I agree with Dr Wilson. Who would be mad coming back to see the Master. I know I wouldn't. I would die and come back any time.  Your dead, bam rise up. Bam your dead again. Bam, rise up and would get excited everytime I would see Him, Jesus that is. I could see Lazarus saying "Who is waking me up! Oh its you Master!(excited) My bad." LOL This was a wonderful but interesting question. I like this site already. God bless and keep em coming.

Oh My!!!!  You are making me see death in a different way.  As long as I see Jesus, dead or alive, I'll be happy.  "I just want to see Jesus!"

Rev. 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. (NLT)

I don't believe that Lazurus was mad because I don't believe he was conscious during the time he was in the tomb.  Jesus said that Lazurus was sleeping - equating death with sleep.  I believe that the Bible teaches that we remain in such an unconscious state until when Jesus returns and we are raised from the sleep of death!

Here is a Bible study guide that more clearly teaches what happens at death:

10. Are The Dead Really Dead? Print This Page

Death just might be one of the most misunderstood subjects today. To many it is enshrouded in mystery and evokes dreaded feelings of fear, uncertainty, and even hopelessness. Others believe that their deceased loved ones are not dead at all, but instead live with them or in other realms! Still others are confused about the relationship between the body, spirit, and soul. But does it really matter what you believe? Yes... absolutely! Because what you believe about the dead will have a profound impact on what happens to you in the end-times. There's no room for guessing, so this Study Guide will give you exactly what God says on this subject. Get ready for a real eye-opener!

1. How did we get here in the first place? Adam was created by God in the beginning. "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." Genesis 2:7. Answer: God made us from dust in the beginning. 2. What happens when a person dies? The spirits of both the righteous and the wicked return to God. Their bodies return to dust. "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." Ecclesiastes 12:7. Answer: The body turns to dust again, and the spirit goes back to God, who gave it. The spirit of every person who dies--whether righteous or wicked--returns to God at death. 3. What is the "spirit" that returns to God at death? There is nothing mysterious about the spirit that returns to God at death. It is the breath of life. "The body without the spirit ["breath," see margin] is dead." James 2:26. "The spirit of God ["the breath which God gave him," see margin] is in my nostrils." Job 27:3. Answer: The spirit that returns to God at death is the breath of life. Nowhere in all of God's book does the "spirit" have any life, wisdom, or feeling after a person dies. It is the "breath of life" and nothing more. 4. What is a "soul"? These four people are four souls. "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." Genesis 2:7. Answer: A soul is a living being. A soul is always a combination of two things: body plus breath. A soul cannot exist unless body and breath are combined. God's Word teaches that we are souls. 5. Do souls die? "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezekiel 18:20. "Every living soul died in the sea." Revelation 16:3. Answer: According to God's Word, souls do die! We are souls, and souls die. Man is mortal (Job 4:17). Only God is immortal (1 Timothy 6:15, 16). The concept of an undying, immortal soul goes against the Bible, which teaches that souls are subject to death. 6. Do good people go to heaven when they die? "All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth." John 5:28, 29. "David ... is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day." "For David is not ascended into the heavens." Acts 2:29, 34. "If I wait, the grave is mine house." Job 17:13. Answer: No, people do not go either to heaven or hell at death. They go to their graves to await the resurrection day. King David will be saved in God's kingdom. However, he is in his grave now, where he awaits the resurrection. 7. How much does one know or comprehend after death? "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. 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." "There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10. "The dead praise not the Lord." Psalms 115:17. Answer: God says that the dead know absolutely nothing! 8. But can't the dead communicate with the living, and aren't they aware of what the living are doing? Though millions think it is possible, the dead cannot communicate with the living. "So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." "His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them." Job 14:12, 21. "Neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun." Ecclesiastes 9:6. Answer: No, the dead cannot contact the living, nor do they know what the living are doing. They are dead. Their thoughts have perished (Psalms 146:4). 9. Jesus called the unconscious state of the dead "sleep" in John 11:11-14. How long will they sleep? Jesus calls death "sleep." It is a state of total unconsciousness. "So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more." Job 14:12. "The day of the Lord will come ... in the which the heavens shall pass away." 2 Peter 3:10. Answer: The dead will sleep until the great day of the Lord at the end of the world. In death, humans are totally unconscious with no activity or knowledge of any kind. 10. What happens to the righteous dead at the second coming of Christ? The righteous will be raised to life and given immortality at Jesus' second coming. "Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12. "The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, ... and the dead in Christ shall rise ... and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. "We shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, ... and the dead shall be raised incorruptible. ... For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:51-53. Answer: They will be rewarded. They will be raised, given immortal bodies, and caught up to meet the Lord in the air. There would be no purpose in a resurrection if people were taken to heaven at death. 11. What was the devil's first lie? The devil's first lie to Eve was "You won't die" - a statement completely contrary to all Scripture. "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die." Genesis 3:4. "That old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan." Revelation 12:9. Answer: Satan told Eve that sin would not bring death. "Ye shall not surely die," he said. 12. Why did the devil lie to Eve about death? Could this subject be more important than many think? Those who believe the dead are alive become easy targets for the devil's deceptions. Answer: It is one of the cornerstones of the devil's kingdom. He has worked powerful miracles down through the ages through people who claim to receive their power from the spirits of the dead. (Examples: Magicians of Egypt--Exodus 7:11; Woman of Endor--1 Samuel 28:3-25; Sorcerers--Daniel 2:2; A certain damsel--Acts 16:16-18.) A Solemn Warning In the end-time Satan will again use sorcery--as he did in Daniel's day--to deceive the world (Revelation 18:23). Sorcery is a supernatural agency that claims to receive its power and wisdom from the spirits of the dead. Posing as Jesus' Disciples Posing as godly loved ones who have died, saintly clergymen who are now dead, Bible prophets, or even the apostles or disciples of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:13), Satan and his angels will deceive billions. Those who believe the dead are alive, in any form, will most assuredly be deceived. 13. Do devils really work miracles? All miracle working is not from God, because devils also work miracles. "They are the spirits of devils, working miracles." Revelation 16:14. "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Matthew 24:24. Answer: Yes, indeed! Devils work incredibly convincing miracles (Revelation 13:13, 14). Satan and his angels will appear as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and, even more shocking, as Christ Himself (Matthew 24:23, 24). The universal feeling will be that Christ and His angels are leading out in a fantastic worldwide revival. The entire emphasis will seem so spiritual and be so supernatural that only God's elect will not be deceived. 14. Why will God's people not be deceived? The elect will not be deceived, because they firmly reject everything that is contrary to Scripture. "They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts 17:11. "If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20. Answer: God's people will know from their earnest study of His book that the dead are dead, not alive. Spirits of the dead do not exist. Therefore, God's people will reject all miracle workers and teachers who claim to receive special "light" or work miracles by contacting the spirits of the dead. And God's people will likewise reject as dangerous and false all teachings that claim the dead are alive in any form, anywhere. 15. Back in Moses' day, what did God command should be done to people who taught that the dead were alive? In Moses' day, people who claimed power to communicate with the dead were stoned to death. "A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones." Leviticus 20:27. Answer: God insisted that wizards and others with "familiar spirits" (who claimed to be able to contact the dead) should be stoned to death. This shows how God regards the false teaching that the dead are alive. 16. Will the righteous people who are raised in the resurrection ever die again? No one in God's new kingdom will ever die. Death will cease at the destruction of Satan. "They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, ... Neither can they die any more." Luke 20:35, 36. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:4. Answer: No! Death, sorrow, crying, and tragedy will never enter into God's new kingdom. 17. Belief in reincarnation is expanding rapidly today. Is this teaching biblical? Reincarnation is impossible. Because God says all who died, both good and evil, are in their graves. "The living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing. ... Neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun." Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6. Answer: Almost half the people on earth believe in reincarnation--a teaching that the soul never dies but is instead continually reborn in a different kind of body with each succeeding generation. This teaching, however, is contrary to Scripture. The Bible Says After death a person: returns to dust (Psalms 104:29), knows nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5), possesses no mental powers (Psalms 146:4), has nothing to do with anything on earth (Ecclesiastes 9:6), does not live (2 Kings 20:1), waits in the grave (Job 17:13), and continues not (Job 14:1, 2). Satan's Invention We learned in questions 11 and 12 that Satan invented the teaching that the dead are alive. Reincarnation, channeling, communication with spirits, spirit worship, and the "undying soul" are all inventions of Satan, with one aim--to convince people that when you die you are not really dead. When people believe that the dead are alive, "spirits of devils, working miracles" (Revelation 16:14) and posing as spirits of the dead will be able to deceive and lead them astray virtually 100 percent of the time (Matthew 24:24). 18. I am thankful for the Bible, which tells us the truth on this sensitive subject of death. Those who insist on Scripture proof for all doctrines will not be led astray by Satan. Answer: Yes No

