Teachinghearts™	Death and Immortality "Explore the Word. Change the World"	Statistics: Time: 60 minutes Print: 10 pages

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What Really Happens? Have you ever wondered What really happens at death? Do the dead exist to give certain television psychics a career and a business opportunity? What about the "stories" of "near death experiences", the "out of body" experiences and the "light at the end of a long dark tunnel" stories that we hear? Is there a "purgatory" that departed souls go to? Are the "dead" really "dead". Can we really know? Crossing Over into the Light. Psychics and ghost hunters make a career out of being the telecommunications service to those who have "crossed over" to the other side. Or they are traffic directors to those confused souls who are lost on "this side" and convince them to go over to "the other side" through a door of light.

"And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?" .... " To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8: 19, 20)

In this study, we are going to look into God's Word to see what It can tell us about this topic of "death", about "What really happens at death?" We will build upon a number of scriptures for this study.

Should we seek our answers from those that have died through seances or other contact with the "dead"?
Should we depend upon the so called "near death experiences" that some have had?

Should we depend upon "man's wisdom"? Or should we depend upon God's Word?
God tells His people, through Isaiah the Prophet, to seek unto Him. That is what we should do, too.

Life
In order to understand death, we should first understand the Bible's definition of life. Much of our confusion centers around the definition of the word "soul". Some believe that the soul or spirit is a conscious, transparent and independent entity that occupies a body. At death this soul continues to live apart from the body because many people believe that, good or evil, this entity is immortal.

The Bible says that God blew His breath into the lifeless man and he became one who breathes. A living being or a living soul.
"Then 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." (Genesis 2: 7)

• Neshamah, Ruwach. This word is translated as breath and spirit.
• Nephesh. This word means "that which breathes". A living being.

The Soul is a Living Person.
The soul is simply a person who can breathe. It is not the breath only. Without the breath of God the dust would not be conscious. And without the dust, the breath would not be conscious. It takes the combination of both to produce a living creature.

Life	DUST + BREATH FROM GOD = NEPHESH (living being, soul)
		Think of the example of a light bulb. The bulb is like our body. The electricity is like the breath of God. Together, they make up energized light that sheds its brightness around it. Likewise, our body, without God's breath, is dark. We are alive because God puts life into us.
	Light Bulb + Electricity = Light
	Body (dust) + Breath from God (spirit) = Living Soul (living being, nephesh)

The Soul is not Immortal.

Spirit The "Spirit" of man is the "breath", what we inhale and exhale. It is not a separate, immortal, conscious entity separate from the body and soul. Only God is immortal. The "spirit" is not an airy, translucent intelligent form that fills up our body. A spiritual being is an improvement on the physical body. It is one with breath or spirit, like a physical being, but is capable of doing much more with their improved spiritual bodies.

The bible also teaches that the soul can die. It is not immortal.
"See, 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. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." (Ezekiel 18: 4, 20)

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

The Animals have the Same Breath.
I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
For that which happens to the sons of men happens to beasts; even one thing happens to them: as the one dies, so dies the other; yes, they have all one breath; so that a man has 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. Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward to the earth?" (Ecclesiastes 3 : 18 - 21)
Man and Animals have the same spirit (Breath of life (Ruwach)). God uses the same process to bring them both to life.

The Components of Life Physical Mental Spiritual Earth (Dust) The Process of Life God Body Conscious Living Soul Spirit - Body Unconscious Death Spirit The Process of Death

The Physical, Mental and Spiritual Union.
Neither the physical dust or spiritual breath are conscious when they are separate. What makes them conscious is their union in the mind. The brain is the physical organ through which the spirit of man communicates with the Spirit of God. Death severs this connection. The physical body deteriorates and returns to the dust of the earth and God stores what is unique about us in the spirit that returns to Him.

This is why the spiritual war is a battle for the mind because it is the only place and time where we are conscious. This is why Satan has dulled the minds of the last generation with drugs, sports, mindless television and other forms of useless entertainment.

Spirits and Ghosts There are no disembodied spirits. The dead cannot control the life giving spirit of God. This spirit is not something that can take a form or shape or has intelligence. It is simply life from God. No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death ... (Ecclesiastes 8: 8)

Immortality and Eternal Life
Are we immortal? The bible teaches that only God is immortal. But it also teaches that we can have eternal life as a gift through Jesus Christ. Although both can live forever, there is a difference.

