Answering The Tough Questions of Scripture-What Happens After We Die?
What Happens After We Die?
Summary: This is the fifth message in the series. This sermon deals with the two directions or path for those who have died. The path of the unbeliever and the believer. For the believer it is a trip to heaven. For the unbeliever, it is a trip towards judgment
Scripture: Luke 16:19-31, Revelation 20:11-15
Series:Answering The Tough Questions of Scripture
Date: 19 March 2017
ANSWERING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS OF SCRIPTURE
What Happens After We Die?
Scripture Reading:
Let us rise to our feet and read together Luke 16:19-31, Revelation 20:11-15
Luke 16:19-31
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,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.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;23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.24 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.25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Revelation 20:11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. May the sweet Holy Spirit add His manifold blessings to our text this morning... in our hearing. Amen! You may be seated in God's Presence.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
OPENING ILLUSTRATIONS:
A young business owner was opening a new branch office, and a friend decided to send a floral arrangement for the grand opening. When the friend arrived at the opening, he was appalled to find that his wreath bore the inscription: “Rest in peace.”Angry, he complained to the florist. After apologizing, the florist said, “Look at it this way—somewhere a man was buried under a wreath today that said, ‘Good luck in your new location.’“
Our neighbor’s cat was run over by a car, and the mother quickly disposed of the remains before her four-year-old son Billy found out about it. After a few days, though, Billy finally asked about the cat.“Billy, the cat died,” his mother explained. “But it’s all right. He’s up in heaven with God.”The boy asked, “What in the world would God want with a dead cat?”
INTRODUCTION:
One of the age old questions – What happens after we die? This has been the subject of much confusion. Much of the problem answering this question is a result of not wanting to deal realistically with the thought of death, or the thought of judgment. To the point, some have tried to dismiss an afterlife, or to skew the Scripture into declaring that certain aspects of what happens after death are merely misinterpretations, or scare tactics meant to capture and imprison the otherwise free mind of man.
Sermon
What is important to realize, is that what happens after death is by divine institution, or sovereignty! As such, we do not have a say in what happens, only the opportunity to prepare for it. Our preparation now, is essential. There is not opportunity after we have died.I DEFINING OUR TERMS (the Scripture uses four terms defining where we go after we die)
A Hell:
The most common term used to describe the future punishment of the wicked. The Greek word is “Gehenna” It is used 12 times in the Greek New Testament and refers to a place in the Valley of Hinnom where human sacrifices had been offered and where rubbish is burned. It is a geographical term and has the final state of the unsaved in view.The geographical Gehenna seems to be one of the places where the tormented may be viewed during the millennial reign. The words “They shall go forth…” (Isaiah 66:23-24) suggest that this place is in close proximity to the temple area in Jerusalem, which was the case for the geographical Gehenna.
Matthew 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ’Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ’You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
It is a fiery abyss, a place of everlasting fire that shall never be quenched. It is also the place of the punishment of eternal damnation after the Last Judgment.
Mark 9:43-44 reads, “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell [in Greek “Geena” or Gehenna”], into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
Mark 9:43-44 reads, “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell [in Greek “Geena” or Gehenna”], into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
B Sheol:
The most frequently used word, it describes the place of all those who have died until the time of the resurrection. It is not a state of existence, but a place of conscious existence. Sheol makes no distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous.
Psalm 16:10 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
Proverbs 9:18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave.
C Hades:
Another word for hell is “Hades,” which means the land of darkness. Hades receives the unsaved dead prior to the final judgment. This is the New Testament counterpart to the word Sheol. In general it refers to the unseen world, but specifically to the place of the unsaved dead between death and the final judgment. This is a different word than Hell (Gehenna). This is a temporary place, while hell is a permanent place. Luke 16:23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
Rev. 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
D. Abyss
Another term for hell is the “abyss.”We read in Revelation 9:11, “And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit [abyss], whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.”
