LIFE AFTER DEATH
Lesson one
INTRODUCTION
LAST THINGS, (Intermediate State)
The words "life after death", are often very much misunderstood. This statement leads some to believe that people die. This doctrine is not taught in Scripture. When God created a body for Adam from the dust of the earth He created a space for Adam to live in, then God breathed His eternal life into the body that He had created for Adam, implanting His eternal life into the body that He had created for Adam and Adam became a living being. 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 being.
Scripture teaches that we existed spiritually before we were born physically into this world. Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Furthermore the Scripture teaches that the unredeemed body dies but that the redeemed spirit lives eternally with God who created it.
- Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
- Scripture describes our body as house or a tent.
God provided a body for Jesus when He was born to Mary.
Hebrews 10:5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.
This body Jesus lived in while He was here on earth is the body fathered by the Holy Spirit and incubated in the womb of Mary. Luke 1:34-35 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
- John 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
Jesus lived in this body until He was crucified. Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commend My spirit.' "And having said this, He breathed His last.
2nd Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2nd Peter1:13-14 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,
14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.
- Scripture also teaches that the tent, our body, is our temporary dwelling place on earth. One day we will leave this body just as Jesus left His body on the cross and arrive instantly in the presence of our Lord.
2nd Corinthians 5:8-9 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
Phillippians1:23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
The rich an and Lazarus
Luke 16:19-26 In this story Jesus revieals the result of living in wealth and living by faith in Christ. We understand this to be an actual event. Proper names are never used in parables.
Jesus contrasted the destinies of two persons. One body died and entered a condition of blessedness. The other body died and entered into a condition of misery. Both were presented by Jesus as entering their future condition immediately following the death of their body.
Luke 16:19-26 "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.
20 "But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,
21 "desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'
25 "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
26 'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'
The suggestion in Jesus' confirmation of fact is that the spirit of the righteous enters a conscious state of blessedness. Similarly, the spirit of the unrighteous go into a state of conscious torment. (Luke 23:43 [as Jesus was still on the cross He spoke to the criminal on His right] And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.".
Many do not think the account of the rich man and Lazarus was intended as a detailed eschatological picture of the after physical life at the end of our earthy existence. Rather, it is a strong statement that the final judgment will rectify life's seeming injustices. In either case it makes clear the better of two choices.
~Our earthly home
- 2nd Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
- 2nd Corinthians 5:4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
- 2nd Peter 1:13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,
14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.
Think of it this way. God provides for you a home to live in. You move in and live there for a specified length of time. The home becomes inhabitable. You move out and relocate to a better place to exist.
- Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
Before we were born we existed as an eternal spiritual being without a body. The Body that we live in was provided at our physical birth. God even provided a body for Jesus to inhabit while he lived here on earth.
- Hebrews 10:5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.
Scripture explains what happens when the body dies.
- Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return
- Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
The very end.
- MAT 25:32-34
"All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Matthew 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
- REV 20:14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
The State of Blessedness Prevailing in the Holy City. Rev. 22:1-5.
It is strange that in chapter 21 there are no descriptive details pertaining to natural phenomena, trees, rivers, etc., such as we find in the description of the original paradise in Genesis 2. Such details are now introduced, reminding us not only of that early chapter but also of Eze 47:1-12. "Sin drove man from one garden. Grace brings man to an eternal Paradise." Here we have beauty, life in full abundance, the sovereignty of God, health for the nations of the earth, the absence of all curse; no curse (v. 3), on man nor on the earth where he lives nor in the city of his habitation, nor on any relationships prevailing among men – (Christ has removed the curse and all the consequences of it). Here also is a picture of service, the perfect vision, which is to behold the face of our Lord, and his name stamped upon our foreheads. Here are two more cancellations or final eliminations of things that have troubled and burdened man: the removal of all curse, and the elimination of night forever.
It is not, however, the negative aspects of this passage which most delight our heart, but its positive affirmations. Here the blessedness that God has desired through the ages and made provision for is brought to a climax of perfection: in heaven we shall be serving the Lord (v. 3b); we shall see his face; his name will be on our foreheads (v. 4); we shall reign with him forever and ever (v. 5). Here such promises are those found in Mat 5:8; 1Jo 3:2; 1Co 15:49; etc., will become the eternal experience of believers. In other words, we shall bear the character of the Lord, we shall serve the Lord, reign with the Lord, and forever rejoice and forever be satisfied as we look upon his glorious face.
All the glorious purposes of God, ordained from the foundation of the world, have now been attained. The rebellion of angels and mankind is all and finally subdued, as the King of kings assumes his rightful sovereignty. Absolute and unchangeable holiness characterizes all within the universal Kingdom of God. The redeemed, made so by the blood of the Lamb, are in resurrection and eternal glory. Life is everywhere - and death will never intrude again. The earth and the heavens both are renewed. Light, beauty, holiness, joy, the presence of God, the worship of God, service to Christ, likeness to Christ - all are now abiding realities. The vocabulary of man, made for life here, is incapable of truly and adequately depicting what God has prepared for those that love Him.
For those who believe in Christ, physical death is only a prelude to eternal life with God. We will continue to live eternally in Glory with Christ. Let this hope give you confidence and inspire you to faithful service.
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