What happens at death?
How did God make man?
Genesis 2:7. “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 being”
Genesis 2:7. “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 being”
Answer: God made us from dust. OR...To create man, God formed his body from the dust of the earth and then breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. First God made man’s form, and then he gave it life.
What happens when a person dies?
Ecclesiastes 12:7. “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it”
What happens when a person dies?
Ecclesiastes 12:7. “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it”
What is the “spirit” that returns to God at death?
Job 27:3 KJV “The body without the spirit is dead” (James 2:26). “The spirit of God is in my nostrils”
Answer: The spirit that returns to God at death is the breath of life; the breath that God breathed into man’s nostrils to give him life returns to God. Nowhere in all of God’s book does the “spirit” has any life, wisdom, or feeling after a person dies. It is the “breath of life” and nothing more.
What is a "soul"?
Genesis 2:7 KJV. “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”
Answer: A soul is a living being. A soul is a combination of two things: body plus breath. A soul cannot exist unless body and breath are combined. God’s Word teaches that we are souls—not that we have souls.
Do souls die?
Job 27:3 KJV “The body without the spirit is dead” (James 2:26). “The spirit of God is in my nostrils”
Answer: The spirit that returns to God at death is the breath of life; the breath that God breathed into man’s nostrils to give him life returns to God. Nowhere in all of God’s book does the “spirit” has any life, wisdom, or feeling after a person dies. It is the “breath of life” and nothing more.
What is a "soul"?
Genesis 2:7 KJV. “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”
Answer: A soul is a living being. A soul is a combination of two things: body plus breath. A soul cannot exist unless body and breath are combined. God’s Word teaches that we are souls—not that we have souls.
Do souls die?
Ezekiel 18:20 KJV. “The soul that sins, it shall die”.
Revelation 16:3 KJV. “Every living soul died in the sea”
Answer:
According to God’s Word, souls do die! We are souls, and souls die. Man is mortal (Job 4:17). Only God is immortal (1 Timothy 6:15-16). The concept of an undying, immortal soul is not found in the Bible. The Bible teaches that souls are subject to death.
Do good people go to heaven when they die?
Revelation 16:3 KJV. “Every living soul died in the sea”
Answer:
According to God’s Word, souls do die! We are souls, and souls die. Man is mortal (Job 4:17). Only God is immortal (1 Timothy 6:15-16). The concept of an undying, immortal soul is not found in the Bible. The Bible teaches that souls are subject to death.
Do good people go to heaven when they die?
Martha told Jesus, (John11:39), that her brother, Lazarus, had been dead for four days. Then when Jesus cried out, “ Lazarus come forth”, he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes. (John 11:44). Obviously Lazarus had not gone to heaven, he was sleeping the sleep of death, in the grave.
“David … is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. … For David did not ascend into the heavens” (Acts 2:29, 34). “If I wait, the grave is mine house” (Job 17:13 KJV).
All who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth” (John 5:28-29).
Answer: No. People do not go to heaven or to hell at death. They don’t go anywhere but they wait in their graves until the resurrection. The resurrection happens at the second coming of Jesus.
How much does one know or comprehend after death?
“The living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun. … There is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6-10). “The dead do not praise the Lord” (Psalm 115:17).
“David … is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. … For David did not ascend into the heavens” (Acts 2:29, 34). “If I wait, the grave is mine house” (Job 17:13 KJV).
All who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth” (John 5:28-29).
Answer: No. People do not go to heaven or to hell at death. They don’t go anywhere but they wait in their graves until the resurrection. The resurrection happens at the second coming of Jesus.
How much does one know or comprehend after death?
“The living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun. … There is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6-10). “The dead do not praise the Lord” (Psalm 115:17).
Answer: God says that the dead know absolutely nothing!
But can’t the dead communicate with the living, and aren’t they aware of what the living are doing?
But can’t the dead communicate with the living, and aren’t they aware of what the living are doing?
