I. What was the state of dead, both righteous and wicked during the Old Testament times?
In order to understand it, first we must learn the composition of man that God made.
Gen 2:7 “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 soul.”
Here is the composition of man:
DUST (physical body) + BREATH OF LIFE (spirit) = LIVING SOUL.
Man is a LIVING SOUL composed of dust and breath of life.
Let us reverse the process:
DUST (physical body) – BREATH OF LIFE (spirit) = DEAD SOUL.
Man becomes a DEAD SOUL when the breath of life leaves the physical body.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
When it happens, man, the soul himself is dead – a DEAD soul. The soul dies. It is not immortal.
Ezekiel 18:4 “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
When man (the soul) dies, he stops existing. The breath of life (spirit) goes back to God who gave it, and he (the physical body) returns to the earth – which means he returns to the dust. That’s the grave. When man dies, he goes to hell/grave. A place of non-existence and unconsciousness. The Bible calls this state of the dead as “sleep”.
All OT people, righteous or wicked, when they died went to Hell or THE GRAVE, called in the Old Testament as SHEOL. Contrary to popular teaching, it was not a place of waiting for conscious spirits of the dead waiting for the resurrection, but it was a place of unconsciousness and inactivity.
All the saints from Old Testament times up to New Testament times slept in hell/grave until the Parousia/ arrival/coming of Christ in 70 A.D.
A. Look at these verses that teach that the OT and NT dead people “slept” in their graves.
1. Ecclesiastes
Eccl 9:5 “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.”
Eccl 9:6 “Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.”
Eccl 9:10 “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither (where) thou goest.”
Eccl 3:19 “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.”
Eccl 3:20 “All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.”
2. Psalms
Psa 6:5 “For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?”
Psa 49:12 “Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.”
Psa 49:14 “Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.”
Psa 49:20 “Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.”
Psa 88:11-12 “Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?”
Psa 115:17 “The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence”
Psa 146:3-4 “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”
3. Job
Job 14:10 -12 “But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.”
Job 14:13-15 “O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.”
Job 17:11-16 “My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness. If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. I have said to corruption, thou art my father: to the worm, thou art my mother, and my sister. And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.”
4. Isaiah
Isa 38:18 “For the grave cannot praise Thee, death can not celebrate Thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for Thy truth.”
5. John
About Lazarus: John 11:11, 13 “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… Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.”
6. Acts
About Stephen: Acts 7:60 “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
About King David: Acts 13:36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption”
7. 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 11:30 “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”
1 Corinthians 15:51 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed”
8. 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 “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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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.”
II. Man is Mortal and NOT Immortal
A. Here are the verses that prove that man is mortal which means “he dies”.
1. Genesis
Gen 2:7 “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 soul.”
Gen 3:22 “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:”
Gen 3:23-24 “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
2. Ezekiel
Ezekiel 18:4 “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
3. 1 Timothy
1 Tim 6:16 “Who (Christ Jesus) ONLY hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”
4. 1 Corinthians
1 Cor 15:53-54 “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
5. Romans
Rom 2:7 “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life”
III. Without Christ there is no immortality
A. False teaching: setting a wrong date for the resurrection.
During Apostle Paul’s time there were two men teaching heresy: Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:17, 18) “Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some”. Why could they fool the saints in that way? Because the saints of that time were taught by Paul the apostle and they believed that the resurrection would be SPIRITUAL in nature, and NOT physical. If the saints during Paul’s time believed that the resurrection was to be a physical one, they would not have been fooled, because if it was or would be, they would see it with their physical eyes. Remember, according to Jesus that “the kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Matt 17:20, 21). It means that the kingdom of God is NOT physical. It cannot be seen with the physical eyes. It is spiritual and spiritual things can only be “spiritually discerned” (1 Cor 2:14) that is why Jesus said that a man must be “born again” (regenerated) in order for him to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). And resurrection happens only when Christ comes in his kingdom (Mark 9:1; 1 Cor 15:23-24).
Yes these two men were right, for the resurrection is spiritual in nature. But these two men were mistaken, for the resurrection (spiritual resurrection) had not occurred yet in their day for it was still to come. Their error was NOT the teaching of a spiritual resurrection, but the declaration that it had already occurred in their time, without understanding the exact prophetic time of the Lord who prophesied that his coming and the resurrection would come after a generation. But during their time, that generation (40 years) had not yet passed, so it would be an error to say that the resurrection had happened already. And so their teaching was called a heresy.