Thought Questions

1. Didn't the thief on the cross go to paradise with Christ the day He died? Luke 23:43 No. In fact, on Sunday morning Jesus said to Mary, "I am not yet ascended to my Father." John 20:17. This shows that Christ did not go to heaven at death. Also note that the punctuation of the Bible is not inspired, but was added by men. The comma in Luke 23:43 should be placed after the words "to day" rather than before, so the passage should read, "Verily I say unto thee to day, shalt thou be with me in paradise." Or, "I'm telling you today--when it seems that I can save no one, when I myself am being crucified as a criminal--I give you the assurance today that you will be with me in paradise." Christ's kingdom is set up at His second coming (Matthew 25:31), and all the righteous of all ages will enter it at that time (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) and not at death. 2. Doesn't the Bible speak of the "undying," "immortal" soul? 1 Timothy 1:17 No, the undying, immortal soul is not mentioned in the Bible. The word "immortal" is found only once in the Bible, and it is in reference to God (1 Timothy 1:17). 3. At death the body returns to dust and the spirit (or breath) returns to God. But where does the soul go? Ecclesiastes 12:7 It goes nowhere. Instead, it simply ceases to exist. Two things must be combined to make a soul: body and breath. When the breath departs, the soul ceases to exist because it is a combination of two things. When you turn off a light, where does the light go? It doesn't go anywhere. It just ceases to exist. Two things must combine to make a light: a bulb and electricity. Without the combination, a light is impossible. So with the soul; unless body and breath are combined, there can be no soul. There is no such thing as a disembodied soul. 4. Does the word "soul" ever mean anything other than a living being? Psalms 139:14 Yes, it may mean also (1) life itself, or (2) the mind, or intellect. No matter which meaning is intended, the soul is still a combination of two things (body and breath), and it ceases to exist at death. 5. Can you explain John 11:26, which says, "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die"? John 11:26 This refers not to the first death, which all people die (Hebrews 9:27), but to the second death, which only the wicked die and from which there is no resurrection (Revelation 2:11; 21:8). 6. Matthew 10:28 says, "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul." Doesn't this prove that the soul is undying? Matthew 10:28 No, it proves the opposite. The last half of the same verse proves that souls do die. It says, "But rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." The word "soul" here means life and refers to eternal life, which is a gift (Romans 6:23) that will be given to the righteous at the last day (John 6:54). No one can take away the eternal life that God bestows. (See also Luke 12:4, 5.) 7. Doesn't 1 Peter 4:6 say the gospel was preached to dead people? 1 Peter 4:6 No, it says the gospel "was" preached to those who "are" dead. They are dead now, but the gospel "was" preached to them while they were yet living. 8. What about the souls crying out from under the altar in Revelation 6:9, 10? Doesn't this show that souls do not die? Revelation 6:9 No. This cry was figurative, as was the cry of Abel's blood (Genesis 4:10). The word "soul" here means people (or living beings) who had been slain for their faith. Surely no one believes that souls who die literally lie under the altar, nor do people believe that the righteous beg God to punish their enemies. Rather, the righteous beg for mercy for their enemies, as Christ did on the cross (Luke 23:34). 9. Doesn't the Bible say Christ went and preached to lost souls in hell between His crucifixion and resurrection? 1 Peter 3:18 No, the Bible passage in question is 1 Peter 3:18-20. The preaching was done "by the Spirit" (verse 18) in Noah's day--to people who were then living (verses 19, 20). The "spirits in prison" refers to people whose lives were in bondage to Satan. (See Psalms 142:7; Isaiah 42:6, 7; 61:1; and Luke 4:18.) Copyright © 2004 by Amazing Facts Inc. Amazing Facts also has two excellent booklets which treat this subject with more detail.  They are titled, "Absent From the Body" and "The Rich Man and Lazurus".  Here are the links to the PDF versions of these booklets: "Absent From The Body": http://www.amazingfacts.org/Resources/Download/PBLib/BK-AB.pdf "The Rich Man and Lazurus": http://www.amazingfacts.org/Resources/Download/PBLib/BK-RMAL.pdf

In your reference to Eutychus, you say that he died after the resurrection. I am assuming that you are referring to the resurrection of Jesus. 

