OceanSide church of Christ

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WHERE DO WE GO WHEN WE DIE? (2)*

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Last week we were reminded that death is real.

1.      Unless the Lord comes in our lifetime, all of us will face death.

2.      The spirit and soul will separate from the body.

3.      The body will return unto the dust.

 

B.      Question:  What happens to the spirit of man at death?

 

C.     Fortunately, God has not left us in the dark about this issue.  Let’s go into God’s Word and see what it has to say about the question:  “Where Do We Go When We Die?”

 

I.                   HE CONTINUES TO LIVE

 

A.    After a man dies, he does not cease to exist.  He continues to live.  Jesus affirmed this to a group of Sadducees (Matt. 22:31-32).

 

But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 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.

 

1.      I “am” (present tense), that is, right now, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

2.      God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.  Those who have died are still living, and God is their God.

 

II.                WE ENTER DIRECTLY INTO THE PRESENCE OF JESUS (?)

 

1.      Some believe we enter immediately into the presence of Jesus Christ if we are faithful and into hell if we are unbelievers.

a.      Verses they use to hold to this view:

1)      II Corinthians 5:8

 

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

 

2)      Philippians 1:23

                                                   

For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.

 

b.      Some say that we are immediately judged when we die.

c.       Others say that we will await judgment in either heaven or hell.

d.      A few thoughts:

1)      The Bible plainly teaches that there will be a “day” of judgment (Act 17:30-31; Matt. 10:15; 11:22, 24; 12:36; Mark 6:11; Rom. 2:16).

 

...Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained…

 

2)      Jesus taught that all will be gathered before Him to be judged.  We will not be judged one by one as we die (Matt. 25:31-33).

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:  and before him shall be gathered all nations:  and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth the sheep from the goats:  and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

 

NOTE:  If one believes that one goes to either heaven or hell upon death and that there will be a single day of judgment for all, then he believes one must be released from these two places in order to stand in the judgment only to return after being judged.

 

3)      In Revelation 20:12-15, John tells us about the judgment.  In verse 13, he tells us that “death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them:  and they were judged every man according to their works.” 

a)      The word “hell” is the word hades.  This is not the same as Gehenna.

b)      The hadean realm will give up the dead that is in it.  This seems to indicate that hades is separate from Gehenna.

 

III.             WE ENTER INTO THE HADEAN REALM

 

A.    The view that teaches that the dead enter into the hadean realm seems to be the most plausible.  Jesus taught it in Luke 16:19-31.

1.      Two men lived two different kinds of lives (Luke 16:19-21)

2.      Both men died (Luke 16:22).

3.      Lazarus, the beggar, “was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom, a place of comfort (Luke 16:22, 25).

4.      The rich man was in “hades”, but in a different place.  “And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments” (Luke 16:24, 25).

5.      A great gulf separates the two realms (Luke 16:26).

 

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed:  so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

 

6.      The spirits/souls of the dead await in one of these two places until the Lord returns and judgment is carried out.

 

B.      QUESTIONS

a.      Isn’t this just a parable?

1)      Let’s assume that it is a parable.  A parable is a true earthly story with a heavenly meaning.  If this is just a story, it is a true story.  It is something that really could happen.

2)      This account does not meet the definition of a parable.  To be a parable, a person would have to be able to lay along side of it a heavenly meaning.  In this case, the story is the meaning.  There is no different meaning to attach to it.  Notice the words of Jesus that open this lesson:  “There was a certain rich man…And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus…” (Luke 16:19, 20).

b.      If you go to either Abraham’s bosom or torment, is your destiny sealed?  If so, what is the purpose of the judgment

1)      Everyone will have their day in court.

a)      Romans 14:12

 

So then every one of us shall give account of himself unto God.

 

b)      Example:  Matthew 7:22-23

 

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?  and in thy name have cast out devils?  and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:  depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 

2)      The Judgment Day will be the time of final sentencing from the Judge of all the earth.  All will then go to their final abode for ever and ever.

 

IV.             THE END

 

A.    At a future date, determined by the Father, “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night” (II Pet. 3:10).

 

B.      When the Lord returns, He will bring those in the hadean realm with Him (I Thess. 4:14).

 

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

 

C.     The dead will come from the graves (John 5:28, 29).

The dead will be clothed in glorified bodies (I Cor. 15:42-44).

The dead will be caught up to the Lord first (I Thess. 4:16).

The living will have their bodies changed into a glorified body (I Cor. 15:51-52).

They, too, will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (II Thess. 4:17).

The angels will reap vengeance on those who know not God and who have not obeyed the gospel (II Thess. 1:7-9).

The earth and all that is therein shall be destroyed (II Pet. 3:10).

All will appear before the judgment seat of Christ (Matt. 25:31).

The righteous will be sentenced to enter into the heavenly kingdom (Matt. 25:34).

The unrighteous will be sentenced to everlasting fire (Matt. 25:41).

 

D.    Two questions:

1.      Will the evil dead who are resurrected receive a glorified body?

2.      Will those upon whom the angels reap vengeance be immediately resurrected in order to appear in the judgment?

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Studies like this often bring up more and more questions.

 

B.      Things we do know.

1.      We are going to die.

2.      We will be conscious upon our death.

3.      We will be raised from the dead.

4.      We will be judged by the Word of God.

5.      We will be eternally sentenced to either heaven or hell.

 

C.     Thus, we must prepare ourselves for either death or the Lord’s return (Matt. 24:42, 44, 25:13).

 

Therefore be ye also ready:  for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.