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Lesson 19

What The Bible Teaches About
What Happens When A Person Dies

Life

1. Who created man and how did He do it? Genesis 1:27; 2:7

Who created man and how did He do it? Genesis 1:27; 2:7

Genesis 1:27 (KJV)
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 2:7 (KJV)
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Death

2. Why do we have to die? Romans 6:23; 5:12

Why do we have to die? Romans 6:23; 5:12

Romans 6:23 (KJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:12 (KJV)
12 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:

3. What is death? Ecclesiastes 12:7

What is death? Ecclesiastes 12:7

Ecclesiastes 12:7 (KJV)
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

4. To what does Jesus compare death? John 11:11, 13

To what does Jesus compare death? John 11:11, 13

John 11:11, 13 (KJV)
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

5. Does the person who died know anything? Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6

Does the person who died know anything? Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6

Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6 (KJV)
5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

6. What happens with the soul? Ezekiel 18:4

What happens with the soul? Ezekiel 18:4

Ezekiel 18:4 (KJV)
4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

7. Should we consult the dead? Deuteronomy 18:10, 11

Should we consult the dead? Deuteronomy 18:10, 11

Deuteronomy 18:10, 11 (KJV)
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

WHAT MUST I DO?

1. Take comfort in the hope of the resurrection. 1 Thess. 4:13-18

Take comfort in the hope of the resurrection. 1 Thess. 4:13-18

2. Believe in Jesus. John 11:25

Believe in Jesus. John 11:25

s. John 11:25 (KJV)
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

3. Remain in Jesus and in the truth until the day in which God makes us immortal. Romans 2:7

Remain in Jesus and in the truth until the day in which God makes us immortal. Romans 2:7

Romans 2:7 (KJV)
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

MY RESOLUTION

I trust in God's promises. I surrender my life to Jesus in order to have eternal life.


Addtional Study 19

Death is the Cessation of Life. Death is a return to dust (Ecclesiastes 3:20). No more suffering or rejoicing (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6). Ceases to be (Psalm 104:29). Thoughts come to an end (Psalm 146:4). No more participation in the concerns of the living (Job 14:21; Psalm 6:5).

Immortality. Only God is immortal (1 Timothy 1:17; 6:15, 16). Man is mortal by nature (Isaiah 51:12). Man's flesh is mortal (2 Corinthians 4:11). The soul is also mortal (Ezekiel 18:4). Immortality will be granted after the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:52-55).

Christ, the Hope of Life. Christ promises to give eternal life (John 10:27, 28). Christ removes death and brings life to light (2 Timothy 1:10). Jesus has the keys of hell and death (Revelation 1:18).

Life and Death

"If a man die, shall he live again?" (Job 14:14). This is the question that worries humanity the most.

Fortunately, God in his love has expanded on the answer in his Holy Word. He explains to us that life is the association of two elements: dust and breath of life (spirit) from God (Genesis 2:7). Death is the inverse process: the dust returns to the earth and the breath of life, or vital principle given by God, returns to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The real cause of death is sin (Romans 6:23). Sin has passed to all men and because of that all must die (Romans 5:12).

Where do the Dead Go?

According to the Bible, the dead go to the tomb, where they sleep until the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The word hell simply means tomb, but not a place of perpetual suffering. The Bible does not mention purgatory. It also doesn't say that the dead go to heaven, because the reward will be given to the righteous when our Lord Jesus returns and the resurrection takes place.

Can We Communicate With the Dead?

In desperation, many relatives try to establish a relationship with their dead loved ones. But the Bible is clear when it teaches that the dead know nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6). Therefore, they cannot communicate with us, nor can we with them. We must remember that Satan's first lie dealt with this matter. God told Adam that if he sinned he would die, but Satan replied: "You shall not die" (Genesis 3:4). Satan keeps trying to deceive in regards to death, and he is determined to maintain his original lie. He can do it easily because he transforms "into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14). Even the demons are able to impersonate people who have died (2 Corinthians 11:15). Many of the apparently unexplainable or surprising phenomenon are provoked by "spirits of devils, working miracles" (Revelation 16:14). That's why we are urged: "believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1). God in the Bible strictly condemns any occultist or spiritualistic practice (Leviticus 19:31, 20:37; Isaiah 8:19).

Wonderful Hope

Death is sleep. Just like after a hard day of work comes a sleep that repairs, after a long life filled with work, God grants us a deserved sleep of rest (John 11:11-14).

The Resurrection. Death is not the end of everything. The farewell to the loved one is not definitive, it is simply "see you later". In several places in the Bible it speaks of the blessed home of the "resurrection" (Isaiah 26:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; John 6:40).

The Transformation. When resurrecting, the person will have a new body, a new mind and a new personality (1 Corinthians 15:42-44,51-56; Philippians 3:20, 21).

No More Death. Just as it is with all tragedies caused by sin, God will eliminate death forever.

When we reunite with our loved ones, we will do so with the total certainty that we will never again say goodbye and that there will never be separation (Isaiah 25:8; Luke 20:36).

This marvelous hope must strengthen our faith in the sure promises of God. When a loved one dies we will have the natural human sadness, but our tears will not be because of separation, because the righteous has hope at his death" (Proverbs 14:32).