SPELLING EDITED

Aa-2. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?

This question is a rather broad question that has different answers. So, in order to answer this question, you will need to understand that the answer will be different for different people. For you see, the SAVED people go to a different place than the UNSAVED people. We will cover all the answers in this study but first I would like to address a more specific question. And that question can be asked in several ways. And in each way of asking this same question gets even more specific.

Question #1.

Where do CHRISTIANS or SAVED people go when they die?

The short answer to question #1.

The SOULS of Christians go to heaven TEMPORARILY when they die. Then when Jesus returns they will receive new IMMORTAL bodies to rule and reign with Jesus over the mortals on the earth.

Question #2.

Do Christians go STRAIGHT to heaven when they die?

The short answer to question #2.

Only the SOUL and SPIRIT of a Christian goes STRAIGHT to heaven the very MOMENT when they die. And their physical body goes to the grave to decay. In other words, we, as Christians, do not receive our new glorified immortal bodies UNTIL the coming of Jesus. I will explain what I mean by this further on in this study in God’s word.

Now, some Christians will argue that the physical body plus the spirit or the BREATH of God combined together become a living SOUL.

Please read Genesis 2:7.

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and BREATHED into his nostrils the breath of life (Or God breathed the Spirit of life into his nose), and man became a LIVING SOUL.”

And, therefore, to THEM, when a person dies the spirit or the breath of life from God goes immediately back to God and the physical body goes to the grave to decay. And thus they conclude that there is no more SOUL. For you see, to THEM it takes BOTH the physical body AND the breath of life combined together to BECOME a living soul. And thus, to THEM, when the breath of life leaves the physical body to return to God, then the SOUL ceases to exist.

Other Christians use the same verse of scripture and the same logic of man as being made up of TWO parts to become a living SOUL. But they concluded that the soul SLEEPS in an UNCONSCIOUS state IN the grave UNTIL the resurrection on the Day of Judgment.

And yet other Christians, such as myself, say no to both of these INTERPRETATIONS of the Scriptures. And we say that the SOUL of a Christian goes IMMEDIATELY STRAIGHT to heaven the very moment that a Christian dies. BUT the dead in Jesus Christ do not receive their new immortal body UNTIL the FIRST resurrection AT the second coming of Jesus.

So then, which INTERPRETATION is the correct SOUND Biblical interpretation?

First, let me say that the answer to this question will not jeopardize your salvation if you conclude the wrong answer. Now, it MAY affect someone else’s salvation but it will not have any effect upon your own salvation.

Then, let me say that this study in God’s word is a response to one of my readers who wrote to me to thank me for some of my other studies. However, when he discovered a few subjects that he did not agree with that which I teach, then he wrote back with his comments. He pointed out that he had a different interpretation of 2 Corinthians 5:8. So I asked him to write to me and explain his interpretation of this verse. But before we get into his interpretation, let us read 2 Corinthians 5:8 in its context. I will add emphasis to some words and phrases in this passage of scripture. And I will add my interpretation of each verse in parentheses.

Please read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10.

2. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: (Or this is our heart’s desire to be like Jesus. And we know that when Jesus returns we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is right now. Please notice that the BODY is something we WEAR as our HOUSE. In other words, we still exist and continue to LIVE even WITHOUT a BODY)

3. If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. (Meaning that IF SO BE we are found to be those good and faithful servants to be accounted worthy to receive a new glorified immortal body to rule and reign with Jesus in the world to come for one thousand years. For you see, to be found naked means to be found living in sin. And to be found living in sin when a person dies means that he or she is found to be unworthy to receive eternal life. And, therefore, the SOUL of the sinner will NOT receive an IMMORTAL body on the Day of Judgment.)

