Bible Study What is our state of being after we die?

[TonyChanYT]

Some believe that after a person dies, they go straight to heaven, but I have my doubts. If Lazarus had gone directly to heaven after his death, then bringing him back to life would be a downgrade and disappointing. He would likely prefer to remain in heaven rather than return to earth.

What happens when we die?

Hezekiah likened death to oblivion in (BSB) Isaiah 38:

17b but Your love has delivered me [H5315 my soul] from the pit of oblivion.

God preserved Hezekiah's soul (information) in the divine memory. His soul data would not be forgotten.

Job likened death to sleep in 14:

12 so he lies down and does not rise; till the heavens are no more, people will not awake or be roused from their sleep.

Ec 9:

5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing.

Some people refer to this state of unconsciousness as soul sleep.

Daniel 12:

2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

What happens when the human spirit departs?

Acts 7:

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

When Stephen's spirit left his body, it went into Jesus' care. His soul (program) was shut down, and his body died. His soul data was zipped up and then stored or saved (pardon the computer pun) in the Lord's memory.

Is this the same as soul sleep?

Somewhat yes. However, when one sleeps, he does not lose his consciousness completely. I'd rather not use the term soul sleep. The concept of soul zip is different.

2 Corinthians 5:

8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

The soul's data and program are saved and stored at home in the Lord's divine memory drive. The soul has a definite temporal beginning. Its animation life (consciousness) depends on the breath of God. The soul develops from its life experience. Its life can be suspended. Without the breath of God, it becomes unconscious until the last day, John 6:

40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

When a person's spirit departs, he dies and is no longer conscious. His soul is stored in the divine memory. He no longer experiences the passage of spacetime. However, in God's mind, we are alive in him, Lk 20:

38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.

On the last day, my body will be reconstructed based on the stored soul data and genetic information. God will unzip my soul data and restore my soul in a resurrected body with my personal Paraclete Indwelling Spirit preinstated.

Do believers go to heaven immediately after death?

Yes, but in the form of a soul data zip stored in the divine memory. As far as the zipped soul is concerned, there is no literal sleep or waiting time between death and resurrection. This is the nature of time/eternity.

If believers will enjoy heaven after death before the resurrection, will unbelievers be tormented in hell before the resurrection?

I doubt it. The key event is the resurrection of the dead on the last day.

See also

• Does a dead person's soul experience time like a living person?
• Where was Jesus between his death and resurrection?

 

[for_his_glory]

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 is used by many to say when we die we immediately go to be with the Lord in heaven, but these verses do not mean that at all. If you go back to verse one and two in chapter 5 the tabernacle being spoken of is our fleshly body and when we are in the flesh we are separated from God because flesh and Spirit can not mix, Romans 8:6, 7. Sin separates us from God because God is a spirit and can only recognize his own children by what spirit is living in their hearts. We have to renew, rebirth – born again Gods Spirit within us in order to be called a child of God and see the kingdom of heaven, John 3:3-7. We now put off the old man (flesh) and put on the new man (Spirit), Colossians 3:1-17. We are renewed by the word of God and through the Holy Spirit teaching us of all things, John 14:26.

John 3:6 that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. When we are in the flesh or at home in the body this is our natural carnal being. When we are in the Spirit allowing Gods Spirit to take over the flesh then we are in the presence of the Lord through the Holy Spirit that dwells in us.

God breathed life (breath/spirit) into us, Genesis 2:7, that made us a living soul and what goes back to God when this physical body dies (returns to the dust of the ground) is that very spirit of life God gave us, Ecclesiastics 12:7. Only those of faith under the old covenant (OT) and those of faith under the new covenant through Christ Jesus (NT) will God take that spirit back and reserve it until Christ returns. At that time we are raised with a new glorified body, 1Corintians 15:51-58; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18, and then we are given back that spirit of life to have everlasting life with the Father.

According to John 3:13 no one has ever ascended into heaven other than Christ. Scripture says we sleep in the ground until the coming of the Lord. Those whose names are written in the Lambs Book of Life will be raised to everlasting life with God and those who names are not found will face Gods Great White Throne Judgment and will be cast into the lake of fire, John 5:28, 29; Revelations 20:11-15.

(Note: there are three heavens)

First heaven is the firmament, Earths Atmosphere, which is the immediate sky, Genesis 2:19; 7:3, 23; Psalms 8:8; Lamentations 4:19. The second heaven is the starry heavens, where our atmosphere ends. It is the heavens in which the sun, moon, and stars are fixed in orbit, Deuteronomy 17:3; Jeremiah 8:2; Matthew 24:29. Third Heaven is where God and the holy angels and spirits of just men dwell. It is called “The heaven of heavens,” Deuteronomy 10:14; 1 Kings 8:27; Psalms 115:16; 148:4; 1Kings 8:27; Psalms 2:4.

Nowhere in the Bible does it state what we will actually look like when we return with Jesus when he plants His feet on the Mount of Olives and fights the final battle as described in Zechariah chapter 4, except that we will be conformed to His glorious body, Philippians 3:21; 1Corinthians 15:43; 1John 3:2. After this final siege of Jerusalem is won by Christ forever then the new heaven and new earth will be ushered in as the old heaven and earth will pass away.

