OceanSide church of Christ




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Journey of the Soul
by: Dalton Gilreath

I.              Introduction

a.    From a young age we learn that all die and leave this world

b.    Everyone at some point asks, “What happens when we die?”

                                          i.    Some would say we are reincarnated

                                        ii.    Some would say we cease to exist

                                       iii.    Some would say we enter purgatory for a time

c.    As Christians we know exactly what happens

                                          i.    Consider the journey of the soul

II.            Stage 1   

a.    We might think the soul begins in the womb

                                          i.    However, the Lord places the soul in the body so it originates with Him (Ecc 12:7, cf. Heb 12:9)

1.    God knew Jeremiah before he was in the womb (Jer 1:5)

b.    God creates man in His own image (Gen 1:26)

                                          i.    He creates us with a soul

1.    This is what separates us from the animal kingdom

III.           Stage 2

a.    Now the soul is placed in man and dwells on Earth for a lifetime

b.    Paul calls our body a tabernacle or tent (2 Cor 5:1)

                                          i.    We have a new “body” when in Heaven

                                        ii.    A tent is a temporary dwelling

c.    What does the soul do while in the body?

                                          i.    It worships (John 4:24)

                                        ii.    It loves (Luke 10:27)

d.    The soul is eternal but the body deteriorates (Ecc 12:1-7)

                                          i.    When the body “dissolves” the soul departs (Psalm 90:10, Gen 35:18)

IV.          Stage 3

a.    At death the soul has no body and is “naked” (2 Cor 5:2-4)

                                          i.    It travels to a waiting place called Hades

b.    Hades is not Hell

                                          i.    It is a place housing Paradise and Tartarus (2 Peter 2:4)

                                        ii.    The KJV falsely translates Hades “Hell”

1.    Gehenna is the word for Hell

c.    In Luke 16:20-31 we get a glimpse of Hades

                                          i.    Lazarus is in Paradise the waiting place for Heaven

                                        ii.    The rich man is in Tartarus the waiting place for Hell

1.    Notice the rich man is aware and not “soul sleeping”

                                       iii.    Can we tell what’s happening on Earth while there?

1.    No (Ecc 9:5, 2 Chr 34:28)

d.    Stage 4

                                          i.    Next we go to the judgment (John 5:28)

                                        ii.    Our souls now receive our new bodies (1 Cor 15:50-55)

                                       iii.    Everyone who has ever died will be there (2 Cor 5:10)

                                       iv.    Why have a judgment though?

1.    The people on Earth still living need it

2.    We learn why we are going where we are going

e.    Stage 5

                                          i.    Now we go to our eternal home (Matt 25:46)

1.    We hope that is Heaven (Matt 25:34)

2.    We hope it isn’t Hell (Rev 21:8)

a.    Hell is dark, full of screams, and pain we can’t fathom

                                        ii.    If you went to judgment today which would it be?