Mark 13:30 “Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.”
Luke 21:32 “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.”
Therefore the resurrection had not yet occurred that time for without Christ there was and never will be a resurrection. Resurrection happens only when Christ comes back.
John 11:25 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”
For the Bible teaches that “the dead shall be raised incorruptible” (1 Cor. 15:52) or be resurrected at Christ’s coming (1 Cor. 15:23). Christ had not yet come back during that time.
The error of Hymanaeus and Philetus: teaching that the resurrection is past already (during their time). Setting the wrong date of the resurrection. Many today follow these heretics, by teaching that the resurrection will still be in the future and that it will be physical. So you see, whether you teach a spiritual resurrection or a physical resurrection, but you set the wrong date, it is heresy. But what is the right and exact date of the resurrection?
B. Right teaching: The resurrection happened after a generation (40 year period) according to Christ’s words, at Christ’s coming/arrival or parousia. 30 to 70 A.D.
It happened at 70 A.D. – when Christ fulfilled his promise of return after a generation (40 years) to judge the quick and the dead at the destruction of Jerusalem and her temple.
Can’t we trust Christ’s very words? He is faithful and true.
Matthew 16:28 “Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”
Matthew 10:23 “But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”
Matthew 24:34 “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
1 Corinthians 15: 21 -23 “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.”
1 Corinthians 15: 42 -49 “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”
IV. Christ is the Solution to Death
A. Christ is the only one who has immortality and the Giver of immortality.
1 Timothy 6:14-16 "Our Lord Jesus Christ; which in His times He shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen"(1 Timothy 6:14-16).
2 Timothy 1: 9-11 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”
B. Christ died for his people, was buried and rose again from the dead to be the firstborn from the dead.
Hebrews 2:9 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
C. He abolished spiritual death.
2 Timothy 1: 9-11 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”
D. He took the keys of hell (grave) and spiritual death from the devil.
Revelation 1:18 “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
E. He destroyed the devil which had the power of spiritual death.
Hebrews 2:14 “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil”
F. He became the mediator of the New Testament for the eternal inheritance of his people.
Hebrews 9:15 “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”
Hebrews 9:16 “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”
G. He finally destroyed spiritual death at his second coming.
1Cor 15: 23-28 “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”
1 Cor 15: 54-57 “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
V. After the Parousia/ Arrival/ or Coming of Christ, all the saints have received Immortality.
A. The saints, even after the cross, before 70 A.D. were still waiting for their salvation:
Romans 5: 8 -10 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
1. Yes, they were justified, but still waiting for the completion of their salvation.
Romans 13: 11 -14 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
1 Peter 1: 3-5,9 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time…Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”
Hebrews 10: 35-39 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
2. They were still hoping for eternal life
Mark 10:30 “But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”
Romans 6: 22-23 “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
John 3:15-16 “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Titus 1:2 “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began”
Titus 3:7 “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Jude 1:21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
3. They were still waiting for their adoption, the redemption of their bodies
Romans 8: 18-25 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”
Ephesians 1: 13 -14 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 4: 30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
4. They were waiting for the coming of Christ to redeem them.
Luke 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
1 Corinthians 1:7 “So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”
1 Corinthians 15:23 “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.”
1 Thessalonians 3:13 “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
B. All the saints or all those who have trusted in Christ since 70 A.D. have now eternal life or immortality through the gospel. The resurrection of the righteous dead happened then.
The promise of eternal life and/or immortality became a fact now because Christ has come and is present with us. We are now complete in Christ.
1 Cor 15: 22-24 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”
Col 1: 26-28 “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus”
Col 2: 9-15 “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”
Col 3: 10-11 “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”
Today we can confidently confess this with all confidence because of the finished work of Christ: that we are saved already and NOT will be saved.
Ephesians 2: 8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
C. After 70 A.D. there is NO MORE soul sleep. Those who have slept in the OT have now been awaken out of their sleep.
Death was called sleep. And resurrection was called awakening. All the dead in Christ resurrected (which means “stood again” or rose again ) – Gk. Anastasis.
