DEATH: Where do we go when we die?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?

The whole point of this thread will be about the fact that it is very important what you believe on this subject. Because if you believe that when you die then your "soul" goes up to heaven and you are conscious up there, then that means we can talk to the dead. Thus, the Roman Catholic idea of talking to the dead saints like the Virgin Mary.

The Bible says not to become involved in Witchcraft, Sorcery. Spiritualism is what it is called today when we talk to the dead and get advice from them. What say you? Is it really the soul of a departed loved one that we are conversing with? Is it really them who appear during the middle of the night at the foot of someone's bed? or is it really a demonic presence?

When a Christian's family member or friend dies, should the Preacher at the Funeral be saying "Good old Charlie is up there in Heaven looking down on us"? How does the Preacher "comfort" the congregation? Does he do it like it tells him to in 1 Thessalonians 4 verses 16-18?


1 Thessalonians 4:
13: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18: Wherefore comfort one another with these words.


You soul is composed of body plus spirit.

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground." Gen. 2:7.

"And [God] breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Gen. 2:7.

"All the while my breath is in me. and the spirit of God is in my nostrils." Job 27:3.
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Your spirit goes to heaven at death. Your spirit is merely your breath.

"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." Eccl. 12:7.

"All the while my breath is in me. and the spirit of God is in my nostrils." Job 27:3.
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Your body is in the grave till the second coming of Christ.

"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." Col. 3:3, 4.
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The Bible says you are "asleep"

"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake." Dan. 12:2.

 

Tim,


You arent supposed to start with the "absent from the body" thing till a little later in the discussion --dont you know nuttin' ? People dont usually come up with that till lots further along...

I will just let this sit here a bit and see what people's ideas are on this are before saying more...

 

Yessssssss thats another one that people normally dont do till toward the end.. there is one more of those too but I cant remember what it is...

 

"For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better." Phil. 1:23.


..thats the other one

 

ok 4 of them then LOL~


But those are the more "involved" passages.. so people usually do those at the end...

 

Okay be sure to go back and re-read the Opening Statement since I added some to it...

 

When Lazarus died, he stayed in the grave for 4 days straight. Jesus said Lazarus was "asleep". He was dead. Martha knew that he would rise again at the resurrection day.

Why when Lazarus was brought back to life, did he not have wondrous stories to tell about how it was those 4 days up in Heaven?


John 11:
11: These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12: Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13: Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14: Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
17: Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
23: Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24: Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

 

Amy, If Lazarus were up in Heaven when he was dead, why did Jesus tell everyone that He was going to ascend up to Heaven and that when He did He would prepare a place for us and then "when He comes again, He would THEN receive us unto Himself so that where He is, we could be there also?"

If we are already THERE in heaven at death, why would Jesus come and receive us unto Himself at the second coming? so that we could be with Him there also?

After all, we already read in Thessalonians that at the second coming Jesus would catch us up into the air. (see my opening statement)


John 14:2
2: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

well thats nice for you, but it doesnt make it so, and do you think that its nice for people who have loved ones who are lost thinking they are down there right now burning forever and ever in Hell?

If so, why would Hitler roast in Hell for alot shorter time than someone born 500 years before he was that didnt do nearly as horrid things and went to Hell also? Is that a God of Justice?


1Thes:4:15: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

...that means we are not going up there before they do, we are all going up at the same time together. Imagine coming out of th grave and your loved ones who died before you coming up at the same time and you all get to go up to heaven together.