Death:
 

What do you believe happens when one dies?

Re: Death:
 

Stop breathing & heart stops & if one doesn't get put into the ground in a tiumely manner, the air quality goes south real quick!:happydance

Re: Death:
 

Seriously, I beleive that when one dies, they leave from the realm of time (our realm) & enter an eternal realm!
That is why John the Revelator could see those things as already happening.

Re: Death:
 

I don't know. I hope there is a heaven.

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You have doubts?

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Oh! This one is easy!

http://visualparadox.com/images/no_l...rossing640.jpg

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How can any of us "really" know what happens.

Re: Death:
 

Faith in the Word of God.

Re: Death:
 

Personally I believe you go where you are going until Judgement Day / reward day.

Jmo

Re: Death:
 

That's why I said "believe". :)

I believe that when one is at the edge of death, they can often peer into the spiritual plane. Doctors, hospice nurses, family members of the dying, etc. often report these kinds of things. However, the dying typically remain very quiet about these experiences because they bring great peace. For example, I read a story about an older man who was dying. He laid unresponsive for hours as family waited for him to pass. Eventually the nurse advised them to step outside into the hallway to give him space to “let go”. The nurse quietly re-entered the room and watched him for a moment while taking vitals. She saw his eyes flutter. She asked if he was awake. He said, “I’ve been awake for hours.”. She asked, “Why haven’t you said anything?” He said, “Because, I’m watching the movies.” She asked, “What movies?” He said, “I can see my wife… and when my eyes are closed… I can see the movie of my life.” I didn’t want to interrupt the movie.”

The dying often report seeing a review of their lives, the spirits of dead loved ones, and angels. Many claim to hear singing and music. Of course… some are not so comforting.

I believe these “near death experiences” are true.

So, when we’re dying, we may experience having one foot in this life… and the other in the spirit.

At the moment of death, I believe we will experience of sense of being “out of body”. I believe that we might be greeted by angels and/or the souls of loved ones. Or, we might find ourselves standing alone, yet experiencing a deep indescribable peace. This is where I believe we’ll find ourselves being “drawn” into “the light”… the very presence of God. I believe that, as we stand before God, we’ll have a review of our lives. This will not be a fearsome and terrible event for the believer. But rather a revealing, and yet loving, review of victories and failures. I believe that God will talk to us throughout this review. I believe that at certain points we will see and feel the emotions, and perhaps know the thoughts, of those we affected as our lives are reviewed. By and large… we’ll judge ourselves with God at our sides. I don’t believe we’ll be judged so much for our doctrinal orthodoxy, nor our works or religiosity. However, I do believe we’ll be judged on how much we “loved” others. We’ll discover that at the end of it all… God simply desired that we love Him with all our being… and that our love for Him be expressed as love towards others. When we have rightfully discerned our lives before God and God has counseled us (the redeemed)… we’ll enter into a brilliant spiritual world beyond description. It is here that we will serve God until our resurrection and the restitution of all things.

Re: Death:
 

The great weight of scripture indicates when you die you go to the grave which is called Hades/Sheol. There is only one human being at present who has been made immortal.

13 I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, 14 that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; 15 which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen. 1 Tim. 6:13-16

This is why the resurrection of Jesus was called "the good news" or gospel. Because there is hope of life after death.

Re: Death:
 

YES!!!
This is EXACTLY what I believe!
I hope they put a dollar coin underneath both of my eyelids.
I want to make sure that I have enough!

Re: Death:
 

Part 1

The Patriarch Job gaves us teaching on what happens at death.

14:10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? Job 14:10

That is the question men want answered. When a man dies where is he?

14:12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
14:13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, (Sheol) that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! Job 14:12-13

Job gives the answer of course inspired by the Holy Ghost for our benefit. He says the man that dies lies down and sleeps in Sheol. Job teaches that Sheol is a place where the dead sleep.

If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. Job 14:14-15

Note when Job speaks about his death he uses the words "I" and "me". He never thought in terms this was just concerning his body but rather HIMSELF.

He never asks "Where will a mans BODY be". He asks if A MAN die where will HE be.

So we see he says that men lie down and sleep (metaphor for death) until their change comes.

For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living. Job 30:23

It is appointed for men to die. He knew there was a house waiting there in Sheol for all the dead.

Note the imagery concerning where he believed HE HIMSELF would be going at death.

17:13 If I wait, the grave (Sheol) is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
17:14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
17:15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
17:16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit (Sheol), when our rest together is in the dust. Job 17:13-16

Job taught that when a man is in Sheol he makes his bed in darkness. Obviously the bed is not literal but what does a man do with a bed? HE SLEEPS.