“Man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep. … His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; they are brought low, and he does not perceive it” (Job 14:12-21). “Nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:6).
Answer: No. The dead cannot contact the living, nor do they know what the living are doing. They are dead. Their thoughts have perished (Psalm 146:4 KJV).
Jesus called the unconscious state of the dead “sleep” in John 11:11–14. How long will they sleep?
Job 14:12. “Man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more”
2 Peter 3:10. “The day of the Lord will come … in which the heavens will pass away”
Answer: The dead will sleep until the great day of the Lord at the end of the world. In death humans are totally unconscious, without activity or knowledge of any kind.
What happens to the righteous dead at the second coming of Christ?
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).
“The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout. … And the dead in Christ will rise. … And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). “We shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye … and the dead will be raised incorruptible. … For this corruptible must put on in-corruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:51–53).
Answer: No. The dead cannot contact the living, nor do they know what the living are doing. They are dead. Their thoughts have perished (Psalm 146:4 KJV).
Jesus called the unconscious state of the dead “sleep” in John 11:11–14. How long will they sleep?
Job 14:12. “Man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more”
2 Peter 3:10. “The day of the Lord will come … in which the heavens will pass away”
Answer: The dead will sleep until the great day of the Lord at the end of the world. In death humans are totally unconscious, without activity or knowledge of any kind.
What happens to the righteous dead at the second coming of Christ?
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).
“The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout. … And the dead in Christ will rise. … And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). “We shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye … and the dead will be raised incorruptible. … For this corruptible must put on in-corruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:51–53).
Answer: They will be rewarded. They will be raised, given immortal bodies, and caught up to meet the Lord in the air. There would be no purpose in a resurrection if people had been previously taken to heaven at death.
What was the devil’s first lie on Earth?
Genesis 3:4. “The serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die’
Revelation 12:9. “That serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan”
Answer: You will not die.
Why did the devil lie to Eve about death? Could this subject be more important than we think?
Answer: The devil’s lie that we will not die is one of the pillars of his false teachings. For thousands of years, he has worked powerful and deceptive miracles to trick people into thinking they are receiving messages from the spirits of the dead. (Examples: Magicians of Egypt--Exodus 7:11; Woman of Endor--1 Samuel 28:3–25; Sorcerers--Daniel 2:2.
A slave girl--Acts 16:16–18.) As in the past so today, and in the future, Satan will use sorcery to deceive the world (Revelation 18:23). Sorcery is another name for witchcraft or magic. Today’s sorcerers claim to receive power and wisdom from the spirits of the dead; but the information they receive comes from another source, the supernatural satanic agency of spiritualism. Today’s mediums are receiving messages from Satan and his host of evil angels, who have the power to impersonate dead loved ones of all ages. (2 Corinthians 11:13) This is nothing new. By this work they will deceive billions. Deuteronomy 18:10 to 12 makes it very clear, that this is an abomination. Those who believe the dead are alive, in any form, will be sorely deceived.
Do devils really work miracles?
Revelation 16:14, KJV. “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles”
Matthew 24:24. “False christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect”
What was the devil’s first lie on Earth?
Genesis 3:4. “The serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die’
Revelation 12:9. “That serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan”
Answer: You will not die.
Why did the devil lie to Eve about death? Could this subject be more important than we think?
Answer: The devil’s lie that we will not die is one of the pillars of his false teachings. For thousands of years, he has worked powerful and deceptive miracles to trick people into thinking they are receiving messages from the spirits of the dead. (Examples: Magicians of Egypt--Exodus 7:11; Woman of Endor--1 Samuel 28:3–25; Sorcerers--Daniel 2:2.
