What Happens to Us When We Die?

What Happens to Us When We Die?

April 13, 2008

Introduction

Ask the question, “What Happens to Us When We Die?” and almost anywhere you turn, you'll find the answer. Turn on the news, and someone is being interviewed about a tragic accident. Usually you won't have to listen long until you find out that one who was killed is now "Looking down on all of us, and smiling that so many loved him," or perhaps they are discussing something else that is going on that is exciting to the one who has died.

It's all somewhat consoling, and it's an idea that is almost universally accepted, but the question is, is it true? Again, there are multitudes who would immediately say, "Oh course, it's true!" Asked where the Bible gives them such an idea, and they may site "The rich man and Lazarus." That sounds like a convincing argument until you take a closer look. My understanding is that the story of "Abraham's bosom" was a common expression among the Jewish people of Jesus' day. I sometimes wish that Jesus had not used the story because of the confusion it has caused, but what was the point of the story.

Body

I. What is the teaching of the Rich man and Lazarus?

A. Notice why Jesus was using this story.

(Luke 16:31 NKJV) "But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'"

B. It sounds incredible, but it was true.

C. When Jesus rose from the dead, what did the Jewish leaders do?

(Mat 28:12-13 NKJV) "When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, {13} saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.'"

D. I don't believe Jesus told this story with the intent of teaching what happens to us when we die.

There is also the teaching of the souls under the altar.

(Rev 6:9-11 NKJV) When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. {10} And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" {11} Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

1. It is symbolic!

a. Why are they “under the altar”?

b. They are obviously still dead: it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer”

2. It is similar to Abel’s blood crying out.

(Gen 4:10 NKJV) And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.

II. A very common expression for death in the New Testament is to fall asleep.

A. Jesus spoke of Lazarus as having fallen asleep when in fact, he had died.

(John 11:11-14 NKJV) "These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." {12} Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." {13} However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. {14} Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead."

B. The Bible speaks of Stephen falling asleep when he was killed.

(Acts 7:59-60 NKJV) "And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." {60} Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

C. Paul describes King David’s death as he fell asleep.

(Acts 13:36 NKJV) ""For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption;"

D. In the great resurrection chapter, Paul speaks of death as falling asleep.

(1 Cor 15:20 NKJV) "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." \

E. Again, Paul speaks of falling asleep as He writes to the church at Thessalonica

(1 Th 4:15-16) "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. {16} For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first."

1. How can we misunderstand that Paul is referring to death with the expression sleep, when in two verses he uses both expressions to describe the same thing?

2. Those who are asleep are clearly the dead in Christ.

III. Being asleep means we are unconscious.

A. Solomon stated it very emphatically.

(Eccl 9:5-6 NKJV) "For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. {6} Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun."

We are asleep until the Lord wakes us up.

John 5:28-29, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice [they will be awakened] {29} "and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

What are the implications of death being a sleep? It explains a lot of things.

How God alone has immortality.

(1 Tim 6:16 NKJV) "who [that is God] alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen."

When the Lord comes back, the righteous will become immortal.

(1 Cor 15:51-54 NKJV) "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; {52} in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. {53} For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. {54} So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory.""

Now let’s understand some terms that get misused.

a. Hades is another name for the grave, and is punishment neutral.

b. Abraham’s Bosom is from the teaching of the rabbis. Jesus used the story to make a point which we have already discussed.

c. Man was given a soul, but no where does the Bible speak of God giving us an immortal soul.

d. Scripture does not describe an interim place where we wait for judgment.

e. It ignores the time of sleep.

(Heb 9:27 NKJV) "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,"

Conclusion

I. There is a great day of judgment coming.

II. It will be final.

III. We will be divided as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats.

John 5:28-29, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice [they will be awakened] {29} "and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

IV. Are you ready for that great day.

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