A detailed Quick Facts Bible study examining what Scripture teaches about the state of the dead. The study compares the widespread Christian belief that people remain consciously alive after death with passages describing the dead as asleep and awaiting resurrection. Key Scriptures include Ecclesiastes 9:5–10, John 11:11–14, John 20:17, 1 Corinthians 15:20–23, 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17, John 5:28–29 and Revelation 20:4–15.
PART 1 — WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?
THE BIBLE’S LANGUAGE OF DEATH AND SLEEP
INTRODUCTION
What actually happens to us when we die?
This is one of the greatest questions mankind has ever asked.
Many Christians have been taught that death is not really death.
They have been taught that when a saved Christian dies, an immortal soul immediately leaves the body and continues consciously living in heaven with Jesus.
Many are also taught that the unsaved dead remain consciously alive in Hades, awaiting the final judgment.
I once accepted teachings like these myself.
But when we put aside traditions and begin searching the Scriptures, we must ask:
IS THIS REALLY WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES?
Before examining difficult passages such as the thief on the cross, the rich man and Lazarus, “absent from the body,” and Paul's desire to “depart, and to be with Christ,” we first need to establish something much more fundamental:
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE NORMALLY SAY HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON DIES?
What did Jesus call death?
What did the prophets call death?
And when did Jesus say the dead would live again?
Let us begin with the clearest Scriptures.
QUICK FACT 1 — THE BIBLE REPEATEDLY DESCRIBES DEATH AS SLEEP
One of the most important facts in this entire study is remarkably simple:
THE BIBLE REPEATEDLY COMPARES DEATH WITH SLEEP.
Consider Daniel's prophecy:
“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake...”
— Daniel 12:2, KJV
Notice exactly what Daniel says.
They:
“SLEEP IN THE DUST OF THE EARTH.”
And eventually they:
“SHALL AWAKE.”
This gives us a remarkably simple biblical picture:
DEATH → SLEEP
RESURRECTION → AWAKENING
They are not described here as consciously living in heaven or consciously suffering somewhere beneath the earth.
They are described as:
ASLEEP.
And one day:
THEY WILL AWAKE.
QUICK FACT 2 — JESUS HIMSELF CALLED DEATH “SLEEP”
We do not have to rely only upon the Old Testament.
Jesus used exactly the same language.
When Lazarus died, Jesus told His disciples:
“Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.”
— John 11:11, KJV
The disciples misunderstood Him.
They thought Lazarus was literally sleeping.
So Jesus explained exactly what He meant:
“Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.”
— John 11:14, KJV
This could hardly be clearer.
Jesus said:
“LAZARUS SLEEPETH.”
Then Jesus explained:
“LAZARUS IS DEAD.”
Therefore, in this passage:
SLEEP = DEATH.
And what was Jesus going to do?
AWAKEN HIM.
This gives us a beautiful biblical picture:
DEATH IS THE SLEEP.
RESURRECTION IS THE AWAKENING.
QUICK FACT 3 — MARTHA EXPECTED LAZARUS TO RISE “AT THE LAST DAY”
There is another extremely important detail in the story of Lazarus.
Jesus told Martha:
“Thy brother shall rise again.”
— John 11:23, KJV
Notice Martha's response:
“I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
— John 11:24, KJV
Martha did not answer:
“I know Lazarus is already alive in heaven.”
Her hope was:
THE RESURRECTION.
And when did she expect it?
“AT THE LAST DAY.”
Jesus then declared:
“I am the resurrection, and the life.”
— John 11:25, KJV
The emphasis is upon RESURRECTION.
Death is not presented as the believer's final victory.
RESURRECTION FROM DEATH IS.
QUICK FACT 4 — JESUS NEVER SAID LAZARUS WAS ALIVE IN HEAVEN
Think carefully about what happens in John chapter 11.
Lazarus had been dead for four days.
Yet Jesus never comforts Martha by saying:
“Lazarus isn't really dead. He is alive with God in heaven.”
Instead:
JESUS CALLS LAZARUS' DEATH “SLEEP.”
JESUS THEN SAYS PLAINLY THAT LAZARUS IS DEAD.
MARTHA EXPECTS HIM TO RISE “AT THE LAST DAY.”
Then Jesus goes to the tomb and cries:
“Lazarus, come forth.”
— John 11:43, KJV
What happened?
“And he that was dead came forth...”
— John 11:44, KJV
Notice those words:
“HE THAT WAS DEAD.”
The passage does not tell us that Lazarus' immortal soul came down from heaven and re-entered his body.
It tells us:
LAZARUS WAS DEAD.
JESUS CALLED HIM.
LAZARUS CAME FORTH.
LAZARUS LIVED AGAIN.
This is RESURRECTION.
QUICK FACT 5 — “THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANY THING”
Now consider one of the Bible's most direct statements concerning the dead:
“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing...”
— Ecclesiastes 9:5, KJV
Please read those words again:
“THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANY THING.”
Ecclesiastes continues:
“Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished...”
