S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The existence of life after death is a universal question. Job speaks for all of us by stating, "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; ...

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July 01 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

George Delmindo Supporter

This is one tough question that has put great thinkers in all ages to speculate on the question. No one has ever really proved to himself that there is indeed life after death by coming back from the dead. There are stories of people we've heard or read that have experienced death and came back to life but they can be considered as near death experiences.They are not really dead.

The Bible records that there is life after death. And that there is one man who has overcome death. He has been dead for three days and came back to life never to die again. This of course is our Lord Jesus Christ - the first born from the dead. Well, He's now in heaven where he came from, and he promised to return to bring us back to life when we're dead. So we are left with great joy and gladness that we will have life even if we die. Not just life, but eternal life!

But contrary to our faith, a religion founded long ago has this teaching that man has an immortal soul or spirit that separates from the body at death. This doctrine of the immortality of the soul can be traced back as to where it originally came from. The doctrine is not biblical. It came from Babylon. Mystery Babylon the Great! - the religion. From Babylon, it passed on to the Egyptians. From the Egyptians to the Greeks. From the Greeks to the Romans. From the Romans to the Catholic Church. Protestants today never really discarded the idea. During the time of Martin Luther, Protestants do not believe in that. Other professing Christian churches accepted the idea. That is why they do not understand what the Bible teaches. 

In 325 AD, Constantine, Roman emperor noticed that Christianity was becoming so prevalent and popular, he used it as an instrument to make stronger his dwindling empire. Pagan traditions and doctrines where incorporated into Christianity by concensus. Christmas, New Year, Easter, Halloween, Valentines, Birthdays - these are all pagans and have their pagan origins as Constantine himself is a pagan Roman ruler.

Socrates, a famous Greek philosopher who lived long before Constantine consulted the Egyptians about the immortality of the soul. Plato, a student of Socrates wrote in his book, Phaedo, that death is merely the separation of soul and body, that the soul is immortal. Dante Alighieri, famous Italian poet wrote in his book - the Divine Comedy, about the souls of the dead being tormented in hell. Early church fathers like Tertullian, Justine Martyr, Thomas Aquinas taught it in the Catholic church. 

Now, what is the true Bible teaching about the nature of the soul? In Ezekiel 18:4, It says that the soul can die. God caused it to be written twice as it is quoted again in Eze 18:20. So the soul is not immortal. The man is the soul himself. When God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, man became a living soul (Gen 2:7). The soul is not the same as the spirit. In Hebrew, soul is nephesh which means creature while spirit is ruach which means breath of life. 

The Bible says that the dead will come to life at the time of Resurrection. It is at the time of Christ's second coming (1 Thes 4:16-17). The dead in Christ are still in their graves awaiting for this glorious event when they will come to life again. In death there is no knowledge of passing time. But the rest of the dead, those who are neither saved nor lost and those who are condemned will come to life after the thousand year reign of Christ here on earth (Rev 20:5). Then they will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to face judgment.

February 08 2014 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Rotimi EWEDEMI Supporter Very keen Bible Researcher

Yes! There is life after death. 

However, the after -death life comes after the ressurrection of the dead promised in the Bible, by Jesus in John 5:28-29, and mentioned by the apostle Paul in Acts 24:15- " having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust" (Acts 24:15 ASV).

Such a ressurrection of the dead is however still future. Jesus just showed a sample of resurrection while here on earth by resurrecting about 3 people or so. He will do it on a global scale during his second coming.

The Bible shows that humans who have died from the time of Noah's ark till today are still in the grave. They are awaiting a resurrection. It is God that will determine who and who will be resurrected.

Bible also says that the dead are in the grave -also referred to as hell, Sheol or hades. They are asleep, and unconscious; they have gone down into silence, and have turned to dust. The righteous dead are not in heaven for enjoyment nor are the unrighteousness dead in a hellfire for punishment. The following refer: 

"in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return". (Genesis 3:19 ASV)

"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. As well their love, as their hatred and their envy, is perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion for ever in anything that is done under the sun (Ecclesiastes 9:5 - 9:6 ASV).

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest". (Ecclesiastes 9:10 ASV).

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest" (Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV).

"the dead praise not Jehovah, Neither any that go down into silence (Psalm 115:17 ASV).

"And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, [even] the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14 ASV).

"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." (Revelation 20:14 KJV).

To emphasize, the generality of dead humankind are still in the grave, or Bible hell, where they are resting, and awaiting a resurrection by God through Jesus when the time arrives for it. Resurrection is the only means by which the dead can live again. 

Bible also shows that the generality of mankind will be resurrected to life on a cleansed earth, and given the opportunity to live for ever, but under the rulership of Jesus Christ as the King of God's kingdom. See Daniel 7:13,14; Psalms 37:9-11, 29,34; Proverbs 2:21-22; Revelation 5:9,10; 21:3-4. 

Anointed Christians, the apostles of Jesus Christ being the foundation members, also known as saints of God and the little flock and bride of Christ, will be ressurrected to heavenly life. They will go to heaven and rule with Jesus Christ as kings and priests n the kingdom of God. Please read Daniel 7:18; LUke 12:32; 22:28-30; I Corinthians 6:1-4; Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9-10; 14:1-4; 21:3-4.

In summary, God has promised life after death to humans who qualify for it but by his grace. This will come to pass by means of Jesus Christ, through a ressurrection, which is yet future as at now. In the meantime, the dead are resting in the grave; neither are they in heaven nor in a hellfire. Theynarevwaiting for the time when Jesus will have the command from zgod to carry out the ressurrection. 

The Bible thus provide satisfying answer to the question.

February 09 2014 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

James Kraft Supporter 74 year old retired pipeline worker

The bible is the only truth we have for those who believe it. The bible says we live for ever either in hell or heaven. Jesus preached more on hell than on heaven.

We know we are going to heaven based on what Jesus did for us. First Corinthians 15:1-4 That Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, that He was buried and rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures. Since He paid our sin debt in full when He said it is finished. What does it mean it is finished? It is an accounting term that means our sin debt has been paid in full, and then He proved Himself by raising from the dead.

We have a risen savior. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that HE gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER, BEIEVETH IN HIM, SHOULD NO PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.

John 3:17 Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved. John 3:18 Believers can no longer be condemned, but unbelievers are condemned already because they have not believed on the name of the Son of God.

First John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know ye have eternal life.

We know we are going to heaven when we die because we believe what Jesus said. Not what men say. John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me HATH ETERNAL LIFE. Hath is present tense. If we have eternal life now based on what Jesus has already done, then we know we have eternal life for ever.

All those who have believed the gospel are saved and going to heaven. All of those who have not received the free gift of salvation by grace are not saved and will go to hell not because they do not sin, but because their sins are not paid for by Jesus blood sacrifice for all sin. First John 2:2. Once we believe it we are saved forever. It is eternal life by faith alone.

So we know we are going to heaven based on what Jesus has already done. Salvation by grace is done, not do. It is finished.

Those of us who are known by Him, are just resting in His finished work. Second Timothy 2:19. Hebrews 13:5 He will never leave us or forsake us. John 6:37. He will never cast us out. John 6:39 Jesus has never lost one.

I don't even want to know about hell because I am not going there. I am a sinner, but all my sins have been paid for. Since I have no sins to pay for, I do not have to go to hell to pay for them.

AMAZING GRACE, JESUS PAID IT ALL AND WE PAID 0. IT IS FREE.

April 02 2018 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report