There is one verse that describes a spirit going to heaven when we die:
… and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
This is an allusion back to Genesis 2:7 and the creation of Adam.
He was made from dust and God breathed into him the “breath of life” to make him a living person. The word “breath” is the same as the word “spirit” in Hebrew. When we die, the life-force that keeps us alive returns to God. He keeps all things alive by his power or spirit. This is not a conscious part of us, it is simply the power of God that keeps us alive. Psalm 104:29-30 says much the same thing about animals.
There is nothing in scripture about us having any kind of consciousness while dead (apart from a few highly allegorical poems in the prophets). In fact, several verses teach quite clearly that there is no consciousness in death. See Ecclesiastes 9:5; Psalm 6:5; 115:17.
The Bible does describe the hope of life after death, but it is on earth and not in heaven, and it happens when Jesus returns, not the moment we die.
See After death what? for more information.
who do you think the army of 10s of thousands that come back to earth with Jesus on white horses to fight against satan and his army are?
I assume you are referring to Revelation 19:14 which is the only verse in the Bible that refers to an army on white horses. However, it says nothing about the riders coming “back to earth”. It simply says they are the “armies of heaven”. Most likely, these are angels. Of course, being in Revelation, we should not take the description too literally.
Actually the verse in Revelation 19:14 refering to the army of 10’s of thousands that come back to earth with Jesus IS refering to Christians. This scene is going to happen on the LAST day of the Tribulation period of 7 years. At the very start of the 7 year Tribulation all dead in Christ and the living will be taken up into Heaven to be with him. So it will be us that come back with him on the last day of the Tribulation
There is no scripture that says there is no consciousness after death. Ecclesiastes 9:5 does not mean that dead people have no sense of awareness, but it is talking about death. You are trying to interpret Ecclesiastes 9:5, Psalm 6:5, and Psalm 115:17 spiritually, when these scriptures are referring to the actual dead bodies, their physical bodies. Ecclesiastes 9:5, the bodies of the dead will know nothing, Psalm 6:5, a dead body is not able to praise God, Psalm 115:17, also, a dead body can not praise God. These scriptures do not refer to the spirit of the body, but the physical body itself. Hope this helps.
If the Psalmist’s spirit would still be able to praise God, why would he ask God to save his life because his body would not be able to praise God? Similarly in Isaiah 38:18, where Hezekiah praises God after recovering from illness because the living thank God and the dead do not. The contrast seems to be between living and dead, not between being living and a dead body (but having some unspecified living spirit still praising God). While it is true that these scriptures speak of the physical body, what leads you to think that the spirit of the body is some separate part which is still living?
Terry you are wrong. John 11:23-26 says “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die’”
John 11 is the account of Lazarus’ death and resurrection. Why would Jesus raise Lazarus to come back to earthly life if he was then alive and in heaven? Anyway, clearly Lazarus did die – John says so in the same chapter.
(John 11:23-26). Martha believed that her brother would rise on the last day of the earth’s existence, which the Bible refers to as Judgment Day. Jesus further comforts her by pointing out that Lazarus would not have to wait that long to experience the joys of eternal life. “Whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” Our soul goes to be with Christ immediately when we die. In that sense, we will never die, even though our body remains here until Judgment Day.
I agree with Terry Cook, the scriptures that Rob is referring to is talking about physically dead bodies that had no heart beat, no consciousness and no blood flowing, real 100% dead. But our souls will live forever in heaven or hell. Our souls is our real selves, it’s that part of us that lives in the house call the body. The body will eventually rott away but the our souls are eternal.
This does not seem to me to match the facts presented in the Bible. As I read it, the life is the combination of dust with God’s spirit/breath from the very beginning. When we cease to breathe, we cease to live and so the dead body turns to dust again. Nothing is said about an ever-living soul there (remember, the spirit is God’s spirit, the breath: nothing is said about it being a soul specific to that person).
20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Eze 18:20 KJV)
11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
(Psa 88:11-12 KJV)
You are right, but Terry was confusing.
1Th_5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Heb_4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
I know the word states that our spirit (if born again) will go to heaven this is not our soul.