— Ecclesiastes 9:6, KJV
And:
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
— Ecclesiastes 9:10, KJV
Notice what is absent:
NO WORK.
NO KNOWLEDGE.
NO WISDOM.
The dead are not described here as continuing normal conscious existence somewhere else.
The Bible says:
“THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANY THING.”
PART 1 CONCLUSION
So what have we discovered from our first five Quick Facts?
DANIEL describes the dead as sleeping in the dust and eventually awakening.
JESUS describes Lazarus' death as sleep.
MARTHA expects Lazarus to rise “at the last day.”
LAZARUS is explicitly described as “dead.”
And ECCLESIASTES says:
“THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANY THING.”
Already we have a serious biblical question to consider.
If the dead are consciously alive somewhere else, why does Scripture repeatedly describe death as:
SLEEP?
Why must the dead:
AWAKE?
Why did Martha expect Lazarus to rise:
“AT THE LAST DAY”?
And why does Ecclesiastes explicitly say:
“THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANY THING”?
BUT THERE IS MUCH MORE EVIDENCE TO EXAMINE.
In the next part we will discover what the Bible says happens to:
OUR THOUGHTS.
OUR KNOWLEDGE.
OUR PRAISE.
OUR CONSCIOUSNESS.
And we will examine where Jesus says the dead are when He finally calls them back to life.
COMING NEXT:
PART 2 — WHAT DO THE DEAD KNOW?
THE BIBLE’S DESCRIPTION OF DEATH, SILENCE AND THE GRAVE
We will examine:
“IN DEATH THERE IS NO REMEMBRANCE.”
— Psalm 6:5
“THE DEAD PRAISE NOT THE LORD.”
— Psalm 115:17
“IN THAT VERY DAY HIS THOUGHTS PERISH.”
— Psalm 146:4
Job's extraordinary description of waiting in death until God calls him.
And finally Jesus' own words:
“ALL THAT ARE IN THE GRAVES SHALL HEAR HIS VOICE,
AND SHALL COME FORTH.”
— John 5:28–29
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.
COMPARE THE EVIDENCE.
TEST EVERYTHING.
AND FOLLOW THE TRUTH WHEREVER IT LEADS.
PART 2 — WHAT DO THE DEAD KNOW? Does consciousness continue after death, or does the Bible describe the dead as silent and awaiting resurrection? In this part we examine some remarkable biblical statements: “In death there is no remembrance” (Psalm 6:5), “The dead praise not the LORD” (Psalm 115:17), and “In that very day his thoughts perish” (Psalm 146:4). We will also examine Job’s expectation of waiting until God called him and the powerful words of Jesus in John 5:28–29: “All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.” Search the Scriptures and compare the evidence for yourself.
PART 2 — WHAT DO THE DEAD KNOW?
THE BIBLE’S DESCRIPTION OF DEATH, SILENCE AND THE GRAVE
INTRODUCTION
In Part 1 we discovered something remarkably consistent.
The Bible repeatedly describes death as SLEEP.
Daniel spoke of those who:
“SLEEP IN THE DUST OF THE EARTH”
— Daniel 12:2
Jesus said of Lazarus:
“OUR FRIEND LAZARUS SLEEPETH”
— John 11:11
Then Jesus explained plainly:
“LAZARUS IS DEAD.”
— John 11:14
Martha expected Lazarus to:
“RISE AGAIN IN THE RESURRECTION AT THE LAST DAY.”
— John 11:24
And Ecclesiastes tells us:
“THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANY THING.”
— Ecclesiastes 9:5
But the evidence does not stop there.
What happens to our thoughts when we die?
Do the dead praise God?
Are they described as consciously worshipping in heaven?
Or does Scripture describe death as silence and unconsciousness until God raises the dead?
Let us continue searching the Scriptures.
QUICK FACT 6 — “IN DEATH THERE IS NO REMEMBRANCE”
David prayed:
“For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?”
— Psalm 6:5, KJV
Please notice exactly what David says:
“IN DEATH THERE IS NO REMEMBRANCE OF THEE.”
Then:
“IN THE GRAVE WHO SHALL GIVE THEE THANKS?”
This raises a very important question.
If saved believers immediately become consciously alive in heaven when they die, praising and worshipping God, why would David say:
“IN DEATH THERE IS NO REMEMBRANCE OF THEE”?
Why would he ask:
“IN THE GRAVE WHO SHALL GIVE THEE THANKS?”
The natural reading fits what we discovered in Part 1:
THE DEAD ARE ASLEEP.
THE DEAD KNOW NOTHING.
THE DEAD ARE WAITING FOR RESURRECTION.
QUICK FACT 7 — “THE DEAD PRAISE NOT THE LORD”
Psalm 115 gives us another striking statement:
“The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.”
— Psalm 115:17, KJV
Read those words carefully:
“THE DEAD PRAISE NOT THE LORD.”
Where are they described as going?
“DOWN INTO SILENCE.”
This is extremely important.
If God's faithful servants immediately become consciously alive in heaven at death, we might expect Scripture to say:
THE DEAD ARE PRAISING GOD IN HEAVEN.
