Beyond Death—A Biblical Analysis
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Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
INTRODUCTION
Men, both religious and non-religious, face the unpleasant reality of death.
Some try to avoid death or at least prolong life, but ultimately they die. Death is not a cessation or end as most think. It is, as the word means, a separation. We are separated from one sphere and joined to another.
There are three kinds of death:
1. Spiritual death—occurred the day Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit.
2. Physical death—occurs when the soul/spirit leaves the body of a person; this is the event to which we are appointed.
3. Second death—occurs when death and hell are cast into the lake of fire.
In contradistinction to death; life is a union. There are three kinds, levels or planes of life:
1. Physical life—a result of the soul/spirit being within the body.
2. Spiritual life—the result of being joined in a spiritual relationship with God through the new birth experience.
3. Eternal life—a result of being in the resurrection of life.
Death is not so much a question, debate or issue with us, but what occurs beyond death does capture our attention. In this field innumerable questions and opinions abound. Although not every question is answered, what we need to know about what happens beyond death, is described in the Bible.
What will happen and is happening in the next world should not only intrigue us, it should drastically affect how we order our lives in this present world.
OUR IMMEDIATE STATE
Man is a tripartite (three-part), being comprised of spirit and soul and body
1 Thessalonians 5:23“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
One-third of us, our body, is visible. Two-thirds of us, our soul and spirit are invisible to the human eye.
Death causes something radical to happen to this composition. It is described as the soul departing from the body
Genesis 35:18 “And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.”
1 Kings 17:17–22 “And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.”
The body without the spirit is dead
James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
Soul and spirit are inseparable without the Word
(Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
When the words “soul” or “spirit” are used they can refer to each separately, or both in unison. It appears that where one is located the other is located, whether in time or eternity. We will use these two words interchangeably; we won’t attempt to distinguish between them due to complexity and space. This would be a good subject for you to pursue.
At death the body returns to the dust from which it was taken
Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:19 “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
What happens to the invisible part of us, which causes us to live physically, is what this lesson is about. Our most pressing need at the moment is for each of us to confront two important needs in our life.
#1 Our Need For Salvation—Upon death our bodies will return to the dust, so salvation isn’t for the outward, physical man that perishes but for the inward spiritual man.
2 Corinthians 4:16 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
The born again experience of John 3:1-8, described in Acts 2:1-4, 38 is to redeem us from our fallen state and give us spiritual life.
#2 Our Need To Live Godly—God’s grace which brings salvation, teaches us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world
Titus 2:11–15 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”
This process is accomplished by hearing the Word of God (the Bible) through preaching, reading and obeying the Word.
Our immediate status is one of uncertainty as far as life is concerned; but absolutely certain where death is concerned. Since no method is provided, allowing us after we die, to change our status of being saved or lost, it is important for us to use the time we now have to save our soul.
OUR FUTURE INTERMEDIATE STATE
This is a Biblical view of the place men inhabit or occupy after they die, while awaiting the resurrection. When we die the body returns to the dust.
Our soul/spirit, which is eternal or immortal, is put (by God) in a place of punishment or a place of bliss.
In this intermediate position we await the resurrection; after this we are sent to our eternal abode.
In view of this declaration, it is needful to look at the whole of Scripture, as supporting evidence. In brief summary, it appears that at death, the spirit/soul of a man leaves his body and ascends into the presence of God for disposition, or determination, of destiny (
Ecclesiastes 11:5 “As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.”
; 12:1-7
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
In Jesus’ story of Lazarus and the rich man
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 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; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 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. 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. 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. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
at death God placed Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom and the rich man was placed in hell. Note, both men were buried so their bodies were in the ground to return to the dust, their souls were in the places mentioned.
Hell (a place of flames and torment) and paradise, which is called Abraham’s bosom will not be the final abode of the saved or lost. Ultimately, the punishment and/or bliss of each will be eternal. In the end, death and hell will be cast into the lake of fire, this is the eternal abode of the doomed. Those in paradise will make their final abode in the New Jerusalem, inhabiting the new heavens and earth.