If you follow what the Bible and the above study teaches, you will recognize how it teaches that the dead remain in their graves until the the resurrection of the dead which takes place at the second coming of Jesus Christ. 

The second coming resurrection of the dead has not yet taken place, so Eutychus, if he actually died when he fell from the window, was awakened from the sleep of death by Paul.

Sorry for the triple post, but I just thought of one more thing in reference to Eutychus...

Eutychus was raised to live after his fall from the window, but, just like Lazurus, he eventually died one day, likely of natural causes (tho' the Bible does not tell us how/when either died).  This means that he and Lazurus, along with millions of others, are in their graves awaiting the resurrection when Jesus Christ returns again.

Note these verses from the New King James Version:

"Now if Christ is preached that He has risen from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  For if there is no resurrection of the ded, then Christ is not risen.  And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.  Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up-if in fact the dead do not rise.  For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.  And if Christ is not risen, your faih is futile; you are still in your sins!  Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

"But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.  For He must reign until He has put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 

"But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?  Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies.  And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain-perhaps wheat or some other grain.  But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.

"All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flsh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.

"There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.  There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another in glory.

"So also is the resurrection of the dead.  The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.  It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.  It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.  There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.  And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

"However the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.  The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the lord from heaven.  As was the man of the dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have all borne the image of the man of dust, we shal also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortaliy, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."  (1 Corinthians 15:12-28,35-54)

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

Sorry Karl, but Jesus wasn't equating sleep with death as you said above "Jesus said that Lazurus was sleeping - equating death with sleep". 

The bible says plainly that Jesus said: Joh 11:14  Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.599.  I am sure you know this but for those who don't the number are the Strongs Concordance reference numbers so you can look up the original meanings in Greek or Hebrew, I highly recommend owning one.  Anyway, "Dead" in this verse actually means DEAD...not sleeping as some other similar phrases do.

Furthermore, Lazarus was in Heaven... Luk 16:20  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Luk 16:21  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luk 16:22  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 

This verse is obvioulsy refering to Lazarus before he was healed and raised from the dead by Christ... Other wise he would not have been full of sores...

Also this verse seems to suggest that we do immediately go to heaven when we die, doesn't it? 

How am I off base here?

Thanks for the correction on the equating sleep with death thing! You're right, what I meant is that Jesus was equating death with sleep - that death is a state of unconsciousness.

The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is not enough to support the idea that Christians go to heaven when they die.  Too many other Scriptures say otherwise!

And most Bible scholars and other trusted reference books would say that you are off-base in saying that the Lazarus in the parable is the same person as the Lazarus who Jesus raised from the dead.

From Wikipedia I gleaned this:

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Resurrection of Lazarus by Juan de Flandes, around 1500

For other uses, see Lazarus (disambiguation).

Lazarus (Heb. "God hath helped") is the name of two separate characters in the New Testament. The more famous one is the subject of the miracle recounted in John 11:41-44, in which Jesus raises him from the dead. The other one appears only in Jesus' parable of Lazarus and Dives recorded in Luke 16:19-31.

Here is a partial explanation of the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus from the Amazing Facts booklet "The Rich Man and Lazarus": 

"Today many Christians believe that the story of the rich man and Lazarus is a historical account of two individuals’ literal experiences in the afterlife. Based on this belief, some people teach that those who are consigned to the fiery torments of hell will never stop burning throughout all eternity. As with the parable of the trees and the bramble (Judges 9:8-15), however, serious problems arise with a literal interpretation of the story elements.
     

Can we believe that all the saints are even now gathered in Abraham’s bosom? If they are, in whose bosom does Abraham rest? And if there is really a great gulf fixed between heaven and hell, how could the rich man possibly have been heard by Abraham? Perhaps more disturbing, how could the saints enjoy the comforts of heaven while enduring the cries of the wicked being tormented?
     

Another dilemma that arises with a literal interpretation of this story could be called “the mystery of the empty graves.” If this is taken literally, apparently neither of the two leading characters spent very long in the grave—both being whisked away rather quickly to their respective places of reward. In this story their bodies obviously came along, for we find the rich man lifting up his eyes, and desiring to have his tongue cooled by a drop of water from the finger of Lazarus who was resting, as we have seen, in Abraham’s bosom. Enough graves have been exhumed in recent years to know that the bodies of the deceased are carried neither to heaven or hell after burial. They finally turn to dust and await the resurrection.
     

From these few examples, we begin to see that in this parable, Jesus was not trying to explain the physical realities of the afterlife. Instead, He was referring to the unfaithfulness of the Jews regarding their assigned responsibility. As stewards of the special message of truth, they utterly failed to share it with the Gentiles, who were eager to hear it. In fact, the entire chapter of Luke 16 is devoted to the subject of stewardship."

Further explanation continues with this excerpt from the same booklet:

"To attempt to stretch the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to cover the doctrine of hellfire is to miss the point Jesus intended to convey. The Bible speaks with unmistakable clarity on the subject of hell in many other places. Nowhere do the Scriptures teach that the wicked will continue to suffer in the fires of hell through the ceaseless ages of eternity. Rather, they will be utterly destroyed. Jesus never would have compromised the integrity of the Holy Scriptures by teaching a doctrine contrary to its own overwhelming testimony on the subject.
     

The truth about hell may be ascertained by examining even a few of the many Bible texts that speak directly on the subject. Before examining these, however, we must remember that “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life.” Romans 6:23. There are only two alternatives for every soul. Those who accept Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice will live forever; those who do not accept Jesus will die. If the wicked suffered without end, eternal life—however painful—would be theirs. But we know that eternal life is available only to those who accept Jesus.
     

Consider these clear texts of Scripture that speak of the reward of the wicked:

“But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.” (Psalm 37:20)
    

 “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: andthe day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” (Malachi 4:1)
     

“And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 4:3)
     

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10)
     

Many other texts could be cited, but these clearly illustrate that the ultimate fate of the wicked is death. Notice that the Scriptures choose the strongest possible words to describe the complete annihilation of the wicked. In no way should these clear words be misunderstood by one who honestly desires to know truth. There is a fire reserved for the wicked, but a fire so hot it will utterly destroy all who are engulfed by it. When the fire has done its work, it will go out. Eternally burning fire is not taught anywhere in the Bible—not even in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. (Some people have wondered what the expression “for ever” means in the usage of Revelation 20:10.