Job 14:12 “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.”
When would they wake up? When the heavens be no more, they should awake.
Did that happen already? Yes. When Christ came.
Luke 12:39 “And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.”
1 Thes 5: 2 “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.”
2 Peter 3: 10-13 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
D. After 70 A.D. all the saints in Christ have received a glorious, incorruptible, powerful, spiritual, heavenly, changed and immortal body that Christ prepared for them – the body that they will use in eternity.
1. A glorious body:
Philippians 3: 20 -21 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
2. An incorruptible body:
1 Cor 15: 42 “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption”
3. A powerful body:
1 Cor 15: 43 “It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power”
4. A spiritual body:
1 Cor 15: 44-46 “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.”
5. A heavenly body and not an earthy physical flesh and blood body:
1 Cor 15: 47- 50 “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
6. A changed, transformed, brand new body:
1 Cor 15: 51 -52 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
7. An immortal body:
1 Cor 15: 53-54 “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
You may say that we have not yet received that because we are still in this corruptible and mortal physical body. Yes, we are still in this body of flesh and blood, this body of death, but at the same time we have/ we possess eternal life and immortal body because we have Christ in us who is the resurrection and the life.
After 70 A.D. all the saints that die (physically) are blessed.
Revelation 14:13 “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
Because they will no more go to the grave and wait for the resurrection but they transfer from this physical world unto the world of immortality and eternity with Christ.
VI. When Christ appears, we shall appear with him in glory.
A. What is appearing?
Now that the Lord has come back and is present with us since 70 A.D., and the Lord had fulfilled all his prophecies written in his book, so everything is finished and fulfilled. That is why we call it “Fulfilled” or “Completed” theology.
Some people ask us, “If that is the case, then what is OUR HOPE?” “If the event that was hoped for by the saints in the Bible – called the Second Coming – had already happened, then we don’t no more hope”.
We answer that question by saying: Our hope is the appearing of Christ.
Isn’t the Second Coming of Christ (the parousia) the same as the appearing of Christ (the epiphaneia or manifestation of Christ)?
The second coming and the appearing are two different things. The coming of Christ is this – Christ “descends from heaven” (1 Thess 5:16). Christ from heaven to earth. On the other hand, the appearing or manifestation of Christ is this – Christ does not descend from heaven, but is in heaven. He doesn’t come to us; we come to him – in heaven. We from earth to heaven. This is what Paul says as we shall “appear/manifest with Christ in glory” when he appears/manifests (Col 3:4).
Jesus Christ began his appearing when he was manifest in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16; 2 Tim 1:10; Titus 2:11). Then he was to appear again during his second coming (1 Pet 1:7; 5:4; 1 John 2:28; 3:2). And he is going to appear/manifest again in heaven for members of the Body of Christ (Col 3:4; Titus 2:13). Every man at his own order. (1 Cor 15:23). We shall manifest with him in glory. He is in heaven. When we die, we go to heaven, where Christ is (Col 3:1). So there we will manifest with him. That is the appearing of Christ with the members of his body, the church.
The hope of the Body of Christ is not the second coming but the appearing of Christ.
B. We look for his appearing.
(We don’t wait, we look. The NIV uses “wait” but the KJV uses “look”. Looking is different from waiting.)
Philippians 3: 20-21 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
Titus 2: 11 -13 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”
Col 3: 1-4 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 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.”
VII. After Christ’s coming/arrival/parousia, what happens to believers that die?
A. Physical death will continue. It is appointed unto all men to die (physically).
Heb 9: 27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”
Gen 3: 19 “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
Ecclesiastes 12: 7 “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
The wages of sin is death – this death is not physical death but spiritual death. Since man’s problem is sin and spiritual death, which are spiritual, the resurrection is spiritual and not physical. Physical death is a normal part of our being and part of God’s design. The problem is not the physical death, but spiritual death. Therefore God gave solution to it through Christ’s finished work of redemption from the cross to the crown.
B. At the time of death, the saints do no more go to hell (hades or grave) but go directly to Christ in heaven.
Philippians 1: 23 “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better”
When Christ came at 70 A.D. the dead in Christ rose again from the dead, not from the physical grave, but from spiritual death and they were clothed with spiritual, immortal and incorruptible body.
