The Truth in Death
The Soul does die:
Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die…
In the bible the soul is a human being as it says in Genesis 2:7 “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.”
The Soul is not apart from the body, in reality the soul is the body.
So the soul (or body) can perish and become a ‘dead soul (or body)’.
What happens to a person when he/she dies? Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 says:
9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
The Bible is very clear that when a person dies they cease to exist anymore, they have no more a part of anything done under the sun. All there feelings have perished.
In Acts 2:34 the bible says: “For David is not ascended into the heavens…” David had died centuries earlier but had not ‘ascended into heaven’
Ecclesiastes 12:7 says: “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
This verse is talking about the dead as well. So the body returns to dust and the spirit returns to God. What is the spirit that returns to God?
Genesis 2:7 says: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath (also means spirit) of life; and man became a living soul.”
So God puts his breath or spirit of life into the body and we become living human beings. At death the process is just reversed, The Spirit of life gets withdrawn from the body, the life-giving spirit returns to God, the body returns to dust and the living soul perishes.
What about Luke 23:43? “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Doesn’t this mean that the thief at the cross would go with Him to paradise that day?
But Jesus himself wasn't in paradise that day because He told Mary on Sunday morning two days later that He had not yet ascended to His Father.
(John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father…)
When Jesus returns to this earth to take His faithful followers to heaven, He will raise the righteous dead to go to their eternal home.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 “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:
4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
“The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.” (Proverbs 14:32)
What a cheering prospect! Those who have lived up to the light that they have received from God will be raised from the dead when he comes back in the clouds of glory. We have hope in death.
In Daniel 12:2 says: “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.” This bible verse is talking again about the second coming of Jesus to this earth and it likens death to a sleep.
So when we die we sleep in the grave till Jesus comes and then we will go to our just reward.
In Summary:
· A soul that sins, unless forgiven, will die
· When a person dies they cease to exist anymore, they have no more a part of anything done under the sun. All there feelings have perished.
· When we die our soul perishes.
· When Jesus comes back to this earth all the dead will go to their just reward.
· Death is likened to a sleep.
If you have any Questions don’t hesitate to email at: questions@echothevoiceofgod.com