4. For WE that are IN this tabernacle (Speaking of DWELLING IN or WEARING this MORTAL body) do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (In other words, we do not desire to die physically, but rather we long for the day when we actually receive the manifestation of the promise of eternal life in the world to come. Again, please notice that we are IN this tabernacle or IN this dwelling place which means that there is something that is ALIVE that is living IN this mortal BODY. And that something is our spirit and soul. We will cover the scripture proving this shortly)

5. Now he that has wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also has given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. (Or God has given us an earnest or a small taste of his Holy Spirit so that we can KNOW that his PROMISE of eternal life is SURE)

6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while WE are at HOME IN the BODY, we are absent from the Lord: (Or while we are living IN our mortal BODY we are absent from the Lord. Here again, it is made blatantly clear that the real us are LIVING IN a HOME which is called our BODY. And when this MORTAL BODY dies, we, as Christians, are absolutely sure that God will give us a NEW BODY. And not just a new body, but an IMMORTAL body that will never feel pain or ever get sick)

7. (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

8. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (But we have CONFIDENT faith to know that whether we live or die we shall be with the Lord. And for this reason, we are WILLING to lay down our lives for the sake of the gospel to be present with the Lord)

9. Wherefore (And for that reason) we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. (Or we also know that sin separates us from God. And if we should die while living in sin then we would not be accounted worthy to be present with the Lord. So for that reason, we labor to be found that good and faithful servant of HIS righteousness and NOT our OWN righteousness)

10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.”

Now, the judgment seat of Christ is the FIRST judgment. And this first judgment takes place AT the coming or at the RETURN of Jesus right before the 1000 year reign of Jesus. And at this judgment seat of Christ, ONLY those of us who are found to be those good and faithful servants of God who are IN Jesus Christ will receive the manifestation of the promise of eternal life. And all those who are NOT IN Jesus Christ AT his coming will NOT receive eternal life. In other words, to be found IN Jesus Christ means that a Christian must be found FAITHFUL when they die physically. And those Christians are described as those who SLEEP in Jesus. I will explain what it means to SLEEP in Jesus further on in this study. Another way to be found IN Christ is to be ALIVE in your mortal body WHEN Jesus returns WITHOUT living in SIN.

Please read Hebrew 9:28.

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time WITHOUT SIN unto salvation.”

Now we know that Jesus is without sin. So this verse is not referring to Jesus appearing without sin. Rather this verse is speaking about Christians who are LOOKING for the coming of Jesus. And IF they are WITHOUT SIN at the moment Jesus returns THEN they will be accounted worthy to receive their new glorified immortal bodies of flesh and bone like Jesus received after God raised him from the dead.

Let us now read what a dear brother in the Lord wrote to me. We will take it a little section at a time so that I can explain why his interpretation is not a SOUND Biblical interpretation. I will place his words in a different font style so that it will be easier for you to see his interpretation from my interpretation. And then you can choose whatever you yourself find to be the most logical and sound Biblical interpretation.

Paul did not say "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." Oh, how the soul-believers love to misquote that verse. (2 Corinthians 5:8 NIV) "We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord," Paul says he would PREFER to be with the Lord. He is expressing a WISH, a HOPE, A DESIRE. He doesn't equate death with living elsewhere as a spirit. Paul knew he wouldn't see Jesus again until the second coming and the resurrection.

No one goes to heaven. We have Jesus' statement on that: (John 3:13) "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man." However, the redeemed will live on the "New Earth" following the resurrection and judgment.

First of all, the Scripture says WILLING, as in, being ready and willing to DIE for the sake of the gospel rather than to deny Jesus and remain alive. Paul is NOT saying that he is DESIRING to die and that it is his HOPE to die. so ES, Paul is equating physical death of Christians with their SOUL literally being PRESENT with the Lord up in heaven the very moment they die. I know for a fact because my wife died in my arms and when I raised her from the dead she immediately began telling me about her experience up in heaven. She was conscious and fully aware of where she was and who she was talking to up in heaven when Jesus told her she could not stay because her husband was calling her back. Please understand that I do NOT place experiences above the word of Almighty God. There is more than enough sound Bible evidence that the souls of the dead are CONSCIOUS and fully aware of where they are.

Secondly, allow me to clarify this soul sleep Christian's ERROR concerning the world to come as being the NEW earth that follows the resurrection of Christians in this present world. The world to come is referring to the 1000 year reign of Jesus and NOT the creation of the new heaven and the new earth AFTER the Millennial reign of Jesus. Also, let me make it perfectly clear that the 1000 year reign of Jesus will NOT take place on the NEW earth. For you see, the NEW Heaven and the NEW earth will not be created by Yahweh until AFTER the 1000 year reign of Jesus has ENDED. Please read Revelation 20:7-15 first. And then CONTINUE reading into the next chapter, Revelation 21:1-8. For you see, there were no chapters and verse in the original Greek text.