1 Thes 4: 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:”
What happened to living believers during that time when Christ came? Were they “raptured” as commonly taught, which means “disappeared and went to the Lord with their living physical bodies”? No! They were not.
Paul continued in 1 Thes 4:17 “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.”
Those who were alive during that time were changed/ transformed. (1 Cor 15:51,52). They were given a spiritual, immortal, incorruptible body, even while still living in their corruptible, physical and mortal bodies. So they had “two bodies” – mortal and immortal at the same time. Because Christ was already present with, among and in them. Because they still had mortal bodies, they also died physically. When they died, 1 Thes 4:17 happened to them. They were “caught up” in the clouds (in God’s presence) and met the Lord in heaven and they are now with the Lord and it will be for eternity.
The same with us. We as believers/ saints in Christ have these “two bodies” – mortal and immortal. When we die, we put off the mortal body and put on forever the immortal body and we will be “caught up” to be with the Lord forever in heaven.
Dispensationalists call it “rapture” based from the Latin word for “being caught up”. If there is really “rapture”, this is it! It is the rapture of the believers. They are raptured at their death to be with Christ in the world of immortality, eternity and glory.
C. We put off the mortal body and puts on the immortal body only forever.
2 Cor 5: 1-4,8 “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. ..We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
D. The believer’s composition:
DUST (Physical Body) + SPIRIT (Quickened/ Regenerate/ Spiritual Body) = LIVING SOUL and LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT.
The believer has TWO BODIES: (1) The physical body [natural, soulish, psuchikos] – from the earth, that belongs to the physical world and (2) The spiritual body [immortal, spiritual, pneumatikos] – from heaven, that belongs to the spiritual world. (1 Cor 15:44).
E. The believer’s destiny: heaven
When he dies physically:
DUST (Physical Body) – SPIRIT (Spiritual Body) = LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT
What remains is THE SPIRITUAL BODY.
Life without a physical body, but continues to exist forever as a spiritual and immortal body. His physical body (dust) returns to dust, but his spirit man returns to God (now not just a spirit, but a SPIRITUAL BODY). He is caught up to be with the Lord Christ forever in heaven.
VIII. What happens to unbelievers that die?
A. The resurrection of the wicked dead.
The Bible teaches that there would be a resurrection of both the believers and the unbelievers.
John 5:29 “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
Acts 24:15 “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.”
The believer’s resurrection – OF LIFE.
The unbeliever’s resurrection – OF DAMNATION.
Do you see the contrast? The believers when they are resurrected – they receive LIFE, but the wicked, when resurrected – they receive DAMNATION and not LIFE!
So it means, the resurrection of the wicked is NOT raising them up into life again, giving them a new life. But the contrary, which is death. Why will God resurrect them to life again just to destroy and damn?
B. The Damnation: Lake of fire.
What is the DAMNATION?
Matt 23:33 “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”
Mark 3:29 “But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:”
Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
2 Thessalonians 2:12 “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
That damnation is the damnation of hell!
What is that “hell”?
Mark 9:43, 45, 47 “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire”
That is called “lake of fire” in the book of Revelation:
Revelation 20: 14, 15 “And death and hell (hades) were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
The lake of fire is the second death.
Revelation 21: 8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
All those described above would be cast into the lake of fire.
When would that happen? During the great white throne judgment.
Revelation 20: 11-15 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
The white throne judgment is during the second coming of Christ! The day of the Lord (2 Pet 3:10)
2 Peter 2:9 “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished”
2 Peter 3:7 “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”
The judgment and rewarding of the righteous and the wicked are at the same time. The judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10) is the same as the great white throne.
C. The Fire of God’s Judgment.
Look at these scriptures about the judgment of fire:
Matthew 3:10-12 “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Matthew 5:22 “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
Matthew 7:19 “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
Matthew 13:40,42 “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world…And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Luke 3:9 “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
Luke 3:16-17 “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.”
Luke 9:54 “And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?”
Luke 12:49 “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I if it be already kindled?”
Luke 17:29 “But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.”
Hebrews 12:29 “For our God is a consuming fire.”