• Innate Immortality. These get their eternal life from within. They can only cease to exist if they choose to cease to exist. In the only place in the scripture where the word "immortal" is used, it is applied to God. Only God has life within Himself.
  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1: 17)
  
  That you keep this commandment without spot, or reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which he shall show in his times, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen (1 Timothy 6: 14 -16)
• Derived Immortality. These get their eternal life from an external source. If that source could cease to exist, they would cease to exist. 1 Corinthians 15: 50-54 describes this as "putting on" immortality as if it were a garment. Only Christ, dwelling in the light, has immortality. We do not possess immortality, without Christ.
  Eternal Life Can be Put on and Off Like A Garment. "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; 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 put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15: 52-53)
  Eternal Life is A Gift from the Son. "And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life." (1 John 5: 11-12)
  Eternal Life is for Those Who Believe in the Son. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3: 16 -17)
  Mortal life is carnal, like the foreskin which can be cut off. However, eternal life is putting on the cloak of righteousness given as a gift from Christ to His friends.

Death
If life is the combination of dust and the breath from God, then what is death? It is described as the opposite process.
Spirit Returns to God. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit (ruwach) shall return unto God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12: 7)
Body Returns to Earth. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goes forth, he returns to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. (Psalm 146: 3 -4)

Death	DUST - BREATH FROM GOD = DEATH SLEEP		For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (James 2: 26)
		When the electricity is turned off, the light goes out. When God takes back His life giving breath, we die. This breath has no independent consciousness on its own so that it can exist as an intelligent entity without a physical body.
	Light Bulb - Electricity = Darkness
	Body (dust) - Breath from God (spirit) = Dead Soul

This would be the end of the story, but God promises us eternal life. So what happens after we die and how do we get to live forever? To answer this question, we will define several concepts that are used in the Bible.

• The Sleep of Death. The Bible describes death as an unconscious sleep in which we have no memory or actions or contact with the living. We are not in heaven praising God or in hell writhing in pain. Death is a place where we wait until the resurrection.
  
  We Wait until our Change. "So man lies down, and rises not: until the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. O that you would hide me in the grave, that you would keep me secret, until your wrath is past, that you appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, until my change come. You shall call, and I will answer you: you will have a desire to the work of your hands." (Job 14: 12 - 15)
  
  The Dead are Unconscious. "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. 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."
  No Intelligent Contact. ... " Whatever 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." (Ecclesiastes 9: 5- 6, 10)
  
  The Dead have no Memory. "Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for your mercies' sake. For in death there is no remembrance of you: in the grave who shall give you thanks?" (Psalm 6: 4 - 5)

  The Sleep of Death for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die. (Genesis 2: 17) Adam was told that he would die on the day that he sinned. But he lived to be 930 years old. One explanation is that the process of death and aging began on that day. Another event that could have happened is that it may have been the first time that sleep came permanently to the planet. If this is true, it explains why Christ referred to death as sleep. Sleep and Work. For practical reasons, the process of sleep reduced by one third the number of hours in a day that man could sin. Work provides the same benefit. Together, they reduce the time to sin by two thirds. These two curses were really a blessing.

  • Sleep. Since everyone will be resurrected after the first death, the Bible describes it as a sleep because we will all awake from it.
    He said unto them, Leave, for the girl is not dead, but sleeps. And they laughed him to scorn. (Matthew 9: 24)
    And when he was come in, he says to them, Why make you this ado, and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeps. (Mark 5: 39)
    And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleeps. (Luke 8: 52)
    Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death. (Psalm 13: 3)
    Lazarus. "These things said he: and after that he says unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. However Jesus spoke of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent you may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. ... " Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died." (John 11: 11 - 15, 21)
  • First Death. This is a temporary death. Everyone is raised to life from this death. While we are dead, we are asleep in the grave. Many teach that we go immediately to heaven or hell. But the Bible teaches that even in the time of Christ, David was still in the grave.
    "Men and brethren, let me freely speak to 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: but he says himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, sit on my right hand." (Acts 2: 29, 34)
    So David, the friend of God, had been dead for over 1000 years and he still has not ascended into heaven even after Christ had been resurrected.
  • Second Death (Last Death). The second death is eternal. This is what happens to those who will not live with God. They will not have eternal life.
  • Resurrection. This is the process by which God raises us up from the dead. When God raises the wicked, they are raised up with mortal bodies to face the judgment. However, when God raises the righteous He changes their bodies so that they can live forever.

