Where are the dead, and what are they doing? Are they aware of the living? Do all people
"pass away" to heaven or hell? Will you see deceased loved ones again? Do human beings
have immortal souls? Do you? Is this life all there is?
The question of life after death has perplexed mankind throughout the ages. Millennia ago,
the patriarch Job asked, "If a man die, shall he live again?" This question remains.
Many religions profess to know what happens at death. Yet they disagree. Why such confusion
and mystery about the afterlife? If the Bible is the Word of God, we must examine what it
says, not what men say. Be willing to set aside cherished traditions and replace them
with Scripture. Then be willing to believe God, not men.
The World to Come. The Restored Church of God presents David C. Pack. Author of 80 books
and booklets. Editor-in-chief of The Real Truth magazine. Read by countless and growing
numbers in every nation and territory of the world. In a violent age full of bad news.
Answering life's greatest questions straight from the Bible, and announcing the wonderful
good news of the World to Come. And now, David C. Pack.
Most professing Christians believe they possess an immortal soul. They have been taught that
people go to either heaven or hell. Ministers, evangelists and religionists speak of "when
we all get to heaven." They declare these ideas to be the Bible's teaching. But are
they? We must not assume. Jesus warned, "In vain
do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside
the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men." Men have their ideas—their own
commandments and traditions—invariably based on Bible assumptions. This broadcast presents
God's view. Let's first discuss death and the concept
of an ever-burning hell. This idea is inseparable from the belief that all human beings have
immortal souls. Is this what God says? You will be surprised!
Most people do not understand the relationship between physical bodies and souls. You were
probably taught that all human beings are born with an immortal soul. The common belief
is that upon death the souls of unrepentant sinners go to hell forever.
But if the wages of sin is death, how could the Bible also teach that people are immortal?
The book of Genesis states, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground,
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."
This verse does not say men have souls, but rather are souls. Adam became a soul—he
was not given one. Then, almost immediately, God commanded, "Of every tree of the garden
you may freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not
eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you [the person, Adam] shall surely die."
The Hebrew word here also means "destroy." Together, these verses plainly reveal that
men are souls and souls can die! The prophet Ezekiel twice recorded: "The
soul that sins, it shall die." Death is the absence of life—the discontinuance—the
cessation—of life. Death is not life in another place. It is not leaving "this life"
for "another life"—the "next life." Now consider what Jesus also warned: "And
fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear
Him [God] which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Everyone knows all bodies
eventually die—and that they decompose and are completely destroyed due to the process
of natural corruption. But souls can also be destroyed! According to this verse, just
as much as bodies. This verse introduces the truth that God destroys souls in hell! Bodies
can die and be destroyed in many ways. But God destroys souls.
The prophet Malachi wrote this about the future final state of the wicked: "For, behold,
the day comes, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yes, and all that do wickedly,
shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up [not just burn them], says the
Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch [there is nothing left of
them]. But unto you that fear My Name...you shall go forth, and...you shall tread down
the wicked; for they [not merely their bodies] shall be ashes under the soles of your feet
in the day that I shall do this, says the Lord." The prophet Obadiah amplifies this
with "...and they shall be as though they had not been."
The dead will be so completely "dead and gone," it will be as though they had never
existed. Surely, if they were roasting in hell forever with millions of others, and
other millions "in heaven" witnessing it, this verse could hardly apply.
What about the precise moment of death? What happens?
Human minds are differentiated from animal brains by intelligent thought. Presumably,
if the dead are not dead, but are really still alive, then they must be capable of some kind
of thought. They must at least be conscious of their surroundings. These things said,
let's consider a series of scriptures. First is Psalm 146: "Put not your trust...in
the son of man...his breath goes forth, he returns to the earth; in that very day his
thoughts perish." When people die, their thoughts end immediately—"in that very
day." That is what your Bible says. This verse is not compatible with the dead
either being alive in heaven or consciously suffering in a place of torment. We could
suppose that, if they were enjoying salvation, they would certainly know they were—have
thoughts about it! We could also suppose that if they were suffering, they would know they
were. Could the tormented be unaware they were in pain?
