Creation

Judgement

I have often been asked what happens to a person after they die. The question is most valid, and there are some differing ideas as to what takes place and how the dead body should be taken care. Each question is important to the person, as is the question of what the religious consequences are.

Christians of course, must rely on the Bible teachings in this regard, and there are differing opinions, so let us address this issue with a calm, and faith filled conclusion. First off, we should list the most pertinent passages.

Heb. 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Phil 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Luke 16:18-3120 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Ac 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev. 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Mat. 22:23 ¶ The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.

27 And last of all the woman died also.

28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

Now we will be able to delve into this matter and point out some things you should consider most carefully. As we all know, death will come to us, but the manner of it can and does vary a great deal. I am referring to the condition of the body that remains after death has taken place. As we all know, that body can be lost to us through mutilation from explosions, fires, loss at sea and unrecoverable and so on. Therefore, our least concern then, is the question of a disposal method such as donating the body to science, burial in the ground or a vault, the new crogenic freezing until who knows when, and ;ast but not least - cremation.

Many say that we should follow the example of the burial of Jesus. This I find most interesting, because in our modern society, that is virtually impossible. The reason is simple - we no longer all ow blood to remain in the body, as was the case in the embalming methods of the Jewish practices. Likewise, we do not burry people in caves or sepulchers as was the practice of old. (We do however simulate this with the use of vaults).

I have addressed these things because many people are concerned about their loved ones who have passed in devastating situations such as terrorist attacks and acts of war. So please allow me to make a bold statement. Burial of a body is quite secondary in importance so far as the deceased person is concerned. It serves more for the living since it allows "closure" or a final "good bye" for those who still await their time of death.

The most important element of this thing we call death, is to be found in the spiritual realm. The force that grants life to a person is invisible because it is spirit.

Ge 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.

AV-soul 475, life 117, person 29, mind 15, heart 15, creature 9, body 8, himself 8, yourselves 6, dead 5, will 4, desire 4, man 3, themselves 3, any 3, appetite 2, misc 47; 753

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

1i) activity of the character

Spirit

(Heb. ruah; Gr. pneuma), properly wind or breath.

1. In #2Th 2:8 it means "breath,"

2. in #Ec 8:8 the vital principle in man.

3. It also denotes the rational, immortal soul by which man is distinguished #Ac 7:59 1Co 5:5 6:20 7:34

4. the soul in its separate state #Heb 12:23

5. an apparition #Job 4:15 Lu 24:37,39

6. an angel #Heb 1:14

7. a demon #Lu 4:36 10:20

8. This word is used also metaphorically as denoting a tendency #Zec 12:10 Lu 13:11

9. In #Ro 1:4 1Ti 3:16 2Co 3:17 1Pe 3:18 it designates the divine nature.

05315 vpn nephesh neh'- fesh

It is easy to see how a person can become confused by these two terms. In order to keep things as simple as possible, just remember that a soul is an entire physical mental and spirit active person. In other words, we are triune in nature being a person of mind, body and spirit. At death however, the spirit departs from the body, and takes with it all of the mental total experience of that life.

In order to understand more about what happens after death occurs, we should first consider the passages from Luke. Most important to remember that this is an account of dead people who ARE SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER, BUT ARE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER AND HAVE A CONVERSATION.

Part and parcel then is something most interesting. They have not been a part of either the first or second resurrection we read about in Revelation chapter 20. So what can we learn from this? Please pay close attention.

The areas known as Death and Hell are being addressed in Luke. They are what is best understood as a "holding area. Some are destined to be a part of the first resurrection, are viable spirits awaiting their final judgement into everlasting life in the new heaven (Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.) , and those who await the second resurrection and (Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.).

I have always found the Roman Catholic teaching of "PURGATORY" very interesting in that while it teaches an area as I have just described (holding area), they err so grossly in saying a person can be prayed out of that area. This is after all, in conflict with what Luke has written.

So what have we learned? We should now understand that our spirit will at some time, leave the body in which we have lived. It will take with it, the sum total of knowledge and the experiences of that lifetime. It will then go to a place called Death which is divided into an area for those who will be judged righteous and await their reward which will take place in a time of God's choosing, and those who will have their part in the lake of fire, along with this present earth, death and hades (hell). To God be the glory.

And from the Webster's Dictionary
pur·ga·to·ry (pûrÆgÃ tôrÅ", -t$rÅ"), n., pl. -ries, adj. n. 1. (in the belief of Roman Catholics and others) a condition or place in which the souls of those dying penitent are purified from venial sins, or undergo the temporal punishment that, after the guilt of mortal sin has been remitted, still remains to be endured by the sinner. 2. (cap., italics) Italian, Pur·ga·to·rio (pÁRÅgä tôÆRyô). the second part of Dante's Divine Comedy, in which the repentant sinners are depicted. Cf. inferno (def. 3), paradise (def. 7). 3. any condition or place of temporary punishment, suffering, expiation, or the like. adj. 4. serving to cleanse, purify, or expiate. [11751225; (n.) ME purgatorie (< AF) < ML p%rg!t$rium, n. use of neut. of LL p%rg!t$rius purging, equiv. to p%rg!(re) to PURGE + -t$rius -TORY1; (adj.) ME purgatorie < LL p%rg!t$rius]
lim·bo .(limÆb$), n., pl. -bos. 1. (often cap.) Rom. Cath. Theol. a region on the border of hell or heaven, serving as the abode after death of unbaptized infants (limÆbo of inÆfants) and of the righteous who died before the coming of Christ (limÆbo of the faÆthers or limÆbo of the paÆtriarchs). 2. a place or state of oblivion to which persons or things are regarded as being relegated when cast aside, forgotten, past, or out of date: My youthful hopes are in the limbo of lost dreams. 3. an intermediate, transitional, or midway state or place. 4. a place or state of imprisonment or confinement. [1300–50; ME, from ML phrase in limb$ on hell's border (L: on the edge), equiv. to in on + limb$, abl. of limbus edge, border (L), place bordering on hell (ML); see LIMBUS1]

(All scripture passages are from the 1769 KJV)