    Reincarnation There is no endless cycle of death and life. We do not return to live life again as another human being or animal. And as it is appointed to men to die once, after this comes the judgment. (Hebrews 9: 27)

  • Reincarnation (Soul Fragmentation). This belief is not supported in the Bible. Reincarnation teaches that after we die the residue of our soul keeps coming back to life, as other humans or as other animals. The bible teaches that we are all guaranteed one life, then we face the judgment.
    And as it is appointed to men to die once, after this comes the judgment. So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (Hebrews 9: 27-28)
• The Home of the Dead. The previous discussion teaches us how we live again after death, but it does not tell us when it happens or where we were.
  • Grave (Sheol). The bible teaches us that we are asleep and unconscious in the grave when we die until the day of the resurrection. We do not go immediately to Heaven or Hell. (Acts 2: 29, 34)
    Our bodies become dust again and our unconscious spirit goes back to God. (Ecclesiastes 12: 7)
    By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground. Because from it you were taken. For you are dust and to dust you shall return. (Genesis 3: 19)
  • Heaven. Heaven is a place where the righteous go when they are resurrected at the Second Coming.
  • Hell. Hell is a place where the wicked go after they are resurrected and judged. In another lesson you will learn that Hell does not exist now, and when it does it will not be burning forever.

Resurrection
So far we have learned that all the dead, righteous and wicked, are asleep in their graves. They are unconscious and unaware of what is happening. They will wake up from this first death by a resurrection. The bible teaches that there are two different resurrections. The first resurrection is for the righteous only, and this occurs at the Second Coming. All the living wicked are killed at the Second Coming. The wicked dead remain dead, unaware of the historic events.
The second resurrection is for all the wicked and they will wake up after one thousand years at the third coming to face the judgment.

Second Coming	The Righteous Living			Reign with Christ		Third Coming	Righteous return to Earth				Heaven Eternal Life
	Righteous Dead		First Resurrection	Rapture	1000 Years			Second Resurrection	Armageddon
	All The Wicked remain dead						Judgment			Hell Fire	Ashes
Wicked Die	The First Death					The Wicked Resurrected ("The Rest of the Dead")				Second Death
The first death is a sleep from which everyone will wake up. The second death is eternal. There are two resurrections. The righteous dead will come up in the first resurrection. Then, after a thousand years the wicked will come up in the second resurrection to face the final judgment and the second death.

The First Resurrection Only the righteous will be resurrected at the Second Coming. This is the first resurrection. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5: 28-29)

The First Resurrection.
"Look, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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." (1 Corinthians 15: 51-52)
Paul is talking about the first resurrection which occurs at the Second Coming when Christ comes to get the righteous.

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: 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. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

"Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20: 6)

Isaiah 26 also describes the fate of the dead at the Second Coming.
The Wicked Dead at the Second Coming. The dead will not rise, the departed spirits will not rise; therefore You have punished and destroyed them, and You have wiped out all remembrance of them. (Isaiah 26: 14)
The Resurrection of the Righteous. Your dead will rise, their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for your dew is as the dew of the dawn, and the earth will give birth to the departed spirits. (Isaiah 26: 19)

This is the first resurrection, the resurrection of life. There are two main theories about the events of the first resurrection:

1. The visible rapture - all humans will see the event. This is the correct view.
2. The secret rapture - the righteous will disappear and the wicked will not see the event.