Ask: What would be the point of their suffering, or of salvation, if they could not know of
it? Death (actually life) in hell would have to
be as though they were in a coma—completely unaware of what is going on around them—while
their sensory nervous system is feeling the excruciating pain of burning. How would this
work? Use the following analogy. Before someone
undergoes major surgery, he is anesthetized—rendered unconscious—so he will not feel pain. Medical
doctors understand this—why don't theologians and religionists? Why do they deny plain Bible
statements? Some willingly ignore the message of Scripture.
They allege that only "mortal" thoughts perish—whatever these are—in the sense
that the dead leave this earthly realm and experience some mysterious, new kind of "thought."
Of course, this is ridiculous, and the Bible does not say it. But they have to invent something
to justify other ideas incompatible with the Bible.
Let's consider an even more direct verse: "For the living know that they shall die:
but the dead know not anything..." The honest reader can't misunderstand this passage!
Now this: "For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even one thing befalls
them: as the one dies, so dies the other; yes, they have all one breath; so that a man
has no preeminence above a beast...All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all
turn to dust again." Again, so says your Bible.
Psalm 6 further explains that the dead do not experience conscious memory: "For in
death there is no remembrance of You: in the grave who shall give You [God] thanks?"
Could anyone seriously suggest that the dead, suffering in hell, could experience the normal
range of human memories, but be unaware of God—not be able to "remember" Him? Would
God put people in "hell" and then leave them there to suffer, forever wondering how
it was that they got there—who it was that put them there—because they have no "remembrance"
of anything related to God? As the apostle Paul once said, I speak as a fool.
Applying the same logic to the saved is even more ridiculous. Could people supposedly be
"rolling around heaven all day and riding clouds"—enjoying salvation!—and be unaware
they were in the presence of God or of even Who He was?
No! When people die, they are DEAD! So far we have not explained everything about
life after death, but we know that further life does not immediately occur at death!
We have established that when a person dies, he is dead! But then what happens?
Remember to always let the Bible interpret the Bible. Keeping its truths simple allows
the hollow ideas of men to fall like a house of cards.
Here is why the dead do not remember God. Jesus said, "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 [or judgment]."
Jesus understood that the disciples would find this astonishing—that most people would
marvel at the thought that everyone who has ever lived is now "in the grave," awaiting
a resurrection! You should not marvel at Jesus' words. Accept them! He said "all" are
in the grave, not "some." There are no conscious thoughts and no remembrance
of God after death because everyone who has ever died is awaiting one of the resurrections
Jesus referenced. All people will be resurrected, either to eternal life or to judgment.
This is what your Bible says. No wonder King David said, "I will behold
Your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Your likeness [God's
likeness]." He understood the resurrection was an awakening back to life. The prophet
Daniel referenced this awakening to salvation and eternal life, but also referred to another
separate resurrection, not to be sought. Job looked forward to being resurrected. Notice
the verses surrounding his "live again" question: "O that You [God] would hide me
in the grave, that You would keep me secret, until Your wrath be past [the coming Day of
the Lord, or of God's Wrath], that You would appoint me a set time, and remember me! If
a man die, shall he live again? [was his question. The answer?] All the days of my appointed
time will I wait, till my change come. You shall call [Jesus spoke of hearing God's
voice], and I will answer You." Job did not ask that God would only hide his
body in the grave, but asked, "hide me...keep me...appoint me...remember me." Job also
recognized that God would keep him secret. Ask how this fits with being in heaven or
hell. If this were the case, God would be pretty poor at keeping secrets and the rest
of the verse would make no sense. Look at Job's question—"if a man die,
shall he live again?" If Job was going to remain alive after death, how could he live
again? Job knew he would be "waiting...in the grave" for his resurrection at an "appointed
time," when he would be "changed." But what does change mean?
Paul explained the "change" awaiting all true Christians. Let's read: "Behold,
I show 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...the dead shall be raised...and this mortal shall
have put on immortality, then [not yet] shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,
death is swallowed up in victory." It is certainly an almost complete mystery to most
that there is coming an awakening—and change—from physical to spirit at the resurrection.