Other similar passages demonstrate this merely to mean as long as a person lives. See Exodus 21:6; 1 Samuel 1:22; Jonah 2:6, etc. Also, the expression “eternal fire” may be understood in terms of consequences rather than duration, as in the example of Sodom and Gomorrha in Jude 7).

Here is some more info to clarify what happens when we die:

11. Is The Devil In Charge Of Hell? Print This Page

Well? Does God really keep the devil on His payroll - is he the chief superintendent of hell measuring out the punishment of the lost? Nearly the entire world holds a very unbiblical view about hell, and you owe it to yourself to know what the Bible really says about it. Don't be fooled, because what you think about hell certainly affects what you think about God's character! Take a few moments to get the amazing facts you need to know today!

1. How many lost souls are being punished in hell today? The wicked will not be punished until after the judgment. "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." 2 Peter 2:9. Answer: There is not one single soul in hellfire today. The Bible says that God reserves, or holds back, the wicked until the day of judgment to be punished. 2. When will sinners be cast into hellfire? Sinners will be cast into hellfire at the end of the world -- not when they die. "So shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire." Matthew 13:40-42. "The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." John 12:48. Answer: Sinners will be cast into hellfire at the great judgment day at the end of the world--not when they die. God would not punish a person in fire until his case was tried and decided in court at the end of the world. Nor would God burn a murderer who died 5,000 years ago 5,000 years longer than one who dies and deserves punishment for the same sin today. 3. Where are sinners (who have died) now? All who have died, both good and evil, are in their graves awaiting the resurrection. "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 wicked is reserved to the day of destruction." "Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb." Job 21:30, 32. Answer: The Bible is specific. Both the wicked and the righteous who have died are in their graves "sleeping" until the resurrection day. 4. What is the end result of sin? Jesus died to save us from our sins. Those who do not accept His gift of salvation will receive death. "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23. "Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:15. "God ... gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Answer: The wages (or punishment) for sin is death, not everlasting life in hellfire. The wicked "perish," or receive "death." The righteous receive "everlasting life." 5. What will happen to the wicked in hellfire? "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelation 21:8. The wicked are not immortal. The Bible says they will "perish", "burn up" and "be destroyed". Answer: The wicked die the second death in hellfire. If the wicked lived forever being tortured in hell, they would be immortal. But this is impossible, because the Bible says God "only hath immortality." 1 Timothy 6:16. When Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden, an angel was posted to guard the tree of life so that sinners would not eat of the tree and "live for ever." Genesis 3:22-24. The teaching that sinners are immortal in hell originated with Satan and is completely untrue. God prevented this when sin entered this earth by guarding the tree of life. Bible Clear--Wicked Obliterated The Bible says the wicked suffer "death" (Romans 6:23), will suffer "destruction" (Job 21:30), "shall perish" (Psalms 37:20), will "burn" up (Malachi 4:1), "shall be destroyed together" (Psalms 37:38), will "consume away" (Psalms 37:20), "shall be cut off" (Psalms 37:9), "shall be slain" (Psalms 62:3). God will "destroy" them (Psalms 145:20), and "fire shall devour them" (Psalms 21:9). Note that all of these references make it clear that the wicked die and are destroyed. They do not live forever in misery. 6. When and how will hellfire be kindled? At the end of the world, fire will fall from heaven upon the wicked and devour them. "So shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man ... shall cast them into a furnace of fire." Matthew 13:40-42. "They went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." Revelation 20:9. "The righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner." Proverbs 11:31. Answer: At the end of the world, God Himself will kindle hellfire. As the holy city comes down from God out of heaven (Revelation 21:2), the wicked attempt to capture it. At that time, God will rain down fire from heaven upon the earth, and it will devour the wicked. This fire is Bible hellfire. 7. How big and how hot will hellfire be? Hell will be the entire world on fire. It will be 25,000 miles in circumference--its heat so great that everything on earth will be "burned up". "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10. Answer: Hellfire will be just as big as this earth because it will be the earth on fire. This fire will be so hot as to melt the earth and burn up all "the works that are therein." The atmospheric heavens will explode and "pass away with a great noise." 8. How long will the wicked suffer in the fire? "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12. "And then he shall reward every man according to his works." Matthew 16:27. "That servant, which knew his lord's will, and ... neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes." Luke 12:47, 48. Jesus will insist upon just treatment for the wicked. Their degree of punishment will be fair and according to their works, as He promised. Answer: The Bible does not tell how long the wicked will be punished before receiving death in the fire. God does specifically state, however, that all will be punished according to their deeds. This means some will receive greater punishment than others, based upon their works. 9. Will the fire eventually go out? "Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it." Isaiah 47:14. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth." "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:1, 4. God will recreate a new world where no trace of the former evils of this world will be seen. Answer: Yes, indeed, the Bible specifically teaches that hellfire will go out and that there will not be left "a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it." The Bible also teaches that in God's new kingdom all "former things" will be passed away. Hell, being one of the former things, is included, so we have God's promise that it will be abolished. Is God a Torturer? If God tortured His enemies in a fiery horror chamber throughout eternity, He would be more vicious and heartless than men have ever been in the worst of war atrocities. An eternal hell of torment would be hell for God also, who loves even the vilest sinner. 10. What will be left when the fire goes out? The fires will burn until only ashes are left. Even the bones will be completely gone. "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." "And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts." Malachi 4:1, 3. Answer: Notice the verse does not say the wicked will burn like asbestos, as many today believe, but rather like stubble, which will be burned up. The little word "up" denotes completion. Nothing but ashes will be left when the fire goes out. In Psalms 37:10, 20, the Bible says the wicked will go up in smoke and be completely destroyed. 11. Will the wicked enter hell in bodily form and be destroyed both soul and body? The fire from heaven will fall upon the wicked and destroy them, both body and soul. "It is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." Matthew 5:30. "Rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezekiel 18:20. Answer: Yes. Real, live people enter hell in bodily form and are destroyed both soul and body. The fire from God out of heaven will fall upon real people and blot them out of existence. 12. Will the devil be in charge of hellfire? The devil will be completely destroyed by fire. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:10. "I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. ... And never shall thou be any more." Ezekiel 28:18, 19. Answer: Absolutely not! The devil will be cast into the fire, and it will turn him into ashes. 13. Does the word "hell" as used in the Bible always refer to a place of burning or punishment? Answer: No, the word "hell" is used 54 times in the Bible, and in only 12 cases does it refer to "a place of burning." The word "hell" is translated from several different words with various meanings, as indicated below: IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 31 times from "Sheol," which means "the grave." IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 10 times from "Hades," which means "the grave." 12 times from "Gehenna," which means "the place of burning."  1 time from "Tartarus," which means "a place of darkness." 54 TIMES TOTAL Fire smoldered constantly in the "Valley of Hinnom". Note: The Greek word "Gehenna" (mentioned above) is a transliteration of the Hebrew "Ge-Hinnom," which means the "Valley of Hinnom." This valley, which lies immediately south and west of Jerusalem, was a place where dead animals, garbage, and other refuse were dumped. Fire burned constantly, as it does at modern sanitation dump sites. The Bible uses "Gehenna" or the "Valley of Hinnom" as a symbol of the fire that will destroy the lost at the end of time. The fire of Gehenna was not unending. Otherwise it would be still burning southwest of Jerusalem today. Neither will the fire of hell be unending. 14. What is God's real purpose in hellfire? "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Matthew 25:41. "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15. "For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be." "The enemies of the Lord ... shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away." Psalms 37:10, 20. Destroying sin, sinners, and Satan is the only way to make the universe safe for eternity. Answer: God's purpose is that hell will destroy the devil and all sin and sinners and make the world safe for eternity. One sinner, if left on this planet, would be a deadly virus forever threatening the universe. It is God's plan to isolate sin and blot it out of existence for all time. Eternal Hell Would Perpetuate Sin An eternal hell of torment would perpetuate sin and make its eradication impossible. An eternal hell of torment is not part of God's great plan at all. Such a horrible theory is slander against the holy name of a loving God. The devil delights to see our loving Creator pictured as such a monstrous tyrant, and he alone can benefit from such teachings. Eternal Hell a Man-made Theory The "eternal hell of torment" theory originated not from the Bible, but from misguided people who were (perhaps inadvertently) led of the devil. And, incidentally, no one will be in heaven because he feared hell. People are saved because they love and obey Christ. 15. Isn't the work of destroying sinners foreign to God's nature? Jesus will be deeply saddened when He must destroy those whom He died to save. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" Ezekiel 33:11. "For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." Luke 9:56. "For the Lord shall rise up ... that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act." Isaiah 28:21. Answer: Yes, the work of God has always been to save rather than destroy. The work of destroying the wicked in hellfire is so foreign to God's nature that the Bible calls it His "strange act." God's great heart will ache at the destruction of the wicked. Oh, how diligently He works to save every soul! But if one spurns His love and clings to sin, God will have no choice but to destroy the sinner with his sin when He rids the universe of that horrible, malignant growth called "sin" in the fires of the last day. 16. What are God's post-hell plans for the earth and His people? After sinners are destroyed, God will create a fantastic new earth for His people, where they will live in peace, joy, and love forever. Sin will never rise again. "He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time." Nahum 1:9. "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Isaiah 65:17. "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." Revelation 21:3, 4. Answer: After hellfire goes out, God will create a new earth and restore it to His people--with all the beauties and glories of Eden before sin entered. The horrors of sin and the past will be forgotten. Pain, death, tragedy, woe, tears, sickness, disappointment, sorrow, and all sin will be banished forever. Sin Will Not Rise Again God promises that sin will never rise again. His people will be filled with perfect peace, love, joy, and contentment. Their lives of complete happiness will be far more glorious and thrilling than mere words could ever describe. The real tragedy of hell is in missing heaven. A person who fails to enter this magnificent kingdom has made the saddest choice of a lifetime. 17. I am thankful to learn that God does not punish the wicked throughout eternity in hellfire.   Answer: Yes No