But this Psalm says the opposite:
“THE DEAD PRAISE NOT THE LORD.”
And describes death as:
SILENCE.
Compare this with Ecclesiastes:
“THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANY THING.”
— Ecclesiastes 9:5
The biblical picture is becoming increasingly consistent.
QUICK FACT 8 — AT DEATH, “HIS THOUGHTS PERISH”
Now consider Psalm 146.
The Psalm warns:
“Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.”
— Psalm 146:3, KJV
Then it tells us what happens when a human being dies:
“His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”
— Psalm 146:4, KJV
Notice the sequence:
HIS BREATH GOES FORTH.
↓
HE RETURNS TO THE EARTH.
↓
“IN THAT VERY DAY HIS THOUGHTS PERISH.”
This is an extraordinarily important statement.
The text does not say:
His BODY dies, but his conscious mind continues thinking somewhere else.
It says:
“HIS THOUGHTS PERISH.”
Compare the evidence we have accumulated:
“THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANY THING.”
— Ecclesiastes 9:5
“IN DEATH THERE IS NO REMEMBRANCE.”
— Psalm 6:5
“THE DEAD PRAISE NOT THE LORD.”
— Psalm 115:17
“HIS THOUGHTS PERISH.”
— Psalm 146:4
These passages deserve to be taken seriously before we conclude that human consciousness naturally continues after death.
QUICK FACT 9 — JOB EXPECTED TO DIE, WAIT, AND THEN BE CALLED BY GOD
The book of Job gives us another remarkable description.
Job asks:
“But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?”
— Job 14:10, KJV
Then Job says:
“So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.”
— Job 14:12, KJV
Notice again the familiar biblical language:
DEATH.
SLEEP.
AWAKENING.
RESURRECTION.
Job continues:
“O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave... that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!”
— Job 14:13, KJV
Then comes this extraordinary statement:
“If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee...”
— Job 14:14–15, KJV
Look carefully at the sequence:
JOB DIES.
↓
JOB WAITS.
↓
A SET TIME ARRIVES.
↓
GOD CALLS.
↓
JOB ANSWERS.
↓
JOB LIVES AGAIN.
Job does not describe himself dying and immediately continuing conscious life somewhere else.
His hope is that after death:
GOD WILL REMEMBER HIM.
GOD WILL CALL HIM.
AND HE WILL ANSWER.
This is RESURRECTION.
QUICK FACT 10 — JESUS SAID THE DEAD ARE IN THEIR GRAVES WHEN HE CALLS THEM
Now compare Job's words with something Jesus said centuries later.
Job said:
“THOU SHALT CALL, AND I WILL ANSWER THEE.”
— Job 14:15
Jesus said:
“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth...”
— John 5:28–29, KJV
This is remarkable.
WHERE DOES JESUS DESCRIBE THE DEAD AS BEING?
“IN THE GRAVES.”
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE APPOINTED TIME?
THEY HEAR HIS VOICE.
AND THEN:
THEY “COME FORTH.”
Compare the pattern:
DANIEL:
THE DEAD SLEEP IN THE DUST → THEY AWAKE.
JOB:
THE DEAD WAIT → GOD CALLS → THEY ANSWER.
JESUS:
THE DEAD ARE IN THE GRAVES → THEY HEAR HIS VOICE → THEY COME FORTH.
LAZARUS:
HE DIES → JESUS CALLS → HE COMES OUT OF THE TOMB.
Again and again, Scripture directs our attention toward:
DEATH
↓
WAITING
↓
GOD'S CALL
↓
RESURRECTION.
QUICK FACT — JESUS DESCRIBES TWO DIFFERENT OUTCOMES
There is another very important part of John 5:28–29.
Jesus does not merely say that the dead will come out of their graves.
He continues:
“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 5:29, KJV
Here Jesus describes TWO outcomes:
THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE
and
THE RESURRECTION OF JUDGMENT.
This is extremely important for our investigation.
Jesus places BOTH groups within the context of resurrection.
The righteous require resurrection.
And those facing judgment also require resurrection.
This raises another major question:
If the unsaved dead are already consciously alive and being punished in a fiery Hades, why must they later be RAISED FROM THE DEAD in order to face judgment?
We will examine that question in detail later in this series.
PART 2 CONCLUSION
Let us put the evidence from Parts 1 and 2 together.
Daniel says:
THE DEAD SLEEP IN THE DUST.
Jesus says:
LAZARUS' DEATH IS SLEEP.
Ecclesiastes says:
“THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANY THING.”
David says:
“IN DEATH THERE IS NO REMEMBRANCE.”
Psalm 115 says:
“THE DEAD PRAISE NOT THE LORD.”
The same Psalm says they go:
“DOWN INTO SILENCE.”
Psalm 146 says:
“HIS THOUGHTS PERISH.”
Job expects to:
DIE → WAIT → BE CALLED BY GOD.
And Jesus says:
“ALL THAT ARE IN THE GRAVES SHALL HEAR HIS VOICE,
AND SHALL COME FORTH.”
The biblical pattern is difficult to miss.