Our intermediate state has numerous factors specifically connected; to these I will give brief review. I encourage you to search out the details of
each of these.
Paradise
This term is used three times in the Bible. In
Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Jesus tells the thief on the cross that he would be with Him in paradise. In 2 Corinthians 12:1–5“It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.”
Paul is caught up into paradise. He describes it as “caught up in the third heaven” (verse 2).
In Revelation 2:7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Jesus says “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Enough is conveyed
in this brief analysis, along with other supporting references that this is a place in the presence ofJesus Christ.
It’s Edenic, heavenly clime will be incorporated into and be a part of the eternal dwelling of the righteous.
Hell
Under this topic, several terms need to be defined. Some of them, while not specifically called hell, have a connection to the subject or to the intermediate state of man.
Tartarus—This is a Greek term used narrowly
and strictly in classical and mythological
Greek. It is not a Bible word. It is used some
in theological circles, and is defined as the
deepest abyss of Hades and means to “incar-
cerate in eternal torment.” Some scholars
regard this place (although the Bible doesn’t
specifically say so) as being the place of doom
for fallen angelic beings (Jude 1:6; II Peter
2:4-6). My only reason for introducing this
term is because you will find it being used
by commentators in the same manner I’m
presenting it in this lesson. Therefore, I didn’t
want to ignore it.
Bottomless Pit—In Revelation 9:1-11 we are
introduced to this place. Although it’s never
specifically called Hell, the “bottomless pit” is
part of a place of future punishment. Perhaps
it will be incorporated into and made a part
of the “Lake Of Fire”. When the “bottomless
pit” is opened by the fifth angel, smoke arises
and the sun and air are darkened. Out of this
smoke comes locusts, who will torment men
for five months. The locusts, and what they
do, is described in the text. Over this pit is an
angel whose name is Abaddon or Apollyon.
The “beast” ascends out of this “bottomless
pit” (Revelation 11:7). Satan will be cast into
this pit for one thousand years, during the
millennium reign of Christ on earth. Then
Satan will be loosed for a season before he is
cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:1-10).
■
■ Lake Of Fire—Our first introduction to this
place is in Revelation 19:20, when the beast
and false prophet are cast “alive” into this
place that burns with fire and brimstone. At
the end of the millennium, Satan will be cast
into this lake of fire when he is loosed from
the bottomless pit, where he had been bound
for one thousand years (Revelation 20:7-10).
After the judgment, at the white throne, the
doomed (and whosoever are not found writ-
ten in the book of life), are cast into the lake
of fire. At this time death and hell are also
cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
This is called the “second death”. Those in the
first resurrection will not be conquered by
this second death. This realm too, is defined
by the word “without” in Revelation 22:14-
15. In this place all the doomed will spend
eternity. All the woes of death, the grave
and every definitive form of punishment
mentioned in the Bible will be, perhaps,
incorporated into the lake of fire.
■
■ Hades—A broad based Greek term meaning
unseen. The place or state of the departed.
■
■ Sheol—A Hebrew term which means Hades or
the world of the dead including its accessories
and inmates, the grave, hell and pit.
Gehenna—This Greek word is symbolized
by the valley of Hinnom, a valley outside
Jerusalem, as a place or state of everlasting
punishment or hell.
These terms and places fully define the unseen
world of the departed both now and in the future.
Some have taken the word hell and reduced it sim-
ply to an unseen world, where the dead are, or the
grave, with no punishment or consequences of
eternal significance. This can be done only at the
expense of ignoring numerous noteworthy Bible
truths. It is important to study the whole of this
subject, not taking the least serious definition,
explaining away a powerful truth of Scripture.
Terms of False Teachings
Below are some teachings/terms that are often
found when studying subjects such as this one.
Other terms not mentioned in the study exist. Be
cautious as you study these, especially so before
you adopt them as being Biblical or allow them to
become a part of your teaching or conversation.
