Bible Questions and Answers

There is no passage in the Bible to support this idea.

It is sometimes believed to be inferred by Paul.

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:

But the belief is incorrect as I explain below.

The Bible teaches that when we die, we really are dead.

When we die, we return to the dust and our faculties perish.

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

In death, we cannot think, see, hear or speak.

Psalms 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing,

We do not possess a soul which continues in a conscious existence after death.

We ARE a soul.

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

When we cease to breath we become a dead soul.

The Bible speaks of dead souls but it is hidden by the translators who translate the same Hebrew word as ‘body’.

For example:

Genesis 2:7… man became a living soul (Hebrew-‘nephesh’).

Numbers 19:11 He that toucheth the dead body (Hebrew-‘nephesh’) of any man shall be unclean seven days.

In the King James Version ‘nephesh’ is translated as ‘soul’ 416 times, (dead) ‘body’ 9 times and ‘dead’ 8 times.

The soul goes to the grave.

Psalms 89:48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?

We lie unconscious in the grave.

Death is for this reason described as sleep.

We all experience the unconsciousness of sleep.

When we fall asleep we are not conscious of the passage of time.

The next thing we know, we are awake.

Death is like this.

We die and seemingly an instant later we are raised from the dead.

The passage of time from death to life, be it one day or one thousand years, will seem no more than a heartbeat.

David, the ‘man after God’s own heart’ is said to sleep in death:

1 Kings 2:10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

He corrupted in the grave.

Acts 13:36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

He has not ascended to heaven.

Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens…

We are clearly told that no one other than Christ has ascended into heaven.

John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

His ascension to heaven was not at death; but after his resurrection.

The hope of the Bible is resurrection from the dead at some future time.

John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

This resurrection will not happen until Christ returns.

The faithful dead are said to ‘sleep in Christ’

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

At the resurrection, the faithful will be made equal to the angels.

There will be no marrying or need for reproduction.

Luke 20:35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Paul describes the resurrection and what is going to happen:

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Revelation describes it thus:

Revelation 21:3… Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

The reward of the righteous is eternal inheritance on the earth.

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

May I suggest that you read After Death - What? (click on the title)

And The Kingdom of God on Earth (click on the title)

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,

Glenn