After Life

1. Fultondale church of Christ 2016-02-21 pm After Life

2. Introduction • Differing views of life and death • Reincarnation (Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism) • Soul returns as another person • Soul returns as another creature • Annihilation (Atheism, Buddhism) • No soul – death ends life • Spiritual life (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) • Soul lives on after death • Biblical view – soul exists and lives forever • Genesis 1:27 – God made man in His image • Genesis 2:7 – Man is a living soul • Ecclesiastes 12:7 – body turns to dust, soul returns to God • 1 Kings 17:22 – child’s soul returned to him • Matthew 10:28 – soul and body can be killed separately

3. After Life – What then? • The soul is contained in the body • Death is the separation of the soul from the body • Hebrews 9:27 – Everyone is appointed to die • The soul is immortal and cannot die • 2 Samuel 12:22 – David could go to the child • Mark 12:26-27 – Jesus said those long dead were living • What happens to the soul? • Ecclesiastes 12:7 – Returns to God • Other than the scriptures, none can tell us specifics • 2 Corinthians 12:4 – unspeakable words, unlawful to utter • Jesus gave us a description in Luke 16

4. Rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) • The rich man lived selfishly and sumptuously • Seems to have despised the Law of Moses • Lazarus barely lived as a beggar • Seems to have been righteous • Both men die: • Lazarus is carried by angels • Rich man is buried • They go to the place of the dead – the grave, hades

5. Place of the dead • Two areas described: • Abraham’s bosom – peaceful, rest • Torments – unending fiery pain • The rich man recognizes both Abraham and Lazarus • He asks for relief from his pain • A great gulf keeps those on each side separated • He also remembers his family left alive when he died • He does not want them to come to him • Abraham says that they must listen to Moses and the prophets (the scriptures at that time)

6. Other names • Jesus told the thief on the cross they would meet in paradise • Paul mentioned paradise as well in 2 Corinthians 12:4 • These match to Abraham’s bosom of Luke 16 • Sometimes the name “hell” refers to the “place of the dead”, not just torment or the second death • Acts 2:27 – Because you will not leave my soul in hell, nor will you suffer your Holy One to see corruption. • Acts 2:31 – He seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, nor did his flesh see corruption.

7. Heaven and Hell • So what about heaven and hell? • Is this “place of the dead” the same? • The Judgment Day will occur at the end of the universe • 2 Peter 3:10 – Even the elements will melt • Time will end • The dead will be raised • Revelation 20:13 – sea, death, and hell delivered up the dead • The place of the dead continues to exist within time • Heaven and Hell are described as eternal • Revelation 20:10 – forever and ever (second death) • Revelation 22:5 – forever and ever (new heaven and earth)

8. Place of the Dead H E A V E NEternal Life Paradise G R E A T G U L F Torment P H Y S I C A L D E A T H L I F E H E L LSecond Death T I M E Judgment Day Creation Eternity

9. Misconceptions • Dead go straight to heaven and hell • Purgatory • While similar to the place of the dead, this concept includes the ability to change one’s fate after entry • Praying for the dead • Lost are annihilated • Some sects of Christianity believe the lost will be terminated after the Judgment rather than tormented for eternity

10. Conclusions • Our choices in life determine our place after death • Revelation 20:12-13 – according to their works • Revelation 20:15 – names not in the book of life • Our placement does not change after death • Those left behind cannot change our placement • Between physical death and Judgment there is no chance to make amends for our bad choices