What happens when we die? In 1 Thessalonians it is stated that the "dead in Christ" shall rise at the second coming of Christ before the living depart (the rapture), does this mean that when we die we remain in a 'dead state' until the second coming? Will it just feel like 'the blink of an eye' from the time we die until He returns? Will be be 'asleep' during this time?
Now paradise is not Heaven even though it is like Heaven. A place where we will be judged and get rewards, like a way point, then from there we go to Heaven.
That sounds true to me. Our born again spirits are in heaven after death; awaiting the Caught Up to meet Jesus in the clouds. Our new transformed bodies will be joined to our spirits.
The dead in Christ rise first, then all those that are alive..
Then we have Matthew 27:51-54, when the 'faithful' dead arose from their tombs at the death of Jesus on the Cross. They not only woke up but must have had re-constituted bodies as they walked about & appeared to many as a witness after Jesus' resurrection. We're not told what happened to them after this event; my guess is that they ascended as the Lord did - but no proof of this. This then correlates to the resurrection of Christians at the coming of Christ. This second resurrection will also be one of re-constituted bodies rising to be Christ forever & a witness to the Power of Christ.
And the 'hope' of the Christian in all this is that we don't face God's Judgement for our sin, as Jesus fully accomplished that on the Cross for us, to those who have put their faith in Him. So however our state will be at death & what transpires between our spirits & bodies, we know that we will see our Lord Who gave His Life for us, being welcomed into His Presence, unlike those who reject His Cross, who face certain judgement.
Luke, this is one of those subjects that doesn't give us clear answers on all aspects of death & the afterlife. And since we can't get first-hand detail from someone who has been through it, we have to rely on what the Bible reveals & remain confident in these Truths, yet not dogmatic.
We do know that within us, that which gives us our real identity is our soul & spirit & these are housed in our body. The body can die & deteriorate, but the soul & spirit are immaterial & cannot perish. Ecclesiastes 3:20,21: "All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" This verse shows that the animal at death simply perishes, but the human spirit doesn't & is accountable to God.
Then Jesus spoke in Luke 16:19-31 about the death of a rich man & a beggar named Lazarus. Jesus clearly showed that they were in a place other than at the grave. The rich man was suffering & the beggar was not. And Adam also cited the passage about the repentant thief on his cross beside Jesus. So I believe that we can understand that the spirit of man does go beyond this earthly realm at death rather than lingering in or near its deteriorating frame. Then what happens to those who are cremated with their ashes scattered everywhere? How does a spirit of a dead man deal with that? My sense is that our spirit, being liberated from the body, has to move to another point or place. My preference takes Paul's words into account in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, that if he was in the body he was absent from the Lord, but if he was absent in the body, he would be present with the Lord, i.e. he would be in Heaven. Also Philippians 1:23.
I believe the answer to all 3 of your questions is yes. I believe those who believe people will be instantly in heaven upon death misinterpret 2 different verses:
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Note, he says he'd "rather be absent" and not 100% of everyone saved who dies is instantly with the Lord.
Luke 23:43 - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. People also assume this means 100% of all saved people are instantly in heaven. However, Jesus can make exceptions and do whatever he wants. It doesn't mean that every action Jesus took was automatically applied to everyone else 100% of the time. Jesus healed some people and not others. He was closer to some people relationally than others. Secondly, the word 'paradise' may not necessarily mean heaven. It's very possible that there is a 'waiting area' before judgment such as paradise or pergatory.
Third, it's already given that in the end Jesus will come to earth and the dead shall rise and meet Him in the air 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. So, it makes more logical sense that saved people are 'sleeping' and awaiting judgment on Earth and will then fulfil this scripture and go to heaven with Jesus. Otherwise, it would not be logical for saved people to go to heaven before judgment day, nor would it be logical for people in heaven to return to earth to then rise up from the grave or ashes and then meet Jesus, only to go back to heaven. There's even more scripture supporting that saved people will sleep and await judgment, but these are the key points that others use to justify their belief, for reference.
Bema judgement of Christians for rewards or crowns, or no rewards.
Great White Throne Judgement.
Satan and the false prophet will be first to go to hell. For 1000 years. Then only satan is released a short time,
The dead in Christ rise first, then all those that are alive..
Then we have Matthew 27:51-54, when the 'faithful' dead arose from their tombs at the death of Jesus on the Cross. They not only woke up but must have had re-constituted bodies as they walked about & appeared to many as a witness after Jesus' resurrection. We're not told what happened to them after this event; my guess is that they ascended as the Lord did - but no proof of this. This then correlates to the resurrection of Christians at the coming of Christ. This second resurrection will also be one of re-constituted bodies rising to be Christ forever & a witness to the Power of Christ.
And the 'hope' of the Christian in all this is that we don't face God's Judgement for our sin, as Jesus fully accomplished that on the Cross for us, to those who have put their faith in Him. So however our state will be at death & what transpires between our spirits & bodies, we know that we will see our Lord Who gave His Life for us, being welcomed into His Presence, unlike those who reject His Cross, who face certain judgement.
Luke, this is one of those subjects that doesn't give us clear answers on all aspects of death & the afterlife. And since we can't get first-hand detail from someone who has been through it, we have to rely on what the Bible reveals & remain confident in these Truths, yet not dogmatic.
We do know that within us, that which gives us our real identity is our soul & spirit & these are housed in our body. The body can die & deteriorate, but the soul & spirit are immaterial & cannot perish. Ecclesiastes 3:20,21: "All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" This verse shows that the animal at death simply perishes, but the human spirit doesn't & is accountable to God.
Then Jesus spoke in Luke 16:19-31 about the death of a rich man & a beggar named Lazarus. Jesus clearly showed that they were in a place other than at the grave. The rich man was suffering & the beggar was not. And Adam also cited the passage about the repentant thief on his cross beside Jesus. So I believe that we can understand that the spirit of man does go beyond this earthly realm at death rather than lingering in or near its deteriorating frame. Then what happens to those who are cremated with their ashes scattered everywhere? How does a spirit of a dead man deal with that? My sense is that our spirit, being liberated from the body, has to move to another point or place. My preference takes Paul's words into account in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, that if he was in the body he was absent from the Lord, but if he was absent in the body, he would be present with the Lord, i.e. he would be in Heaven. Also Philippians 1:23.
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Note, he says he'd "rather be absent" and not 100% of everyone saved who dies is instantly with the Lord.
Luke 23:43 - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. People also assume this means 100% of all saved people are instantly in heaven. However, Jesus can make exceptions and do whatever he wants. It doesn't mean that every action Jesus took was automatically applied to everyone else 100% of the time. Jesus healed some people and not others. He was closer to some people relationally than others. Secondly, the word 'paradise' may not necessarily mean heaven. It's very possible that there is a 'waiting area' before judgment such as paradise or pergatory.
Third, it's already given that in the end Jesus will come to earth and the dead shall rise and meet Him in the air 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. So, it makes more logical sense that saved people are 'sleeping' and awaiting judgment on Earth and will then fulfil this scripture and go to heaven with Jesus. Otherwise, it would not be logical for saved people to go to heaven before judgment day, nor would it be logical for people in heaven to return to earth to then rise up from the grave or ashes and then meet Jesus, only to go back to heaven. There's even more scripture supporting that saved people will sleep and await judgment, but these are the key points that others use to justify their belief, for reference.
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