THE GREAT QUESTION
If the saved dead are already consciously alive in heaven...
WHY MUST THEY BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD?
If the unsaved dead are already consciously alive in Hades...
WHY MUST THEY ALSO BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD?
If consciousness continues uninterrupted at death...
WHY DOES SCRIPTURE SAY:
“THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANY THING”?
Why does it say:
“HIS THOUGHTS PERISH”?
Why does it say:
“THE DEAD PRAISE NOT THE LORD”?
And why does the Bible repeatedly call death:
SLEEP?
THE ANSWER POINTS US TOWARD THE GREAT CHRISTIAN HOPE:
THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
COMING NEXT:
PART 3 — WHEN WILL THE DEAD LIVE AGAIN?
THE RETURN OF JESUS, THE RESURRECTION AND IMMORTALITY
In Part 3 we will examine one of the strongest sections of evidence in the entire study.
Jesus repeatedly promised:
“I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY.”
— John 6:40, 44, 54
Paul tells Christians not to be ignorant concerning:
“THEM WHICH ARE ASLEEP.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:13
Then Paul tells us exactly WHEN they rise:
“THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN...”
AND:
“THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:16
We will also examine Paul's remarkable statement:
“THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:53
And ask:
IF EVERY HUMAN ALREADY POSSESSES AN IMMORTAL SOUL THAT CANNOT DIE, WHY MUST THE MORTAL LATER “PUT ON IMMORTALITY”?
“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth.”
— John 5:28–29, KJV
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.
COMPARE EVERY VERSE.
TEST EVERY TRADITION.
AND FOLLOW THE BIBLICAL EVIDENCE WHEREVER IT LEADS.
PART 3 — WHEN WILL THE DEAD LIVE AGAIN? When does the Bible say dead Christians will live again? Jesus repeatedly promised, “I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:39–54). Paul likewise describes dead Christians as “asleep” and says that when the Lord descends from heaven, “the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17). Paul then reveals another remarkable truth: at the resurrection, “this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53). This raises an important question: if every human being already possesses an immortal soul that remains consciously alive after death, why does Scripture describe humans as mortal and say that immortality must later be “put on”? Search the Scriptures. Compare the evidence. Decide for yourself what the Bible really teaches.
PART 3 — WHEN WILL THE DEAD LIVE AGAIN?
THE RETURN OF JESUS AND THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
In Parts 1 and 2 we discovered that the Bible repeatedly describes the dead as asleep and awaiting resurrection.
But this brings us to another crucial question:
WHEN WILL THE DEAD LIVE AGAIN?
If Christians immediately become consciously alive in heaven when they die, we might expect this to be the great hope repeatedly emphasized by Jesus and His apostles.
But what do we actually find?
Again and again, the New Testament directs our attention toward:
THE LAST DAY.
THE RETURN OF JESUS.
THE SOUNDING OF THE TRUMPET.
AND THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
Let us examine the evidence.
QUICK FACT 11 — JESUS SAID HE WOULD RAISE BELIEVERS “AT THE LAST DAY”
Jesus repeatedly told His followers when He would raise them.
“And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”
— John 6:39, KJV
Jesus continues:
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life:
and I will raise him up at the last day.”
— John 6:40, KJV
Again:
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:
and I will raise him up at the last day.”
— John 6:44, KJV
And again:
“Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life;
and I will raise him up at the last day.”
— John 6:54, KJV
FOUR TIMES in John chapter 6 Jesus directs our attention toward resurrection.
And repeatedly He tells us WHEN:
“AT THE LAST DAY.”
This is extremely important.
Jesus does not merely promise His followers life.
He repeatedly promises:
“I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY.”
This raises a serious question:
If dead believers are already consciously alive with Jesus in heaven, why does Jesus repeatedly emphasize their future resurrection at the last day?
QUICK FACT 12 — PAUL CALLED DEAD CHRISTIANS “ASLEEP”
Now consider Paul's teaching.
Paul writes:
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:13, KJV
Who are those who are “asleep”?
Paul is speaking about Christians who have died.
Once again we encounter exactly the same biblical language we discovered earlier:
DEATH = SLEEP.
Daniel described the dead as sleeping in the dust.
Jesus described Lazarus' death as sleep.
And now Paul describes dead Christians as:
“THEM WHICH ARE ASLEEP.”
But Paul is about to tell us something even more important.
He tells us WHEN these sleeping Christians will rise.
QUICK FACT 13 — “THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST”
Paul continues:
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:16, KJV
Notice the sequence carefully:
JESUS DESCENDS FROM HEAVEN.
↓
THE TRUMPET OF GOD SOUNDS.
↓
THE DEAD IN CHRIST RISE.
Paul calls these believers:
“THE DEAD IN CHRIST.”
And what must happen to them?
THEY MUST RISE.
WHEN?
WHEN THE LORD DESCENDS FROM HEAVEN.
This agrees beautifully with Jesus' promise:
“I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY.”
Jesus places resurrection at the last day.
Paul places the resurrection of dead Christians at the return of Jesus.
