of life (Gen 2:7) that God breathed into the nostrils returns to God. But what is this spirit, or breath of life? Is it a ghost-like entity that flutters into heaven when a person dies? The following verses will shed light on this vital question.
6) What is this spirit that returns to God at death? JOB 27:3 “All the while my _breath__is in me, and the __spirit__ of God is in my __nostrils__ ;”
NOTE: The Bible here is not describing a ghost in someone’s nostrils. That would be ludicrous. This writing style is known as “synonymous parallelism.” It was the main way in which Hebrews expressed poetry. The essence of this writing style is very simple. It states something in one way and then expresses the same thing in a different way.
For example, in the verse above, breath and spirit have the same meaning. This sheds much light on the question. The spirit that returns to God is the breath of life. From a biological perspective, where there is a circulation of oxygen, there is life. Life is dependent upon oxygen at the cellular level and irreversible changes happen to cells in the absence of circulating oxygen. Like a combustion engine without a spark plug, a body without oxygen is a corpse.
Although life can be described in such simple terms, life is nonetheless a miracle of God. God gives us life and sustains our life.
(Acts 17:28, Ps 66:9, James 4:15, Job 34:14-15) Even with all the cutting-edge medical technology, the brightest of the brightest scientists cannot create life.
Let’s look at another verse that makes it even more clear.
7) Where is the breath of life found in those that are alive?
GENESIS 7:22 “All in whose __nostrils__ was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land , died.”
NOTE: It is very plain in this verse. There is no mistaking it. The breath of life is in the nostrils. So, the concept that a ghost-like separate entity goes to heaven at death is not a Biblical concept. It was actually borrowed from the pagan religions of the past and adopted brought into Christianity by the Catholic church.
8) What do animals have in common with humans?
ECCLESIASTES 3:19-20 “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all _One breath_; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
All go unto one place; all are of the _dust_, and all turn to __dust__ again.
9) What happens to the mind of a person when the breath of life goes back to God?
PSALM 146:3-4 “His _Breath__ goeth forth, he returneth to his _earth__ ; in that very day his thoughts _perish__.”
NOTE: When a person dies they cannot think anymore. Their thoughts die with them. Their thoughts perish.
10) If a person who dies cannot think, then can a dead person ever speak?
MATTHEW 12:34 “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the __heart___ the __mouth__ ___speaketh__.”
NOTE: The word heart in this verse and in many other places in the Bible is the same as mind. The principle that Jesus lays out here is very interesting. In other words, “Whatever is in your mind, will come out of your mouth.” Therefore, if the dead cannot think, then the dead cannot speak. So, when there is a story about someone who died and is buried and then comes back to talk to the someone living, then who is really talking? Is it the person who died? No! The Bible is crystal clear that the dead cannot speak to the living.
11) Who alone has immortality?
1 TIMOTHY 6:13-16 “I give thee charge in the sight of _God__ . . . Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting.
NOTE: Immortality is not something that man has within. He does not have a spirit or soul that is immortal. In fact, there are more than 1000out of 1600 references occurrences of the words “spirit” and “soul” in the KJV of the Bible, but not once is the phrase “immortal soul” used. God is the only One who has immortality. Therefore, He is the only One who can bestow that gift.
12) What did Jesus say about Satan?
JOHN 8:44 “He was a murderer from the _beginning_ , and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a __liar__, and the father of it.”
13) What was the devil’s first lie to Eve?
GENESIS 3:4 “And the serpent said unto the woman, ye ___shall___ __not__surely die.”
NOTE: Satan has been lying to people about death since the beginning. Millions have been deceived by him on this subject.
14) Some believe it’s helpful to pray to saints in heaven. How many intercessors has God appointed?
1 TIMOTHY 2:5 “For there is one God, and ___one__ mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
15) Why is Christ able to save us completely, “to the uttermost”?
HEBREWS 7:25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make __make intercession_ for them.”
NOTE: Christ alone, without any help from other intercessors, is able to save us to the utmost because He lives to intercede for us. Christ, as our faithful High Priest ministers before God for us, assisting our prayers, and sending us help in our moments of need. Wonderful, compassionate Saviour!
