Questions Asked By Students

Topic:  After Death

• WHEN WE DIE, DO WE COME BACK TO LIFE IN A DIFFERENT BODY AND MIND (REINCARNATION)?
• DO SOME SPIRITS GET STUCK ON EARTH?
• HOW CAN I KNOW I WILL GO TO HEAVEN?
• WHAT HAPPENS TO US AFTER DEATH?
• WHEN WE (CHRISTIANS) DIE, DOES OUR SOUL SLEEP UNTIL THE RESURRECTION?
• WHEN YOU DIE, DO YOU HAVE TO EARN YOUR WINGS TO GO TO HEAVEN?
   

No, we do not come back as a different person, animal or even a plant, as some say.

The Bible makes it very clear that man is given one chance to live on this planet once man dies he goes into the presence of God to be blessed or doomed for all of eternity.

2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Note: he doesn’t say to be absent from the body is to be in a different one.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

2 Corinthinas 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

After we live this life in this body (singular), then we see Jesus to be judged. If you are not ready this is a bad day. If you are ready this an awesome day.

Some people in the Bible did come back to life as godly men prayed for them. When they came back to life, in every situation, they came back in their original body and the same mind.

1 Kings 17:21-23 Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, "See, your son lives!"

Luke 7:12-15 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

Since we only have one shot at living we need to make sure that it counts, not only for this life but for the life to come. The Bible says that our sins separate us form God, so if we die as sinners we will not be able to spend eternity in heaven with Him. Jesus came to take away our sins and make it possible for us to be with God for all eternity. We must agree with God that we are sinners and ask Him to forgive our sins, and then live for Him so we can go Heaven once this life is over.

Romans 10:9-10 … if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

 

No, human spirits do not stay on earth.

The Bible is clear that after death its judgment time. This is something that happens instantly. There is no hovering spirit like in the movies or spirits that are trapped on earth.

Solomon, the son of King David, who was the wisest man that ever lived, said this is what happens after death.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

Paul the apostle wrote:

2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

It is clear that after Death our spirit goes to see God. There in heaven we are told where we will spend eternity

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Jesus was crucified between two thieves. When the one asked Jesus to remember him after they die, Jesus said TODAY you will be with me in Paradise. He didn’t give him directions on how to get there, to make sure he wouldn’t get lost because God is the one that takes us there.

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

First, we need to know that we are sinners, ask God’s forgiveness (this is also called being born again), and then we need to follow Jesus.

The Bible teaches us that we are all sinners. Sin is when we do something that goes against God’s laws. Sin separates us from God forever; until sin is removed we cannot be close to God, which includes heaven. But Jesus came to remove our sin from us, by dying on the cross. Think of it like this, if you get a ticket for speeding there is a price to pay, someone has to pay for it right? Well, Jesus paid for our crimes (our sins), by dying for our sin. He paid our penalty so we would not have to. We are forgiven all our crimes and given a new start.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God..

Romans 6:23 for the penalty of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:8 But God has shown us how much he loves us--it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! Today’s English V.

John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die, but have eternal life. Today’s English Version

Once we have been forgiven we are given a new start (that is also called being “born again”). Born again means that you are not living your life the same way you used to when you were a sinner, but now you are living a new life. Read this story of a man that wants to go to heaven, notice what Jesus tells him.

John 3:1-6 There was a Jewish leader named Nicodemus, who belonged to the party of the Pharisees. 2 One night he went to Jesus and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher sent by God. No one could perform the miracles you are doing unless God were with him." Jesus answered, "I am telling you the truth: no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a grown man be born again?" Nicodemus asked. "He certainly cannot enter his mother's womb and be born a second time!" 5 "I am telling you the truth," replied Jesus, "that no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 A person is born physically of human parents, but he is born spiritually of the Spirit. Today’s English Version

The spiritual birth that he is talking about is that new life we receive when we put away our old way of living in sin and begin a new life, living for godly things.

Once you receive the forgiveness of your sin by accepting Jesus, the one who came to pay for your sin, you are a child of God. You have a new life; you’re born again. You are going to heaven!! The best way for you to know (that is be confident that you will go to heaven), is by being close to Jesus, living for Him. Being that close will make us like him in this world.

1 John 2:24-25 Be sure, then, to keep in your hearts the message you heard from the beginning. If you keep that message, then you will always live in union with the Son and the Father. 25 And this is what Christ himself promised to give us--eternal life. Today’s English Version

1 John 2:28-29 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. NIV

1 John 4:17-18 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. NIV

If you are scared and not confident, it might be because you have not received the Love of God in your life. Remember, God has given you His love, but the only way to receive it is through Jesus.

A Christian will go straight to heaven.  An unbeliever will go straight to hell or what the bible calls "Hades" awaiting the Great Throne Judgment.