Job is instructing us about what happens when a man dies. He sleeps in Sheol, the grave. They go to the bars of the pit which is again also there Sheol. So keep in mind that Jesus said the gates of Sheol/Hades would not prevail against the Church!

Re: Death:
 

Part 2

So what we get is a symbolic picture of what happens when a man dies. He goes to Sheol/Hades. This is like what we would consider the common grave of the dead. A place where men are held by spiritual bars or we might say "gates".

This is where we get the phrase "the gates of hades". Once there men sleep the sleep of death symbolized by Job saying his bed was there and he would sleep together with others in THE DUST. So obviously Sheol/Hades is in the ground.

Job expected to be there until his CHANGE came. Any idea when that might be?

He said when a man lies down to sleep there he will rise no more until the Heavens be no more. When might that be?

6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Rev. 6:12-17

Indeed John saw the Heaven departing away when the day of the Lord finally comes! Then will be the time when men can rise again out of death.

Job said he would be in Sheol until his change came.

19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Job 19:25-26

So the Holy Ghost was showing through Job that his change would come on the day Jesus returns to the Earth!

What change was Job referring to? Was it not the change from mortal to immortal? From corruption to incorruption? Again Job is pointing us to the time of Jesus coming when he will first things first raise the dead!

Re: Death:
 

Part 3

So Job asked:

If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Job 14:14

We have seen that Job taught his change would come when his redeemer would stand on the Earth at the last day.

Paul adds more detail.

15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,15:52 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.
15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Cor. 15:50-53

In his teaching on resurrection of the dead Paul sounds much like Job. This is the event Job had been waiting for. Now he could be set free from the gates of Sheol/Hades!

17:13 If I wait, the grave (Sheol) is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
17:14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
17:15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
17:16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit (Sheol), when our rest together is in the dust. Job 17:13-16

What is the hope Job spoke of? Was it not to be raised from the dead? Was it not to be set free from the bars of the pit which was Sheol/Hades?

Job taught that all went to this place at death. They slept there together in the dust until the time of their change. They were being held captive by the gates of Sheol/Hades.

Yet our redeemer who Job prophesied would stand on the Earth on the latter day said:


And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell (Hades/Sheol) shall not prevail against it. Matt:16:18

Paul taught the resurrection was the hope of the believer.

24:14 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:
24:15 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. Acts 24:14-15

Job asked where was his hope? Was it that when he died he would automatically have immortality, eternal life?

No rather Paul explained the believers hope in in the resurrection of the dead being performed by our redeemer Jesus Christ when he stands on the Earth at the latter day just as Job prophesied!

One final thought.

It is commonly taught nowadays that Jesus took all the "souls" out of Sheol/Hades when he went back to Heaven and now whenever one dies his soul goes straight to Heaven.

Note what Paul said though in his resurrection teaching.

15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,15:52 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.
15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave (Sheol/Hades) , where is thy victory?

If one went straight to Heaven as an immortal soul at death why is Paul saying that AT THE RESURRECTION then will be fulfilled the truth that death is swallowed up in victory?

Why does Paul ONLY THEN ask where is the victory of Sheol/Hades?

Obviously the saints who died were still there! They were still in Sheol/Hades that is THE GRAVE until the resurrection just like Job said was the case.

Then Jesus words will be fulfilled that the "gates of Sheol/Hades will not prevail against his Church"!

They will come forth from corruption to incorruption and from mortal to immortal. They will have life instead of death!

So according to Paul until the resurrection at the last day Sheol/Hades still had the victory against the saints. But on that day Jesus himself Jobs and our reddemer will stand on the Earth and will by his authority as the firstborn of the dead use the keys in his ownership of Sheol/Hades to unlock those bars Job taught us about and set his people free from death!

1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell (Sheol/Hades) and of death. Rev. 1:17-18

So Jesus has not as of yet used those keys and unlocked those gates. But be patient he is coming!

Re: Death:
 

What I have experienced in personal relationship here on earth with the Lord lets me know that whatever waits on the other side of this life will be beyond any beautiful experience I've ever had here on earth, and that alone gives me hope. Whether we sleep, or whether we taken on spiritual heavenly bodies at the time we cross over, makes no difference to me, all I know is that whatever is there... is better than anything I've experienced with the Lord here on earth. And that is enough for me.

Re: Death:
 

:thumbsup

Re: Death:
 

Anyone remember this song?

