WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT DEATH
Jesus Christ spoke about the condition of the dead. He did so with regard to Lazarus, a man whom he knew well and who had died. Jesus told his disciples: “Lazarus our friend has gone to rest.” The disciples thought that Jesus meant that Lazarus was resting in sleep, recovering from an illness. They were wrong. Jesus explained: “Lazarus has died.” (John 11:11-14) Notice that Jesus compared death to rest and sleep. Lazarus was neither in heaven nor in a burning hell. He was not meeting angels or ancestors. Lazarus was not being reborn as another human. He was at rest in death, as though in a deep sleep without dreams. Other scriptures also compare death to sleep. For example, when the disciple Stephen was stoned to death, the Bible says that he “fell asleep.” (Acts 7:60) Similarly, the apostle Paul wrote about some in his day who had “fallen asleep” in death.—1 Corinthians 15:6.
The Bible teaches that the dead “are conscious of nothing at all.” They are not alive and have no conscious existence anywhere. The account of Lazarus confirms this. Upon returning to life, did Lazarus thrill people with descriptions of heaven? Or did he terrify them with horrible tales about a burning hell? No. The Bible contains no such words from Lazarus. During the four days that he was dead, he had been “conscious of nothing at all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5) Lazarus had simply been sleeping in death.—John 11:11.
The account of Lazarus also teaches us that the resurrection is a reality, not a mere myth. Jesus raised Lazarus in front of a crowd of eyewitnesses. Even the religious leaders, who hated Jesus, did not deny this miracle.
Think about this too: If Lazarus had been in heaven for those four days, would he not have said something about it?— And if he had been in heaven, would Jesus have made him come back to earth from that wonderful place?— Of course not!
Yet, many people say that we have a soul, and they say that the soul lives on after the body dies. They say that Lazarus’ soul was alive somewhere. But the Bible does not say that. It says that God made the first man Adam “a living soul.” Gen. 2:7, Adam was a soul. The Bible also says that when Adam sinned, he died. He became a “dead soul,” and he returned to the dust from which he had been made. The Bible also says that all Adam’s offspring inherited sin and death too.
The Scriptural teaching of the resurrection, however, is not compatible with the doctrine of the immortality of the soul. If an immortal soul survived death, no one would need to be resurrected, or brought back to life. Indeed, Martha expressed no thought about an immortal soul that was living on elsewhere after death. She did not believe that Lazarus had already gone to some spirit realm to continue his existence. On the contrary, she showed her faith in God’s purpose to reverse the effects of death. She said: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” (John 11:23, 24) Likewise, Lazarus himself related no experiences of some afterlife. There was nothing to report.
Clearly, according to the Bible, the soul dies and the remedy for death is the resurrection. You enjoy the best sleep ever, until Jesus resurrects you, sometime in the future.
2006-07-10 19:52:22
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answer #1
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answered by BJ 7
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I am going on the hypothesis that you mean converted to Judaism. As I understand it, the Jewish faith does not hold the concept of Heaven or Hell, but rather that the impact of the way you lived your life (for good or for evil) will be felt in your family for the next five generations, and this is the way that the faith achieves immortality. The soul always returns to God, but not in the same way that Christians conceptualize their souls returning to God.
2006-07-11 00:53:36
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answer #2
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answered by Cat Loves Her Sabres 6
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Despite religion, race, creed, beliefs..........
Ecc. 9:5, 10 -
5) For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten.
10) All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in She′ol(common grave), the place to which you are going.
Also, think about Lazarus, at John 11:11-14. What happened to him when he died? What did Jesus say? What did he do? Please really think about it.
Clearly, according to the Bible, the soul dies and the remedy for death is the resurrection. NO AFTERLIFE. The bible doesn't teach that.
2006-07-11 01:05:14
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answer #3
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answered by Zee 2
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Jewish souls remain in purgatory for less than eleven months. The entire congregation will pray for her soul periodically during that time.
What happens after that is between her and God.
Judaism is a religion of justice. She will be punished/rewarded appropriately. Only Jesus demands punishment for those who don't believe.
2006-07-11 00:56:18
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answer #4
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answered by Hatikvah 7
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what soul? If she converted, I think that soul is now no more. The bible is pretty clear that the soul is forever separated from God if the belief of Jesus is gone.
only God really knows, perhaps the conversion was not deep enough and was only done as a surface thing...
2006-07-11 00:50:38
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answer #5
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answered by warsuxdeathsux 2
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Death bed conversions do count, you just can't depend on being in the right mind to remember, if the Chance is there at all. Sudden death happens frequently, then there is no time . I do not know this dear lady so I do not know her spiritual condition but fear not neither be troubled. I am very sorry for you loss. In our prayers
Hope that helps ~A~
2006-07-11 00:55:07
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answer #6
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answered by momsapplepeye 6
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Some Jews believe Jesus was the Messiah. This would make them a "Christian" but they still practice the Jewish doctrine.
2006-07-11 00:51:05
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answer #7
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answered by GodsHolyFire 3
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If as you say, you are of the Christian Faith... then, sadly, you already know the answer.
I will pray for God to give you peace in this. It might be of help, if you have a church home to talk with your pastor or a godly woman from the congrigation.
2006-07-11 00:55:08
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answer #8
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answered by IdahoMike 5
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That's now in God's hands. But I believe that the chosen people have a chance to enter the pearly gates. It says in Romans that Abraham "believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness" Abraham was justified by his faith.
2006-07-11 00:52:00
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answer #9
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answered by Makemeaspark 7
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if she was Jewish and led a good life she goes to heaven. if she was christian and lead a good life she goes to the Netherplain which is in between heaven and hell. if she was christian her whole life and started becoming a hateful fundie she goes to hell.
2006-07-11 00:52:01
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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