Jesus refers to this when He speaks about the death of a wicked man and the death of a righteous man in the Gospel of Luke: 

Luke 16:19-23, 27-28  "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.  20 "But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,  21 "desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  22 "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.  23 "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom...    27 "Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house,  28 'for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'

Death is not the end of human existence. The Bible states that it is appointed unto man once to die, and after that comes the judgment. After the judgment every person will find themselves forever in heaven or in hell. Your eternal destiny will be determined by whether or not you believe the claims of Jesus Christ.                                                         Click Here to read more  

Hebrews 9:27   And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.               Note: There is no reincarnation

Believers also have appear before Christ to be judge, but the Christian will be rewarded for his deeds or lack thereof, but the believer will not be sent to hell.

2 Corinthians 5:10   For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Romans 14:10-12 ... we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God."  12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

1 Corinthians 3:11-16  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,  13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.  14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.  15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.  16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

When Jesus taught about this He said: that some will go to Heaven but others will be sent to Hell.

Matthew 25:31-34 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Matthew 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

In the following verses, the Apostle John speaks about the judgment of the unbeliever:

Revelation 20:11-15 "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.  12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.  13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.  14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:7-8  "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.  8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
 

Those that receive the work of Jesus will go to heaven and those that do not receive Jesus will go to hell.

TO GO TO HEAVEN:

The Bible teaches us that we are all sinners. To be a sinner means that you have disobeyed God, broken His laws.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

The Bible teaches us that all sinners have to pay for the wrongs we have done. Just like anyone who gets charged with a crime has to pay for what they did. So too with us when we break God's laws. The price for breaking God’s law is death

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The good news is that God sent Jesus to pay the price for all the laws that we broke. Someone has to pay for your crimes, you or Jesus. You can be forgiven of all the wrongs you have done by agreeing with God that you’re a sinner and thanking Jesus for what He did for you, suffering and dying in your place.

Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

TO GO TO HELL:

If you deny Jesus (that is if you say I don’t believe in Jesus), and your attitude is “I don’t want to live for Him, I want to do my own thing and I don’t care about what He did for me”, then you will not be allowed in heaven.

Matthew 10:32-33 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

The Bible teaches us that God doesn’t send any one to hell. People are already (because of what they do), on their way to Hell. But God has given us a chance to be forgiven and go to be with him in Heaven.

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

No. We are not held in a state of sleep but transferred into the presence of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Paul wrote to a group of Christians who were scared. They thought their friends were not going to make it to heaven because they died before the rapture. Paul writes to them saying, “God will bring with Him those who died with Jesus”. No one will be left behind.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

• don’t worry, those that have died with the Lord will come with Him

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

• We who are alive will not go ahead of them to be with the Lord. They will come too. Note that those that died and us who are alive will be joined to the Lord together.

• Remember God is outside of Time; to us it might seem as though dead Christians made it there before us, but in God’s view, He raptured all of us together. In heaven it will seem like we all arrived at the same time. In eternity it is always now, it is constantly the present.

Jesus used the word “sleep” as another way to say “dead”.

John 11:11-13 These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." 12 Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.

Luke 8:52-53 Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping." 53 And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.

Paul the apostle shares something that to him is hard to understand in totality

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed — 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

We will all be changed into our new bodies at the same time. Yes us, even though we are still alive, and them, those that have died with Christ. All of us will be changed.

when you die do you have to EARN your wings to go to heaven?

No, we immediately see God in His throne room and from there we go to Heaven or Hell for all of eternity.

The Bible makes no literal reference to humans having actual wings to fly with. It only says it in reference to being swift in war or quick to escape danger.

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Jeremiah 48:9 "Give wings to Moab, That she may flee and get away; For her cities shall be desolate, Without any to dwell in them.

When we die we don’t need flight directions to heaven or wait for our wings; it’s something God will do.

2 Corinthians 5:8  We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Hebrews 9:27  And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

Those that receive the work of Jesus will go to heaven, and those that do not receive Jesus will go to hell. 

To go to heaven:

The Bible teaches us that we are all sinners. To be a sinner means that you have disobeyed God, broken His laws. 

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 

The Bible teaches us that all sinners have to pay for the wrongs we have done. Just like anyone found guilty of a crime has to pay for what they did. So, too, with us when we break God’s law and the price for breaking God’s law is death.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The good news is that God sent Jesus to pay the price for all the laws that we broke.  Someone has to pay for your crimes, you or Jesus.  You can be forgiven of all the wrongs you have done by agreeing with God that you’re a sinner and thanking Jesus for what He did for you, suffering and dying in your place.

Romans 10:9-10  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

John 1:12   But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. 

To go to Hell:

If you deny Jesus (that is if you say, “I  don’t believe in Jesus”), and your attitude is “I don’t want to live for Him, I want to do my own thing and I don’t care about what He did for me”, then you will not be allowed in heaven.

Matthew 10:32-33 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. 

The Bible teaches us that God doesn’t send any one to Hell.  People are already (because of what they do) on their way to Hell.  But God has given us a chance to be forgiven and go to be with Him in Heaven.

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.