16) What does God call people’s attempts to communicate with the dead?
DEUTERONOMY 18:10-12 “There shall not be found among you . . . a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an _Abomination__unto the Lord.”
NOTE: God says that attempting to communicate with the dead is an abomination, something He hates. He hates it because those who do these things are really communicating with the great deceiver, Satan.
Divination is seeking information from the spirit world. Those who consult with familiar spirits are those who communicate with spirit companions. A wizard or witch is someone who claims to get special knowledge from spirit sources. A necromancer is someone who seeks to communicate with the dead. No matter what such practices may be called, they all fall under the definition of spiritualism, which God condemns.
 
Modern forms of spiritualism include attending seances; visiting fortune tellers and psychics; reading horoscopes and fortune cookies; palm-reading; consulting pendulums, ouija boards, and tarot cards; and reading signs in tea leaves, and pig livers, etc. All such things are abominable to God who is the source of all wisdom and has promised to guide us through life. (See Ps 32:8, 119:105; Pr 3:5-6; Is 48:17; Jer 29:10-14, etc.)
A form of communicating with the dead that is considered acceptable in some Christian circles is praying to the saints. This too is a form of necromancy, as is ancestor worship and some of the practices found amongst indigenous religions.
17) How should we treat supernatural appearances of spirits?
1 JOHN 4:1 “Beloved, __believe__ __not__ every spirit, but __try__the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
NOTE: The disciple John said not all spirits are from God, so we should not believe them all but test them to know whether they are from God or not. The test every spirit or prophet must pass is whether they speak in harmony with the Word of God or not. If they contradict Scripture, “there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).
18) What’s another word the Bible uses for death?
1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-15 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are __asleep__, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which __sleep__ in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [go before] them which are __asleep __ .”
19) How long will the dead be asleep?
JOB 14:12-15 “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be __No more__, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.”
NOTE: The heavens will be no more when Christ returns. (See Rev 6:14-17.)
20) When will we be given immortality?
1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-54 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the __Last trump___: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
NOTE: Christ’s return will be with a lot of noise and great fanfare. The trumpets will sound and with a loud shout, Jesus will command the dead to rise. 1 Thessalonians 4:16. 21)
What does the Bible say explicitly that the dead cannot do?
The dead cannot __ think__ (ECCL 9:5; PS 6:5, 146:4)
The dead cannot __ work__(ECCL 9:10)
The dead cannot __ praise__ God_ (IS 38:18, PS 115:17)
The dead cannot __ return__ to the land of the living (2 SAM 12:23)
NOTE: Many believe that when a person dies they immediately go to heaven. If that is so, then why does the Bible say the dead do not praise the Lord? If the soul flies to heaven at death, it should be praising God. They are not praising the Lord because they are sleeping in their graves. When you really think about it, this makes the most sense.
Let’s suppose that tragedy strikes a young married couple. The husband dies in a car accident, and he is immediately taken to heaven. After a while, the wife remarries, and her new husband abuses her physically. Would heaven be a place of joy and bliss for her former husband? Absolutely not! In fact, it would be torture for him to watch what is taking place with the suffering of his wife.
The Bible is clear that God designed us in such a way that when we die, we stop living. We do not possess an immortal soul that goes immediately to heaven when we die to watch over our loved ones on earth. The above scenario illustrates the incongruity of such a notion. God’s way is the only way that makes rational, logical sense. We sleep in the graves and our next conscious thought is the coming of Jesus.
22) What should the truth about death do for us?
1 THESSALONIANS 4:13 But I would not have you to be __ignorant__, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye _sorrow_ __not__, even as others which have no __hope__ .
NOTE: Understanding what the Bible teaches about death will make us knowledgeable and dispel ignorance. This knowledge will prevent us from experiencing the unlimited grief and sorrow that others experience when a loved one dies. Knowing what the Bible teaches about death will give us hope because we know that our loved ones are sleeping peacefully until Jesus returns.
There is more that this knowledge will do for us. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable with the idea that you are being watched by someone who has died, knowing that the dead are asleep until the Second Coming releases you from that discomfort. Also, if you’ve ever felt you must prove your love to a loved one who has died by demonstrating your continued devotion, you can stop.
