Since the beginning of time, men have stood in awe and fear of death, pondering its mysteries, desiring to know what happens after death. To understand death, it is important to understand our origin.
An incorrect understanding of our origin will lead to an incorrect understanding of our destiny. Man is a dual being, composed of two parts, physical and spiritual. The physical (body) came from the dust. The spiritual (soul) came from God.
Death was the result of disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve. They were removed from the garden where no one any longer had access to the tree of life, Genesis 3:22-24. In death, the body and spirit separate.
The body returns to the ground from whence it came.
When the physical body returns to dust, it will never again exist in the same form it was in while alive on earth. It will, however, on the day of resurrection, inherit a new body.
As Stephen was being stoned to death, he cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” Acts 7:59. Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commend My spirit,” Luke 23:46.
On her way to Bethlehem, Rachel died in childbirth. It is said, “And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni,” Genesis 35:18.
While the soul returns to God, it does not go directly to heaven or hell. God places all souls in Hades, where they are confined, with a place for the disobedient and another place for the righteous.
Peter said, “For David is not ascended into the heavens,” Acts 2:34. If not in heaven, where? He was in Hades. Jesus told Mary, following his resurrection, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father,” John 20:17.
At death, Jesus went to the realm of Hades. Luke 16:19-31 gives us the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Some say it is a parable. It really makes no difference as the truth is being taught by Jesus. Here we have pictured the Hadean realm.
Both the rich man and Lazarus were in Hades. The word Hades occurs eleven times in the Greek New Testament. It is unfortunate that some translations render this word as hell, which is incorrect. It is equivalent to the word
Sheol in the Old Testament means the place of departed conscious spirits. It is the state of spirits between death and the resurrection. Its literal meaning is unseen, hidden, and indiscernible.
It is immediately obvious that these men are in different places in the Hadean realm. It is said of the rich man, “being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom,” Luke 16:23. Peter describes this place further in 2 Peter 2:4.
The word “hell” in this passage is a mistranslation. Instead of hell, it is the Greek word Tartarus, a place of confinement in Hades for the wicked. The word Paradise describes the place in Hades where Lazarus was in Abraham’s bosom.
Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise, Luke 23:43. This was not heaven, as Jesus told Mary after his resurrection, he had not yet ascended to the Father, John 20:17.
We also notice that there was a great “Gulf” which separated them. Abraham said it was impossible to cross from one side to the other, Luke 16:26. This impassable gulf between Paradise and Tartarus suggests the impossibility of changing one’s eternal state or condition after death.
Those in Hades are conscious. The rich man had conscious faculties such as seeing, hearing, remembering, speaking, reasoning, recognition, and feelings as noted by his statement: “For I am tormented in this flame,” Luke 16:24.
We see that on Abraham’s side, Lazarus was comforted. He was with Abraham and all the redeemed of all ages. Death in no way destroys the conscious personality of the soul. However, in death, the body becomes an empty house to be left behind.
The real person (the spirit) moves out. The faithful Christian has nothing to fear about death. We know what takes place immediately after death, so with Paul we can say, “O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:55.
With the second coming (and only coming) of the Lord, there will occur the resurrection of all the dead. It seems that the resurrection of the dead, the end of the universe, and judgment will all occur instantaneously, but there seems to be a certain order to these events.
1. There will be the sudden appearance of the Lord.
2. The dead in Christ will arise.
3. Those who are alive at His coming will be caught up with the dead to be with Christ.
4. We will meet the Lord in the air, not on earth, and we will remain with Him throughout eternity.
A “rapture” and “tribulation” are not taught in these verses as some have assumed. The word “rapture” does not appear in Scripture. There is no indication that the Lord will ever set foot on earth again.
He is already ruling as “King of kings,” 1 Timothy 6:15, over his kingdom, Colossians 1:13, thus there is no need for him to return to earth to set up a kingdom as some teach.
In Mark 9:1, Jesus made it very clear that the kingdom would be established in the lifetime of his listeners. John indicates tribulation was in progress when he wrote Revelation, Revelation 1:9. At the moment of the resurrection, we will be given new bodies.
In Philippians 3:21, Paul uses the word transform to describe the change that will take place. Jesus will “transform our lowly body that it may conform to His glorious body.”
John says, “It has not yet been revealed what we shall be,” 1 John 3:2. We do not know yet exactly what it will look like. With the second coming, there will occur the end of the universe.
No one knows when this will occur, not even the angels in heaven. Jesus said in Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Following the resurrection, the Day of Judgment will occur.
Some ask why a judgement day for those in Hades who already know their destiny? Judgment Day finalises God’s great scheme of redemption for the human race. The deeds of the human race will be open for inspection, and man will know that God has been righteous in his judgment.
Judgment will be on the basis of what one’s total life has been, their relationship or lack of relationship to Christ. God will exercise mercy on the obedient, rewarding them with heaven and mete out punishment in hell to the disobedient.