The abyss is described as a bottomless pit filled with smoke, brimstone, and the torment of the ungodly. It is also populated by all sorts of evil spirits (Rev. 9:1-10).
This refers to the eternal state of the unsaved. Forever separated from God, consigned to a special abode of suffering because they rejected Christ. Scripture also refers to this as the second death.
BELOVED, HELL IS REAL.
IT IS A FIERY ABYSS,
A PLACE OF EVERLASTING FIRE
THAT SHALL NEVER BE QUENCHED.
II WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BELIEVER AFTER DEATH?
A Where the believer goes when he dies.
1. The Lord Himself or His angels come and take these saints directly to heaven when they die.
The blood of Jesus continually cleanses from all sin those who have received Christ as their Saviour and are walking in the light. The Lord Himself or His angels come and take these saints directly to heaven when they die.
2 Cor. 12:4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.
everlasting life” (Jn. 3:3,5,7,15-16).
Therefore, the Bible makes it very clear that we must be born again. This experience all may have, if they will confess that they are sinners and come to Jesus by faith, receiving Him into their hearts as their Lord and Saviour.
2 The Activity of Christ
a Important to see paradise in light of the cross
b Before the death of Christ – sin is still and issue. Sin keeps us from God
c At the death of Christ, the veil of the temple was ripped in two.
1) Symbolic of access to God
2) Sacrificial death of Christ REMOVED the barrier of sin and provided DIRECT access to God!
Ephes. 2:18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Ephes. 3:12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
3 The place for the believer now (same location, different quality)
a The believer NOW goes into the very presence of Christ at death
1) It is immediate
2) It is like going home!
Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Philip. 1:23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
WHERE IS JESUS?(WE GO TO HEAVEN WHEN WE DIE)
2 Cor. 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
b Jesus is in heaven
Eph. 1:20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,c Heaven is Paradise
2 Cor. 12:2-4 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. 3 And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows-- 4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE PLACE WHERE THE BELIEVER RESIDES AFTER HE DIES IS THAT NOW AFTER THE CROSS PARADISE IS IN THE DIRECT PRESENCE OF GOD
4 The state of the believer yet to come
2 Cor. 5:1-10 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
a To receive a heavenly body – a body fit for heaven
b To stand before the judgment seat – “BEMA” seat
1) Not for the judgment of sins
2) For the judgment of deeds
1 Cor. 3:10-15 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
III WHAT HAPPENS TO THE UNBELIEVER AFTER DEATH
A The unbeliever moves to a place of torment
Let us consider what happens to the unsaved. There are many misconceptions about hell, one of which is that everyone goes immediately to hell. The truth is that while some do, it is important to understand that there are those who do not. Otherwise, we cannot explain haunted houses, or why people feel their departed loved ones near them.
We read in Job 4:15-17: “Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?” Job had this visitation from a spirit, but it would appear that the spirit was a spirit of a person, one who had been confined to dwelling among those still living.
We read in Job 4:15-17: “Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?” Job had this visitation from a spirit, but it would appear that the spirit was a spirit of a person, one who had been confined to dwelling among those still living.
ONE
OF THE THINGS TO MULL OVER CONCERNING THE UNSAVED IS
THAT
THE DESIRES THEY HAD ON EARTH WHILE THEY WERE LIVING
REMAIN
FOREVER WITH THEM, BUT CANNOT BE SATISFIED.
UNDERSTAND MAN DOES NOT ARRIVE HERE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF EVIDENCE BUT A WILLFUL REFUSAL TO BELIEVE!
B The unbeliever awaits a resurrection
1 The unbeliever also receives a new body
Isaiah 45:23 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.
Romans 14:11 It is written: " ’As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ’every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’ "
Philip. 2:9-11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
a Literal knees
b Literal tongues
c Real body
2 It will come at the end of the age
Rev. 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
a Each will be judged according to his deeds
b Every act is recorded by God
c Every unbeliever will be condemned.
