Where Are the Dead?. Current Theories Purgatory –Where is the Scripture? –No Scripture—not revealed by God Reincarnation –No credible evidence Humans.

Where Are the Dead?

Current Theories

• Purgatory– Where is the Scripture?– No Scripture—not

revealed by God

• Reincarnation– No credible evidence

• Humans become angels– Where is the Scripture?

• Already in heaven – Hebrews 9:27

Only God’s Word Can Answer This Question

• Can’t know by human reasoning.– Beyond physical and natural

realm.

• Can’t know from human experience.– We’ve never been there—not

yet anyway.

• Must use God’s word to find the truth.– A “Thus saith the Lord.”

What Is Man?

• “But one testified in a certain place, saying: ‘What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of him?’” {Hebrews 2:6}

• Man is a composite being.– “Then the dust will return to the

earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” {Ecclesiastes 12:7}

• “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.” {Genesis 2:7}

• Flesh and spirit.– “I, Daniel, was grieved in my

spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.” {Daniel 7:15}

What Is Man?

Defining Life and Death

• “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” {James 2:26}

• DEATH—separation of body and spirit

• LIFE—union of body and spirit

The Body’s Destination

• The body returns to the dust from which it was taken.– “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.” {Genesis 3:19}

• Paul compared the fleshly body to a tent—a temporary dwelling place.– “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.” {2 Corinthians 5:1}

The Body’s Destination

• The body is only temporary.– It will perish– It will decay– It will grow old– It is corruptible

• In asking, “Where are the dead,” we must ask “Where do our spirits go?”

The Body’s Destination

“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory.” {1 Corinthians 15:53,54}

The Body’s Destination

The Spirit’s Destination

• The spirit does NOT go:– To the GRAVE.

• Only the body is in the grave.

– To PURGATORY.• No Biblical proof

– Directly to HEAVEN or HELL.

• Contradicts other Bible teaching.

• Where does the spirit go?• Christ promised the penitent thief

that he would be in Paradise.• Christ said TODAY.

– “And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” {Luke 23:43}

– “… Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” {John 20:17}

The Spirit’s Destination

• Christ said He was going to Paradise.

• He DID NOT go to the Father.

• The Father is in heaven.– Matthew 6:9

• Therefore, Heaven and Paradise can NOT be the same place.– Christ did not go to heaven when

He died (Acts 1)

The Spirit’s Destination

Where Did Our Lord Go?

• Two things to notice:– The Lord’s body would not see

corruption.– His soul would not be left in

Hades. “I have set the LORD always

before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” {Psalm 16:8-10)

• Hades- A Greek word that means “unseen realm.”– “He, foreseeing this, spoke

concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.” {Acts 2:31,32)

Where Did Our Lord Go?

• When Jesus died, His soul went to Paradise.

• When Jesus died, His soul went to Hades.

• Paradise = Hades!– Realm of disembodied souls

awaiting final resurrection.– Christ was NOT left there;

He arose the third day. {Matthew 28:1-6}

Where Did Our Lord Go?

The Spirit’s Destination

• Jesus’ body—grave

• Jesus’ spirit—hades

• Our bodies—grave

• Our spirits—Hades

Characteristics of the Hadean World

• The rich man and Lazarus– Luke 16:19-31

Consciousness of the Dead

“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.” {Luke 16:25}

What

Will You Remember?