Thought Questions

1. Doesn't the Bible speak of "eternal torment"? Jude 1:7 No, the phrase "eternal torment" does not appear in the Bible. 2. Then why does the Bible say that the wicked will be destroyed with unquenchable fire? Jeremiah 17:27 Unquenchable fire is fire that cannot be put out, but which goes out when it has turned everything to ashes. Jeremiah 17:27 says Jerusalem was to be destroyed with unquenchable fire, and in 2 Chronicles 36:19-21 the Bible says this fire burned the city "to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah" and left it desolate. Yet we know this fire went out, because Jerusalem is not burning today. 3. Doesn't Matthew 25:46 say the wicked will receive "everlasting punishment"? Matthew 25:46 Notice the word is punishment, not punishing. Punishing would be continuous, while punishment is one act. The punishment of the wicked is death, and this death is everlasting. 4. Can you explain Matthew 10:28: "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul"? Matthew 10:28 The word "soul" has three meanings in the Bible: (1) a living being—Genesis 2:7, (2) the mind—Psalms 139:14, and (3) life—1 Samuel 18:1, which here refers to eternal life that God guarantees all who reach His kingdom. No one can take this away. The last part of Matthew 10:28 says both soul and body will be destroyed in hell. 5. Matthew 25:41 speaks of "everlasting fire" for the wicked. Does it go out? 2 Peter 2:6 Yes, according to the Bible, it does. We must let the Bible explain itself. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed with everlasting, or eternal, fire (Jude 7), and that fire turned them "into ashes" as a warning to "those that after should live ungodly." 2 Peter 2:6. These cities are not burning today. The fire went out after everything was burned up. Likewise, everlasting fire will go out after it has turned the wicked to ashes (Malachi 4:3). The effects of the fire are everlasting, but not the burning itself. 6. Doesn't the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 teach an eternal hell of torment? Luke 16:19 No, indeed! It is simply a parable used to emphasize a point. Many facts make it clear that this is a parable. A few are as follows: A. Abraham's bosom is not heaven (Hebrews 11:8-10, 16). B. People in hell can't talk to those in heaven (Isaiah 65:17). C. The dead are in their graves (Job 17:13; John 5:28, 29). The rich man was in bodily form with eyes, a tongue, etc., yet we know that the body does not go to hell at death. It is very obvious that the body remains in the grave, as the Bible says. D. Men are rewarded at Christ's second coming, not at death (Revelation 22:11, 12). E. The lost are punished in hell at the end of the world, not when they die (Matthew 13:40-42). The point of the story is found in verse 31 of Luke 16. Parables cannot be taken literally. If we took parables literally, then we must believe that trees talk! (See this parable in Judges 9:8-15.) 7. But the Bible speaks of the wicked being tormented "forever," doesn't it? Revelation 14:11 The term "for ever," as used in the Bible, means simply a period of time, limited or unlimited. It is used 56 times in the Bible in connection with things that have already ended. (To check in a concordance, look up the word "ever.") It is like the word "tall," which means something different in describing men, trees, or mountains. In Jonah 2:6, "for ever" means "three days and nights." (See also Jonah 1:17.) In Deuteronomy 23:3, this means "10 generations." In the case of man, this means "as long as he lives" or "until death." (See 1 Samuel 1:22, 28; Exodus 21:6; Psalms 48:14.) So the wicked will burn in the fire as long as they live, or until death. This fiery punishment for sin will vary according to the degree of sins for each individual, but after the punishment, the fire will go out. The teaching of eternal torment has done more to drive people to atheism and insanity than any other invention of the devil. It is slander upon the loving character of a tender, gracious heavenly Father and has done untold harm to the Christian cause. Copyright © 2004 by Amazing Facts Inc. I know this is alot of info, but I hope it helps!