■ ■ Annihilation—Without one shred of Bible sup-
port, this false doctrine in its simplest and most
complicated form introduces the idea of limited
immortality. It argues (without evidence), the
concept that the saved will live forever while the
lost will not be punished forever. This teaching
promotes (falsely) that those who are lost will
be annihilated. Nowhere, does the Bible teach
that death or that some place after death will
demolish our existence as an eternal creature,
regardless of whether one is saved or lost.
Death only ends our earthly, physical existence,
not our eternal existence.
■
■ Reincarnation—A large segment of the world’s
population believe in this teaching. It is not
confined to one religion alone; many religions
and nations embrace this idea. Those who
believe in reincarnation teach that death is a
transition to a new mode of earthly existence
(with each deceased person becoming, after
death, another creature such as a cow, rat, horse, etc). God’s Word hasn’t the slightest
hint that our souls transmigrate or reincar-
nate into other physical beings.
■
■ Communicating With The Dead—Any effort
in this futility is condemned by the Bible.
A recent survey stated that over half of
Americans feel they have been in contact with
someone who has died. Study Leviticus 19:31;
20:6, 27; Deuteronomy 18:9-12. Rappings:
spirits rapping out answers to questions
asked them, séances, Ouija boards, psychics,
palm readers and such are to be shunned and
renounced by Bible believers. In Luke 16:27-
31, the rich man in hell wanted someone sent
back from the dead to preach to his brothers
on earth. He was refused. The living on earth
have God’s Word; if they won’t hear that, they
won’t believe though one rose from the dead.
All we need to know about our future and
how to be saved are found in the Bible; God
disapproves of the living trying to communi-
cate with the dead for any reason.
■
■ Baptism For The Dead—A practice which existed
in the days of Paul; it continued through the
centuries and exists today. In this teaching,
a living person is baptized vicariously in
the stead of someone deceased, believing
this baptism will wash away the sins of the
deceased person, while they lived on earth
(I Corinthians 15:29)
In various cultures and religions many practices
are carried out by the living with and for the dead.
According to some: the dead, after a process of
obtaining a certain level of sainthood, are prayed
to; others feed the dead with literal food placed on
burial sites; for some, the spirit of the living, visits
with the spirit of the dead, etc. Such practice, beliefs
and such similar ideas are myriad and growing.
Bible believers should shun, never engage in, or
approve such practices in any form whatsoever.
■
■ Elysium—A term (without Biblical support
or mention), is used in Greek and Roman
mythology: this supposed place is the abode
of happy souls after death.
Purgatory—Another supposed place where
persons go to be purged of sins not dealt with
while on earth. Expiation for their sins is
obtained through a period of suffering. This is
considered a temporary state, with the person
being elevated to a higher eternal plane after
their sins are purged. Primarily this is a teach-
ing of the Catholic church and some other
religious groups; it has no Bible basis.
■
■ Limbo—A region supposedly bordering on
hell. Unbaptized children and those who lived
before Christ go here after they die. This is
another false theory unsupported in any way
by the Bible.
■ ■ Soul Sleeping—A somewhat common, errone-
ous teaching. Its adherents teach that when one
dies their soul enters a state of sleep. Paul, in
the following passages warns us that “asleep”
or “sleeping” can be a spiritual condition that
believers should beware of (Romans 13:11;
I Thessalonians 5:6). There is a sleep of death,
separate and apart from the sleep of rest (John
11:1-14), which has specific reference to the
body sleeping in the dust. Never does it refer to
the soul. The souls of the departed are always
awake, alert and knowing.
■
■ Death Of The Soul—This is an idea originating
from a misunderstanding of the Scripture
which states “The soul that sinneth, it shall
die” (Ezekiel 18:4). This passage used in error,
is the premise of this teaching. In context,
this verse means that sin separates us from
God spiritually just as the prodigal son was
dead (spiritually, but not physically). He was
then considered alive (spiritually) when he
returned to the Father (Luke 15:32).
