After Death, then what?
Death is a subject that many people are afraid to talk about. There are many things unknown about death. There are conflicting ideas and misconceptions about death and dying. To find answers, we have to turn to something we know is true – the Bible. The Bible cannot contradict itself; otherwise, it would not be the Word of God.
God is perfect, immortal, and cannot lie. God hates lying. Proverbs 6:16-17
Is the Bible true or does it contradict itself? From what is taught in most churches today, one could easily come to the conclusion that it is full of contradictions.
Maybe that is why so many people have no desire to really study God’s Word and understand Him better. There are many preachers, pastors, teachers, and writers today that are incorrect in their theology concerning death and what happens to people after they die.
Death began to take place after the fall of Adam and Eve into sin in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2:17 The curse of sin passed onto all the human race. Romans 5:12, Ezekiel 18:4, Hebrews 9:27
Everyone knows they are going to die. Ecclesiastes 9:5 Jesus Christ came into this world to give His life, shed His blood, to save everyone, anyone, and whosoever would believe and obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ. John 3:16
Jesus died for every human life; past, present, and future. He stood in their place at God’s judgment and died for whosoever would believe and obey. Sin requires death, but Jesus gives life. Romans 6:23
What about people who are not born again and have not obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What will happen to them when they die? Are their souls immortal?
No, the soul of man is not immortal; it will die. It is only through the Gospel (death, burial, and resurrection) of Jesus Christ that we can receive immortality or eternal life. Acts 2:37-39, 1 Timothy 1:10, 1 John 5:13, John 6:47
God will destroy the soul. Matthew 10:28 For the born-again believer, Hell and spiritual death have been abolished. Revelation 20:14
If you have only been born once (physically), you will die twice. The second death is the death of the soul which is spiritual death. When the person who has not been born again dies, it is at physical death that you go to God’s judgment.
There is no waiting in the grave for judgment; with physical death there is judgment of God. The judgment of God is everlasting. It is eternal, not in duration, but rather in its results. Hell was never a physical lake of fire. Hell or “sheol” Strong's H#7585 was always a holding place for the dead until the resurrection occurred.
The actual death of the soul did not occur until the White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11.
This White Throne Judgment was set up over 2,000 years ago in the year AD 70 at the end of the Old Covenant world or age. It was then that the dead began to be judged.
The Scriptures mentions the dead that were to be judged for the first time at the White Throne Judgment. Revelation 20:12-14 Whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life will be judged by the Lord. Revelation 20:15, Hebrews 12:29
Jesus said without being born again, you cannot enter God’s Spiritual Kingdom and receive eternal life. John 3:3,5,7
What was required then is still required today. It will never change. Galatians 1:8-9
What will happen to people who have been born again according to Acts 2:38 when they physically die?
The Bible says that physical death will happen to all people. Hebrews 9:27 It is at physical death that we will receive or inherit a new glorified body.
This glorified body will live forever. John 11:25-26 Obedience to the Gospel brings Eternal Life. John 6:47, John 8:51, Romans 6:23
At physical death, we will receive a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1,8
When Adam sinned in the beginning, he lost spiritual life. When Jesus came, he returned what Adam lost that day in the garden. Now through the Gospel, we have been given spiritual life again.
When we were baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, all sin was washed away. It was a watery grave or burial that happened. When we received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, we received the resurrection life.
Now spiritual death has been defeated. Now Christians don’t die! Revelation 21:4 Flesh and blood cannot enter God’s spiritual realm, but at death, we SHALL! 1 Corinthians 15:50
