He stood alone among the pines, their fragrance enhanced by the recent shower. The birds were singing overhead. The flowers were sharing their colorful blooms. But he didn’t notice. He just stood quietly with his hat in his hands and his head bowed, feeling a terrible emptiness deep inside. He could not see clearly through his misty eyes. But he could still see the fresh mound of earth before him. The weight on his chest told him it was real, she was gone. He would have to go on alone. Life seemed so hard to bear. No more Mary to greet him on his return from his preaching trips. How he would miss her cheery smile and dancing eyes. She had stood by his side through many trials. The last years had been hard, her health had not been good. But she had been uncomplaining and always his encouragement.
Replacing his hat, Stephen slowly turned to go, the ache in his heart was almost more than he could bear. How lonely he felt! Though reluctant to leave her grave, he forced one foot ahead of the other until he reached the trail that pointed him toward home. Slowly his gaze shifted upward; he looked for a long while. There was a break in the clouds of the overcast sky and the sunlight together with the retreating rain created a beautiful rainbow. For the first time since Mary’s death, Stephen felt God’s comforting arms in the sight before his eyes. Yes, somehow, someway, God would help bring the promise of new beginnings into his life. “Thank you, Father,” he breathed.
The old door creaked on its hinges as Stephen entered his home. There was the smell of fresh bread that some kind neighbor had brought. “Oh,” Stephen thought, “I need to try to eat something even though I am really not hungry; but I need to keep my strength up.”
After a small supper, Stephen sat for awhile with his Bible on his lap. Pulling his chair closer to the fireplace he began to read the familiar words of John 11. He read how Jesus’ friend, Lazarus, had died and Jesus told his disciples that Lazarus was asleep. The disciples thought that if he was sleeping, he was getting some rest after his illness and he must be getting better, but Jesus clearly said, “Lazarus is dead.” John 11:14.
Stephen sighed, “My Mary is asleep, just like Lazarus was.” Then came the words that always brought a thrill to his heart, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” Stephen repeated those beautiful words again and again. Jesus was the resurrection for Mary and everyone who had ever died in Jesus! How these words flowed like a protecting shield around his aching heart.
Stephen threw a couple more logs on the fire and turned to retire for the night. Walking to the bedroom, he stopped for one more glance at Mary’s picture on the mantel. Slowly he turned and entered the bedroom. It seemed so cold and empty. Dressing quickly in his night clothes, he crawled into the cool cotton sheets. He felt more weary than he could ever remember feeling before. Sleep would be a welcome relief from the constant emptiness and turmoil within.
Stephen lay there in the dark room and contemplated the sequence of events. Tired though he was, he just could not get to sleep. If only he could put this all out of his mind, maybe rest would come, but that was impossible. Suddenly something at the foot of the bed caught his eye. It was a shaft of light. “Strange,” he thought, “it was overcast when I came home. The clouds must have cleared away and the moon made it’s appearance after all.” Looking toward the window he was amazed at what he didn’t see. There was no light coming in the window. Looking again at the foot of his bed, he saw the light had grown into a shimmering form. He stared as the form took shape. There at the foot of his bed stood his beloved Mary. She had that sweet smile on her face and the dancing look in her eyes.
Stephen’s heart began to beat fast. Could it be?? No! He knew what his Bible said. He had preached on it many times and had read it by his fire side that evening. Mary was asleep in the grave. This was none other than the enemy of souls come to deceive him. Stephen prayed silently for help.
“Get out of here Satan!” he commanded. “In the name of Jesus, leave this room!”
The beautiful features of Mary suddenly changed into an evil-looking, contorted face full of hatred. Then it was gone. Stephen sighed in relief. “Thank you Father,” he said for the second time that day.
This is a true story of one of God’s workers. Stephen lived more than a hundred years ago and he continued to preach Jesus as the resurrection and the life till he himself died at a ripe old age. He also recognized God’s hand in the death of his beloved Mary. She had been sickly and weak. God gave him another companion to cheer his soul who had great physical and spiritual strength in the Lord. Together they traveled all over the world telling others of the wonderful Savior and His soon return. He loved to preach of the time when all who have died in Jesus will be resurrected from the grave to live forever with their Lord.