Heaven is better than this, oh my what joy & bliss.
Walk those shiny streets of Gold,
In that land where we'll never grow old.
Heaven is better than this, oh my what joy & bliss.
I like Pentecostal meetings too, but Heaven is better than this!:thumbsup

Re: Death:
 

I've had people tell me things about the "other side".

Some would say it was beautiful "over there". Some would see dead loved ones.

One man, who was resuscitated, said he was in a horrible place.

I once walked into a hospital room to treat a patient. She told me she was seeing ghosts (she called them "ghostes") all night. I asked her if she knew the people and she said no.

My friend had an angel stay with her in her hospital room just days before her death. The angel told her that she was going to take her home. I felt comforted when I heard that because we had some talks about dying. She said she did not fear death, but she feared what she would have to go through to pass over to the other side. The angel made it easy for her. Angels are sent by God, I believe.

I have several stories that people have told me, some are incredible. I'd rather not post them because the stories they have told me are close to my heart. Some would try to explain them away. I believe that they reported just what they saw.

My own son saw an angel sitting outside his bedroom door watching over him. The angel walked over to him and touched him, rubbing his legs and he went back to sleep.

Re: Death:
 

Hi, AYR! Ones eyes have to change to see those, indeed.
...but it should also be noted that our definition of die is not God's def, and Scripture also relates this more relevant def of 'die,' as walking dead.

"The day of a man's death is better than the day of his birth," commentaries aside, might be better understood at face value, however.

Re: Death:
 

Proof texting and heresy. The passage must be put into context...

I Timothy 6:11-16 (ESV)
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before[d] Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

The subject is the risen Christ (who is also God). He alone is no longer subject to death. Why? Because He is risen from the dead. This has nothing to do with the afterlife.

Re: Death:
 

Wonderful testimony.

Re: Death:
 

Michael... soul sleep and annhilationism is egregious error, heresy.

Oh Michael, what will you do when you draw your final breath and find yourself aware and subject to God's judgment? Will you demand that he put you back to sleep? I tell you... Jesus told the theif, "THIS DAY", with regards to being in Paradise. Paul said to be absent from the body (note... ABSENT FROM THE BODY) is to be present with the Lord. John saw the SOULS of those martyred pleading for justice in the Revelation.

All of the verses you have given... and you're only sticking to a single narrow context that doesn't allow for any other meaning.

And... this from a man who believes we must live absolutely sinless to be saved... Pitiful.

Re: Death:
 

Quite the contrary there is far more scripture that teaches THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD than "immortal soul".

Resurrection of the dead is a FOUNDATION DOCTRINE of Hebrews chapter 6. Paul does not frame eternal life apart from it.

The Apostle (knowing full well Jesus teaching) mentions Hades ONE TIME.

And that one time is declared the time when Christians are RESURRECTED FROM IT.

In an overall discussion , not mere "sound bites" it is revealed just how fragile and taken out of context "immortal soul" is.

You brush aside the three part study I presented as PROOF TEXTING.

We have now gone SO FAR from knowing how to teach and understand scripture that rightly dividing the word of truth is reduced to being called "proof texting".

The truth is that in all cases the weak, fragile doctrine of immortal soul can ONLY STAND by always qualifying your position by inserting the idea that the resurrection of THE BODY is something different than the granting of eternal life and immortality.

Re: Death:
 

The man who believes we must be perfect even as the Father is perfect is named Yeshua HaMashiah. Read Matt. 5:48 and allow him the risen Lord to speak!

I am very content to be in his company and accept his teaching come what may. That has been my passion since Feb. 15 1974. What men think about my walk has never meant anything to me.

Now what YESHUA thinks.......THAT is very serious to me. So while you rush to put me in Gehenna I will continue to dwell in him even in the secret place of the most high.

I will do whatever I can to bring forth New Testament restoration. I have no other purpose for walking around on this planet.

Re: Death:
 

The subject is Christ, yes. But we are told HE ONLY IS IMMORTAL.

That should be powerful proof that no one else is. Think about it. He ALONE has IMMORTALITY. That means no one else does.

That verse proves that Paul understood the parables and visions as needing to be reconciled to the plain teaching not the other way around. He knew the parable of Lazarus and the rich man was just an illustration concerning eternal life after death and not that Yeshua was now teaching something as doctrine that would contradict the teaching given in the OT.

After all he would have not been able to say Yeshua ONLY has immortality if Abraham and the beggar, and the thief on the cross also had it.

Re: Death:
 

He only is immortal because we are yet subject to death and dying. He is already glorified. This has nothing to do with the afterlife.

