Where Are The Dead?

Where Are The Dead?

2004039

Topic # 0216

Introduction:

A. 1 Thess. 5:23 – man is a triune being – consisting of body, soul, and spirit.

1. Body – physical man

2. soul – spiritual man

3. spirit – the intellect

4. We are composed partly of matter & partly of non-material: soul & spirit. Spirit & Soul are often used interchangeably in Scripture.

B. Js. 2:26 – death is a separation of the body & spirit.

1. The physical life is a union of body & spirit.

2. When the spirit takes flight from the body, the body then is called “dead.”

3. The soul is never said to be physically dead – this is true only of the body of a man.

C. Ecc 12:7 – when death occurs – body returns to dust & the spirit returns to God who gave it.

1. Gen. 35:18 – fact seen here. Spirit departs at death.

2. We know and understand what happens to the physical body at death – we take it to the grave.

3. Spirit is unseen & we do not know by experience where it goes.

D. We can look in God’s word & get some insight into the abode of the spirit after our physical death.

E. Back to Ecc 12:7 – Solomon’s statement is general in nature. He doesn’t designate the place where it goes. We do know:

1. It does not go to purgatory. No such place.

2. It does not go directly to heaven. Heaven is the eternal abode for the righteous after judgment.

3. Scripture tells us that departed souls/spirits go to Hades.

I. Meaning of “Sheol” and “Hades.”

A. Sheol appears 67 times in OT in NASU.

1. OT originally written in Hebrew.

2. Greek word “hades” occurs 10 times in NT in NASU

3. NT originally written in Greek.

4. Sheol & Hades mean the same thing; their meanings are exactly equivalent to one another.

B. Hebrew word “Sheol” as defined in Vines Dictionary of OT words:

1. A place of conscious existence after death.

2. A place where the wicked go after death.

a) This is usually qualified by “the lower Sheol,” “the depths of Sheol,” “the bottom of Sheol.”

b) Deut. 32:22; Isa. 14:9; Pro. 9:18

3. A temporary & not an eternal place – Psa. 16:10; 49:15

4. Vines: a place of conscious existence after death. One side of which is occupied by the suffering, unrighteous dead separated by a great chasm from the other side peopled by the righteous dead enjoying their reward.

C. Greek word Hades in NT means exactly the same as Sheol.

1. Hades is a place of conscious existence.

2. A place where the righteous are blessed & the wicked are punished.

3. In NT – Hades is viewed as a temporary place.

a) Jesus has the keys to Hades

b) Its captives will be released at His coming at judgment & Hades will then be no more.

c) Rev. 1:18; 20:13-14

D. What about the OKJV?

1. Some erroneously feel that OKJV = the Authorized Version that Authorized Version means authorized by God.

2. OKJV erroneously translate “Sheol” by the words “grave” and “hell” which Sheol does not mean.

3. This only causes confusion & gives some an opening to subscribing to false doctrine.

II. Where did Jesus go at death?

A. Lk. 23:43 – to paradise.

1. Not to heaven – John 20:17 – where His Father was.

2. Jesus said He had not yet ascended to the Father.

B. Acts 2:27, 31 – while body of Jesus when in the grave, His spirit was in Hades.

1. Putting these two passages together – we have the answer to where Jesus was at his death.

2. He was in paradise in Hades.

C. The righteous dead now at death go to where all the righteous dead including Jesus, have gone, - paradise – Abraham’s bosom.

1. There they await judgment on the day Jesus returns.

2. Mt. 25:31-33; 1 Thess. 4:13-18

III. Those in hades remain conscious.

A. Our spirit does not become unconscious at death. Rev. 6:9-10

1. Not only conscious of their surroundings – but.

2. Knew why they were killed & that their blood had not been avenged.

3. The spirit is conscious – it can feel frustration & appeal for vindication.

B. Lk. 16:19-31 – rich man & Lazarus.

1. After his body was dead, we observe that he could still:

2. See, hear, recognize, feel, speak, please, reason, desire, and remember.

3. His spirit was alive & conscious after his body was dead & buried.

IV. More on the rich man & Lazarus – Lk. 16:19-31

A. Both men in Hades.

1. Rich man in torment.

2. Lazarus in paradise, Abraham’s bosom.

B. Important to remember they were in a temporary place – the place the soul goes between death & judgment. It is before the resurrection of the body.