3 The Lake of fire
a Never intended for man
Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, ’As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
b Intended for the devil and his followers
Matthew 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, ’Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
c It is the Final place for anyone who has not trusted Christ as Savior
1) No second chances
2) No mistakes
3) No return
IV WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO COMMIT SUICIDE
Dr. George Ritchie provides these accounts of suicide from
Return From Tomorrow:
“In one house a younger man followed an older one from room to room. ‘I’m sorry, Pa!’ he kept saying. ‘I didn’t know what it would do to Mama! I didn’t understand.’ But though I could hear him clearly, it was obvious that the man he was speaking to could not. The old man was carrying a tray into a room where an elderly woman sat in bed. ‘I’m sorry, Pa,’ the young man said again. ‘I’m sorry, Mama.’ Endlessly, over and over, to ears that could not hear.
Several times we paused before similar scenes. A boy trailing a teenaged girl through the corridors of a school. ‘I’m sorry, Nancy!’ A middle-aged woman begging a gray-haired man to forgive her. ‘What are they so sorry for, Jesus?’ I pleaded. ‘Why do they keep talking to people who can’t hear them?’ Then from the Light beside me came the thought: ‘They are suicides,chained to every consequence of their act.’” (p. 58)
Why does a person commit suicide? It is to escape what they
find to be an unbearable situation. What happens to a person
who commits suicide?
This is only a glimpse of what happens at death to those who are not walking uprightly. Some go down immediately to hell, and in the wisdom, judgment, and sovereignty of God, others stay on earth for a period of time. So often, they are limited in their movements to the places where they lived on earth. However, it is a terrible torment. They see the living, who have a light around them, but they themselves are dead and are doomed for all eternity.
Invitation and Final Challenge
DO NOT GO TO HELL
My earnest desire is that you will not go to hell. Make sure that your life is right. Did not the Lord give solemn warnings such as the one in Matthew 24:48-51? “But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The evil servant’s judgment was that he would be cut off and be given his portion with the hypocrites. Consequently, he would be weeping and gnashing his teeth.
Let us live godly lives, pleasing the Lord and asking Him to meet us in every situation so that nothing separates us from Him. Moreover, we want to make sure that nothing in our relationships with others can stop us from entering heaven. What is so shocking is that hell and the lake of fire are COMPLETELY avoidable, through the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus paid the price and Jesus paved the way to heaven and away from hell.
ABOVE
ALL, IF WE ARE CALLED TO MINISTER, HOW
CAREFUL
MUST WE BE TO GUIDE PEOPLE ALONG THE PATHWAY OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS.
WE MUST ALWAYS SEEK TO DELIVER THE WHOLE
COUNSEL
OF TRUTH SO THAT THEY MIGHT ENTER INTO ALL THE
EXPERIENCES
THAT THE LORD HAS FOR THEM.
Lessons Learnt
We can give so many accounts of hell and those who are confined there, but we pause to consider what one’s attitude should be towards hell. Is it going to be like Ted Turner, the millionaire, who said in an interview, “I’m looking forward to dying and being cast into hell. That’s where I belong”? (Ott, Daniel, n.d.) These are the words of a very foolish man who will eternally regret saying this. For by our words we shall be justified or condemned.
Do not wait, like the thief on the cross, to have a last-minute repentance. Do not be like the son of a friend of mine, who coming back to the Lord on his deathbed, confessed to his father that the Lord had forgiven him, but there was no inheritance awaiting him. Why not live a life of righteousness and so enjoy those rewards forever and forever?
[Disclaimer : Today's sermon is the fruit of all teachings I received from my spiritual Teacher and Father Dr. Bob Long at Emmanuel Bible Center, Kodaikannal in the Bible class Discussion And from my Spiritual Parents Dr. Dan & Dr. Paul Caram's and the study materials from Zion Teachers and the Zion Christian University. I am indebted to them. ]
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