Old Testament was nothing by types and shadows. It wasn't a complete revelation. What Christ indicated is far more detailed, as expected, because He is God.

Also, the Pharisees, and most mainstream Jews, believed in the afterlife long before Christ's birth. Yet Jesus never rebukes them for such a false belief. Instead, Christ's lesson concerning Lazarus and the rich man, in addition to Christ promising the thief on the cross Paradise that very day, all indicate that He two proclaimed life after death. Add to this Paul's statement regarding being ABSENT from the body being PRESENT with the Lord. And... John's vision of the SOULS of martyred believers before the throne in the Revelation.

Not so. Here's why... Jesus has already entered the eternal glorified state. No one else has as of yet. Those who have passed on are in a state of death, not immortality. Those of us who are alive are currently subject to death, we are not immortal. However, after the Second Coming, we all shall be resurrected and glorified, like Christ. In that day, we will be like Him... immortal... alive bodily... yet no longer subject to death or dying. Until that day, He alone is currently immortal.

Re: Death:
 

I haven't put you in Gehenna brother Michael. I'm just pointing out blatant error. :)

Re: Death:
 

But wouldn't death be just like sleep? The same way that if you were in a coma for years and woke up, you'll probably think that it was the same day. Or if you were sick and was sleep for 3 days and awoke you won't automatically know how long that you have been asleep. By the same token, when you die, and have been dead for thousands of years, and arise from the dead you won't know how long that you have been gone, but it'll feel like just a moment, as if you're in that same day.

This is what Jesus meant when He told the thief that he'll see him that day in paradise. Anyway, Jesus didn't even carry that body back up to heaven that same day himself.

Re: Death:
 

Exactly. It will be as in "a moment in the twinlking of an eye".

Re: Death:
 

What? If the dead were alive they would be immortal. That IS the point.

Well yes thats the truth. The dead are dead.

Re: Death:
 

Aquila,

There are also FOUNDATIONS in the OT like the teaching of one God. This works the same way.

You are SOOO right about before Christ their understanding of the afterlife was very small. The clearest teaching on it was concerning the resurrection in Dan. 12. It was kind of hidden in the midst of the scriptures.

Lets really explore that idea.

9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began , 10But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 2 Tim.

Before the resurrection of Jesus life and immortality was obscured. It was not understood. The Old Testament never gives any teaching that people died and yet they were still alive in their "immortal soul". So people speculated. They borrowed teachings from the religons of their pagan neighbors.

But when Jesus came and ROSE FROM THE DEAD it was THEN that life and immortality CAME TO LIGHT!

Before then it was mere speculation.

So he brought life and immortality to light THROUGH THE GOSPEL!

This is so HUGE!

What is the gospel?

1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received , and where in ye stand ; 2By which also ye are saved , if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received , how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4 And that he was buried , and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Cor. 15:1-4

See the point? The gospel "good news" was that JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD! My friends the good news is the dead can live again! They can be made immortal!

That fact was never fully brought to life until then. And when this happened it was not about Yeshuas spirit or his soul going off to live in Heaven apart from his bodily presence.

When one speaks of the resurrection as the "bodily resurrection" thats the only kind there is. When Yeshuas body arose HE AROSE. He was rising again from the dead and thats what Paul called LIFE AND IMMORTALITY!

So to Yeshua, Paul and whoever represented him when they spoke of immortality it was never apart from the resurrection of the dead.

All the speculations that came before Christs resurrection were false. They were fictitious. The pagans always promoted the idea that once a man died his soul went into another life.

The Apostle Paul being led of Yeshua himself writes that men were in darkness concerning life and immortality until the RESURRECTION OF YESHUA from the dead.

If "immortal soul" were true IT would be the gospel! If we died and were suddenly in Heaven that certainly would be good news. But friends that IS NOT the good news taught by the Apostles.

Their gospel was that men could live again after they had been dead and Yeshua was the proof of it! His example was NOT that we die and straightway go to Heaven but that God raises people up from death.

So the gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news that HE WAS THE FIRST TO RISE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD.

And that if we obey the gospel WE ALSO will gain eternal life/immortality.

This entire chapter of 1 Cor. 15 is about what? THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD!

Why is that so crucial? Because there is no whole chapter of details concerning our immortal soul. No the gospel is about the RESURRECTION from the state of death. Thats why it is one of the foundation doctrines of Christianity and "immortal soul is not.