Revelation 20:7-15.

“And WHEN the thousand years are EXPIRED, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

8. And shall go out to DECEIVED the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. (Do you honestly think that Satan with continue to exist in the NEW Heaven and the NEW earth? Do you really think that there will be DECEPTION from Satan, and WAR in the NEW Heaven and the NEW earth? No, of course you do not. And neither will these things take place DURING the 1000 year reign of Jesus. BUT they will indeed take place AFTER the Millennial reign of Jesus for a little season. And then after the FINAL Day of Judgment, on the White Throne Judgment, Yahweh the Father will create the NEW Heaven and the NEW earth wherein ONLY the RIGHTEOUS will dwell)

9. And they went up on the breadth of the earth and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.

10. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. (The beast and the false prophet will have already been judged to be unworthy to receive eternal life AT the coming of Jesus that is at the BEGINNING of the 1000 year reign of Jesus. So again, the judgment seat of Christ is BEFORE the 1000 year reign of Jesus at the time of the rapture of the church. And the White Throne Judgment is AFTER the 1000 year reign of Jesus)

11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it (Speaking of Yahweh the Father), from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; (Heaven and earth does NOT pass away until AFTER the 1000 year reign of Jesus. I will explain why shortly) and there was found no place for them. (This judgment seat is not the same judgment seat of Christ that will take place BEFORE the 1000 year reign of Jesus AT the rapture of the church. Again, this FIRST judgment to separate Christians from NON-Christians takes place AT the SECOND coming of Jesus. The TRUE rapture of the church takes place AFTER the great tribulation. And in the true rapture of the church, NO ONE goes up into HEAVEN. But rather God BRINGS WITH him the SOULS of them that are asleep IN Jesus back to the earth. God does it this way so that those who SLEEP IN Jesus can RECEIVE their new gloried immortal bodies at the SAME TIME along WITH the faithful Christians who will have remained ALIVE unto the coming of Jesus. For you see, Hebrews 11:39,40 teaches us that the dead IN Jesus Christ will not be made PERFECT UNTIL we are ALL made PERFECT at the same time all together.)

12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God (Speaking of Almighty God the Father); 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. (You see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, there will be MORTAL human beings living and DYING during the 1000 year reign of Jesus. But AFTER the Millennium on this PRESENT earth both death and hell will be destroyed in the lake of fire. So it is impossible for the Millennium to take place on the New Earth. For you see, there will still be DEATH DURING the Millennium. NOT for Christians because the second death will have NO POWER over us. For you see, we will receive our new glorified IMMORTAL bodies AT the second coming of Jesus. And we will rule and reign WITH Jesus over the MORTALS left alive after the WRATH of God is executed by Jesus at his return. And ONLY the faithful Christians will be raptured or caught up to MEET Jesus is the AIR to help Jesus execute the wrath of God upon the wicked and the disobedient to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The AFTER the 1000 year reign of Jesus comes the White Throne Judgment and the PASSING AWAY of the heavens and the earth as described in 2 Peter chapter 3 which we will look at later)

15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Again, there are no chapters and verses in the original Greek text. So please CONTINUE to read Revelation 21:1-8. For you see, Satan, the fallen angels, and all the wicked humans will be destroyed in the lake of fire BEFORE Yahweh makes all things NEW. And the final judgment of the lake of fire does not take place until AFTER the 1000 year reign of Jesus has ENDED. And to ME, the passing away of the heavens and the earth IS the lake of fire. That is just my own opinion but there is some Biblical evidence to support this opinion.

Revelation 21:1-8.

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (The word “sea” is sometimes used in Bible prophecy to refer to the WICKED. In other words, there will be no more WICKED in the New Heaven and the New Earth.)

2. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, COMING DOWN from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (The city of God will be ABOVE the old earth DURING the Millennium. And the New Jerusalem will not come down UNTIL Almighty God the Father makes all things NEW. And that will not take place until AFTER the 1000 year reign of Jesus. For you see, there will be nothing for the city of God to come down TO until Yahweh the Father creates the New Heaven and the New Earth which will pass away during the second half of God's wrath after the 1000 year reign of Jesus)

3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, (Again, there will indeed be death DURING the 1000 year reign of Jesus. And, therefore, the Millennium cannot possibly be on the New earth because there will be NO MORE DEATH after God makes all things NEW) neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5. And he that sat upon the throne (Speaking of Almighty God Yahweh the Father) said, Behold, I make all things NEW. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Then the subject starts over to repeat what will take place at the coming of Jesus in the following verses)

6. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

7. He that overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

So then, we have covered two of the three arguments that claim that the SOUL of a Christian does NOT go STRAIGHT to Heaven when a Christian dies physically. I have given you sound Biblical evidence of WHY the Millennium cannot possibly take place on the NEW Earth as this brother claims. And I have also shown that the SOUL is MORE than just the spirit of life and the body. For you see, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 clearly teaches us that the real us LIVES IN our body.

For further proof that the soul is more than just spirit and body combined to become a living soul, then please read the following verses.

1 Thessalonians 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.”

This verse proves that there are THREE separate parts that make up a person. And when compared to 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, then we can conclude that the spirit and soul live IN the body.

Hebrews 10:39.

“But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them, that believe, to the SAVING OF the SOUL.”

This verse proves that the soul of a CHRISTIAN does not CEASE to exist when a Christian dies physically.

Hebrews 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.”

This verse teaches us that the soul and the spirit are CONNECTED together.

Matthew 10:28.

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the SOUL: but rather fear him which is able to DESTROY BOTH SOUL AND BODY in hell.”

This verse proves that the SOUL is separate FROM the BODY. This verse also proves that the soul is NOT IMMORTAL as some Christians falsely teach. And when Matthew 10:28 is combined with Ecclesiastes 12:7 and Hebrews 4:12 we can see the WHEN or the TIME that God will SEPARATE the spirit of life FROM the SOUL so that he can DESTROY BOTH the BODY AND the SOUL of the wicked in the lake of fire on the final Day of Judgment after the 1000 year reign of Jesus.

Now lets us take a CLOSER look at John 3:13 in this next section.

And Paul knew and understood that he wouldn't be with the Lord until the second coming, resurrection, and judgment. So he was merely expressing his desire to "be with the Lord". He knew that wouldn't happen until Jesus returns as judge of all the earth. Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:13 that no one but him has ever gone to heaven. Jesus is in heaven following his resurrection. So how could Paul be "with him" if no human ever goes to heaven? Being "with Jesus" doesn't happen until he returns to earth for the second time.

Let us read John 3:13.

“And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”

This verse is NOT saying that no man will never ever ascend to Heaven. In fact, even some of those who teach soul sleep say that Christians will go to Heaven when Jesus returns. All this verse means in that UNTIL THAT time that the Son of Man, Jesus ascended to heaven right after his resurrection that no man BEFORE him had ever ascended to Heaven. Now, some Christians may disagree with this interpretation. And for those of you who disagree then you must explain HOW can God BRING WITH him those SOULS who are IN Heaven that are said to be ASLEEP IN Jesus?

Please read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (Speaking of those who have died physically IN Jesus Christ), that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (Meaning that those who die while being UNSAVED have NO HOPE of ever receiving eternal life)

14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which SLEEP IN Jesus will God BRING WITH HIM. (Well, God and his Son Jesus are both up in Heaven. And AT the second coming of Jesus they will both be coming down FROM Heaven. So that means that the SOULS of the saints are IN Heaven right now. Please read Revelation 6:9-11 which proves that the SOULS of the saints are under the altar up in Heaven right now. And that they have been there from the time that Jesus rose from the grave with above five hundred saints who rose from the dead with him. Revelation 6:9-11. “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11. And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Please notice that not only are the SOULS of the saints up IN Heaven right now, they are also CONSCIOUS and AWAKE. They are talking to God asking him how much longer it will be for their shed blood to be avenged. So the sleeping analogy is just another way of saying that they are resting and that they are not dead)

15. 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. (This means that we who are alive unto the coming of Jesus will NOT receive our glorified immortal bodies BEFORE those saints who have died IN Jesus Christ; Remember Hebrews 11:39,40 where God has a better plan. And God’s plan is that all the saints IN Jesus be glorified TOGETHER all at the same moment in time AT the LAST trumpet right before the WRATH of God is executed by Jesus.)