 

Karl,

 Just out of curiosity what denomination of Christianity are you?   Just wondering what background and influences affect your opinions...

JJ 

JJ - I am a Christian who has been a member of a non-denominational Charismatic Church, a member of the Assemblies of God Church, and most recently - a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I came to my present positions after much Bible study and prayer.

Here's a link to another excellent article on the topic, called "Death, and Then What?" by Maylan Schurch for Signs of the Times magazine:

http://www.signstimes.com/?p=article&a=40014801369.786

For even more info on the topic of death from yet another source, here is what Bibleinfo.com has to say:

Obviously there seems to be some confusion on the usage of the word “Dead”.  So I did a little research on the word and its usage in the OT and the NT.  Below are all the usages of the word Dead in the OT.  As you can see none of the usages imply or actually mean that death is a state of sleep or some unexplained state of unconsciousness.  They actually refer to dead, as in dead, or sleep as in sleep, or in a state of spiritual unbelief. All of the OT usages are listed below, I challenge you to show me where the word “dead” is used to mean a state of unconsciousness or sleep as you suggest in the NT… Just to stay consistent lets refer to the actual original meanings in Greek or Aramaic, because it appears to me all of the usages that could be construed as you say are referring to Spiritual unbelief or disbelief.  
 

Dead: Strong’s Concordance Reference Number 4191, used approx 138 times in the OT, meaning: (mûth, mooth): A primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively to kill: -  X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy (-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro [-mancer], X must needs, slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in [no] wise.
 

Dead: Strong’s Concordance Reference Number 4194, used approx 7 times in the OT, meaning : (mâveth, maw'-veth): From H4191; death (natural or violent); concretely the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively pestilence, ruin: - (be) dead ([-ly]), death, die (-d).

Dead: Strong’s Concordance Reference Number 5315, used approx 8 times in the OT, meaning: (nephesh, neh'-fesh): From H5314; properly a breathing creature, that is, animal or (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental): - any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead (-ly), desire, X [dis-] contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart (-y), (hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortality, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they, thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

Dead: Strong’s Concordance Reference Number 1478, used 1 time in the OT, meaning: (gâva‛, gaw-vah): A primitive root; to breathe out, that is, (by implication) expire: - die, be dead, give up the ghost, perish.

Dead: Strong’s Concordance Reference Number 5038, used approx 7 times in the OT, meaning: (nebêlâh, neb-ay-law'): From H5034; a flabby thing, that is, a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collective); figuratively an idol: -  (dead) body, (dead) carcase, dead of itself, which died, (beast) that (which) dieth of itself.

Dead: Strong’s Concordance Reference Number 7703, used 1 time in the OT, meaning: (shâdad, shaw-dad'): A primitive root; properly to be burly, that is, (figuratively) powerful (passively impregnable); by implication to ravage: - dead, destroy (-er), oppress, robber, spoil (-er), X utterly, (lay) waste.

Dead: Strong’s Concordance Reference Number 6297, used approx 6 times in the OT, meaning: (peger, peh'-gher): From H6296; a carcase (as limp), whether of man or beast; figuratively an idolatrous image: - carcase, corpse, dead body.

Dead: Strong’s Concordance Reference Number 7496, used approx 6 times in the OT, meaning: (râphâ', raw-faw'): From H7495 in the sense of H7503; properly lax, that is, (figuratively) a ghost (as dead; in plural only): - dead, deceased.

Dead: Strong’s Concordance Reference Number 1472, used once in the OT, meaning: (gevîyâh, ghev-ee-yaw'): Prolonged for H1465; a body, whether alive or dead: - (dead) body, carcase, corpse.

Dead: Strong’s Concordance Reference Number 2309, used once in the OT, meaning: (chedel, kheh'-del): From H2308; rest, that is, the state of the dead: - world.

Expanded meaning as applied to this verse from Strong’s Concordance: “A masculine noun meaning cessation, rest. This word occurs only in Isa 38:11 in the lamentation of Hezekiah. Despite the fact that it is translated “world,” it conveys the idea of a place of termination or repose. By considering the context of the OT, one comes to understand that the word refers to the grave, or more exactly Sheol (Isa 38:10).

Dead: Strong’s Concordance Reference Number 7290, used 10 times in the OT, (râdam, raw-dam'): A primitive root; to stun, that is, stupefy (with sleep or death): - (be fast a-, be in a deep, cast into a dead, that) sleep (-er, -eth).

In every one of these 10 occurrences the context of all of these verses are clearly referring to sleep, actual sleep or spiritual unbelief, again not a state of unconsciousness.

So where am I wrong in this?  Just out of curiosity if you don’t actually believe in death, how is it possible to believe in the actual resurrection of Christ? If he were in a state of unconsciousness, this would be very similar to the swoon theory wouldn’t it?

I understand you are saying that the definition we typically have for death isn’t historically accurate and that humans experience this unconscious sleep as apposed to the traditional death, that we all know.  But if this were the case why would the many of the Hebrew definitions above also refer to the death of animals in the same manner as humans? Do animals experience the same type of unconscious sleep you described as well?