1Co_15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Co_15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Co_15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co_15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
When we die (those born again) our souls which is connected to our flesh here on earth will not go to heaven. Our souls were in control before salvation manifesting in the flesh condeming us.Even as beleivers we can let our soulful desires rule our bodies and this explains why we don’t see all of God’s provisions in our lives. For this is why we renew our mind with the word so our soul will line up with our spirit and this will manifest in our flesh.
3Jn_1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
This is a awesome promise…..If our focus is on the things of God through His word we will be prosperous and healthy
To be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord. The very moment that we breathe our very last breath on earth, we will be ushered into the very presence of God. The Bible is very clear on this matter. Having no consious is refers to the dead body. Once the spirit and soul has left the physical body as it is being viewed by the individual after the person referred to has passed away. From the physical person point of view the physical body that is looked at is physically dead. But from the Lord’s point of the view the person that has left the body is very much live in the presence of God, with only their soul and their spirit, waiting to be reunited with a brand new body. And this is only if they are truly saved.
I understand this is a touchy subject, but there is life after death. God promises us eternal life, the Bible teaches us that our promise is in the new heaven and new earth (2 Peter 3:13). This promise was never for the present heaven or the present earth (Hebrews 11:8-40). Jesus makes an important statement in John 7:33-34; Jesus tells the disciples that for a little while he will be with them. Then Jesus says that he’s going to the one who sent him; God is the one who sent Jesus (John 3:16-17). The Bible also teaches us that God is in heaven (Matthew 6:9). Then in John 7:34 Jesus says to the disciples that they will seek him but will not find him; and where Jesus is at they can not come. Now we just study and saw how Jesus is going to heaven to be with God after his death and resurrection; but why would Jesus tell the disciples that they could not come where he is at. Would Jesus lie? No, lets look at the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus; when Jesus died he was dead for three days (Matthew 12:40). On the third day Jesus rose from the dead, and then had a conversation with Mary in John 20:17; Jesus tells Mary not to touch him because he has not yet ascended to God. 2 Corinthians 5:1 talks about receiving a body that is made without hands, Mark 14:58 tells us that Jesus to will receive his body made without hands. But notice when Mark 14:58 say Jesus will receive this heavenly body; it’s on the third day after his resurrection. 2 Corinthians 5:4 tells us that we will be clothed with our heavenly body when mortality is swallowed up; 1 Corinthians 15:54 tells us that mortality will be swallowed up at the time when Christ returns and the dead rises (read entire 1 Corinthians 15:35-58). Job tells us in Job 14:12-14 that God will hid him in the grave until his appointed time, but notice in verses 14 Job says he will wait in his grave until his change. What change do you think Job is referring to, the change the dead in Christ receive at Jesus’ return (1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). Also look at Job 14:15, and look at where Job says that God will call him, and he will answer him; this is also the same thing Jesus said in John 5:25. Job tells us that he will wait for this change in his grave, not in heaven. Job tells us in 19:25-26 that his Redeemer lives, and Job knows that his Redeemer will stand on earth in the latter days; Job also tells us that even though the worms destroy his body, he will see his God in his flesh. Now Job died years before Jesus was born, and there is no verse that tells us Job rose from the dead during the life of Christ; so it’s safe to say that Job was referring to the second coming of Jesus. Job tells us that he will see God in his flesh, not in his spirit. Let’s think about it for a second; if we indeed go to heaven right after death and this is where we will live with God forever, then what is the purpose of the resurrection? Or if Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), then where are all the saints that died before Christ came? If we continue to live after this body dies then wouldn’t that make us immortal, but according to 1 Timothy 1:17 and 6:15-16 God is the only immortal one. The purpose of the second coming is for Jesus to come and get God’s people, the dead and the living; so we can live forever with God in the New earth.
When we die our souls go to heaven and our bodies in the ground. If we die rejecting God, with mortal sins and with no remorse then we have damned ourselves to hell and that is where those souls go.
Verses to support this?
How do you explain the verses cited in this answer about the dead being unconscious? And where does the resurrection of 1 Cor 15 (and elsewhere) fit in?