The two teachings fit naturally together.
QUICK FACT 14 — THE LIVING DO NOT GO BEFORE THE DEAD
Paul makes another important statement:
“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:15, KJV
The older English word “prevent” here means to precede or go before.
Paul then explains:
“The dead in Christ shall rise first.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:16
And afterward:
“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air...”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:17, KJV
Notice:
“TOGETHER WITH THEM.”
The dead believers are raised.
The living believers are gathered together with them.
And together they meet the Lord.
The emphasis is therefore upon:
THE RETURN OF CHRIST.
THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
AND THE REUNION OF CHRIST'S PEOPLE.
QUICK FACT 15 — PAUL'S COMFORT WAS THE RESURRECTION
Why did Paul write these words?
Christians were grieving over fellow believers who had died.
What comfort did Paul give them?
He could have simply said:
“Do not grieve. Your loved ones are already consciously alive with Jesus in heaven.”
But that is not the comfort Paul gives in this passage.
Instead Paul points them toward a FUTURE EVENT:
THE LORD WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN.
THE TRUMPET WILL SOUND.
THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE.
THE LIVING WILL BE GATHERED TOGETHER WITH THEM.
AND THEY WILL MEET THE LORD.
Paul then concludes:
“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:18, KJV
What were the comforting words?
THE RETURN OF JESUS.
THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
AND THE REUNION OF GOD'S PEOPLE.
PART 3 CONCLUSION
Let us put the evidence together.
Jesus repeatedly promised:
“I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY.”
Paul describes dead Christians as:
“ASLEEP.”
Paul then calls them:
“THE DEAD IN CHRIST.”
And tells us:
“THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST.”
WHEN?
When:
“THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN.”
Then the living believers will be:
“CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM.”
The biblical sequence is remarkably straightforward:
A CHRISTIAN DIES
↓
DEATH IS DESCRIBED AS SLEEP
↓
JESUS RETURNS
↓
THE TRUMPET SOUNDS
↓
THE DEAD IN CHRIST RISE
↓
THE LIVING ARE GATHERED WITH THEM
↓
TOGETHER THEY MEET THE LORD.
THE GREAT QUESTION
If dead Christians are already consciously alive with Jesus in heaven...
WHY DOES PAUL CALL THEM:
“THE DEAD IN CHRIST”?
Why must:
“THE DEAD IN CHRIST”
RISE?
And why does Jesus repeatedly promise:
“I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY”?
But there is another extraordinary piece of evidence still to examine.
Paul tells us not only WHEN the dead rise.
He also tells us WHEN mortal believers receive IMMORTALITY.
COMING NEXT:
PART 4 — WHEN DO BELIEVERS RECEIVE IMMORTALITY?
THE LAST TRUMPET, THE RESURRECTION AND VICTORY OVER DEATH
We will examine:
“THEY THAT ARE CHRIST'S AT HIS COMING.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:23
“THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:52
“THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:53
And:
“THEN shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:54
This raises one of the most important questions in this entire study:
IF EVERY HUMAN BEING ALREADY POSSESSES AN IMMORTAL SOUL THAT CANNOT DIE, WHY DOES PAUL SAY THAT THE MORTAL MUST LATER “PUT ON IMMORTALITY”?
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout...
and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:16, KJV
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.
COMPARE THE EVIDENCE.
TEST EVERY TRADITION.
AND FOLLOW THE TRUTH WHEREVER IT LEADS.
PART 4 — WHEN DO BELIEVERS RECEIVE IMMORTALITY? Does every human being already possess an immortal soul, or does the Bible teach that immortality is something believers receive at the resurrection? Paul says that those who belong to Christ are made alive “at his coming” (1 Corinthians 15:23). He then describes the last trumpet, when “the dead shall be raised incorruptible” (1 Corinthians 15:52). Most importantly, Paul declares: “THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY.” — 1 Corinthians 15:53 And only THEN does Paul say: “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.” — 1 Corinthians 15:54 This raises an important question: if human beings already possess an immortal soul that cannot die, why does Paul describe us as mortal and say that immortality must later be “put on”? Search the Scriptures and examine the evidence for yourself.
PART 4 — WHEN DO BELIEVERS RECEIVE IMMORTALITY?
THE LAST TRUMPET, THE RESURRECTION AND VICTORY OVER DEATH
INTRODUCTION
In Part 3 we discovered when Paul says dead Christians will rise.
Paul describes deceased Christians as:
“THEM WHICH ARE ASLEEP.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:13
He then says:
“THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:16
And when does this happen?
When:
“THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN.”
This agrees with Jesus' repeated promise:
“I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY.”
— John 6:40, 44, 54
But now we come to another extremely important question:
WHEN DO BELIEVERS RECEIVE IMMORTALITY?
Many Christians have been taught that every human being already possesses an immortal soul that cannot die.
But is that actually what Paul taught?
Let us examine 1 Corinthians 15 carefully.
QUICK FACT 16 — BELIEVERS ARE MADE ALIVE “AT HIS COMING”
Paul writes:
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:22, KJV
But WHEN are those belonging to Christ made alive?
