The one most important fact to all mankind is that we die! No matter who we are, what part of the earth we live, how much money we have, how famous, or how loved or hated we are, no one can escape death, no one can live forever. So more important than life as we know it is to know what becomes of us all at death. Many are the vast varieties of teachings on this subject that it is easier to push it out of our minds than to study all these conceptions that seem only to confuse and darken the understanding, but ignoring this subject is not going to change the fact. Again the fact is we cannot escape death, it is to be understood and as intelligent beings created by God, and especially as God has given us a guide, the Holy Bible. The book of Isaiah in verse 28 : 9 says Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine ? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. In other words you must be willing to learn as a child in humility and not as if you know every thing already. In Isaiah 28 : 10 it continues For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line,line upon line; here a little and there a little.
In Bible study, consistency must be seen in the doctrines studied, by comparing scripture with scripture here a little and there a little. The scripture is to explain itself so that we may build a strong foundation on any subject studied in clarity. With this understanding in mind we can now begin our investigation on the state of the dead as revealed in the Bible.
The Holy scriptures states that God alone has immortality, 1Tim. 6 : 16. It also clearly teaches that the reason for death is because of sin, and all have have sinned Rom. 3 : 23 Rom 6 : 23
The gift of life that keep all beings alive both animals and humans is dependent on the same. Ecc. 3 : 19 & 20
For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beast; even one thing befalleth them: as one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they all have one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence over a beast: for all is vanity.
All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
It is no where taught in these sacred writings that when you die you go Immediately and instantly to Heaven or Hel,l but as going out of existence and becoming dust.
Let us look at some more scriptures to establish this Bible rule of Line upon line, Here a little there a little. In Ps. 146 : 1 – 4… it states While I LIVE I will praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being ( life )……
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. No brain activity at death, therefore NO CONSCIOUSNESS IN THAT VERY DAY !! ( see also Ps. 115 : 17 Ps. 30 : 9 Isaiah 38 : 18 & 19). As stated above the dead cannot praise God: as their life ceases all conciousness ends with it, says the Psalmist ( Ps. 6 : 5 ), For in death there is NO REMEMBERANCE OF THEE : IN THE GRAVE WHO SHALL GIVE THEE THANKS ? Ecc. 9 : 5,6 & 10 FOR THE LIVING KNOW THAT THEY SHALL DIE: BUT THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANYTHING ,…. 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, WITHER THOU GOEST.
It is abundantly clear that there is no hope in the grave, therefore our decisions to serve the one true God YHWH, must be made now, for eternity, while we have life in this mortal body
Seeing then that the dead know not anything we are to keep ourselves from getting involved in any form of so called communication with the dead (Necromancy) because those that teach this to be possible are really teaching doctrines of demons ( Satan and his evil angels ): introducing you to Evil Spirits/ Fallen Angels who impersonate the dead so as to deceive the foolish and ignorant.
As said by one writer ” Marvelous beyond expression is the blindness of the people of this generation. Thousands reject the word of God as unworthy of belief and with eager confidence receive the deceptions of Satan.. So fully have they yielded to the tempter, so closely are they united with him, and so thoroughly imbued with his spirit, that they have no power and no inclination to break away from his snare.”
I do pray that this study will be of help to all who seek to break off the snare of Satan.
In the book of Job 14 : 10 – 15, we read But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, ( the breath of life ) , and where is he ? … So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of there sleep… Then the question is asked ; 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:…
It is only God who is able to give life unto man again: but this life is given at an appointed time .This appointed time is at the second coming of Christ and not before Jh. 6 : 38 – 40, 1Thess. 4 : 16 – 18. Christ says in Jh. 11 : 23 – 25 speaking to Martha whose brother had died and who also believed in the resurrection of the dead which is to take place at the last day; Jesus says I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he be dead, yet shall he live.
Wonderful is the promise given to all of humanity who accept Christ and the Bible as their Saviour and guide to the hope of a resurrection after death. The ressurection of the just unto life eternal and the resurrection of the unjust unto complete annihilation and the lost of a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness. Rev. 21 : 1 _ 4.
My dear friends now is the only time and opportunity given to us to choose Christ and receive life eternal. Gal. 6 : 7 & 8. says Be not decieved; God is not mocked: for what soever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that reapeth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Even in nature we see the lesson of the resurrection in every seed that is sown in the earth. The seed dies to spring forth into new life: God is the Creator and Ruler of Nature, therefor there are many wonderful spiritual lessons we can learn from studying nature as we study his word, the Holt y Bible; God will bless your efforts.
Solem will be the day of final decision: Rev. 20 : 11 & 12 states I saw a great white throne,and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and 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 was judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to there works.
“Sad will be the retrospect in that day when men stand face to face with eternity.The whole life will present itself just as it has been… Then they will see the results of their choice… There will be no future probation in which to prepare for eternity. It is in this life we must put on the robes of Christ’s righteousness… The days of our probation are fast closing. THE END IS NEAR.” (See also the study The resurrection is it past or future).
May God bless you and guide you into His truth that you may be saved; and not you only but also your family and all of your loved ones.
Written by
Brother Farouk Billy Karim
Filed under: Christian Doctrines |
Leave a Reply