All life and memory and thoughts ceased at death and man went back to the ground, from which he was created in the first place and the breath of life given to him at his birth, went back to God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7) “The living know that they shall die but the dead know not anything” (Ecc 9:5) “The Spirit ( Heb ruwach= breath) shall return to God who gave it” (Ecc. 12:7) He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die’” (John 11:23-26). This can be a confusing subject, but I believe that the soul goes to heaven when we die. We are judged then and if we are sinners the soul goes to hell and the body is left in the ground. If you need more info, let me know.
What is Soul and What is Spirit.
I was thinking Spirit represents the spiritual body for he Soul and Body represents the physical body of the soul. But could not understand what happens after death from the bible about Soul and Spirit and how they are linked.
WHAT IS THE SOUL
Ezek 18:4 the soul that sinneth, it shall die. PEOPLE SIN. H5315 (Mickelson’s
Enhanced Strong’s Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries) H5315 נֶפֶשׁ nephesh (neh’-fesh) n-f. 1. (properly) a breathing creature/ living thing
Genesis 2:7 and man became a living soul.
CAN THE SOUL OR PERSON DIE OR IS IT IMMORTAL
Ezek 18:4 the soul that sinneth,it shall die
Gen 2:7 7 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.
Ecclesiastes 12:7… and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Clay plus breath equals soul and when the breath leaves the clay (& returns to God, the clay becomes a dead soul.
DAVID SPOKE OF JESUS BODY/SOUL NOT DECAYING IN GRAVE
Acts 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (it was possible for the soul to decay).
Job 7:9 As a cloud is dispersed and then disappears, so the one who goes down to the grave does not come up again.
SOULS ARE LIVING PEOPLE & CREATURES
ABRAHAM TOOK SOULS/PEOPLE WITH HIM
Gen 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
ABRAHAM DID NOT WANT HIS SOUL TO DIE
Gen 12:12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Gen 12:13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
Gen 17:14(die), Gen 19:20 (die), gen 34:2-3, gen 35:18, Gen 42:21 (anguish), Gen 46:15,18,22, Ex 15:15 &19 (die), levi 5:2 (touch/flesh), Lev 5:4 (swear), Lev 5:15 (trespass), Isa 29:8 (appetite), Isaiah 23:10-12 (vs10Jesus gave his soul as a sacrifice, vs11it travailed/hard work, vs12it poured out unto death), Ezk 22:27 (destroy the soul), Mt 26:38 (jesus soul sorrow till death), act 7:14 (no of people), 27:37 (no of people), jam 5:20(save soul from death), rev 16:3(every living soul died in the sea), 18:13,
DID JESUS SAY IT WAS IMMORTAL-
Matt 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
G5590 (Mickelson’s Enhanced Strong’s Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries) G5590 ψυχή
soul =psuche (psoo-khay’) n. 1. soul, inner being or life 2. (literally) breath
INNER MAN-
THREE IN ONE- 1 thes 5:23 (speaks of spirit body soul)
It does take a lot of explaining and I will do little justice in my short info. The clay plus breath equals living soul. When the soul dies the breath returns to God. These two scriptures and 100s more decisively says the soul dies. But at times they seem to interchange body with inner-man. Then there are scriptures that says the souls of the dead are in heaven. Paul said we are with the lord (in heaven) when we die. He said on resurrection day the dead shall rise. We can conclude that the dead body shall be transformed (not returned to life) and rise in the air to meet the spiritual part Soul in the air. A housing for the spirit/soul shall be united.
WRITER
“God promises us eternal life, the Bible teaches us that our promise is in the new heaven and new earth (2 Peter 3:13). This promise was never for the present heaven or the present earth (Hebrews 11:8-40).”
