When You Die...

[Aquila]

What happens when we die? What do we expect with regards to Heaven's reality? Here are a few of my thoughts...

Angels Escort the Soul to Heaven - Luke 16:22

When a child of God dies, angels might be found escorting their soul to Heaven.

The Ladder to Heaven - Genesis 28:12

The soul might see a "ladder" leading to Heaven.

The Tunnel Leading to the Light - John 8:12; I John 1:5

A soul might see a tunnel that leads to "the Light".

The Road to Heaven – Isaiah 53:8

A soul might see a road before them that leads to Heaven.

Door to Heaven – Revelation 4:1

One might see a door before them that leads to Heaven.

Life Review - Matthew 12:36-37; Luke 12:2-3; John 5:22 (Jesus is judge);

The soul will encounter a life review wherein their actions and motives are revealed and judged.

Gan Eden (Garden of God/Eden of God/Paradise) – Isaiah 51:3; Ezekiel 28:13

The redeemed find themselves standing in a beautiful and lush garden paradise wherein they are greeted by the souls of family, friends, and loved ones.

The Gates of Pearl – Revelation 21:21

The soul will be brought to the city and see gates of pearl.

Heavenly City (New Jerusalem) – Revelation 21:9-27

The soul will behold a city with a beauty that surpasses all other cities.

Throne, River, Garden, 24 Elders, Tree of Life in Heaven – Revelation 4:4; Revelation 22:1-5;

The soul will see the Throne of God, the river of life, a beautiful garden, the tree of life, all in God's Hevenly throne room.

Time in Heaven - Revelation 6:10; 2 Peter 3:8; Revelation 1:8

There will be a sense of time in Heaven, although Heaven exists outside of time and space.

Door to Gehenna Before the Throne – Revelation 14:10-11

The door to Gehenna is before the very throne of God.

Thoughts?

[seekerman]

I think a tunnel with light at the end, met by angelic beings and loved ones, ushered into the presence of Jesus and God, probably a life review.

All in all, a pretty nice place to be.

[Lafon]

Why do so many find it difficult to believe the truthfulness of the words which Solomon recorded in Ecclesiastes 9:4-6 concerning the intermediate state of reality which the soul experiences following the death of their physical body?

"For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
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."

At death, when God withdraws the 'breath of life' from man's physical body, the eternal, invisible soul that is resident therein immediately enters into what might rightly be called a 'suspended state of animation,' which the Bible refers to as 'sleep.' The soul will remain in this inanimate, non-living condition of reality until it is 'quickened' (made alive again, or awakened) at that future moment of the resurrection of the dead.

There's much more that could be stated concerning this important matter, but there should be no doubt that the dead are NOT aware (i.e., awake) following the death of the body in which they dwell. Indeed, the dead are not even aware that they have experienced death! To suggest otherwise is to disregard the veracity of Solomon's inspired words about the matter.

[Titus2woman]

Uh-oh... another contradiction...

[Michael The Disciple]

When one dies they are dead. The Bible metaphor is they are "asleep". That's why THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD is such an important foundation doctrine. Apart from the resurrection of the dead Paul said forget being a Christian. Party. Have a good time in the world.

32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink ; for to morrow we die . 1 Cor. 15:32

Paul ties our eternal life to the resurrection of the dead. Like most doctrines if one studies them in a shallow way they come up with a wrong understanding.

Look carefully at the foundation teachings of Christ.

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Heb. 6:1-2

Note that NOWHERE is there a doctrine of eternal life or immortality for a Christian EXCEPT for the resurrection of the dead!

That's why the Apostles taught the new believers and the old that THEIR HOPE was in the resurrection of the dead.

14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow , that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Acts 24:14-16

So Paul as a representative, apostle of Christ was not teaching anyone as soon as they died they instantly got eternal life, immortality. Rather it would be granted to them at the resurrection of the dead.

Hope that helps!

[Aquila]

Michael... we've talked about this before. You hold to JW heresy, Soul Sleep. I don't. You know that. The problem is a failure for you to be able to think categorically. You don't see distinctions in being or states of being. You can't fathom how someone's body can be dead without thought or momory... yet their soul be present with the LORD having a conscious reality. Until you can think on multiple levels at once... you'll continue to believe this error called soul sleep.

Hey... how can you explain the countless stories of people who were clinically dead upon emergency medicals arrival... who can explain who was there, what people were wearing, and what the medics did and even said??? They describe being consciously aware of themselves, aware that they were out of body, and looking down at the scene as an observer???

Are you calling all of these men and women liars???

Angels are spiritual beings that exist without an earthly body. Are you saying that it's impossible to have a conscious reality outside of having a human body? That's a bit materalistic in thinking. Not to mention, your description of death equates you to the basic teachings of Christian humanism, especially with regards to how it views death.

[Aquila]

In the Gospels we read...

Matthew 17:3
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Now here's the kicker... Moses wasn't translated or raised from the dead. Moses was buried. And yet we see Moses standing here speaking to Christ.

Not to mention... Elijah wasn't translated to Heaven as some suppose. He died as all men do. Consider the details of this article:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Did-Elijah...th?&id=3085984

So we have two "dead" men appearing to Christ as living disembodied souls.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Lafon

Why do so many find it difficult to believe the truthfulness of the words which Solomon recorded in Ecclesiastes 9:4-6 concerning the intermediate state of reality which the soul experiences following the death of their physical body?

"For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
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."

At death, when God withdraws the 'breath of life' from man's physical body, the eternal, invisible soul that is resident therein immediately enters into what might rightly be called a 'suspended state of animation,' which the Bible refers to as 'sleep.' The soul will remain in this inanimate, non-living condition of reality until it is 'quickened' (made alive again, or awakened) at that future moment of the resurrection of the dead.

There's much more that could be stated concerning this important matter, but there should be no doubt that the dead are NOT aware (i.e., awake) following the death of the body in which they dwell. Indeed, the dead are not even aware that they have experienced death! To suggest otherwise is to disregard the veracity of Solomon's inspired words about the matter.

Failure to use categorical logic.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

Uh-oh... another contradiction...

Not a contradiction if categorical logic is employed.

With regards to a person's body, we can say that they are lifeless and without thought or reason in the grave where they are buried.

Now, the soul may be experiencing a conscious reality in Heaven or Hell while the body lays lifeless and without consciousness.

Categorical logic. The categories here are body and soul. When a distinction is made... we have no contradictions.

[Michael The Disciple]

Hey... how can you explain the countless stories of people who were clinically dead upon emergency medicals arrival... who can explain who was there, what people were wearing, and what the medics did and even said??? They describe being consciously aware of themselves, aware that they were out of body, and looking down at the scene as an observer???

Are you calling all of these men and women liars???

Apples and Oranges. I never said there cant be temporary resurrections. They happened in scripture. They could happen today.

What scripture teaches is that when one actually dies (unless they are temporarily resurrected for Gods purpose) they are no longer alive.