How did Stephen know his night visitor was not really his beloved Mary? Could Satan fool you if he appeared to you as a deceased loved one? What did Stephen share with many hungering souls around this planet? Let’s take a look at what he taught from his well-worn Bible on the subject of death.
What happens when you die?
Is there life after death?
Do the dead go immediately to heaven?
Do they go anywhere?
Can they come back to communicate with the living?
Do they know what is going on?
Do they know anything at all?
Each of us has an appointment with death, an appointment that looms before us like a brick wall. If only we knew what was beyond! If only we could talk to someone who has been there! There is good news for you. You can! There is One who knows, who has passed through the portals of the tomb, and His Word can be depended upon. Let’s find out what the Bible says about death.
SATAN’S LIE
What did God tell Adam and Eve would happen if they disobeyed?
And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:15-17
But the Serpent, Satan, told Eve something different. What did he say?
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:2-5
What God said and what Satan said were directly contradictory. God said, “If you sin, you will die.” Satan said “If you sin, you will not die.”
Did Satan tell Eve the truth, or a lie?
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:44
Thought Question: Who originated the popular belief that man is immortal and cannot die but goes to heaven or hell when his time on earth is finished?
From the time of Adam and Eve until now Satan has kept right on insisting, “You won’t die. You have an immortal soul.” And people have been believing it and peddling the lie for him ever since.
WHAT ABOUT THE SOUL?
The phrase “immortal soul,” is not found a single time in all Scripture, although the word “soul” is used approximately 1600 times, and “spirit” over a thousand times. Not once in all these 2,600 times is the soul called immortal! The Bible always says man is mortal. (see Job 4:17)
Can a soul die?
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. Ezekiel 18:20
And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. Revelation 16:3
The Bible says humans and creatures do not have immortal souls. It is just that simple.
Who only has immortality?
That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of 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. l Timothy 6:14-16
God is the only one possessing immortality.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON DIES?
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7
What is this spirit that goes back to God?
All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils. Job 27:3
So the spirit that goes back to God is this breath, this spark of life, that God breathed into man’s nostrils at creation. The Greek word for spirit (or breath) is pneuma, meaning “air.” From it we derive such words as pneumonia and pneumatic tires.
What happens to the believer who dies in Christ? If his breath goes back to God, does he go, too? Is he in heaven singing and praising God?
For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? Psalm 6:5
Can the dead think?
His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Psalm 146:4
Do the dead know anything at all? Can they hate or love, or be envious?
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 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. Ecclesiastes 9:5-6
How much of man’s knowledge and accomplishments will go with him when he dies?
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 thou goest. Ecclesiastes 9:10
How can the righteous dead be in heaven if they don’t know anything, have no wisdom, no knowledge, cannot praise God, nor remember their love for Him? The theory that the soul goes immediately to heaven after death is simply not true. It is Satan’s lie from Eden and is not in accordance with Scripture.
What did Jesus say was the state of the righteous during death?
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. . . . Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. John 11:11, 14
So Jesus said that death is a sleep. Where did He say the righteous were?
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 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. John 5:28-29
The righteous are in their graves waiting for the resurrection. The wicked dead are also in their graves, resting quietly until that time when all will be resurrected.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40
Those who believe will be raised up to everlasting life at the last day.
Jesus’ own experience illustrates this.
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. John 20:17
He Himself slept in the grave prior to His resurrection. He told Mary not to hold onto Him because He had not yet ascended to the Father. So He could not have been in heaven immediately after He died.
This fact can help clarify another passage that is often misunderstood.
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:42, 43
Many quote this verse to prove that the thief went to paradise on that Friday when both he and Jesus died. But, as we are finding, the rest of Scripture does not support this understanding. In the original Greek manuscripts of the Bible there was no punctuation and the translators inserted it according to their best judgment. But, if the comma that was placed before “to day” is placed after it, the verse will agree with what the rest of Scripture teaches—that no person, including Jesus, goes to heaven immediately after they die. Jesus was promising this man on that day that someday he would be in paradise.