This makes no sense, the new heaven and new earth does not come into play until after the millennial reign of Christ here upon this earth. During this time upon the earth there will be those in their glorified bodies (All saints who died prior to the rapture, all saints who were alive prior to the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:21-23, 51-53), and all saints that died in the tribulation and resurrected at his second coming), and natural people upon the earth that survived through the tribulation. Millennial reign is in Rev. 20:1-5 The new heaven and new earth takes place in Rev. 21-22. The writer gave reference to 2 Peter 3:13 of the new heavens and new earth. That 100% gives no indication whether we are in a conscious state or non-conscious state prior to the new heavens and new earth after our physical deaths. It merely indicates that we as believers are looking forward to it. Hebrews 11:8-40 makes NO mention of new heaven or new earth. v39 The promise referred to here is that of the coming Messiah, the sum and substance of all the Old Testament promises (Heb. 10:36-37; Lk. 1:67-79; Rom. 1:2-5). Old Testament saints relied upon the promise of the Messiah but did not live to see Him come in the flesh, fulfill His work of redemption, make the new covenant, and establish the church.
WRITER
“Jesus makes an important statement in John 7:33-34; Jesus tells the disciples that for a little while he will be with them. Then Jesus says that he’s going to the one who sent him; God is the one who sent Jesus (John 3:16-17). The Bible also teaches us that God is in heaven (Matthew 6:9). Then in John 7:34 Jesus says to the disciples that they will seek him but will not find him, and where Jesus is at they can not come. Now we just study and saw how Jesus is going to heaven to be with God after his death and resurrection; but why would Jesus tell the disciples that they could not come where he is at. Would Jesus lie?”
How about we let Paul answer this:
(2 Cor. 5:6-8) “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (for we walk by faith, not by sight:) we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord”
(Phil. 1:23) “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better”
Paul understood that you must physically die first to be in the presence of the Lord. So, no Jesus didn’t lie in the sense that you can’t be where he is as a human being living in your physical body.
WRITER
No, let’s look at the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus; when Jesus died he was dead for three days (Matthew 12:40). On the third day Jesus rose from the dead, and then had a conversation with Mary in John 20:17; Jesus tells Mary not to touch him because he has not yet ascended to God. 2 Corinthians 5:1 talks about receiving a body that is made without hands, Mark 14:58 tells us that Jesus to will receive his body made without hands. But notice when Mark 14:58 say Jesus will receive this heavenly body; it’s on the third day after his resurrection. 2 Corinthians 5:4 tells us that we will be clothed with our heavenly body when mortality is swallowed up;
2 Cor 5:1-10 is not speaking of our glorified bodies as Jesus received upon his resurrection. These verses are speaking of when we die we will receive a heavenly body to house our spirits. Sort of speak, a temporary body. (Example: Moses and Elijah on Mount of Transfiguration Matt 17:2-3 and Mark 9:2-4). Also, you can see in Rev. 6:9-11 those in heaven (among whom are those killed for their faith during the tribulation) are described as visible and wearing white robes; they are clearly in a conscious state prior to the resurrection. We (current believers in Christ) do not receive our glorified bodies until the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:21-23, 51-53). What’s interesting, as you read 2 Cor 5:1-10, a person desires to be away from his current physical body to be in our heavenly body. v8 says we will be home with the Lord. v9 says our goal is to please the Lord whether in our earthly body or not? How can we please the Lord after we die if we are in a non-conscious state? v10 is a picture of us all standing before Christ in judgment that occurs after our deaths. If that is the case, how can we do that in a non-conscious state?
WRITER
1 Corinthians 15:54 tells us that mortality will be swallowed up at the time when Christ returns and the dead rises (read entire 1 Corinthians 15:35-58).
I get that and agree, but where in these verses does it state that those that pass on prior to the resurrection of the dead they are in a non-conscious state. It doesn’t.