The Second Resurrection.
The Martyrs and Righteous. "And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead or their hand;
The First Resurrection. and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
The Second Resurrection. (But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.)
This is the first resurrection." (Revelation 20: 4-5)

The Second Resurrection The wicked dead, those who do not die In Christ, are not resurrected until the end of the 1000 years. All of them suffer the second death. The Martyrs and Saints 1000 Years The Rest of the Dead First Resurrection Second Resurrection

The first resurrection here refers to prior verses which talked about the righteous dead. After that, the "rest of the dead" come up in the second resurrection.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20: 12)

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15: 26)

Satan meets the wicked at this resurrection. He is weakened after 1000 years of desolation.
Satan Meets His Dead. Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come; It arouses for you all the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth. It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones. They will respond and say to you, "Even you have been made weak as we, you have become like us". (Isaiah 14: 9-10)

The Three Resurrections 1. Christ 2000+ Years 2. Righteous 1000 Years 3. Wicked First Fruits First Resurrection Second Resurrection

The Resurrection of the First Fruits.
The first and second resurrection are what we call the two general resurrections. But there is an exception. When Jesus died, many graves were opened and other people rose from the dead and started preaching in Jerusalem. (Matthew 27: 51-53). They were the first fruits. They are the evidence that God can and will resurrect the dead.
The Resurrection Order. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming. (1 Corinthians 15: 22-23)

Now the term "first fruits" does not mean the first in order. Lazarus and Moses were resurrected before Christ. It refers to the best of the group. Christ became the first of the fruits because His death and resurrection was the first that really mattered. If Christ was not resurrected, all humans would perish. Throughout the years God has chosen several humans to represent the people who would be in heaven. We all die once and the righteous are born twice.

• Moses. He represents the righteous who will be resurrected.
• Elijah. He and Enoch went to heaven without dying. He represents the righteous who are alive at the Second Coming. Technically those people receive their "first death" to sin by the ceremony of baptism.

The Second Death.
The righteous dead, do not suffer this "second death". We are told not to fear those who can put us into the "first death", but rather we are to fear the "second death". The second death is that final and eternal destruction from which there is no further resurrection.
In the second death, both the wicked and death itself will be destroyed forever in a lake of fire. Hell is the second death.

• Body and Soul Destroyed. The "soul" is not immortal. It will be destroyed in hell.
  "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10: 28)
• Satan is Destroyed. Satan is not in hell happily torturing people now. He will be thrown into hell.
  And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet were also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20: 10)
  » Who is in Charge of Hell? Some believe that Satan is in charge of death and hell. It is Christ who controls hell, not Satan. Christ has the power to destroy body and soul in hell, not Satan. Christ frees the captives of death.
  Possessor of the Keys. ... Do not be afraid, I am the first and the last, and the Living One; and I was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. (Revelation 1: 18-19)
  Hell was originally meant for Satan and his angels only. The wicked will share his inheritance.
  The Inheritance of Satan. Then He will say to those on His left, "Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25: 41)
• The Wicked are Destroyed. "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)
• Death and Hell Destroyed. "And death and hell were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whoever was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20: 14-15)
• One Chance for Evil. This experience will never be repeated. There is no recycling of evil or eternal coexistance of good and evil in balance.
  Wickedness Will End. Whatever you devise against the Lord, He will make a complete end of it. Affliction shall not rise up the second time. (Nahum 1: 9)
• Life Remains Forever. God will heal and restore everything to perfection.
  "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21: 4)
  This is when hell freezes over.

Cleansing From Death with the Water for Impurity
There are several laws about cleansing from death. Let us see how these are applied to the righteous, the wicked and the earth.

• Unclean Seven Days. The earth became defiled with death after the murder of Abel and his corpse and all the dead have since been buried in the earth. So the earth has been defiled by the dead for thousands of years. At the end of the seventh millennium after the first death, the earth will be cleansed by hell fire.
  The one who touches the corpse of any person shall be unclean for seven days. (Numbers 19: 11)
  » Unclean Until Evening. The one who touched a corpse can transfer this uncleanness to an object or person. They can become clean by the evening if they wash in water.
  So it shall be a perpetual statute for them. And he who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touches the water for impurity shall be unclean until evening.
  Furthermore, anything that the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and the person who touches it shall be unclean until evening." (Numbers 19: 21-22)
  When Jesus was buried He was placed in a new tomb that was not defiled by the dead. So He was not unclean for seven days because He did not touch the dead. After He rose from death Mary could not touch Him because she had become unclean for seven days after touching Him! Although He was clean, He had to fulfill all the laws of righteousness so she could not touch Him. He went to heaven in the evening.
  » Raising the Dead at the Crucifixion. Jesus sprinkled the water for impurity and some of the dead were raised.
• Water of Purification (Day 3 and 7). Contamination with death must be cleansed on two days.
  That one shall purify himself from uncleanness with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and then he will be clean; but if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean. (Numbers 19: 12)

