Posted on 08/10/2015 6:26:09 PM PDT by imardmd1
Within the Christian faith, there is a significant amount of confusion regarding what happens after death. Some hold that after death, everyone “sleeps” until the final judgment, after which everyone will be sent to heaven or hell. Others believe that at the moment of death, people are instantly judged and sent to their eternal destinations. Still others claim that when people die, their souls/spirits are sent to a “temporary” heaven or hell, to await the final resurrection, the final judgment, and then the finality of their eternal destination. So, what exactly does the Bible say happens after death?
First, for the believer in Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that after death believers’ souls/spirits are taken to heaven, because their sins are forgiven by having received Christ as Savior (John 3:16, 18,36). For believers, death is to be “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). However, passages such as 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 describe believers being resurrected and given glorified bodies. If believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, what is the purpose of this resurrection? It seems that while the souls/spirits of believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, the physical body remains in the grave “sleeping.” At the resurrection of believers, the physical body is resurrected, glorified, and then reunited with the soul/spirit. This reunited and glorified body-soul-spirit will be the possession of believers for eternity in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21-22).
Second, for those who do not receive Jesus Christ as Savior, death means everlasting punishment. However, similar to the destiny of believers, unbelievers also seem to be sent immediately to a temporary holding place, to await their final resurrection, judgment, and eternal destiny. Luke 16:22-23 describes a rich man being tormented immediately after death. Revelations 20:11-15 describes all the unbelieving dead being resurrected, judged at the great white throne, and then being cast into the lake of fire. Unbelievers, then, are not sent to hell (the lake of fire) immediately after death, but rather are in a temporary realm of judgment and condemnation. However, even though unbelievers are not instantly sent to the lake of fire, their immediate fate after death is not a pleasant one. The rich man cried out, “I am in agony in this fire” (Luke 16:24).
Therefore, after death, a person resides in a “temporary” heaven or hell. After this temporary realm, at the final resurrection, a person’s eternal destiny will not change. The precise “location” of that eternal destiny is what changes. Believers will ultimately be granted entrance into the new heavens and new earth (Revelations 21:1). Unbelievers will ultimately be sent to the lake of fire (Revelations 20:11-15). These are the final, eternal destinations of all people—based entirely on whether or not they had trusted Jesus Christ alone for salvation (John 3:36).
The comedian Fred Allen once said “This is only the intermission. The big show is yet to come”
Thanks! Out of 300,000 Freepers ranking #7 is a compliment.
I am, too. And goodness knows I’m not worthy and only He decides. But I have requested that He take me on a grand tour of His entire creation. I would so love that!
At death, the senses shut down, one by one. Then you are left with thoughts, which slow down and then stop. Then your emotions quiet down and you feel peace. Finally, you are left with awareness of the quiet darkness created by being still incarnated, but then your soul gently separates from the body and so the body stops being able to hide where you really are - in light, with a healthy, vibrant soul body that’s always been there subtly, but which you can now see and feel. And at that point you realize that your physical body was like a set of clothes, and that thinking it was actually “you” was a huge misunderstanding, and you laugh.
Well, isn’t that who Jesus went to rescue across the River Styx between his death and resurrection.
You see there are answers to every question. Just ask a true believer. The answers don’t have to make sense, because it’s all faith and magic.
She knew she was dieing, but we never used those words ... she was going home and we would meet again
She pretty much lost consciousness for about two hours before a frightening death rattle series of gasps, which my deacon, a male nurse of many years who was present, explained it is common and only SOUNDS frightening, but Debbie was no longer conscious ... she was, for all practical purposes in a deep sleep
That's my empirical opinion
1. There is no “judgment” for believers. Absolutely none. Romans 8:1
2. “Hell “ is 3 Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew words . “Sheol” ( Hebrew) and Hades (Greek) — “Sheol” and “Hades” mean grave or pit. Nothing eternal. The last Aramaic is “Gehenna” meaning “ the garbage dump in Jerusalem . There is no eternal life in hell, absolutely Zero. That originated in Dante’s “inferno”.
John 3:16 leads us to Heaven if “we believeth in Him” as the Son of God. No works necessary at all. That means you accept Him as truly the Son of God.
3. At death,you go immediately to Heaven. There is no purgatory or delay. We know that from Jesus on the cross who said “ This day ,you shall be with me”.
So much is driven by the “Church” to get money. Did you know that “Church” was not in the Bible until mistranslated in 1611? KJV changed the actual word “Ekklesia” meaning “the called out” or all believers To “Circe” or “Kirke’ ( church) meaning the circle that Pagans sat in to worship Satan.
There are No buildings— no “pastors” no tithing , no mortgaged buildings or high paid preachers in the New Testament Bible. ZIP.
Thanks for sharing your view. God Bless.
I LIKE that ... thanx
Death is not natural. Not the way things were supposed to be. Death made Jesus cry.
To those of us who are born again all will be OK, but the death part is scary.
Ted Striker: “George Zip said that?”
Rumack: “The last thing he said to me, “Doc,” he said, “some time when the crew is up against it, and the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to get out there and give it all they got and win just one for the Zipper. I don’t know where I’ll be then, Doc,” he said, “but I won’t smell too good, that’s for sure.””
- “Airplane”
Unless you’re pecked to death by chickens. That takes a LOT longer and is not nearly as peaceful. ;)
“What about the millions of people who lived during and after the time of Christ, who never knew he existed due to geographical location? Seems rather arbitrary and unfair to condemn people for that.”
I strongly believe that grace through the death of Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. However, can this is Grace be provided to someone who has never heard of Jesus is a different question.
Most Christians would say that a baby will not go to Hell— not because it is born without sin, but because they believe that God’s grace is made available to this baby. In the old testament, there is a pagan harlot named Rahab that the Bible says had righteousness attributed to her.
I’m not saying everyone goes to heaven, but I’d say no one really knows in the end exactly what happens according to God’s law, grace, and plan.
My Sweet Hubby of 45+ years went home to the Lord on May 16th. While camping last year a mansion on wheels pulled up next to our humble little trailer and when the owner asked, "Where's your real home?" Sweet Hubby replied with a big smile, "Why Heaven, of course."
Dear friend in Christ, your real home is in Heaven, of course. The LORD knows the story of your life and the wonderful news is that for who Jesus Christ as their Savior the story ends with, " and they lived happily ever after."
And at the other side of the ring we have Mohammed (in everlast shorts). He comes from a culture where women are burned alive, raped and beaten. Subjugation is the norm.
Mat 7:14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."Mat 25:46 "Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."
Mat 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."
Mat 25:46 "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal"
“I think thats were the Judgement Day part comes in.”
But ultimately sent to the lake of fire (per the article).
Catholicism takes these people seriously and lays out a method by which they are saved...the same with people today who are unable to hear the word of Christ
That's murder most fowl.
Because you have your original sin nature as well, and that naturally fears God and good, and you know what death is all about. You know its not natural, ie it was not the way it was supposed to be, and not pleaant. You know what comes after death.
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