Re: Death:
 

I would agree with Michael as to the fact that through Christ sinless perfection is both possible and commanded of Christians but I would agree with Aquila that soul sleep and annihalationism are both false doctrines.

Re: Death:
 

Matthew 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

John 8:53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Very strong scriptures against the doctrine of either soul sleep or annilationism.

Re: Death:
 

There is more to you than just your body.

Paul spoke of being "absent from the body" and being "present with the Lord".

2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

John speaks of souls of martyred believers before the throne in Heaven:

Revelation 6:9
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

On the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus was visited by both Moses and Elijah:

Mark 9:1-4
1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

When Jonah decended into "hell" (the grave) he was conscious and was able to see the bottom of the ocean, oceanic mountains, etc... things no one would be able to see in the darkness of the ocean's depths... also things no one who was "asleep". It was an "out of body" experience...

Jonah 2:1-6
1 Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly,
2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.

If in death people merely "sleep" as in a "coma"... who did Jesus preach to upon decending into Hell???

1 Peter 3:18-20
King James Version (KJV)
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Jesus told the thief...

Luke 23:43
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, TO DAY shalt thou be with me in paradise.

I know your answer is "Awww... well... Jesus didn't literally mean that very day." A plain reading of Scripture would indicate that... He did. Even Stephen saw a vision of Christ at the time of his death... what did Stephen say...

Acts 7:58-60
King James Version (KJV)
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen prayed that his spirit be received by Jesus. That which departs from the body ("absent from the body" as Paul said) then becomes present with the Lord (as Paul said).

We have to think categorically. Man is body, soul, and spirit. The body "sleeps". It is "lifeless"... void of spirit. The soul/spirit of a man is "absent" (Paul's own words) from the body upon death... and is "present" (Paul's own words again) with the Lord.

So with regards to our physical being... the body sleeps, resting in the dust, awaiting resurrection. The soul/spirit leaves the body to be present with the Lord.

Denying this is absolutely rediculous. And, it only demonstrates the self centered identity crisis of a person who isn't sold out to Scripture.... but rather prides themselves on a heresy to maintain their individuality.

Surrender... just believe the Bible.

Re: Death:
 

Immortality means... not being subject to death. The dead are in a state of death... not immortality.

And the "dead" are absent from the body and present with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Re: Death:
 

Those who have no faith and only rely upon that which they can see... life in the body... don't believe in a conscious reality that leaves the body to be present with the Lord upon death. Therefore, they embrace soul sleep doctrine. Sadly... this doctrine only focuses upon specific verses and specific interpretations of those verses and disregards all other verses to the contrary by saying, "Yes, that's what he said... but not what he meant."

They also fail to think categorically. While yes, the body sleeps, resting in the dust... the spirit/soul of a man is present with God. The brain experiences sleep... the soul experiences paradise. Therefore in one sense... my body would be sleeping... but my soul would be rejoicing in the Father's presence. Therefore... I could say that I slept... I could also say that I was present with God... all at the same time.

Paul wrote...

2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

If upon death, we are "asleep" or in a "coma" like state with nothing passing on into what many call "the afterlife"... in what sense are we "absent" from the body??? In what sense are we "present" with the Lord??? Advocates of soul sleep cannot give any meaningful answers to these questions.

Re: Death:
 

So the people who advocate this Immortal soul doctrine, are you saying that our body is going to be in the dust, but our souls will be in heaven/hell? So what happens later on when people go through the White Throne Judgement and God judges people according to the deeds done in their body?

Is God going to then take those souls out of heaven/hell and place them back into their bodies, then judge them, then quicken and place their bodies along with their souls back into heaven/hell again, but only now with a body?

Do God judge everyone as soon as they die, and place them where ever they're to be in the afterlife? Then if he do, what's the point of the White Throne Judgement, if they are already placed into where they're to be as soon as they die?

Re: Death:
 

Marie, I don't have all the answers, but I can share what I think in accordance to what I've studied.

Yes.

When one is arrested they are arraignmened. They go before the court and charges are brought against them. Then they are often incarcerated until trial. At some future date they face trial and the case is decided.

When one dies, they are judged for the life they've lived. If saved, they enter into God's presence until the resurrection. If unsaved, they are confronted with their sin and unbelief. Then they are condemned to Hell where they await the resurrection and final judgment. After the resurrection, at the final judgment, their eternal fate is officially decided. The condemned are cast into the lake of fire. The resurrected saints of God enter the New Jerusalem.

The current state of Hell isn't the same thing as the eternal Hell better known as the Lake of Fire.

Re: Death:
 

Very good point and well said.