  Sin	Death of Abel	1	2	3			4	5	6	7		8
  ˜ 130 Years		Unclean		3 (Third Day)			Cleansing (Day of Atonement)			Millennium (Seventh Day)		Clean

  • Cleansing from Sin. Jesus Christ came at the end of the third day to offer Himself and the Holy Spirit to cleanse us from the impurity of sin and the sentence of death. At that time the power of death was broken.
  • Cleansing from Death. At the very end of the seventh day, Jesus cleanses the earth from defilement of sin. At that time death and hell will be destroyed. Immortality is the result of this cleansing.
• Cleansing by Fire and Water. Everything that is to be cleaned must be washed in a special water for impurity. However, only those that can go through the fire must be put through the fire.
  everything that can stand the fire, you shall pass through the fire, and it shall be clean, but it shall be purified with water for impurity. But whatever cannot stand the fire you shall pass through the water. (Numbers 31: 23)
  The Holy Spirit is the source of the water for cleansing. He was sent by Jesus after His death. At the end of time, the wicked, the earth and the New Jerusalem will go through the fire. The wicked will not survive but the righteous are fire proof.

Contradictions Explained
There are some apparent contradictions based on the Bible and the testimony of some personal experiences.

Friday		Saturday	Sunday
	Cross	Buried	Raised	Paradise

• The Thief on the Cross.
  Friday. I say to you today you shall be with Me in paradise. (Luke 23: 43)
  On the cross Jesus said these words to the thief. The conclusion is that they would both be in heaven that day. That was Friday. But on Sunday, Jesus still had not gone to heaven.
  Sunday. Jesus said to her, "Do not touch me; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20: 17)
  The solution to the mystery can be found in the uninspired punctuation. The original language did not include punctuation, but the translators did. If you place a comma after the word "today" or before the word "today" then it has two different meanings.
  • I say unto you, today you will be with Me in paradise ... They would both be in heaven that day.
  • I say unto you today, you will be with Me in paradise ... Jesus makes a guarantee on that day.
  So this is more accurate : I say unto you today, you will be with Me in paradise the day after tomorrow.
• Believers Shall Never Die. At the death of Lazarus Jesus seemed to say that believers will never die.
  Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again".
  Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."
  The Dead. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; He who believes in Me will live even if he dies".
  The Living. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11: 23-26)
  Martha articulated the doctrine well. All believers will come to life on the last day. Jesus is not teaching that the believer will never die. Satan is the one who told Eve that lie.
  The serpent said to the woman, "you surely will not die". (Genesis 3: 4)
  Jesus is teaching about what will happen on the last day as Martha said. But He was also saying that since He is the power that causes life and resurrection, He can raise the dead before the last day, at any time.
  • Righteous Dead. ... He who believes in Me will live even if he dies. (John 11: 25)
    On the last day or at any time, for the righteous dead, Jesus is the resurrection. This verse clearly says that the believer can die, so the next verse could not possibly be saying that the believer can never die.
  • Righteous Living. On the last day or at any time, for the righteous living, Jesus is the Life.
  