WRITER
Job tells us in Job 14:12-14 that God will hide him in the grave until his appointed time, but notice in verses 14 Job says he will wait in his grave until his change. What change do you think Job is referring to, the change the dead in Christ receive at Jesus’ return (1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). Also, look at Job 14:15, and look at where Job says that God will call him, and he will answer him; this is also the same thing Jesus said in John 5:25. Job tells us that he will wait for this change in his grave, not in heaven. Job tells us in 19:25-26 that his Redeemer lives, and Job knows that his Redeemer will stand on earth in the latter days; Job also tells us that even though the worms destroy his body, he will see his God in his flesh. Now Job died years before Jesus was born, and there is no verse that tells us Job rose from the dead during the life of Christ; so it’s safe to say that Job was referring to the second coming of Jesus. Job tells us that he will see God in his flesh, not in his spirit. Let’s think about it for a second; if we indeed go to heaven right after death and this is where we will live with God forever, then what is the purpose of the resurrection? Or if Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), then where are all the saints that died before Christ came? If we continue to live after this body dies then wouldn’t that make us immortal, but according to 1 Timothy 1:17 and 6:15-16 God is the only immortal one. The purpose of the second coming is for Jesus to come and get God’s people, the dead and the living; so we can live forever with God in the New earth.
Regarding Job, it is speculated that Job lived prior to Moses. Job had no bible. Just because he said doesn’t mean it’s so. It’s no different than when Peter said in Matthew 16:22, “But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” Jesus rebuked him there after. So, as we can see. Some statements made must be scrutinized by looking at how it’s lined up scripturally. The writer alludes that we don’t come to consciousness until the resurrection at the new heaven and new earth. Also, in Job 14:12 he states until the heavens are no more. As stated earlier, that is not the case (1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18) is in reference to the rapture prior to the tribulation and worse case scenario as some believe post tribulation. There is a 1,000 millennial reign of Christ upon the earth in which we will be with him during this time before the current heaven and is destroyed.
In saying all this, you can’t take one scripture from Job and build your doctrine when you have no other scripture to base it off of. As of right now, the writer has NO other scripture to prove that we are in a non-conscious state at our death and remain so until the resurrection.
Then the writer uses John 5:25; utilizing it to continue his theory that we are in a non-conscious state. Nowhere did Jesus say we will be in a non-conscious state at our passing. V24 says we “passed from death unto life.” A non-conscious state is life? There are multiple scriptures that prove differently. The righteous are in a conscious state in heaven (Eph. 4:8-10; Php. 1:21-24; 2Cor. 5:8; Rev. 6:9-11; Heb. 12:22-23) and the wicked are conscious in hell (Lk. 16:19-21; Isa. 14:9; Rev. 20:11-15).
WRITER
Job tells us in 19:25-26 that his Redeemer lives, and Job knows that his Redeemer will stand on earth in the latter days; Job also tells us that even though the worms destroy his body, he will see his God in his flesh. Now Job died years before Jesus was born, and there is no verse that tells us Job rose from the dead during the life of Christ; so it’s safe to say that Job was referring to the second coming of Jesus. Job tells us that he will see God in his flesh, not in his spirit.
V25-26 Only says that he will stand upon the earth with his redeemer. It is pure speculation upon the writer to say that Job would be in an unconscious state until the second coming of Christ. Which is very confusing because originally, the writer stated that we would not be resurrected until the new heavens and new earth takes place. The second coming is after the tribulation.
Luke 16:19–31 is a clear depiction of what happened to the Old Testament saints at death. Jesus says that Hades is a place which is divided into two huge areas or sections or compartments. The two areas are separated by a great gulf that is impassible. One area is the place of sorrow. The other area is the place of Paradise where believers go. To say that a person is dead is to say that one is in hades, in the other world. In Luke 23:43, Jesus said to the thief that he would be in paradise with him that day. Obviously, the people were in a conscious state.
Revelation 1:18 states that Jesus received the keys of hell and of death. In Ephesians 4:8-9 says that Jesus descended to the lower parts of the earth, he led the captives as he ascended. What captives? Those in paradise (Old Testament) that we are in a conscious state.
WRITER
Let’s think about it for a second; if we indeed go to heaven right after death and this is where we will live with God forever, then what is the purpose of the resurrection?
Huh? To say all that then say, “Well, what’s the purpose of the resurrection if we are with the Lord forever in heaven.” First and foremost the writer has NOT proven that we are in a non-conscious state after our death up until our resurrection. If anything, the scriptures clearly prove that we are. The writer uses speculation to try to prove his point. Then this final statement he uses human reasoning to determine that a Sovereign God couldn’t possibly have any reason for us to be resurrected in our glorified bodies if we go to heaven right after our death.