A slave girl--Acts 16:16–18.) As in the past so today, and in the future, Satan will use sorcery to deceive the world (Revelation 18:23). Sorcery is another name for witchcraft or magic. Today’s sorcerers claim to receive power and wisdom from the spirits of the dead; but the information they receive comes from another source, the supernatural satanic agency of spiritualism. Today’s mediums are receiving messages from Satan and his host of evil angels, who have the power to impersonate dead loved ones of all ages. (2 Corinthians 11:13) This is nothing new. By this work they will deceive billions. Deuteronomy 18:10 to 12 makes it very clear, that this is an abomination. Those who believe the dead are alive, in any form, will be sorely deceived.
Do devils really work miracles?
Revelation 16:14, KJV. “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles”
Matthew 24:24. “False christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect”
Answer: Yes indeed! Devils work incredibly convincing miracles (Revelation 13:13, 14). Satan will appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and, even more shocking, as Christ Himself (Matthew 24:23, 24). The universal feeling will be that Christ and His angels are leading out in a fantastic worldwide revival. The entire emphasis will seem so spiritual and be so supernatural that only God’s elect will not be deceived.
Why will God's people not be deceived?
Acts 17:11. “They received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so”
Isaiah 8:20. “If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them”
Answer: God’s people will know from their study of His book that the dead are dead, not alive. They will know that a “spirit” claiming to be a deceased loved one is really a devil! God’s people will reject all teachers and miracle workers who claim to receive special “light” or work miracles by contacting the spirits of the dead. And God’s people will likewise reject as dangerous and false all teachings that claim the dead are alive in any form, anywhere.
Back in Moses’ day, what did God command should be done to people who taught that the dead were alive?
Leviticus 20:27. “A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones”
Answer: God insisted that mediums and others with “familiar spirits” (who claimed to be able to contact the dead) should be stoned to death. This shows how God regards the false teaching that the dead are alive.
Will the righteous people who are raised in the resurrection ever die again?
Luke 20:35-36. “Those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead … nor can they die anymore”
Revelation 21:4. “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away”
Why will God's people not be deceived?
Acts 17:11. “They received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so”
Isaiah 8:20. “If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them”
Answer: God’s people will know from their study of His book that the dead are dead, not alive. They will know that a “spirit” claiming to be a deceased loved one is really a devil! God’s people will reject all teachers and miracle workers who claim to receive special “light” or work miracles by contacting the spirits of the dead. And God’s people will likewise reject as dangerous and false all teachings that claim the dead are alive in any form, anywhere.
Back in Moses’ day, what did God command should be done to people who taught that the dead were alive?
Leviticus 20:27. “A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones”
Answer: God insisted that mediums and others with “familiar spirits” (who claimed to be able to contact the dead) should be stoned to death. This shows how God regards the false teaching that the dead are alive.
Will the righteous people who are raised in the resurrection ever die again?
Luke 20:35-36. “Those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead … nor can they die anymore”
Revelation 21:4. “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away”
Answer: No! Death, sorrow, crying, and tragedy will never enter into God’s new kingdom.
“When this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’ ” (1 Corinthians 15:54).
Belief in reincarnation is expanding rapidly today. Is this teaching biblical?
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6. “The living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing. … Nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun”
Answer: Almost half the people on earth believe in reincarnation, a teaching that the soul never dies but is instead continually reborn in a different kind of body with each succeeding generation. This teaching, however, is contrary to Scripture. The Bible says after death a person: returns to dust (Psalms 104:29), knows nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5), possesses no mental powers (Psalms 146:4), has nothing to do with anything on earth (Ecclesiastes 9:6), does not live (2 Kings 20:1), waits in the grave (Job 17:13), and continues not (Job 14:1-2).
Satan's invented the teaching that the dead are alive. Reincarnation, channelling, communication with spirits, spirit worship, and the "undying soul" are all inventions of Satan. His one aim is to convince people that when you die you are not really dead. When people believe that the dead are alive, "spirits of devils, working miracles" (Revelation 16:14) and posing as spirits of the dead will be able to deceive and lead them astray virtually 100 percent of the time (Matthew 24:24).
