2. What Happens When We Die?
What Happens When We Die?
People are afraid to die if they don’t know what happens after death. What does the Bible say will happen to us when we die? Will we know anything after we die? There is a reason to be concerned because there is a great danger for those who do not know the truth about death.
Before we discuss what happens to a man when he dies, we should first identify several manmade misconceptions as it relates to man and his experience with death.
Is The Soul Of Man Immortal?
I have often heard it said that our soul is immortal, so I decided to look up those passages of Scripture in the Bible for myself.
To my surprise, the Bible doesn’t say that at all. In fact, the word “immortal” is only found in the Bible one time and then it is speaking of God (1Ti 1:17).
Next, I decided to look up passages of Scripture related to the soul as everlasting or eternal.
Again, to my surprise, the Bible doesn’t say that either.
The results:
Eternal (as applicable to the soul of man) = 0
Everlasting (as applicable to the soul of man) = 0
How The Bible Describes Death
1. In The Bible: Death Always Denotes A Separation Between Two Things
This aspect is very important and discussed in great detail (Ref: What is Death?).
2. In The Bible: Death Is Also Likened To Sleep
(Daniel 12:2) “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
(John 11:11-14) “These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
The Bible Speaks of Having Victory over Death
Death is a terrible thing, yet because Jesus has promised eternal life to those who believe Him and follow His teachings; We know that death does not have to be the frightening event that ends our life.
The promise that “all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28) means that our death does not take God by surprise. He has something good planned for us that is yet to occur.
As Christians, Our Hope Is Centered On The Resurrection
Scripture teaches that we are dead, ‘asleep’, until the day of Christ’s return, in which he will awaken us from the dead, and bring us back to life.
When a person dies their breath (spirit)(H7307) returns to God (Ecc 12:7, James 2:26); their bodies return to dust (Gen 3:19, Psa 104:29, Ecc 12:7); and they will be brought back to life (or resurrected), on the day of our Lord Jesus’ return to the earth (Acts 24:15, John 5:28-29).
The Only Way Out Of Death [Sleep] Is To Be Awakened In The Resurrection.
We as Christians will be awakened, and be granted an imperishable, immortal body – never to die again. Before this resurrection, we are asleep in death.
I Corinthians 15:51-52 NKJV
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Three Major Events Follow Death (Of Those That Sleep)
The Thousand Years
Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
The Defeat of Satan
Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Judgment Before the Great White Throne
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The above is just a general overview.
We cannot say with 100% certainty the exact order of events to come. However, the following link is one I believe provides a very close accounting and order of events to come.
(Ref: Biblical Timeline of The Rapture)
*This Page Is Under Construction. We Will Be Back Soon. Thanks