As she stood over the casket of her husband, she pondered, could he have made it to heaven? The preacher said "as this man drew his last breath, he was saved". The lady knew her husband and he didn't live a decent life. She knew his abuses and his high temper, yet as a faithful wife she stood by him. In her mind she just knew he would be condemned to an eternal hell.
To begin with, that of course was a fictional tale that I came up with to set up this dialog. What is death? Does one enter heaven or hell upon death? Let's examine the scriptures.
Joh 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
Joh 11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
Joh 11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
Joh 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
Joh 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
Joh 11:6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
Joh 11:7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
Joh 11:8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
Joh 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
Joh 11:10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
Joh 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.
Joh 11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Joh 11:13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Joh 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Let us consider this thought. If Lazarus was in heaven celebrating with the angels, in no pain, never fearing death again; why would Christ force him to return to this life? That would seem like cruel and unusual punishment to me. Surely he wouldn't bring Lazarus back from heaven to get sick and die all over again, would he? Notice in verse 11; Jesus tells his disciples that Lazarus is sleeping. Think for a moment of the number of tombstones that have the phrase "RIP" inscribed upon them. That of course means rest in peace. Rest in peace until when? We will answer that in a moment, for now let's examine another set of scriptures dealing with death.
Ecc 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.
Ecc 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.
Ecc 9:7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
Ecc 9:8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
Ecc 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
Ecc 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 thou goest.
These scriptures clearly illustrate that the dead know nothing. So if death is a sleep, and one remains in their grave, is that where they will remain for eternity? No!
When Jesus Christ returns, there are to be resurrections. The righteous will gain eternal life at the seventh trump. (2nd Corinthians chapter 15) and the rest of the dead will live after the 1000 year reign of Christ. (Revelation 20) I would like you to contemplate, if people go to a heaven or a hell, why is there a need for a resurrection? If people are already there, why is there a need to bring them back to life? I would like to offer more information on this subject. This article is intended to provoke the thought of is there more about death than most know about. Please click the link below for a booklet titled "When I Die, What Happens Next?". It may be news that you have never heard of nor even considered!
When I die, What Happens Next?
May God Bless you with knowledge!
Chris Anderson
To begin with, that of course was a fictional tale that I came up with to set up this dialog. What is death? Does one enter heaven or hell upon death? Let's examine the scriptures.
Joh 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
Joh 11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
Joh 11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
Joh 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
Joh 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
Joh 11:6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
Joh 11:7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
Joh 11:8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
Joh 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
Joh 11:10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
Joh 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.
Joh 11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Joh 11:13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Joh 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Let us consider this thought. If Lazarus was in heaven celebrating with the angels, in no pain, never fearing death again; why would Christ force him to return to this life? That would seem like cruel and unusual punishment to me. Surely he wouldn't bring Lazarus back from heaven to get sick and die all over again, would he? Notice in verse 11; Jesus tells his disciples that Lazarus is sleeping. Think for a moment of the number of tombstones that have the phrase "RIP" inscribed upon them. That of course means rest in peace. Rest in peace until when? We will answer that in a moment, for now let's examine another set of scriptures dealing with death.
Ecc 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.
Ecc 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.
Ecc 9:7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
Ecc 9:8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
Ecc 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
Ecc 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 thou goest.
These scriptures clearly illustrate that the dead know nothing. So if death is a sleep, and one remains in their grave, is that where they will remain for eternity? No!
When Jesus Christ returns, there are to be resurrections. The righteous will gain eternal life at the seventh trump. (2nd Corinthians chapter 15) and the rest of the dead will live after the 1000 year reign of Christ. (Revelation 20) I would like you to contemplate, if people go to a heaven or a hell, why is there a need for a resurrection? If people are already there, why is there a need to bring them back to life? I would like to offer more information on this subject. This article is intended to provoke the thought of is there more about death than most know about. Please click the link below for a booklet titled "When I Die, What Happens Next?". It may be news that you have never heard of nor even considered!
When I die, What Happens Next?
May God Bless you with knowledge!
Chris Anderson