Other Questions you may have below?
1. Didn’t the thief on the cross go to paradise with Christ the day He died ?
“When this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’ ” (1 Corinthians 15:54).
Belief in reincarnation is expanding rapidly today. Is this teaching biblical?
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6. “The living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing. … Nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun”
Answer: Almost half the people on earth believe in reincarnation, a teaching that the soul never dies but is instead continually reborn in a different kind of body with each succeeding generation. This teaching, however, is contrary to Scripture. The Bible says after death a person: returns to dust (Psalms 104:29), knows nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5), possesses no mental powers (Psalms 146:4), has nothing to do with anything on earth (Ecclesiastes 9:6), does not live (2 Kings 20:1), waits in the grave (Job 17:13), and continues not (Job 14:1-2).
Satan's invented the teaching that the dead are alive. Reincarnation, channelling, communication with spirits, spirit worship, and the "undying soul" are all inventions of Satan. His one aim is to convince people that when you die you are not really dead. When people believe that the dead are alive, "spirits of devils, working miracles" (Revelation 16:14) and posing as spirits of the dead will be able to deceive and lead them astray virtually 100 percent of the time (Matthew 24:24).
Other Questions you may have below?
1. Didn’t the thief on the cross go to paradise with Christ the day He died ?
No. In fact, on Sunday morning Jesus said to Mary, “I have not yet ascended to My Father” (John 20:17). This shows that Christ did not go to heaven at death. It’s important to note that the punctuation we see in the Bible today is not original, but added centuries later by translators. The comma in Luke 23:43 would be better placed after the word “today” rather than before, so that the passage reads, “Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise.” Another way to put this verse that makes sense in the immediate context is: “I’m telling you today—when it seems that I can save no one, when I Myself am being crucified as a criminal—I give you the assurance today, that you will be with me in Paradise.” Christ’s kingdom of glory will be set up at His second coming (Matthew 25:31), and the righteous of all ages will enter it at that time (1 Thessalonians 4:15–17) and not at death.
2. Doesn’t the Bible speak of the “undying,” “immortal” soul?
No. The undying, immortal soul is not mentioned in the Bible. The word “immortal” is found only once in the Bible, and it is in reference to God (1 Timothy 1:17).
3. At death the body returns to dust and the spirit (or breath) returns to God. But where does the soul go?
It goes nowhere. Instead, it simply ceases to exist. Two things must be combined to make a soul: body and breath. When the breath departs, the soul ceases to exist because it is a combination of two things. When you turn off a light, where does the light go? It doesn’t go anywhere. It just ceases to exist. Two things must combine to make a light: a bulb and electricity. Without the combination, a light is impossible. So with the soul; unless body and breath are combined, there can be no soul. There is no such thing as a “disembodied soul.”
4. Does the word “soul” ever mean anything other than a living being?
Yes. It may mean also (1) life itself, or (2) the mind, or intellect. No matter which meaning is intended, the soul is still a combination of two things (body and breath), and it ceases to exist at death.
5. Can you explain John 11:26: “Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die”?
This refers not to the first death, which all people die (Hebrews 9:27), but to the second death, which only the wicked die and from which there is no resurrection (Revelation 2:11; 21:8).
6. Matthew 10:28 says, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” Doesn’t this prove that the soul is undying?
2. Doesn’t the Bible speak of the “undying,” “immortal” soul?
No. The undying, immortal soul is not mentioned in the Bible. The word “immortal” is found only once in the Bible, and it is in reference to God (1 Timothy 1:17).
3. At death the body returns to dust and the spirit (or breath) returns to God. But where does the soul go?
It goes nowhere. Instead, it simply ceases to exist. Two things must be combined to make a soul: body and breath. When the breath departs, the soul ceases to exist because it is a combination of two things. When you turn off a light, where does the light go? It doesn’t go anywhere. It just ceases to exist. Two things must combine to make a light: a bulb and electricity. Without the combination, a light is impossible. So with the soul; unless body and breath are combined, there can be no soul. There is no such thing as a “disembodied soul.”