The very next verse tells us:
“But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:23, KJV
Notice those words:
“AT HIS COMING.”
Paul does not place this event at the moment each Christian dies.
He directs our attention toward:
CHRIST'S COMING.
This agrees with 1 Thessalonians 4:
JESUS RETURNS.
↓
THE DEAD IN CHRIST RISE.
And it agrees with Jesus:
“I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY.”
Again and again, the biblical hope points toward the future resurrection.
QUICK FACT 17 — THE DEAD ARE RAISED WHEN THE LAST TRUMPET SOUNDS
Paul later explains what happens at the resurrection:
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:51–52, KJV
Notice the sequence:
SOME BELIEVERS ARE ASLEEP IN DEATH.
↓
THE LAST TRUMPET SOUNDS.
↓
THE DEAD ARE RAISED.
↓
THE DEAD ARE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE.
↓
THE LIVING BELIEVERS ARE CHANGED.
Compare this with 1 Thessalonians 4.
There Paul also describes:
THE RETURN OF JESUS.
THE TRUMPET OF GOD.
AND THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
The two passages fit together remarkably well.
QUICK FACT 18 — “THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY”
Now we reach one of the most important statements in this entire study.
Paul writes:
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:53, KJV
Please notice exactly what Paul says:
“THIS MORTAL.”
MORTAL means subject to death.
Paul does not say:
“This immortal soul must continue living.”
He says:
“THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY.”
That distinction is extremely important.
If every human being naturally possesses an immortal soul which can never die, we must ask:
WHY MUST THE MORTAL “PUT ON IMMORTALITY”?
And WHEN does Paul place this transformation?
At the resurrection.
When:
THE TRUMPET SOUNDS.
THE DEAD ARE RAISED.
AND GOD'S PEOPLE ARE CHANGED.
According to Paul's argument here, immortality is something the mortal must RECEIVE.
QUICK FACT 19 — WHEN IS DEATH “SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY”?
Paul continues:
“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.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:54, KJV
There is one word here we should not overlook:
“THEN.”
WHEN is death swallowed up in victory?
Paul tells us.
WHEN:
THE DEAD HAVE BEEN RAISED.
THE CORRUPTIBLE HAS PUT ON INCORRUPTION.
AND THE MORTAL HAS PUT ON IMMORTALITY.
THEN:
“DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.”
This is why resurrection is so central to the Christian Gospel.
Death really is an enemy.
Paul actually calls death:
“THE LAST ENEMY.”
“The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:26, KJV
If death simply means that the real person continues living consciously somewhere else, we should ask why Paul treats the DESTRUCTION OF DEATH as such an extraordinary future victory.
Paul's great hope is:
THE DEAD WILL BE RAISED.
THE MORTAL WILL RECEIVE IMMORTALITY.
AND DEATH WILL FINALLY BE DEFEATED.
QUICK FACT 20 — GOD ALONE POSSESSES IMMORTALITY INHERENTLY
Now consider Paul's description of God:
“Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto...”
— 1 Timothy 6:16, KJV
Paul describes God as the One:
“WHO ONLY HATH IMMORTALITY.”
God does not need to RECEIVE immortality.
God is not mortal.
God cannot be conquered by death.
Human beings, however, are repeatedly described as mortal.
That is why Paul says:
“THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY.”
And this is why eternal life is presented as God's GIFT.
Paul writes:
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
— Romans 6:23, KJV
Notice the contrast:
THE WAGES OF SIN:
DEATH.
THE GIFT OF GOD:
ETERNAL LIFE.
Eternal life is not described here as the unavoidable natural possession of every human being.
It is:
“THE GIFT OF GOD.”
QUICK FACT — IMMORTALITY IS BROUGHT TO LIGHT THROUGH THE GOSPEL
Paul also writes that God's purpose and grace:
“...is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
— 2 Timothy 1:10, KJV
Notice again the connection:
LIFE.
IMMORTALITY.
THE GOSPEL.
Jesus is the one through whom God offers us the hope of everlasting life.
The biblical message is not that human beings possess indestructible life independently of God.
Our hope of immortality depends entirely upon GOD.
PART 4 CONCLUSION
Let us put Paul's teaching together.
Paul says:
“IN ADAM ALL DIE.”
↓
Those belonging to Christ are made alive:
“AT HIS COMING.”
↓
“THE LAST TRUMP” SOUNDS.
↓
“THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE.”
↓
“THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY.”
↓
And:
“THEN”
↓
“DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.”
This raises one of the biggest questions in this entire investigation:
IF EVERY HUMAN BEING ALREADY POSSESSES AN IMMORTAL SOUL THAT CANNOT DIE...
WHY DOES PAUL CALL HUMAN BEINGS:
“MORTAL”?
WHY MUST THE MORTAL:
“PUT ON IMMORTALITY”?
WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN AT THE RESURRECTION?
WHY DOES PAUL CALL ETERNAL LIFE:
“THE GIFT OF GOD”?