Also who were the 24 Elders in Heaven described in the book of Revelations?

Also you stated in your text above: “1. Didn't the thief on the cross go to paradise with Christ the day He died? Luke 23:43

No. In fact, on Sunday morning Jesus said to Mary, "I am not yet ascended to my Father." John 20:17. This shows that Christ did not go to heaven at death.”

So are you saying that Jesus still isn’t in Heaven?  Or are you implying that Christ wasn’t actually fully God and Fully Man? But just a man?  This seems a very dangerous position, especially since the 7th Day Adventist Church believes in the Trinity…

Also you said in your text above “2. Doesn't the Bible speak of the "undying," "immortal" soul? 1 Timothy 1:17

“No, the undying, immortal soul is not mentioned in the Bible. The word "immortal" is found only once in the Bible, and it is in reference to God (1 Timothy 1:17).”

How do you rectify that statement with: Heb 5:9  And2532 being made perfect,5048 he became1096 the author159 of eternal166 salvation4991 unto all3956 them that obey5219 him;846

If the soul dies at death, as you suggest then what is eternally saved in the scripture above? 

Karl, I am not outright saying you are wrong or accusing you so some hieratical belief, but in the research I have done I just don’t see any actual scriptural support for your claims, when you examine the original Hebrew and Greek meanings of the word Dead.  I am looking forward to what your research shows you on the use of the word Dead in the NT…  Cheers JJ   

Of course, Jesus is in heaven now - He has been since He ascended to His Father after spending 40 days on this earth after His resurrection from the dead!

I don't understand why you think I don't believe in death. Dead is dead. I am not the one who used sleep as a way to describe what death is like - it was Jesus Himself and many other Scriptures!

When I die I will enter a state of unconsciouness. I will not be aware of my surroundings or the passing of time.  The neat thing about this for Christians is that the next conscious thought we have will be of being raised to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all of eternity at His second coming! It will seem just like we went right to heaven since we will have had no awareness of the passing of time while in our unconscious state of death!

Regarding eternal life or eternal salvation, consisder this:

We receive immortality when Jesus comes again. (see I Corinthians 15:51-54). When Jesus comes His reward of eternal life will be with Him. (see Revelation 22:12).

Here is some more to consider about death, dying and the resurrection of the dead:

OK Karl, so how do you explain the following scripture?

Mar 9:1  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
Mar 9:2  And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
Mar 9:3  And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
Mar 9:4  And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
Mar 9:5  And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Mar 9:6  For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
Mar 9:7  And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Mar 9:8  And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
 

If what you are saying were correct, how are Moses and Elias with Jesus?  Is this just an exception to the rule...?  

JJ 

Good point JJ

Josh, you asked about the thief on the cross, but that subject was covered in the studies and booklets I have submitted here.  This makes me think that you have not really read what I have submitted.  But for a refresher, here is an excerpt from what I posted earlier:

Karl,

You make some intersting points and I am not totally in disagreement with your position on death, but I still just don't see why ALL the scriptures relating to death would not back up your position or at least support it, but it seems that only a select few seem to relate to your point (in a figuartive manner) while the vast majority of them do not support it at all.  It seems that most of the scripture you point out is reffering to a spiritual disbelief and the term dead and or asleep are being used figuartively to indicate that disbelief, when you look at the whole context surrounding the verses you point out.  But hey I am new at this stuff... I would be interested in your thoughts on Mark 9:1-8.

Cheers

JJ

I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for in regards to my thoughts on Mark 9:1-8. Did you want me to comment on these words of Jesus - "There are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power."?

My New King James Study Bible says this about that quote:

Since these disciples died before Jesus' return, the reference here is no doubt to the Transfiguration (see Luke 9:28-36).  With this there is probably also a prediction of the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. (See Luke 10:9, 11:20, 17:21).  At the Transfiguration Jesus was altered into a radiant figure, even down to His white and glistening clothes.  The description here is similar to the description of the glory of Moses after seeing God.

Now, if you are referring to Moses and Elijah being alive at the transfiguration, I believe this excerpt from the book "The Desire of Ages", Chapter 46, titled "He Was Transfigured" provides an excellent expalantion:

"The disciples, awaking, behold the flood of glory that illuminates the mount. In fear and amazement they gaze upon the radiant form of their Master. As they become able to endure the wondrous light, they see that Jesus is not alone. Beside Him are two heavenly beings, in close converse with Him. They are Moses, who upon Sinai had talked with God; and Elijah, to whom the high privilege was given--granted to but one other of the sons of Adam--never to come under the power of death.

Upon Mount Pisgah fifteen centuries before, Moses had stood gazing upon the Land of Promise. But because of his sin at Meribah, it was not for him to enter there. Not for him was the joy of leading the host of Israel into the inheritance of their fathers. His agonized entreaty, "I pray Thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon" (Deut. 3:25), was refused. The hope that for forty years had lighted up the darkness of the desert wanderings must be denied. A wilderness grave was the goal of those years of toil and heart-burdening care. But He who is "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20), had in this measure answered His servant's prayer. Moses passed under the dominion of death, but he was not to remain in the tomb. Christ Himself called him forth to life. Satan the tempter had claimed the body of Moses because of his sin; but Christ the Saviour brought him forth from the grave. Jude 9.

Moses upon the mount of transfiguration was a witness to Christ's victory over sin and death. He represented those who shall come forth from the grave at the resurrection of the just. Elijah, who had been translated to heaven without seeing death, represented those who will be living upon the earth at Christ's second coming, and who will be "changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump;" when "this mortal must put on immortality," and "this corruptible must put on incorruption." 1 Cor. 15:51-53. Jesus was clothed with the light of heaven, as He will appear when He shall come "the second time without sin unto salvation." For He will come "in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Heb. 9:28; Mark 8:38. The Saviour's promise to the disciples was now fulfilled. Upon the mount the future kingdom of glory was represented in miniature,--Christ the King, Moses a representative of the risen saints, and Elijah of the translated ones."

I guess the questions I would like to ask of you JJ, are:

1.  "What are the Scriptures that prove that the dead are conscious?"

2.  "What are the Scriptures that prove that believers go to heaven upon death?"

Surely the Scriptures about Christ's second coming and the resurrection of the dead found in the books of 1 Corinthians 15:1-55 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 are not figurative, nor are they talking about a state of disbelief!  They are talking about those who have died and are making clear what happens when Christ comes again - He raises the dead to eternal life!  Now, if the dead are already conscious and enjoying eternal life, why the resurrection of the dead?  How can you resurrect someone who is not dead?