2 Thessalonians 1:8 “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”
2 Peter 3:7 “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”
2 Peter 3:12 “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”
Jude 1:7 “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
Revelation 14:10 “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb”
Revelation 17:16 “And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.”
Revelation 18:8 “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.”
Revelation 19:12 “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.”
Revelation 19:20 “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
Revelation 20:9 “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”
Revelation 20:10 “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
Revelation 20:14-15 “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
As we can see, in the scripture verses above, God’s judgments are with fire! The second coming of the Lord in the day of the Lord described in OT as the day of judgment (Zephaniah 1:7,14,15). And on that day, “the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men… wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:7,12).
We know that these descriptions of “heavens and the earth being on fire and dissolved and melted with fervent heat” are not talking about the “destruction of the physical heavens and earth by fire” but about the “destruction of the Jerusalem and Judaism”. So the fire involved in the coming of the Lord is not a literal fire. Whenever God uses literal fire in judgment such in Sodom and Gomorrha, he uses it as symbol of judgment. So the use of fire in the verses about God’s judgment regarding his second coming is not literal fire, but a figurative fire – his judgment for GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE!
D. The punishment of the wicked: everlasting destruction.
2 Thess 1: 7-10 “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”
Matthew 10: 28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The word “perish” and “destroy” are the same. Gk. Apollumi, which means to destroy utterly. To bring to nothing.
E. Now, then, what is the resurrection of the wicked dead?
It is called “resurrection of damnation”. And damnation is the damnation of hell. And hell is the lake of fire, which is also the second death. So the resurrection of damnation is not raising up or quickening again the wicked dead to give them a new physical body and after that casting them into the lake of fire to be tormented forever. Rather, the resurrection of damnation is God’s judgment by fire, and fire is not a literal fire but a symbol of justice and vengeance. He punished them with second death. What is death but separation from life and non-existence. Paul called it “everlasting destruction”. What does it mean? To be destroyed or be nothing forever. That means the wicked will never be immortal and will never spend eternity. Only believers will spend eternity. God is not a cruel punisher that enjoys torturing sinners. He will rather kill or destroy them utterly than torture them. The wages of sin is death and not torture. And it is everlasting destruction.
F. The unbeliever’s composition:
DUST (Physical Body) + SPIRIT (Unregenerate/Dead) = LIVING SOUL.
He is a LIVING SOUL which means that he has a “spirit or breath of life that gives life to his physical body”, but he has no “breath or spirit that gives spiritual life or zoe” in him. He is dead in sins and trespasses (Eph 2:1). Physically alive but spiritually dead. His spirit is dead because of his sins (Romans 5:12). He must be born again (John 3:7) of the Spirit so that he may be a “spirit” (John 3:6).
G. The unbeliever’s destiny: hell/grave
When he dies physically:
DUST (Physical Body) – SPIRIT (Unregenerate/Dead) = DEAD SOUL.
He goes to hell/grave and stops existing. No resurrection. Everlasting destruction. Because when he was still physically alive, he was spiritually dead, and never was quickened, so when he dies, he remains spiritually dead forever. For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Spiritual death. Death means not only separation from life but also non-existence. In this case, he experienced two deaths: physical death and spiritual death. Separation from physical and spiritual life. Non-existence. He becomes nothing.
The unbeliever/unregenerate has no spiritual body that is why, when he dies physically, he will never be able to live the eternal, spiritual life in heaven. He will never be fit for heaven. Why? Because he has no heavenly body. Flesh and blood (physical body) can’t inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 15:50). So what happens, when he dies, that is his end. He will never be able to live after this life. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). Only believers in Christ have immortality and only they will be granted the gift of eternal life – to live an everlasting bliss – after this physical life.
When the believer dies, he goes to heaven. On the contrary, now, when the unbeliever dies, he goes to hell, not the gehenna hell, but the hades hell – the grave.
Psalms 9:17 “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
Proverbs 15:11 “Hell and destruction are before the LORD”
Proverbs 27:20 “Hell and destruction are never full” bliss
Isaiah 5:14 “Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.”
Deuteronomy 32:22 “For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.”
Prepared by:
Bishop Marthy C. Austria
H.U.G. of Christ Fellowship
Pleroma Bible Training Centre
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