  In addition, He is saying that the righteous living will not suffer the second death. The first death is like sleep, it is not permanent. Even the wicked will be resurrected from the first death. However, only the righteous will never die the second death because Jesus is the source of eternal life.
• Being with Christ (Out of Body).
  But I am hard pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for this is very much better. (Philippians 1: 23)
  Paul is not teaching that he immediately goes to heaven at death, but that after death the next conscious experience he will have is being with Christ. Therefore he will avoid all the pain of life during his death even if life means doing the work of Christ.
  The next verse is also the same idea, but in addition Paul is teaching that with the gift of the Holy Spirit faith is more important than sight. Or the spiritual experience ("being absent from the body") is more important than the physical "being in the body".
  ... while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
  ... prefer rather to be absent from the body and be at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5: 6, 8)
• The Lazarus Phenomenon : Near Death Experiences (Out of Body). Some people report floating above their bodies and seeing a bright light when they are at the point of death. Some report meeting the dead and some learn that all people go to heaven. There are no reports of consequences no matter what the current life style had been. There are at least three possible unrelated causes for this phenomenon.
  • Brain Chemistry. A change in brain function that is caused by the medication or the lack of oxygen. This theory is supported by the fact that drug users report the same phenomenon of being out of body or floating above their body and seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
    » No Brain Waves. Some believe that an experience after the instruments show no brain activity proves that it is not a brain malformation. This does not prove that the brain is not functioning.
    These crude instruments are based on statistical conclusions as to what we currently think the colors and signals in the brain usually mean. Better instruments might show previously undetected brain activity and better understanding might show what else constitutes measurable brain activity.
  • Satanic Attack. In this vulnerable medical state, Satan makes an attack. We suspect this because he takes the time to preach the same gospel that contradicts the bible. It is the same lie he told Eve. Everyone goes to heaven. There is no death. There is no problem with sin. However, the Bible says that you must even judge the message given by an angel by the written gospel.
    But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1: 8)
    » Scared Straight: Eternal Torture. With others the message is a contrast between heaven and eternal torture in hell. This is meant to present God as a torturer and they come back preaching this lie.
    » Unexplained Knowledge. Some report not only seeing objects in the room that their physical body is in but also objects in places outside the room where they have never been. This is not a wandering soul on flights of discovery. This can also be a Satanic attack by a being who knows what exists in other places.
  • Visions. In some cases it could be a vision from God to provide comfort in distress or warning. But this vision will not contradict the other written testimony about life and death and judgment.
  The Battle for the Soul. At the point of death we are vulnerable to the advanced technology of two invisible forces fighting for our allegiance. It is foolish to construct a theology based on unmeasurable events in the mind of a dying body. The written word is the testimony of God. It warns us not to consult with the dead. Certainly, do not construct your theology based on the testimony of the dead.
• Ghosts and Hauntings. We know that Satan can possess people and animals and probably objects. Jesus got rid of them through exorcism. For Him, the process took minutes not days or weeks or months. Satan can take the shape and form of any human being and he can mimic their voice. He can give information that you thought was secret because as an invisible watcher he saw and heard all your secrets. He has been alive for thousands of years, so he also knows the secrets of your grand parents.
  Deceitful Spirits. But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. (1 Timothy 4: 1)
  No Ghosts. When a cloud vanishes, it is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come up.
  No Haunted Houses.He will not return again to his house, nor will his place know him anymore. (Job 7: 9-10)
• Television Psychics. Most psychics are frauds who are experts at body language and dispensing useless information about love, jobs and money. But for those who are in league with the dark side, Satan can transmit the information he knows to people who communicate with the dead in defiance of God. But even with such an advantage, their information can be inaccurate. Because, the information is not coming from the dead. It is a deception.
• Recycling The Lies at the Fall of Adam and Eve. In the end, the forces of evil will join together with the church and state to annhilate the forces of good. This battle for the minds and hearts of the world will be based on the original propaganda message at the fall of Adam and Eve.
  • No Death. Jesus said that death is an enemy, yet the forces of evil are desperately trying to convey a contradictory message to the modern generation.
    "Death is not the end it is only the beginning".
    Death is the end of your chances to make a change before you face the final judgment. Only for the righteous will there be a chance of life and a new beginning after the Second Coming.
  • No Judgment. Satan is on a mission to convince you that there are no eternal consequences for your actions or decisions. There is only a bright light beyond which is the door to your greatest fantasies.
    "There is only love in the light, not judgment".
    And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. (Revelation 20: 12)
    The truth is, it is not as bad as you think. There is no eternal torture. There is love waiting for you, but you must accept it now. After death, everyone, both good and evil, waits in an unconscious sleep for the judgment. After death there is judgment for all. There is no "crossing over into the light" for the wicked.
  • No God but You. The serpent told Eve that if she received all knowledge of good and evil that she would be as God. Eastern religions such as Buddhism teach that after a soul reaches Nirvana, which is the state of perfect enlightenment or all knowledge, then they can proceed to the final stage of Parinirvana when they realize that the self is the goal. It basically teaches that they become gods.
• Purgatory. This is a doctrine unique to the Catholic church. The Bible does not support it. The support for this doctrine is found outside the Protestant old testament Canon which is equivalent to the Jewish canon.
  Islam also teaches the Zoroastrian belief of the existance of a purifying fire where all people must pass through before they enter paradise.
• Spirit Prison. This text is used to support the Mormon view of Spirit prisons and also the Catholic purgatory and the belief that Jesus preached to the dead when He was dead.
  
