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What really happens when we die
The thought about the after life always come across my mind. I have looked up scriptures regarding what happens to believers once they pass away, and I also read books about what happens to us as well. I'm confused because the Apostle Paul said in Thessalonians that we are "asleep" once we die and that once the rapture comes the dead in Christ will rise first. But then again, Jesus told the thief on the cross that he would be with him that same day in paradise. I also read in a book by David Jeremiah (what in the world is going on), that we will be in a "peaceful state of sleep" once we die until Jesus returns to rapture the church.My pastor believes that when we die, our spirits immediatly go to heaven or hell according to what we choose to believe while we are alive.
I guess this opinion is divided among many pastors and biblical scholar's because I keep reading both opinions from a number of people. There are also accounts of people that supposedly have died and came back and told what happen to them. Some say they actually went to heaven, and some reported that they have went to hell ( 90 min in heaven by Don Piper). So I been reading everything that I could find out about it to get a clear understanding about it.
I know that it really does not matter what happens when we die because we have no control over it and we all have to face it. But it's kind of important to me right now, I was under the impression that our loved ones go immediately to be with Christ until the new earth is set up. I always though that sleeping refers to the physical body that was dead, I didn't think that our spirits was asleep, I thought the spirit lives on forever. It really saddens me to think that our loved ones are in a state of sleep, not knowing what's going on or where they are truly at.
I guess this opinion is divided among many pastors and biblical scholar's because I keep reading both opinions from a number of people. There are also accounts of people that supposedly have died and came back and told what happen to them. Some say they actually went to heaven, and some reported that they have went to hell ( 90 min in heaven by Don Piper). So I been reading everything that I could find out about it to get a clear understanding about it.
I know that it really does not matter what happens when we die because we have no control over it and we all have to face it. But it's kind of important to me right now, I was under the impression that our loved ones go immediately to be with Christ until the new earth is set up. I always though that sleeping refers to the physical body that was dead, I didn't think that our spirits was asleep, I thought the spirit lives on forever. It really saddens me to think that our loved ones are in a state of sleep, not knowing what's going on or where they are truly at.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Dee,
Here are two websites with some information regarding your question:
http://www.allaboutspirituality.org/what-happens-after-death-faq.htm
http://www.gotquestions.org/soul-sleep.html
I personally believe the Bible teaches that we go to be with the Lord awake and alert. One great account is found in Luke 16. The rich man, Lazarus and Abraham are clearly awake and aware of their situations.Philippians 1:21-25 also give us a strong understanding of instant translation from here to the presence of the Lord based on Paul's words.
Hope this helps some.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Permalink Reply by Mercy777 on
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Hello LT,
I also found this scripture in reading.
Genesis 25:8
Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.
I have had alot of people tell me we sleep, but my heart was having a hard time with this, especially knowing the scripture of Abraham and Lazarus.
Also I forgot about the thief on the cross as Deedee had spoke about. My heart jumped at this conversation.
I just read Philippians...four pieces of scripture so far the Holy Spirit is speaking.
Thanks everyone, this really helped me also.
God Bless You,
Mercy
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Permalink Reply by deedee310 on
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Hi Lt,
Can you clarify the scripture in Thessalonians where Paul is talking to the people about "sleeping". I guess that is what really have me confused. I know that I should not be worried about it, but it bothers me a lot.
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Think of us as being a three part being, body, soul and spirit. The body sleeps in the grave (dead) without the spirit or soul. The body silently awaits the call to be changed and united with the spirit. The saved unto righteousness and the lost unto judgment.
That is the short version.
Hope that helps.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Permalink Reply by AAG Netguy on
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LaBrock,
Just curious, but what scriptural support can you provide that says the "Lord's day (1,000 years) is for discipline." I don't see a place in the Bible where this is taught and it looks like speculation to me. Seems equivialent to the Roman Catholic churches unscriptural postion on purgatory which we reject as unbiblical.
Again, read these two articles:
http://www.allaboutspirituality.org/what-happens-after-death-faq.htm
http://www.gotquestions.org/soul-sleep.html
Greg
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Permalink Reply by Lariosa, MM on
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very deep to understand
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Permalink Reply by roy ruser on
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there is a explanation to what happens when we die, if we check the bible we find we are three parts 1 body, 2 soul, 3 spirit, when we die part 1, dies because of sin, part 2 the soul ( that is the mind ,will, and emotions. ) and part 3 the spirit, go back to God, thoes without Christ in there lives, are held in hades, ( hell in english ) but this is only the holding place until the final judgement which is Gehenna, the holding place for thoes who die in Christ, the holding place is called Abrahams bossom, where parts 2&3 of us wait until every thing is complete, there is a lot more to this subject, people who died are not completley dead as God created life not death, sin brought death, i hope this helps you see it more clear, sorry i can't add more at this time have to go to work,
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Permalink Reply by DaughterOfGod on
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Deedee,
thanx much for asking this question! I too have wondered, as my walk with the Lord is new. and thanx to LT for those two articles...they were very informative!!
nancy
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Wow, that's a very interesting story...... I've always assumed that when we die and do go to heaven the first person that we meet is Jesus. In your experience, what did heaven look like? Did you even meet God at all?
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Very interesting and you are right, there are so many people who claim to have after life experiences and everyone's experience is different and unique. I don't know anyone personally how has experienced a life after death experience. As I started studying the scriptures and learning more about God, I've learned that when it's a person's time to die, it's their time to die. God all gave us a date to be born and a date to die. I was under the impression that once we do die, then that's it, there is no returning from wherever our destination is in the after life. Maybe I am wrong, but this is what I have believed just based on what I have researched (researched in the bible) on this subject. According to the bible, the scriptures tells us that there is a "time to be born and a time to die" Ecclesiastes 3:2. So based on that, I figured that once our spirits leave our bodies, then that is it.... there is no more of our life here on earth. So in a way I get sort of confused when I read about people who has had life after death experiences because of what the bible tells us, or maybe my interpretation of the scriptures is not correct.
Please don't get me wrong, I am not saying that anyone who professes to have a life after death experience is not telling the truth.....when a person dies and goes to heaven or hell and comes back to life to tell about it seem to contradict what the bible says about this subject. But as I stated earlier, I just started really studying the bible about at the beginning of this year and there are a lot of things that I don't know and I am still learning, so it could be that my interpretation is totally wrong.
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