The soul and the spirit are connected, but separable (Hebrews 4:12). The soul is the essence of humanity’s being; it is who we are. The spirit is the aspect of humanity that connects with God. Only those who have faith in Christ are those who are spiritually alive while those with unbelief in Christ are spiritually dead, 1Corinthians 2:11; Hebrews 4:12; James 2:26; Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13.

The spirit/breath that is in man is God’s who gave it and will return back to God when this body physically dies as it will be reserved until judgment. Just because a person lives a good life, helps others and seems to be an all around good person whether they are alive or dead when Christ returns will be resurrected unto damnation if they are not Spiritually born again from above, John 3:3-7; Romans 10:9, 10; John 5:28, 29.

Now is the time for repentance as Matthew 24:36 says that no one knows when Jesus will return, not even himself or the angels, but God alone knows when. It could be in our lifetime, but if not one must also be prepared before the grave.

John 5:22-30; Rev 14:14-20; Rev 20:11-15

 

[for_his_glory]

Where was Jesus between his death and resurrection?

Jesus never went down to hell (lower parts of the earth) to preach as scripture says He went to preach to the spirits in prison. When Jesus laid in the tomb for three days his body was dead, but His spirit was very much alive. In 1 Peter 3:19 it says Jesus being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit went and preached to the spirits in prison. The spirits in prison that Jesus went to preach to are those angels that are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Scripture does not say what Jesus preached to them, but some speculate that He was proclaiming to these fallen angels that Satan had no victory over His death. These angels are separate from the third Satan gathered with him as these angels bound in chains kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day, Jude 1:5-7.

Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men means that those who were a slave to sin are now given the free gift of God's grace through Christ as being the fulfillment of the Temple sacrifices. The lower parts of the earth just means the grave being underground.

These angels that have been bound and chained in prison until the day of judgement, Jesus was making show of them openly, triumphing over them in it, Colossians 2:13-15. This means that those who come to Jesus their sin is blotted out having spoiled these angels (principalities and power) who caused men to sin and that they too will be judged and cast into the lake of fire reserved for Satan and his angels.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Jude 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

 

[TonyChanYT]

Jesus never went down to hell

See https://christianforums.net/threads/where-was-jesus-between-his-death-and-resurrection.113669/ and follow up there

 

[Niblo]

Somewhat breathless.

 

[Elijah7777]

If Lazarus had gone directly to heaven after his death, then bringing him back to life would be a downgrade and disappointing.

That is what people say. We know that Paul was stoned and left for dead. He has some confusion if he was in Heaven or not. 2 Corinthians 12:2 "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."

 

[onlysaved]

Some believe that after a person dies, they go straight to heaven, but I have my doubts. If Lazarus had gone directly to heaven after his death, then bringing him back to life would be a downgrade and disappointing. He would likely prefer to remain in heaven rather than return to earth.

What happens when we die?

Hezekiah likened death to oblivion in (BSB) Isaiah 38:


God preserved Hezekiah's soul (information) in the divine memory. His soul data would not be forgotten.

Job likened death to sleep in 14:


Ec 9:


Some people refer to this state of unconsciousness as soul sleep.

Daniel 12:


What happens when the human spirit departs?

Acts 7:


When Stephen's spirit left his body, it went into Jesus' care. His soul (program) was shut down, and his body died. His soul data was zipped up and then stored or saved (pardon the computer pun) in the Lord's memory.

Is this the same as soul sleep?

Somewhat yes. However, when one sleeps, he does not lose his consciousness completely. I'd rather not use the term soul sleep. The concept of soul zip is different.

2 Corinthians 5:


The soul's data and program are saved and stored at home in the Lord's divine memory drive. The soul has a definite temporal beginning. Its animation life (consciousness) depends on the breath of God. The soul develops from its life experience. Its life can be suspended. Without the breath of God, it becomes unconscious until the last day, John 6:


When a person's spirit departs, he dies and is no longer conscious. His soul is stored in the divine memory. He no longer experiences the passage of spacetime. However, in God's mind, we are alive in him, Lk 20:


On the last day, my body will be reconstructed based on the stored soul data and genetic information. God will unzip my soul data and restore my soul in a resurrected body with my personal Paraclete Indwelling Spirit preinstated.

Do believers go to heaven immediately after death?

Yes, but in the form of a soul data zip stored in the divine memory. As far as the zipped soul is concerned, there is no literal sleep or waiting time between death and resurrection. This is the nature of time/eternity.

If believers will enjoy heaven after death before the resurrection, will unbelievers be tormented in hell before the resurrection?

I doubt it. The key event is the resurrection of the dead on the last day.

See also

• Does a dead person's soul experience time like a living person?
• Where was Jesus between his death and resurrection?

Paul and Jesus clear this up very simply.

1. Jesus told the thief on the cross.
"Today you'll be with me in Paradise "

2. Paul told believers.
" to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord"

Now we could argue is that heaven or somewhere else, but what does that matter? Wherever Jesus is is where I want to be.

The main things are the plain things and the plain things are the main things...... Alister Begg

 

[Beetow]

.
The afterlife is something about which I know very little; but in the story Jesus told
at Luke 16:19-31, Lazarus has a finger, Abraham has a bosom, and the rich man
has eyes and a tongue. Plus, both Abraham and the rich man are conscious and
able to carry on a conversation.
_