Where are the Dead
Philadelphia Baptist Church
2/4/2007 Sun. a.m.
Where are the dead?
Job 14:10
“But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?” (Job 14:10)
Job's question is certainly not an unusual one. Everywhere people are wondering about the dead. They are asking a thousand and one questions. What is the final destiny of man? Does he become non-existent at death, or does the real person survive? If so, where is he? Is he conscious? What is he doing?
In this study I would like to address these and other similar questions. I don't want this study to be morbid, but death comes to all and we naturally have many questions concerning it.
I. Introduction.
To begin with, we need to establish some facts about life that will help us to understand some things about death. Note: Genesis 2:7
Here we see a two-step process in the creation of man.
1. The physical creation: "...God formed man of the dust of the ground..."
a. This was the material creation.
b. The physical body of man.
c. Bones, muscle, flesh, brain, nerves etc.
d. However, although it was intact, it was lifeless.
2. The spiritual creation: "...God...breathed into his nostrils the breath of life..."
a. The breath of life or living spirit was put into his lifeless physical body.
b. This is not face-to-face resuscitation, but is the impartation of a spirit into man.
c. So we can see that life began as a union of the physical and spiritual natures.
3. From that union man becomes "a living soul."
a. Often the terms 'soul' and 'spirit' are used interchangeably to refer to the spiritual part of man's being.
b. Note the example of a light bulb.
c. Physically there is glass and metal, then an unseen power (electricity) flows through the elements and it you have a third function: light!
d. Light is different from the glass and metal and is different from the electricity, but when they come together there is light.
e. It is much the same with the body, soul, and spirit of a person.
II. Death: what is it?
Note the original decree of death:
“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.” (Gen 3:19)
1. What returns to dust is that which came from the earth: the physical part of man.
2. The spiritual nature of man did not come from the earth, but came from God Himself.
3. The spirit will return to God who gave it.
“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Eccl 12:7)
Death is the separation of the spiritual nature from the body (physical nature).
1. The Bible speaks of 'giving up the ghost'.
2. Abraham gave up the ghost, Isaac gave up the ghost, Jacob yielded up the ghost, Jesus gave up the ghost, as well as other folks in the New Testament.
3. Death is a 'giving up' or departure of the spirit from the body.
4. Elijah prayed that the widow's son's soul might come into him again. 1 Ki. 17:21
5. In Luke's gospel we read of Jairus' daughter who was healed and '...her spirit came again..." Lk. 8:59
Paul's discussion of the separation of spirit and body.
“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” (2 Cor 5:6-9)
1. Note the phrases 'at home in the body' and 'absent from the Lord'.
2. This is our present condition, while we are in the physical creation (our body) we are absent from the Lord.
3. Now note the phrase absent from the body and present with the Lord; this is our future condition (not eternal).
4. Eternally we will dwell in resurrected bodies, but until then we dwell in spirit with the Lord.
5. Note that to dwell with the Lord is 'far better' than to dwell in the body of this flesh.
“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” (Phil 1:23-24)
III. Where are the dead?
There are different places, circumstances, and times that we need to consider in addressing this question.
1. The grave is where the body goes at death.
2. In the past, the abode of the spirits of the departed dead was referred to as 'sheol' in the O.T. and 'hades' in the N.T.
a. Very little is found in the O.T. to describe this place, but the N.T. gives some light on what it was like.
b. There were two compartments or divisions of this place.
c. One for the righteous and the other for the unrighteous.
d. Luke 16:19-31
3. A place of torment for the unrighteous and a place of comfort for the righteous separated by a 'great gulf'.
Since Christ ascended the location of the righteous spirits has changed.
1. Prior to Christ's resurrection and ascension all of the dead, both saved and lost, descended into hades. Lk. 23:43
2. However, when Christ ascended from the grave He brought with Him the spirits of the righteous dead.
“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?” (Eph 4:8-9)
3. The location of the spirits of the righteous dead is now referred to as paradise or being 'with Christ' and 'present with the Lord'. 4. Where is Christ? He is in heaven.
Final thoughts on the location of the dead.
1. There will be an eternal dwelling place for the righteous spirits: the new heaven and the new earth.
2. This will be after the resurrection and glorification of our bodies.
3. The location of the departed spirits of the unrighteous will not change until the Great White Throne judgment where they will be cast into the lake of fire. Re. 20:13
4. Will there be a conscious existence after death?
Scriptural insight from Christ, Himself.
1. In Luke 16:19-31.
2. Here we find that both the departed spirits of the righteous and unrighteous had a conscious existence.
3. They could see, recognize each other, hear, talk, feel, and remember.
4. One was tormented while the other was comforted, that necessitates a conscious existence.
5. Another passage points to this is the one dealing with the transfiguration.
a. Mt. 17:1-3
b. Here we see that Moses was identified and had a conscious existence hundreds of years after his death.
c. Moses had died and was buried according to De. 34:5-6, but nearly 1500 years later we find him living, thinking, and talking with Jesus Christ.
Other Scriptural references to eternal consciousness and existence.
1. Hebrews 12:1
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” (Heb 12:1)
2. This passage is referring to the many heroes of the faith that were discussed in the previous chapter.
3. We find that the faithful dead are not suspended in some other dimension, but are living witnesses to what is going on in this world right now.
4. They are 'far better' than we are in this life.
5. They are in a place of joy and comfort; they are blessed. Re. 14:13
Will we recognize one another?
1. From the previous passages we have seen that a conscious existence also means that there is a recognizable identity.
a. The rich man knew Abraham and Lazarus.
b. The disciples knew Moses and Elijah.
c. David said of his infant son who died, "He shall not return to me, but I shall go to him." 2 Sam. 12:23
2. We are identified by our physical appearance now, but that changes.
3. When our physical appearance changes, we do not change identities...we remain who we are.
4. In fact, who we are is not determined by our physical appearance, but by our spirit (the real person, the eternal person).
What are the dead doing right now?
1. Enjoying the presence of God.
“Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psa 16:11)
2. They are witnessing what is taking place right now on earth. Heb. 12:1
3. They are with Christ. Phil. 1:21-24 4. They understand much more about these matters than we do.
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Cor 13:12)
I know that I may not have answered all of the questions you may have about this topic. To be honest, there are some things that we must accept by faith not by sight. God in His infinite wisdom chose not to reveal everything about heaven and eternal life . But it will be marvelous!
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Cor 2:9)