AND WHY IS DEATH ONLY:
“SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY”
WHEN THE DEAD ARE RAISED?
THE BIBLICAL HOPE IS RESURRECTION
The biblical message is far more powerful than saying:
YOU NEVER REALLY DIE.
The biblical message is:
DEATH IS REAL.
DEATH IS AN ENEMY.
BUT GOD CAN DEFEAT DEATH.
Jesus truly died.
God raised Jesus from the dead.
And because God raised Jesus, those who belong to Christ have the hope that they too will be raised.
Paul writes:
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies...”
— Romans 8:11, KJV
Our hope is not in possessing immortality independently of God.
OUR HOPE IS IN GOD WHO RAISES THE DEAD.
COMING NEXT:
PART 5 — WHAT HAPPENS TO THE UNSAVED DEAD?
THE TWO RESURRECTIONS, JUDGMENT DAY AND THE SECOND DEATH
Now we must examine the other side of the question.
What happens to those who die WITHOUT receiving eternal life?
Are they consciously alive and suffering in Hades while awaiting judgment?
Or do they remain dead until God raises them for judgment?
Jesus spoke of:
“THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE”
and:
“THE RESURRECTION OF DAMNATION.”
— John 5:29
Revelation makes another remarkable statement:
“THE REST OF THE DEAD LIVED NOT AGAIN UNTIL THE THOUSAND YEARS WERE FINISHED.”
— Revelation 20:5
Then comes:
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE.
THE BOOKS ARE OPENED.
THE DEAD ARE JUDGED.
AND FINALLY:
THE SECOND DEATH.
This raises another enormous question:
IF THE UNSAVED DEAD HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONSCIOUSLY PUNISHED FOR HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF YEARS...
WHY DOES THE BIBLE PLACE THEIR JUDGMENT IN THE FUTURE?
And why does Revelation actually call their final punishment:
“THE SECOND DEATH”?
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:53, KJV
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.
COMPARE THE EVIDENCE.
TEST EVERY TRADITION.
AND FOLLOW THE TRUTH WHEREVER IT LEADS.
PART 5 — WHAT HAPPENS TO THE UNSAVED DEAD?
THE RESURRECTION TO JUDGMENT, THE GREAT WHITE THRONE AND THE SECOND DEATH
INTRODUCTION
So far in this series we have concentrated mainly on those who belong to Christ.
We have seen that the Bible repeatedly describes the dead as asleep.
Jesus promised:
“I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY.”
— John 6:40, KJV
Paul said:
“THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:16, KJV
And Paul explained that at the resurrection:
“THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:53, KJV
But what about those who die without receiving eternal life?
Many Christians have been taught that the unsaved immediately continue consciously alive in a place of punishment commonly called Hades, where they remain until the final judgment.
But this raises an important question:
IF THEY ARE ALREADY CONSCIOUSLY ALIVE AND BEING PUNISHED, WHY MUST THEY LATER BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD AND JUDGED?
Let us examine what Scripture actually says.
QUICK FACT 21 — JESUS TAUGHT A FUTURE RESURRECTION TO JUDGMENT
Jesus said:
“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;
and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
— John 5:28–29, KJV
The Greek word translated “damnation” in the KJV is κρίσις — krisis — meaning judgment.
Therefore many modern translations render this:
“THE RESURRECTION OF JUDGMENT.”
Notice something extremely important.
Jesus describes BOTH groups as coming forth from the graves.
There is:
THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE.
And:
THE RESURRECTION OF JUDGMENT.
Those facing judgment must therefore be raised.
Their judgment is presented as a future event.
QUICK FACT 22 — DANIEL ALSO DESCRIBED TWO OUTCOMES AT THE RESURRECTION
Hundreds of years before Jesus, Daniel wrote:
“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
some to everlasting life,
and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
— Daniel 12:2, KJV
Notice again:
THEY ARE SLEEPING.
WHERE?
“IN THE DUST OF THE EARTH.”
Then:
THEY “SHALL AWAKE.”
Some awake to:
EVERLASTING LIFE.
Others awake to:
SHAME AND CONTEMPT.
Compare Daniel with Jesus.
DANIEL:
SLEEP IN THE DUST → AWAKE → TWO OUTCOMES.
JESUS:
IN THE GRAVES → COME FORTH → TWO OUTCOMES.
The similarity is striking.
QUICK FACT 23 — REVELATION SAYS “THE REST OF THE DEAD” DO NOT LIVE AGAIN UNTIL LATER
Revelation chapter 20 contains an extraordinary statement:
“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.”
— Revelation 20:5, KJV
Please notice the exact wording:
“THE REST OF THE DEAD.”
They are called:
DEAD.
Then Scripture says:
“LIVED NOT AGAIN UNTIL...”
Those words are extremely important.
If they “lived not again,” then the passage itself distinguishes their condition as dead from their later return to life.
The text does not say:
“The rest of the dead were actually alive somewhere else.”
It says:
“THE REST OF THE DEAD LIVED NOT AGAIN UNTIL THE THOUSAND YEARS WERE FINISHED.”