4. Does the word “soul” ever mean anything other than a living being?
Yes. It may mean also (1) life itself, or (2) the mind, or intellect. No matter which meaning is intended, the soul is still a combination of two things (body and breath), and it ceases to exist at death.
5. Can you explain John 11:26: “Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die”?
This refers not to the first death, which all people die (Hebrews 9:27), but to the second death, which only the wicked die and from which there is no resurrection (Revelation 2:11; 21:8).
6. Matthew 10:28 says, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” Doesn’t this prove that the soul is undying?
No. It proves the opposite. The last half of the same verse proves that souls do die. It says, “Rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” The word “soul” here means life and refers to eternal life, which is a gift (Romans 6:23) that will be given to the righteous at the last day (John 6:54). No one can take away the eternal life that God bestows. (See also Luke 12:4-5.)
7. Doesn’t 1 Peter 4:6 say the gospel was preached to dead people?
No. It says the gospel “was” preached to those who “are” dead. They are dead now, but the gospel “was” preached to them while they were yet living.
Those who die in Christ will rise again when Jesus returns.
1 Thessalonians 4:16. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
7. Doesn’t 1 Peter 4:6 say the gospel was preached to dead people?
No. It says the gospel “was” preached to those who “are” dead. They are dead now, but the gospel “was” preached to them while they were yet living.
Those who die in Christ will rise again when Jesus returns.
1 Thessalonians 4:16. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
John 11:23. Jesus said to her (Mary) Your brother will rise again. Mary said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day”.
John 14:3. I will come again and receive you to Myself, (Jesus) that where I am, there you may be also.
8. Doesn’t 1 Peter 3:18,19, say that Jesus after he was crucified was made alive by the spirit, and that he went and preached to spirits in prison ?
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison.
Flesh refers to Christ’s earthly existence and spirit to His existence as a divine being. The fact that Jesus died “in the flesh” did not mean the end of His existence. He was made alive again, although His human nature was more completely subordinated to His divine or “spirit” nature, than when he lived as a man among men. For further study see the parallel expressions in 1 Peter 4:6.
“By whom” is translated “by which” in the KJV. “By which” refers to the death and resurrection of Christ, as being preached; whereas “by whom” changes the meaning directing the reader to the spirit.
The phrase “preached to the spirits in prison,” these spirits can be considered living human beings, in fact the first part of verse 20 identifies them as people living on earth immediately prior to the flood. Figuratively “in prison” would refer to the spiritual state of the disobedient. (The antediluvians were in the prison house of sin; this was evidenced by the salvation of only 8 people despite the preaching of the gospel by Noah).
John 14:3. I will come again and receive you to Myself, (Jesus) that where I am, there you may be also.
8. Doesn’t 1 Peter 3:18,19, say that Jesus after he was crucified was made alive by the spirit, and that he went and preached to spirits in prison ?
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison.
Flesh refers to Christ’s earthly existence and spirit to His existence as a divine being. The fact that Jesus died “in the flesh” did not mean the end of His existence. He was made alive again, although His human nature was more completely subordinated to His divine or “spirit” nature, than when he lived as a man among men. For further study see the parallel expressions in 1 Peter 4:6.
“By whom” is translated “by which” in the KJV. “By which” refers to the death and resurrection of Christ, as being preached; whereas “by whom” changes the meaning directing the reader to the spirit.
The phrase “preached to the spirits in prison,” these spirits can be considered living human beings, in fact the first part of verse 20 identifies them as people living on earth immediately prior to the flood. Figuratively “in prison” would refer to the spiritual state of the disobedient. (The antediluvians were in the prison house of sin; this was evidenced by the salvation of only 8 people despite the preaching of the gospel by Noah).