Now ask: How can one go from "mortal" to "immortal" if he already has an immortal
soul? This idea is also a mystery—but, unlike the mysteries of God, it is one devised by
men that cannot be understood or solved, because it makes no sense.
Do you see the silly logic of men when they ignore plain scriptures?
Just as Job knew he would be "changed," and David knew he would "awake," Paul
knew Christians will be changed—will awaken from "sleep"—once the resurrection has
come. Those who are asleep will awaken from death.
The World to Come will continue. In addition to the literature ordered with this program,
you will receive a free one-year subscription to The Real Truth! This magazine answers the
question, why so much bad news in today's headlines? It explains the root causes behind
the bad effects and points to the good news of the only possible solution—the soon-coming
kingdom of God! Your subscription is free with any literature order.
Next ask: How can people be resurrected if they are already alive as immortal souls?
Only the dead, like Christ from the tomb, need to be resurrected. That's the purpose
of a resurrection. Do not be fooled by deceivers claiming, "The resurrection only applies
to the body, since the soul remains alive"! We read numerous scriptures disproving this
fallacy. Upon just the most basic examination, the
ideas of intelligent men are often exposed as outright foolishness. Ministers adopted
the popular concept of hell as a means of scaring people into following their false
teachings. The true God would never roast people for all eternity—not allowing them
to burn up, to mercifully end their suffering. Only a monster would do this!
Billions have lived and died without knowing even the name of Jesus Christ, without having
had an opportunity for salvation. If, upon death, the unsaved go to hell, then over half
the people who have ever lived are there! Since no human has ever returned from the
dead to offer a firsthand report—forget the ludicrous testimonies of those who claim
or think they were dead—we must either choose to believe the ideas of men or search the
scriptures for what God reveals. This booklet, Is There Life After Death?, explains much
more about when the saints are resurrected, but includes the truth about when all others
are scheduled to be brought back to life. It explains Christ's and Daniel's statements
about two more resurrections—one to judgment, and another involving "shame and contempt"—while
also answering other questions on your mind. Your human existence is literally a matter
of life or death. Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might
have it more abundantly." Yet, Paul wrote, "all have sinned" and "the wages of
sin is death." Man is not naturally headed toward eternal
life, but rather toward death! Human beings only live about 70 to 80 years (and in some
countries much less). A few manage to live longer, but eventually all die (read Hebrews
9 and verse 27). Yet this was never God's intention. His supreme purpose is for all
people to have eternal life. (Read II Peter 3 and verse 9 and I Timothy 2 and verse 4.)
God desires that everyone ultimately receive His Holy Spirit, that it eventually enters
all minds. Paul wrote: "The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit [the spirit
in man], that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God,
and joint-heirs with Christ...that we may be also glorified together." Two spirits
are described here. God's Spirit works "with" the human spirit (not an immortal soul) to
bring people to salvation as "joint-heirs with Christ."
Romans states: "Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed
of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according
to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."
Most know Jesus was the Son of God, but He was only "declared to be" God's Son,
in the fullest sense, "by the resurrection from the dead." Of course, He was already
the begotten Son of God prior to His death and Resurrection. This scripture shows Jesus
was first physically born—descending from David "according to the flesh"—and later
spiritually born a Son of God "according to the Spirit...[again] by the resurrection
of the dead." Notice this: "For whom He [God] did foreknow,
He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He [Christ] might
be the firstborn among many brethren." Christ is merely the first "born again"
Son of God. The "many brethren" referenced here (all with God's Spirit over the last
6,000 years) will join Him at His Return. This astonishing understanding is known to
only the few called today (read John 6 verses 44 and 65).
Now for an amazing series of verses. First, Paul quotes David in the Psalms when he asked
the question: "What is man, that you are mindful of him?" Since God is eternal, and
sits over the entire universe and has all power under His control, no wonder David asked
this question. The astounding answer appears next: "You
made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor, and did
set him over the works of Your Hands." God intends to share rulership of His entire Creation
with His Sons. Again, Christ is merely the first of many.
Consider. The birth of a firstborn son does not preclude additional sons (or daughters)
entering a family. I have two sons, and am a firstborn son myself, with a younger brother.