Serving someone who’s asleep in their grave and ignorant of your efforts is unnecessary. Likewise, if you’ve been frightened by thoughts of malevolent intentions from someone who has died, you no longer have to be afraid. Wicked dead people are unable to harm the living because they too are sound asleep.
With a clear understanding of what the Bible teaches regarding death, we can be sure there are no ghosts or spirits of the dead roaming around to harass or deceive us. Ghosts and spirits are nothing more than demons masquerading as departed souls. And Jesus has conquered them. We are safe in His powerful, protective love.
ROMANS 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
23) Where is King David now?
ACTS 2:29, 34 “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both __dead___and __buried___, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day…For David is ___not_ __ascended___ into the heavens.”
NOTE: King David was a man that made mistakes, but David repented and was forgiven by God. So, if it is true that the dead are in heaven, then David should be there. But he is not. The Bible says that he is dead, buried in the grave, and not in heaven. It is very clear from the Bible that the dead in Christ sleep in their graves until the resurrection morning.
LUKE 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
24) Is the thief who died on the cross next to Jesus in heaven now? __no____. He will be after the resurrection day.
25) Why does the devil want us to be confused about what happens after death?
2 CORINTHIANS 11:14 “And no marvel; for __Satan__himself is __transformed__into an _angel__ of _light__ .”
NOTE: It is on this very point that the devil will deceive billions of people. If people do not know the Biblical truth about death, they can be deceived by demons pretending to be loved ones who have died.
Many books have been written by people who supposedly died, went to heaven, but then were resuscitated by doctors and lived to tell about their experiences. They tell stories about conversations they had with those who had died and are now living in heaven. The brain is a complex organ and behaves in unexpected ways when it is deprived of oxygen.
Out of body experiences are a common phenomenon among those who have lost consciousness. And scientists have triggered out of body experiences in the laboratory by stimulating the temporoparietal cortex of the brain. In other words, out of body experiences can be triggered in a laboratory setting. Though such experiences may seem real to those who’ve experienced them, they are an illusion based on the natural functions of the brain under certain conditions.
So, the tales of near death experiences fall within the realm of natural physiological processes.
But could Satan use these phenomena in conjunction with the belief in the immortal soul to deceive people?
Do you think it’s possible for Satan to mimic the voice and mannerisms of loved ones to deceive people? What if demons appeared in the likeness of the disciples of Jesus or of popular “saints,” bringing deceiving messages to earth? What if they worked miracles and renounced Biblical truth? Would people believe their lies? The Bible says that Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. But Jesus called him the father of lies and warned us not to be deceived.
The popular teaching that people have an immortal soul is not Biblical and it is dangerous.
26) In vision, John saw unclean spirits sent to deceive people at the end of time. What were these spirits like?
REVELATION 16: 13-14 “And I saw three unclean spirits like __Frogs__ come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
NOTE: As frogs catch their prey with their tongues, Satan’s agents will catch people with demonic lies in the last days
27) Who did Jesus say would be at risk of being deceived in the last days?
MATTHEW 24:24 “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the __very _ __elect__.”
NOTE: Jesus warned that end-time deceptions would be so believable and so dangerous that everyone, even the “very elect,” those who are seeking God and striving to live according to His requirements thus qualifying for eternal life, would be at risk of being deceived.
28) How does Scripture compare with supernatural sights and experiences?
2 PETER 1:19 “We have also a __more sure__ word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.”
NOTE: Peter, who saw Christ with Moses and Elijah, all enshrouded in heavenly light, said God’s Word was “more sure” even than what he’d seen.
29) How should we respond to God’s Word?
2 PETER 1:19 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye _take heed___ , as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.”
NOTE: We are to take heed, or pay attention, to God’s Word and must test what we see and hear by what the Scriptures say. If our experience doesn’t conform with what God has revealed in His Word, we must reject it as being false, a lying wonder sent by Satan to deceive the very elect. Remember, “If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).
30) What are we to do with our knowledge of these things?
1 THESSALONIANS 4:18 “Wherefore _ comfort__ one another with these words.”
NOTE: We are to comfort one another with our understanding of what happens when a person dies. The truth about death is for our ease and comfort.
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