God’s Word, in its entirety, when taken in con-
text, teaches that our soul or spirit is immortal, it
does not sleep, and never ceases to exist. Our soul
will not transmigrate into another earthly creature;
it cannot be annihilated, nor does it sleep. After
one dies physically, their soul can not pass from
one spiritual state into another, either higher or
lower. One’s soul can not be communicated with,or ministered to, by those still living on earth. Our
destiny is determined by how we live. When we die,
our soul/spirit is disposed to a realm (whether good
or bad) by Almighty God. From that point forward,
there is nothing you or anyone can do which will
change our destiny. After death we remain in the
same spiritual state we were in at the time of our
death. Also, we remain in the realm God places us,
awaiting the resurrection.
Living people are intrigued by the dead. Due
to inquisitiveness, superstition, etc. many false,
unproven, questionable, evil, demonic and costly
devices and doctrines, have been pawned off on the
living who may be seeking answers, guidance and
hope from the realm of the dead. This false hope
is not to be pursued by born again Christians. All
God wants us to know about the dead, where they
are, what is happening to them presently, and what
their future state is can be found in the Bible. Study
that, be content, and hope in God.
OUR ETERNAL STATE
We live in the sphere of time but will at some
future point move into eternity. Since creation, all
those who have died have had their soul returned
to a faithful and just God. According to the manner
one has lived, God determines where that soul goes
to await the resurrection, then judgment. Only two
intermediate domains are mentioned in Scripture:
hell and paradise (Abraham’s bosom, present with
the Lord, etc.).
In order for the deceased to enter their eternal
abode something supernatural after death must
occur. These supernatural, Scriptural events deserve
examination at this juncture.
All the deceased of the ages having returned to
the dust await one of the following events:
The Resurrection
Two resurrections are taught in the Bible. The
first resurrection is for righteous people, the second
resurrection is by and large for the wicked. Due to
space, comments and Scriptures will be kept brief
(I Corinthians 15:1-58; John 5:29; Luke 14:14;
Revelation 20:1-6).
The Catching Away Of The Church
This is an event when Christ descends from
heaven, in the clouds, toward the earth. At this time
He will not come all the way down to the earth,
but will resurrect the dead in Christ and catch
away remaining, living Christians. All the resur-
rected dead, along with the living ones caught up,
will meet Him in the air to forever be with Him
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-57;
II Corinthians 5:1-8; I John 3:1-3).
Following the catching away of the church there
will be a terrible time of tribulation as taught in
Revelation. At the conclusion of this period, there
will be another resurrection (the second resurrec-
tion). Immediately after this there will be a final
Judgment of all who were not a part of the first
resurrection.
The Judgments
Briefly; the righteous will appear before “the judg-
ment seat of Christ” (II Corinthians 5:10; II Timothy
4:1; Romans 14:12). The wicked will appear before
the “great white throne” (Revelation 20:11-15).
Neither Judgment is to determine whether one is
saved or lost; rather each judgment is to determine
the intensity of punishment or reward. Remember,
both saved and lost, at the time of their death, had
their destiny determined by the Almighty God.
NOTE: Chronologically, it appears that while the
white throne of judgment occurs, the present
heavens and earth are destroyed by fire and the
new heavens and earth are created. At the close
of this final judgment, eternity will begin. All
is finished, all are judged; now all go to their
eternal abode. Both are noted below.
The Lake of Fire
Is defined above; please reference the comments
and Scriptures. This is the final, eternal abode of
the lost.
The New Jerusalem
The people of God now go to this city Abraham
sought and John saw coming down from God out
of heaven (Hebrews 11:10,16; Revelation chapters
21-22). Perhaps this city will sit on the new earth
God creates. The splendor of this city and the new
earth are described in the closing verses of the Bible.
SUMMARY
Death is a consequence of human sin and dis-
obedience (Romans 5:12-21). “It is appointed unto
men once to die …” (Hebrews 9:27). Death will
always remain mysterious to our carnal human
minds, but we do not have to be totally ignorant
about it. The Bible provides the living with not
only insight, but hope. Death is not a cessation;
it is the gateway to another dimension of human
existence—finally living forever in our eternal
abode.
Our limited life span should create in all of us
a sense of urgency to live godly lives during the
time we have on earth. Knowing what the Bible
teaches about what is “Beyond Death” should give
pause to each individual to consider their salva-
tion experience and lifestyle.