My father was second born, with an older brother. Paul explains that God plans to give great
power and authority to His many Sons: "You have put all things in subjection under his
feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put
under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him." This has not yet happened,
but soon will—at Christ's Return. Now this: "But we see Jesus, who was made
a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that
He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him, for whom
are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make
the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." This reveals the staggering
potential planned for all Christians. The begotten child of God has been called to "glory"—and
to be one of many sons. Jesus' suffering and sacrifice allowed Him to be the "Captain
of their salvation"—and potentially yours. What an incredible future for those whom Jesus
calls brethren: "For both He that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one:
for which cause He [Christ] is not ashamed to call them brethren."
This verse also reveals that Christians are "sanctified" (which means set apart from
the world). How? Jesus asked God to "sanctify them [begotten Christians] through Your truth:
Your word is truth." The cherished traditions and fables of men,
about life after death or anything else, are worthless. A Christian is sanctified by the
truth—what his Bible actually teaches! If Christ is not ashamed to call human beings
brethren, then God's begotten sons must not be ashamed to defend the very truth that
sanctifies them. True Christians "grow up" unto Christ, holding only to the true teachings
of God—all of them—taught by the Church Jesus built. They must qualify to stand beside
Christ over "all things." But will He rule Earth by Himself—or will
others be with Him? If men's governments require the efforts of many people assisting
the top leader, could God's world-ruling governmental structure be different? Let's
answer. Daniel spoke of Christ coming in the "clouds
of heaven." Just before His Return, God officially grants Him the authority to rule
the world. Notice: "And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that
all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting
dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."
Again we ask: Will Christ rule alone, or will others join Him? Exactly how does God intend
to manage all the peoples and nations on Earth? More verses in Daniel 7 are critical to understand.
Notice: "But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom
forever, even forever and ever." The ultimate calling of true Christians is
to join Christ to share rulership in the kingdom of God forever. Truly, Christ is King of kings
and Lord of lords. These can be you or anyone else willing to accept God's terms for entry
into His kingdom. Daniel sheds more light on what happens when
the saints rule with Christ. Their first responsibility is to replace what Daniel calls the "fourth
beast"—which rules with the assistance of a "little horn," as it's described.
My thorough booklet about the Beast of Revelation covers this in detail.
Next, "I beheld, and the same [little] horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against
them; until the Ancient of Days [Jesus Christ] came, and judgment was given to the saints
of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom."
Finally, here is the marvelous potential lying ahead for the true saints of God: "And the
kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall
be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him."
What could be plainer? This explains Jesus' promise that, "He that overcomes, and keeps
My works unto the end, to him [not to anybody else, to him] will I give power over the nations:
and he shall rule them with a rod of iron," and then adding a few verses later, "To
him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne..."
The phrase "In My throne" is used because Christ knew that His throne, unlike the Father's
in heaven, will be on Earth. Read all these other verses. They are almost entirely ignored
in the churches of the world. It is the Christian's responsibility, I
repeat, to qualify to be part of God's coming kingdom. Now, will you?
There is so much more to understand, but this is all we have time for.
Again, the booklet Is There Life After Death? goes further. It answers many questions. But
we have a great many other booklets—and even whole books—that you can read just
on the truth of what is salvation. And they are all free. The truths they contain are
not what anybody else is teaching you regarding plain scriptures in your Bible about the afterlife.
Notice these titles—Why Do You Exist?—Do the Saved Go to Heaven?—and How Religion
Deceives You About Your Incredible Future. These, and others, all relate to one last
crucial booklet—Which Is the True Gospel? The world's churches do not teach even the
most basic doctrines of God, again, preferring cherished popular traditions and oft-repeated
assumptions in their place. Can you really afford to assume when it comes to your salvation?
Should you not know with certainty everything God reveals about life after death?—how
you might spend all eternity! Until next time, this is David C. Pack saying,
"Goodbye, friends." This program was made available by Restored
Church of God members and donors from around the globe. Explore our vast library of literature
and other World to Come programs, which are all made available free of charge. To order
literature featured in this program, call toll-free 1-855-828-4646. That number again:
1-855-828-4646.
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