Let’s look at another New Testament scripture that tells us where the righteous dead are.
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. . . . For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Acts 2:29, 34
According to Peter, David had not ascended into heaven but was in his grave.
What about the dead haunting the place they used to live?
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. Job 7:9, 10
Is it disturbing to learn that the dead have not gone anywhere and are not doing anything?
Death is a state of unconscious sleep. The dead rest quietly in their graves until Jesus comes. And when we stop to think it through, what could be better? As always, God has arranged what is best. Instead of permitting the departed one to look down from heaven and see the distress and grief his departing has caused; instead of allowing a departed husband or wife to see their spouse quickly transfer their love to another; instead of permitting parents to witness their children choosing a dishonorable course, Jesus has arranged death to be a short period of unconscious sleep. There is no hardship for the deceased ones, for they are not conscious of passing time or anything else. They fall asleep, and the next moment (so it seems to them) they are awakened in the resurrection and receive their reward—eternal life for the righteous, eternal death for the unrighteous. And isn’t this the only way God can be perfectly fair? Why should Cain have to suffer in hell 5000 years longer than Hitler just because he died that much earlier?
What about Paul’s statements about being with the Lord?
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Philippians 1:23
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8
Remember that we must take the Bible as a whole, considering all that it says about a subject, for it does not contradict itself. In light of the Scripture passages we have already looked at, we would need to conclude that Paul is merely saying that he is eager to go to heaven to be with the One he has loved and served faithfully. The pertinent question then is: When did he expect to receive that eternal reward? Let’s look at the next verses in order to assess correctly when Paul thinks this will happen.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10
Notice, this verse comes soon after verse 8. So Paul is speaking of the time of judgment as being the time to receive eternal rewards.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8
Paul expressed full confidence that he would be saved, but not until “that day.”
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Revelation 22:12
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:54
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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
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. 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. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54
Both Jesus and Paul tell us that rewards and immortality are granted at Jesus’ Second Coming, at the last day. The last trumpet sounds when Jesus comes again in the clouds of heaven. Then the righteous dead are raised and all the righteous put on immortality which they do not have until then.
There are a few mentioned in the Bible who were taken to heaven without ever dying (Enoch—Genesis 5:24; Elijah—2 Kings 2:11), or were resurrected after they died (Moses—Luke 9:28-33). It is interesting to note that Michael, the Archangel, contended for the body of Moses. Why would he want Moses’ body if his spirit was already in heaven? From what we have learned already, no conscious part of Moses went to heaven immediately after he died. Michael came to resurrect him so that he could be in heaven and later meet Jesus with Elijah on the mountain. (Matthew 17) These persons were special cases, examples to reassure us that the righteous, both dead and living, will be taken to heaven with Christ when He comes again.
CONTACT WITH THE DEAD?
Thought question: What if one of your deceased loved ones were to appear to you? Would it really be your loved one? Who would it be?
For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Revelation 16:14
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:13
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:19-20
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:31
And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Leviticus 20:6
The practice of communicating with the spirit world was prohibited by God on pain of death. Why? Because, according to the Bible, it is contact with Satan and his angels. It is demons who appear to people impersonating those who have died.
NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES?
There are some who have had “near death experiences” and, when they returned to consciousness, related various things that “happened” to them. Are these reality? Could it be that they are merely the brain malfunctioning due to a lack of oxygen, more like a dream? Interestingly, there have been Hindus, Buddhists, and persons of other religious persuasions that have had “near death experiences” that are quite different from what Christians have had. They experience what they are expecting according to their belief system. Are we to believe that all people pass into the “next life” in whatever sphere of belief they possess?
CONCLUSION
A correct knowledge of what happens when we die frees us from erroneous concepts of God and His justice, and protects us from the deceptions of spiritualism. While the Bible reveals all that we need to know, let us never forget that life is still a mystery and will always remain so. It can never be fully explained or understood. The same is true of death. But thank God, we can know that Jesus took our death penalty. He died our death on Calvary (Hebrews 2:9), and has abolished our greatest enemy—death. (2 Timothy 1:10) In that glorious day when man receives his inheritance, eternal life, from the hand of his Savior, “then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54)