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.
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.
2007-01-15 18:24:16
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answer #1
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answered by BJ 7
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We are not our bodies. We are the spirits within our bodies. Having the body shut down, non function, die, forces us out. If we are unselfish, spiritual, responsible, benevolent (etc.) life is better then and after. There are angels to greet us with birth-blankets. There are hospitals where esyans (newly dead or newly born) are taken and treated. In a couple of weeks you can look and feel better than ever before and think better too and life BEGINS from there..its not the end, it's the beginning.
2007-01-15 17:24:12
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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This is what will happen, there will be a great day when God is going to judge all the people who were born ever, in His court. Why will he do that? because our government which in its knowledge has the power to deal with its citizens and judge them of their wrong in the court, will not our creator who has a higher power do justice for all mankind. And because He had said so in the bible.
And then after that justice is given, the people who are guilty will be thrown in hell as in jail and the not guilty with God.
2007-01-15 17:51:28
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answer #3
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answered by Brinda 3
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Death is inevitable. The thief on the cross knew when his would occur, but we can not predict our own. After his death, the crucified criminal went to live in paradise with Jesus. Some of us will also live eternally in God's presence. But others will experience everlasting torment, forever separated from Him.
If we receive Jesus as our Savior, our penalty for sin is paid. We are adopted into God's family, and Heaven is our eternal home. If we reject Jesus, we remain alienated from the Lord and under condemnation for our sin. We are destined to experience eternal judgment. God won't accept any of man's excuses because there is no acceptable defense for unbelief. (Acts 4:12)
Become part of God's family today. Acknowledge your sinfulness, and express your faith in these words:
"God, I have sinned against You. (Romans 3:23) I've followed my own way and refused to give You the right to rule in my life. (Romans 3:10-12) I recognize I am separated from You and cannot rescue myself. I do believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I accept the truth of the Scriptures? that His death on the cross paid my sin-debt in full. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) And I ask You to forgive me of my sins. (1 John 1:9) By faith, I receive You, Lord Jesus, as my personal Savior from this moment on."
If you just spoke those words to God, then, like the thief on the cross, you have received salvation? a gift of God's grace. The heavenly Father welcomes every person who comes to Him through His Son, regardless of background, age, or current situation. Through Jesus, the right to enter paradise is yours!
2007-01-16 17:32:55
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answer #4
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answered by Freedom 7
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from my view , there is no heaven or hell , because heaven and hell are here in your life , this material view not found when you leave the physical body , you return again to the source where you have been before , secondly if u believe in reincarnation , maybe you'll return again in another human body to resolve a karma , or if you don't believe in it , so you'll stay there with your projection of your religion ...don't be afraid , this is your house there , not here , we are here in a visit to learn and take experience and then we return again to our house
2007-01-15 17:22:55
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answer #5
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answered by Truth 2
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Are you asking what will happen after we die? We either go to Heaven or Hell.
2007-01-15 17:16:48
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answer #6
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answered by gymnast4ever 3
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The government extracts a death tax on all the wealth you have amassed during your life time.
2007-01-15 17:18:06
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answer #7
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answered by guraqt2me 7
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Why you talk like Injun from old TV western?
2007-01-15 17:20:23
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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i heard u just stay there and still go on with your dream
2007-01-15 17:16:35
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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depends on what you belive.
2007-01-15 17:18:42
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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