QUICK FACT 24 — THE DEAD STAND BEFORE GOD FOR JUDGMENT
Revelation then describes the great judgment:
“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it...”
— Revelation 20:11, KJV
John continues:
“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.”
— Revelation 20:12, KJV
Notice the sequence:
THE DEAD.
↓
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE.
↓
THE BOOKS ARE OPENED.
↓
THE DEAD ARE JUDGED.
Judgment is not presented here merely as something that happened automatically when each person died.
It is presented as a great future judgment scene.
QUICK FACT 25 — DEATH AND HADES GIVE UP THE DEAD
The next verse is particularly important for the claim that the dead are consciously living in Hades.
Revelation says:
“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.”
— Revelation 20:13, KJV
The word translated “hell” here in the KJV is:
HADES.
Greek:
ᾅδης — hadēs.
Notice what Hades does:
IT “DELIVERED UP THE DEAD.”
The people associated with Hades are still described as:
“THE DEAD.”
And after they are delivered up:
“THEY WERE JUDGED.”
This is important because Hades itself is not the final punishment.
We know this from the very next verse.
QUICK FACT 26 — HADES ITSELF IS DESTROYED
Revelation continues:
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.
This is the second death.”
— Revelation 20:14, KJV
Again, “hell” here translates:
HADES.
So:
DEATH
AND
HADES
are both thrown into the lake of fire.
This means Hades cannot itself be identical with the final lake of fire.
HADES IS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.
Then Scripture explains:
“THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH.”
Notice the terminology.
Not:
ETERNAL HUMAN LIFE IN DEATH.
But:
“THE SECOND DEATH.”
QUICK FACT 27 — THE FINAL PENALTY IS CALLED “THE SECOND DEATH”
Revelation repeats this terminology:
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:
which is the second death.”
— Revelation 21:8, KJV
Whatever conclusions we eventually reach about all the imagery surrounding final judgment, we should not overlook the inspired description itself:
“THE SECOND DEATH.”
Compare this with Paul:
“For the wages of sin is DEATH;
but the gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
— Romans 6:23, KJV
Notice the contrast:
SIN → DEATH.
GOD'S GIFT → ETERNAL LIFE.
This distinction deserves very careful attention.
PART 5 CONCLUSION
Let us put these passages together.
Daniel says:
THE DEAD SLEEP IN THE DUST.
↓
THEY AWAKE.
↓
THERE ARE DIFFERENT OUTCOMES.
Jesus says:
THOSE IN THE GRAVES HEAR HIS VOICE.
↓
THEY COME FORTH.
↓
SOME RECEIVE LIFE.
↓
OTHERS FACE JUDGMENT.
Revelation says:
“THE REST OF THE DEAD LIVED NOT AGAIN UNTIL...”
↓
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE APPEARS.
↓
THE BOOKS ARE OPENED.
↓
THE DEAD ARE JUDGED.
↓
DEATH AND HADES GIVE UP THE DEAD.
↓
DEATH AND HADES ARE DESTROYED.
↓
THE FINAL PENALTY IS CALLED:
“THE SECOND DEATH.”
THIS RAISES AN ENORMOUS QUESTION
If an unsaved person dies and immediately begins consciously suffering punishment...
has that person been punished BEFORE the judgment?
If the final judgment occurs at the Great White Throne...
why would punishment have already been taking place for centuries before the books are opened?
And if Hades is itself eventually cast into the lake of fire...
HOW CAN HADES AND THE LAKE OF FIRE BE EXACTLY THE SAME THING?
THE BIBLICAL SEQUENCE DESERVES TO BE HEARD
DEATH.
RESURRECTION.
JUDGMENT.
SECOND DEATH.
We should allow Scripture itself to define these terms rather than automatically reading later theological traditions into them.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DIFFICULT VERSES?
At this point many readers will immediately be thinking:
WHAT ABOUT THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS?
WHAT ABOUT THE THIEF ON THE CROSS:
“TODAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE”?
WHAT ABOUT:
“ABSENT FROM THE BODY... PRESENT WITH THE LORD”?
WHAT ABOUT PAUL WANTING:
“TO DEPART, AND TO BE WITH CHRIST”?
WHAT ABOUT:
“THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT”?
WHAT ABOUT THE SOULS UNDER THE ALTAR IN REVELATION?
These passages cannot simply be ignored.
And we will not ignore them.
We will examine them carefully, one by one, in their biblical context.
COMING NEXT:
PART 6 — WHAT ABOUT THE THIEF ON THE CROSS?
“TODAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE”
Did Jesus promise the thief that they would both consciously enter Paradise THAT VERY DAY?
Where was Jesus between His death and resurrection?
What did Jesus say after His resurrection about ascending to His Father?
And because the earliest Greek manuscripts did not contain modern punctuation, could the placement of the comma affect how Luke 23:43 is understood?
We will examine the evidence carefully.
“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth.”
— John 5:28–29, KJV
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.
COMPARE THE EVIDENCE.
TEST EVERY TRADITION.
AND FOLLOW THE TRUTH WHEREVER IT LEADS.
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