Now let's review the Scripture that inspired this whole discussion!

Karl

- So hat do you do when Elijah and Moses talked to Jesus on the mount of transfiguration?

What do I do when Elijah and Moses talked to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration?

Well, as my most recent post showed, Elijah never saw death, but was taken to heaven. Moses saw death, but received a special resurrection.  After the Transfiguration they were both taken back up into heaven. These are exceptions to the rule.

Good Questions.  Here is my answer.  And I have one last question for you.

I know you said that the comma was put in the wrong spot in the verse below, so I looked up every English Translation and Interpretation of the bible I could find.  18 versions in all.  They are all listed below and all of them say the same thing.  So my question to you is which bible do you use? I ask because I couldn’t find it… Is there a Seventh Day Adventist Bible? 

I believe this verse says it plainly (Luke 23:43).  But to go further and more fully to cover the need for Christ to Return.  I would suggest that when we die, we are dead, not sleeping and those who are saved will immediately go to Paradise.  Then at the second coming those who have died saved and those who are saved and alive will meet together and go to Heaven.  Paradise being a place where we will rest and wait for the second coming.  Heaven being the literal Heaven where God the Father Resides.  Now to be fair I didn’t come to this position on my own, I spoke with my pastor tonight and he explained it to me, because I am still new at this…  But this position seems to be more inline with Scripture and is consistent with all of the translations and interpretations listed below.  But bottom line is that if I am wrong I will buy you a coke in Heaven…lol.   

KJV+: Luk 23:43  And2532 Jesus2424 said2036 unto him,846 Verily281 I say3004 unto thee,4671 Today4594 shalt thou be2071 with3326 me1700 in1722 paradise.3857
 

NIV: Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

NASB: And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

NLT: And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

KJV: And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

ASV: And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.

MSG: He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise."

AMP: And He answered him, Truly I tell you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.

ESV: And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

CEV: Jesus replied, "I promise that today you will be with me in paradise."

KJ21: And Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise."

YLT: and Jesus said to him, `Verily I say to thee, To-day with me thou shalt be in the paradise.'

DARBY: And Jesus said to him, Verily I say to thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

NLV: Jesus said to him, "For sure, I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

HCSB: And He said to him, " I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise."

NIRV: Jesus answered him, "What I'm about to tell you is true. Today you will be with me in paradise."

WYC: And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

WE: And Jesus said to him, `I tell you the truth. Today you will be with me in God's garden of paradise.'

NIVUK: Jesus answered him, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.

Seriously, could that many scholars and linguists and religious authorities really get that wrong?  

Cheers

JJ 

Ha!!!  Yeah, I'm sure they were really ticked off!

I bet God sent them an email first so they were semi-prepared. 

Karl,

Where do you read that "Moses was resurrected,"?

How about a Cherry Coke!?  This has been a great discussion!  The question about Moses' special resurrection is discussed in the previous material I have posted or linked to, so I will not restate it here.

One thing we can agree on - those of us who have faith in Jesus Christ will one day be resurrected to spend eternity together with our Lord and Savior!!

Have a great Resurrection Sunday/Easter!

God bless you!

In this scripture it shows Abraham,Lazarus, and the rich man are all not sleeping or in a unconcious state, but speaking to each other from, as this version states, "hades" and Abrahams bossom." It says that when Lazarus died, the angles carried him to Abrahams bossom. Also that when the rih man died he was in hades. Neither is in a unconscious state... or sleep. Also Abraham is there Speaking to the rich man. Is he an exception to the rule also? Also, if you werent saved and died, what happened to you? Did you also go to sleep? Or where you sent to "hades" or hell as we call it today. And for the scripture you gave about Moses and his "resurrection"

Where does it say that moses underwent a special resurrection. All it states here is that the Lord rebuked satan, not brought him from the grave. I believe you stated that you use the New King James Study Bible, So i copied and pasted it from www.biblegateway.com .

9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Have a happy Easter Sunday!!!

This has been a great discussion! I have learned alot about different opinions on this subject. Thanks to Joshmo for starting this blog, and everyone else for the comments! Have a blessed Easter!

-Jeremy

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, what is said to have become of Lazarus?
"And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom." Luke 16:22.

What befell the rich man?
"The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." Luke 16:22, 23.

What request did the rich man make of Abraham?
"And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." Luke 16:24.

Upon making the request for Lazarus to be sent to his father's house to warn his brethren, what did Abraham reply?
"Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." Luke 16:29.

What earnest appeal did the rich man then make?
"And he said, Nay, father Abraham; but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent." Luke 16:30.
NOTE.-It seems that the rich man is represented in the parable as understanding that Lazarus was dead, and not in heaven, Said he: "If one went unto them from the dead;" as much as to say, that such a miracle would certainly cause them to repent.

But had Lazarus gone on such a mission, what must have taken place?
"And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Luke 16:31.
NOTE. - This is a plain statement that Lazarus was dead, and in the grave. Before he could warn others, he must rise from the dead.

When are the wicked punished?
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." 2 Peter 2:9.

When will the judgment take place?
"I charge thee therefore before God, and the lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom." 2 Tim. 4:1.
NOTE. - If the wicked are reserved to the day of judgment for their punishment, and the judgment takes place only in connection with the coming of Christ, it follows that the wicked do not enter upon their punishment at death.

When are the righteous to be recompensed?
"And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." Luke 14:14.

When do the angels gather the elect to Christ?
"And they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matt. 24:30, 31.
NOTE. - Thus far it has been seen that the narrative under consideration deals with physical men altogether. Nothing is said about their souls or spirits. The parable also states emphatically that Lazarus would have to rise from the dead in order to carry out the request of the rich man. Now as we have also seen that the wicked do not go to their punishment till after the judgment, and that the righteous do not go to their reward till the coming of Christ with the angels, we are forced to the conclusion that the Saviour used in this parable a figure of rhetoric known as personification, a figure in which an inanimate being is represented as animated, or endued with personality. By this form of speech Christ could forcibly teach what would occur in the future, by representing it as already taking place.

Karl-

Just to say that hat Lazarus that I mentioned before was the real Lazarus, not the Lazarus in the parable. It Has been interesting to hear your interpretation of this topic...and I wish you a Happy Easter, God Bless.