  The Spirit Resurrects the Dead Body. For Christ also died for sins, once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit. (1 Peter 3: 18)
  The Spirit Convicts the Dead Conscience. By which also He went and preached to the spirits in prison; who once were disobedient, when the patience of God waited in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which few, that is, eight persons were brought safely through the water. (1 Peter 3: 19-20)
  Death by Baptism. Corresponding to that baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers have been subjected to Him. 1 Peter 3: 21-22
  
  This is a testament to the work of the Holy Spirit. The symbolism of the cleansing of the Holy Spirit is water. The Spirit both washes away sin from the dead mind and resurrects the dead body.
  He saves us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3: 5)
  
  

  Captive Minds When victims are held captive, tortured, brain-washed and twisted by a tyrant, they begin to sympathize with the monster. This is the Stockholm symdrome. Our love for sin and self destruction can be explained by this phenomenon. We have been held captive for ransom by Satan and we have begun to identify with our tormenter and resent our heavenly Father. Our minds will be renewed when we realize that God has paid the ransom and freed us from prison and liberated our thinking.

  Verses 18, 21 and 22 are not ambiguous. Christ died unjustly for our sins. But the Holy Spirit resurrected Him. Just as Noah and his family were saved through water, we are also saved by water baptism. But not simply, the ceremony of being baptized by water. It is the baptism of the Spirit that washes sin from our conscience. Therefore, 1 Peter 4: 1-2 is accomplished. We are dead to sin and alive to the will of God. We are not dead in sin. So verse 6 concludes that the gospel is preached to the dead. That is those who are dead in sin that they may become dead to sin.
  
  Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourself also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
  For the Gospel has for this purpose been preached to the dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God. (1 Peter 4: 1-2, 6)
  
  So who are those spirits in prison?
  • The Wicked Dead. This is the Mormon and purgatory interpretation. These are the disembodied spirits of the dead. From verses 19 and 20, it seems that Christ went to preach to those who died in the Flood. So some evangelicals also teach that between the crucifixion and the resurrection Christ preached the Gospel to the dead. This understanding contradicts Hebrews 9: 27. There is only judgment after we die, not evangelism and conversion. Christ was resting in the grave during that time, not preaching.
  • The Wicked Living (Sinner). The verse does not say that He went and spoke to them after His resurrection. It says that He used the Holy Spirit that resurrected Him to also speak to the generation during the flood. Remember that Christ existed from the beginning.
    The same spirit who resurrected Christ also spoke to that wicked generation for 120 years while Noah preached. Only eight of these obeyed and escaped.
    Verse 19 implies that these "spirits in prison" are the living people before the flood, including Noah and his family! Using our definition of body, soul and spirit we see that the spirit of life is imprisoned in a body that is a slave to sin. God's method of regeneration is to appeal to our spirit or our conscience with His Holy Spirit.

    Living Sinner		Prison. The prison is our body that is a slave to sin. Spirit. The spirit is the breath of God through whom the Holy Spirit communicates. This spirit is trapped in the prison of a sinful body.
    	Sinful Body (Dust) + Spirit from God (Breath) = Spirit in Prison (Living Soul)

    
    The message from Peter and Paul is to kill the lusts of this body and to bring it under subjection to the Holy Spirit.
    
    Free Spirits. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. For such people the Father seeks to be His worshippers. (John 4: 23)

Warning
The overwhelming amount of evidence says that the dead are unconscious and asleep and that God forbids any attempt at communication with them. Since the dead cannot communicate with the living, the Bible forbids us to communicate with anyone who claims to be dead or with anyone who claims to communicate with the dead. This is because Satan will use this as a method to deceive you. Therefore, whether or not you believe that the dead are conscious or in heaven or hell or in your basement, the Bible still forbids you to contact them.
There shall not be found among you ... a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 18: 10-13)

But if the dead cannot communicate, then who is responsible for the ghosts and haunting and the ability of psychics to communicate with the dead? This is discussed in our lesson on the occult. The Bible teaches that Satan tries to deceive us with all power and signs and lying wonders.

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Study to show yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2: 15 Copyright     Updated : October 2009 Credits: Author: Laverna Patterson. Editor: Patterson (January 2008)