C. We must conclude that there are 3 states of our spirit:

1. The union with the body.

2. Separated from the body, while the body is in the tomb.

3. After the resurrection when the spirit is united with a glorified body – 1 Cor. 15:35-44.

V. The Progression from physical life to eternity.

A. All people are born into the world, or kingdom of nature.

1. An infant does not inherit sin; it not guilty of sin; and cannot be lost.

2. Should it die, it will go to paradise & ultimately to heaven.

B. One who lives to the age of accountability becomes a sinner through the process described in James 1:13-18.

1. Such a person is in a realm of spiritual darkness & in this way he will not go to heaven.

2. Die? Got to torment (hades) and ultimately hell.

C. By hearing & obeying gospel, F, R, C, B – one can be delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of Christ.

1. As a citizen of the kingdom, if one becomes and remains unfaithful (1 Cor. 9:27; 10:12; 2 Pet. 2:20-22) he will be lost.

D. If one adds and practices the characteristics of a Christian, and remains faithful until death – he will be saved.

E. At death, there is a separation of spirit & body. (Ecc 12:7; Js. 2:26). Body returns to the earth & spirit enters hades.

F. There is a separation of the righteous & wicked in hades.

1. righteous are in paradise

2. wicked are in torment

G. There will be a resurrection of all the dead. John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15

1. then – souls will be called from hades (Rev. 20:12-13)

2. they will be judged – Mt. 25:31-32; Acts 17:31)

H. From judgment – wicked will go to hell – a place of unending torment – Rev. 14:11; 20:15; 21:8)

1. righteous will go to heaven – Mt. 25:46b; 1 Pet. 1:4; 2 Pet. 1:11; Rev. 21:27; 22:14

Conclusion:

A. Where do you stand before God? Are you ready to die?

B. At death, your eternal fate is sealed. Make preparations now.

C. I N V I T A T I O N



Where Are The Dead? 2004039 Topic # 0216 Introduction: A. 1 Thess. 5:23 – man is a triune being – consisting of body, soul, and spirit. 1. Body – physical man 2. soul – spiritual man 3. spirit – the intellect 4. We are composed partly of matter & partly of non-material: soul & spirit. Spirit & Soul are often used interchangeably in Scripture. B. Js. 2:26 – death is a separation of the body & spirit. 1. The physical life is a union of body & spirit. 2. When the spirit takes flight from the body, the body then is called “dead.” 3. The soul is never said to be physically dead – this is true only of the body of a man. C. Ecc 12:7 – when death occurs – body returns to dust & the spirit returns to God who gave it. 1. Gen. 35:18 – fact seen here. Spirit departs at death. 2. We know and understand what happens to the physical body at death – we take it to the grave. 3. Spirit is unseen & we do not know by experience where it goes. D. We can look in God’s word & get some insight into the abode of the spirit after our physical death. E. Back to Ecc 12:7 – Solomon’s statement is general in nature. He doesn’t designate the place where it goes. We do know: 1. It does not go to purgatory. No such place. 2. It does not go directly to heaven. Heaven is the eternal abode for the righteous after judgment. 3. Scripture tells us that departed souls/spirits go to Hades. I. Meaning of “Sheol” and “Hades.” A. Sheol appears 67 times in OT in NASU. 1. OT originally written in Hebrew. 2. Greek word “hades” occurs 10 times in NT in NASU 3. NT originally written in Greek. 4. Sheol & Hades mean the same thing; their meanings are exactly equivalent to one another. B. Hebrew word “Sheol” as defined in Vines Dictionary of OT words: 1. A place of conscious existence after death. 2. A place where the wicked go after death. a) This is usually qualified by “the lower Sheol,” “the depths of Sheol,” “the bottom of Sheol.” b) Deut. 32:22; Isa. 14:9; Pro. 9:18 3. A temporary & not an eternal place – Psa. 16:10; 49:15 4. Vines: a place of conscious existence after death. One side of which is occupied by the suffering, unrighteous dead separated by a great chasm from the other side peopled by the righteous dead enjoying their reward. C. Greek word Hades in NT means exactly the same as Sheol. 1. Hades is a place of conscious existence. 2. A place where the righteous are blessed & the wicked are punished. 3. In NT – Hades is viewed as a temporary place. a) Jesus has the keys to Hades b) Its captives will be released at His coming at judgment & Hades will then be no more. c) Rev. 1:18; 20:13-14 D. What about the OKJV? 1. Some erroneously feel that OKJV = the Authorized Version that Authorized Version means authorized by God. 2. OKJV erroneously translate “Sheol” by the words “grave” and “hell” which Sheol does not mean. 3. This only causes confusion & gives some an opening to subscribing to false doctrine. II. Where did Jesus go at death? A. Lk. 23:43 – to paradise. 1. Not to heaven – John 20:17 – where His Father was. 2. Jesus said He had not yet ascended to the Father. B. Acts 2:27, 31 – while body of Jesus when in the grave, His spirit was in Hades. 1. Putting these two passages together – we have the answer to where Jesus was at his death. 2. He was in paradise in Hades. C. The righteous dead now at death go to where all the righteous dead including Jesus, have gone, - paradise – Abraham’s bosom. 1. There they await judgment on the day Jesus returns. 2. Mt. 25:31-33; 1 Thess. 4:13-18 III. Those in hades remain conscious. A. Our spirit does not become unconscious at death. Rev. 6:9-10 1. Not only conscious of their surroundings – but. 2. Knew why they were killed & that their blood had not been avenged. 3. The spirit is conscious – it can feel frustration & appeal for vindication. B. Lk. 16:19-31 – rich man & Lazarus. 1. After his body was dead, we observe that he could still: 2. See, hear, recognize, feel, speak, please, reason, desire, and remember. 3. His spirit was alive & conscious after his body was dead & buried. IV. More on the rich man & Lazarus – Lk. 16:19-31 A. Both men in Hades. 1. Rich man in torment. 2. Lazarus in paradise, Abraham’s bosom. B. Important to remember they were in a temporary place – the place the soul goes between death & judgment. It is before the resurrection of the body. C. We must conclude that there are 3 states of our spirit: 1. The union with the body. 2. Separated from the body, while the body is in the tomb. 3. After the resurrection when the spirit is united with a glorified body – 1 Cor. 15:35-44. V. The Progression from physical life to eternity. A. All people are born into the world, or kingdom of nature. 1. An infant does not inherit sin; it not guilty of sin; and cannot be lost. 2. Should it die, it will go to paradise & ultimately to heaven. B. One who lives to the age of accountability becomes a sinner through the process described in James 1:13-18. 1. Such a person is in a realm of spiritual darkness & in this way he will not go to heaven. 2. Die? Got to torment (hades) and ultimately hell. C. By hearing & obeying gospel, F, R, C, B – one can be delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of Christ. 1. As a citizen of the kingdom, if one becomes and remains unfaithful (1 Cor. 9:27; 10:12; 2 Pet. 2:20-22) he will be lost. D. If one adds and practices the characteristics of a Christian, and remains faithful until death – he will be saved. E. At death, there is a separation of spirit & body. (Ecc 12:7; Js. 2:26). Body returns to the earth & spirit enters hades. F. There is a separation of the righteous & wicked in hades. 1. righteous are in paradise 2. wicked are in torment G. There will be a resurrection of all the dead. John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15 1. then – souls will be called from hades (Rev. 20:12-13) 2. they will be judged – Mt. 25:31-32; Acts 17:31) H. From judgment – wicked will go to hell – a place of unending torment – Rev. 14:11; 20:15; 21:8) 1. righteous will go to heaven – Mt. 25:46b; 1 Pet. 1:4; 2 Pet. 1:11; Rev. 21:27; 22:14 Conclusion: A. Where do you stand before God? Are you ready to die? B. At death, your eternal fate is sealed. Make preparations now. C. I N V I T A T I O N