Deliverance Ministries Household of Faith
After Death Then What????
Were did they go????
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Posted by: Apostle Jacob Ballard III on Fri, Jul 9, 2010
Once appointed unto man to die
After Death Then What???
Sooner or later, we all must face the end of our lives. But what lies beyond the grave?
Ultimately, everyone dies. It is not a matter of if, but when. We have been told so many things that is not in the Bible. What have you been told?
Sadly, and due to a wide variety of reasons and circumstances, some seek death,
considering it the only solution. Others try to delay the inevitable through good health. Still others tragically lose their lives through time and chance. Sometimes disease or other illnesses bring a death sentence, leaving the person with nothing to do but wait for the end.
Many view the end of their lives with uneasiness. They ponder, “What’s next?”—“Will I live again?”—“Is this it?”—“Will I ever see my loved ones again?”—“Where am I going after this life?”
In contrast, others view death with fear of the unknown. Some fear the process and the suffering that may accompany death. Others, racked with guilt, have a different type of fear—fear that they will burn forever in “hell fire.”
Whatever the viewpoint, feelings or circumstances of one’s life—ultimately, life ends. Because of this unavoidable reality, every person at some point in his or her life thinks about the subject of death.
What about you?Have you ever considered where you are heading? Some live fast-paced lives, never stopping to consider such a large question.
On the other hand, most who are religious—including adherents of traditional Christianity—think they know what happens when one dies. Yet you may be surprised to learn that the religions of this world have deceived them about what occurs at death.
Consider the traditional beliefs of professing Christianity, which teaches that the saved go to heaven when they die. It is reasonably to suppose, this view is founded on the Bible—or is it?
Jesus Christ emphatically and clearly stated, “And no man has ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man [Christ]” (John 3:13). Billions of professing Christians believe that when one dies, he or she goes to heaven—but this contradicts what Jesus said! And keep in mind that when Christ said, “no man has ascended up to heaven,” scores of God’s servants from the Old Testament had already died. Take King David, for example, described as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). The Bible explains that he will rule in God’s kingdom. Certainly, he would be in heaven, right?
But notice: “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” (Acts 2:29, 34). If we believe Christ’s words, then these faithful servants of God DID NOT ascend to heaven.
Surprisingly, the very groups that profess to follow the Bible do not actually read or understand what is found in it! God’s Word is very clear—heaven is not the reward of the saved.
Again, we must ask: What is the truth about life after death? What happens when you die?
What Does Happen?
Let us see what the spirit of the word is saying; follow me as we enter into the spirit. The Bible can be proven to be God’s Word, and it is His INSTRUCTION MANUAL (B-asic, I-nstructions, B-efore, L-eaving, E-arth) to mankind. It provides all the answers necessary to enjoy a wonderful, happy and successful way of life.
First, the Bible is emphatic and clear that everyone dies: “For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even one thing befalls them: as the one dies, so dies the other; yes, 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” (Ecc. 3:19-20). This reveals that a human being simply dies and returns to dust like any other living creature on earth. Ecc 3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of
man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
The Bible provides even more detail of what happens after death.
Notice Psalm 146: “His [man’s] breath goes forth, he returns to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish” (vs. 4). A human being no longer thinks once he is dead; he simply is not conscious.
Now read Ecclesiastes 9: “For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten” (vs. 4-5). Again, the Bible is clear about the state of the dead.
But this leads to the age-old question asked in the Book of Job: “If a man die, shall he live again?” (14:14). The second half of the verse begins to answer the question: “…all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.”
God’s Word speaks of this “change” in scores of places, but what is it?
God’s Ultimate Goal
Most people believe that they are born with “immortal souls.” But the Bible states otherwise: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Eternal life is a gift. People are not automatically born with it. Since “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), and “sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4), there is a penalty—wages earned—for breaking God’s Law!
John 4:10“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” The Gift of God was Jesus. When Jesus we to set on the right hand of the Father; God send us The Gift of the Holy Ghost the Spirit of His Son. John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Searching for answers: When death is imminent, some turn to the Bible for comfort, encouragement and answers. But sadly, the churches of this world—whose beliefs are founded upon the traditions and commandments of men—fail to teach the truth of what God’s Word teaches regarding life after death.
Some religionists try to reason around Romans 6:23, saying that “death” merely means separation from God. But these scriptures are plain. God declares, “Behold, all souls are Mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine: the soul that sins it shall die…The soul that sins, it shall die” (Ezek. 18:4, 20).
When a person dies, he or she is dead. Death is the ultimate “separation.”
However, there is hope after death! Everyone who has ever lived will be resurrected: “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” (I Cor. 15:52-53). This is the “change” of which Job spoke—a change from this temporary, physical existence to eternal life. This is God’s ultimate goal for humanity.
Those who are being called by God now—who are being judged and are building holy, righteous character—will be a 1Pe 4:17 “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”
part of the first resurrection upon the Return of Jesus Christ ;1Th 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.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 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 them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
For the following 1,000 years, God’s government will be administered across the world, bringing peace and prosperity for all (Isa. 9:7). Then will come the second resurrection, in which every man, woman and child who has ever lived—but who had not yet received an opportunity for salvation—will be brought back to physical existence (Ezek. 37:5; Rev. 20:12-13). All will be given a chance to learn God’s way of life and to overcome the way of sin. Those who do will be given the precious opportunity to change to immortality.
No one is currently eternally burning in an everlasting hell—and no one ever will. What kind of God would send someone to an ever-burning hell to be tortured forever, without end? What kind of God would inflict such eternal punishing on those who never had the chance to learn His way of life?
Certainly not the God of the Bible! He will give all human beings the opportunity for salvation.
A Future for You
Death is terrible. The Bible describes it as a “sting.”
But there is coming a time when death will lose its sting—a time when death will no longer exist: “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. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” (I Cor. 15:54-55).
Death has no place in mankind’s incredible future!
In the study of your future, as well as everything else you do for the rest of your life, apply Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, where you go.”
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