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: (Speaking of the FIRST resurrection spoken of in Revelation chapter 20)

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. (There is nothing in this verse that speaks of us being taken to Heaven. But when we compare this verse with Revelation 16:15,16 then we can see that the angels of Jesus will GATHER us all together to MEET Jesus in the AIR over the place called Armageddon where we will help Jesus execute to WRATH of God upon the wicked)

18. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.”

So then, from 1 Thessalonians 4:13,14 and Revelation 6:9-11 we can clearly see that there are indeed SOULS up IN Heaven under the Altar who are awaiting their new glorified immortal bodies. Therefore, I personally believe that the soul sleep believing Christians have INCORRECTLY interpreted 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 to say that Paul was just DESIRING to be present will the Lord.

And I also agree with this website:

The Truth About Death

I left the link to this website that this dear brother in the Lord emailed to me. He uses the same argument that we have already covered so I will not be quoting from that website what we have already covered.

Regarding the existence of a human soul. When you die, that's it. You're awaiting the resurrection. Humans do not possess an immortal"soul". They ARE a "living soul".

I myself do NOT teach that the soul is IMMORTAL because it is NOT sound Biblical teaching.

The confusion comes from a misreading of Gen 2:7 (KJV) "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<."  Other translations have "living being" or "living creature" in place of "living soul".

Look at Rev 16:3 (KJV) where it states that "every living soul died in the sea." Obviously, there are no human souls "living in the sea". Other translations use "every living thing in the sea died". So when the Bible speaks of a "soul" it merely means a living creature, any living creature.

Humans are purely corporeal creatures that exist entirely within the human body. There is no ethereal, immaterial ghost-like soul that goes anywhere. If humans can leave their bodies and exist elsewhere as a spirit, then what is the point of the resurrection? Who wants to be confined in a human body again if you're able to exist in heaven as a spirit?

Let us pause here and cover a few more points that this brother in the Lord is arguing to try and prove that there is NO SOUL. And that, according to his INTERPRETATION of Genesis 2:7, the breath of life PLUS the BODY combined together make a living BEING.

We have already covered several verses that prove to us that we are made up of THREE parts and NOT two parts. So let us look at a couple of verses that prove to us that the spirit and soul can LEAVE the human body when Almighty God calls the spirit of a man to come up to his throne in Heaven.

Please read 1 Corinthians 12:1-4.

“It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;) such a one caught up to the third heaven.

3. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;)

4. How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”

Now, if so be, that Paul TRULY believed that the inner man could NOT leave the body then WHY does Paul even say whether IN the body or OUT OF the body? The experience was so life-like that Paul could not tell whether God caught him up to the third heaven while he was still IN his physical body. Or if God caught him up to the third Heaven while he was OUT OF his physical body.

While Paul may have not known whether he was in the body or out of the body when he was caught up to heaven we can clearly see that the apostle John knew that he was IN the SPIRIT when he was caught up into heaven. And 1 Corinthians 15:50 the FLESH and BLOOD can NOT enter heaven so Paul could not have been IN his physical body when he was caught up into heaven. And the same is true with the Apostle John.

Please read Revelation 4:1,2.

“After this, I looked, and, behold, a door was opened IN heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come UP hither, (Or come UP HERE through the door that I have opened for you to enter into Heaven) and I will show you things which must be hereafter.

2. And immediately I was IN the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set IN heaven, and one sat on the throne.”

So then, Paul and John both LEFT their physical bodies when God caught them up into the third Heaven before his throne.

And when we read the words of Jesus in Luke 24:37-39 we can see that the disciples of Jesus certainly believed in GHOSTS. And Jesus did NOT say to them, why are you afraid? Are you so foolish to believe in ghosts that do not exist? But rather Jesus knew that they were afraid because they thought that he was a GHOST or a spirit that just walked into their locked room.

Luke 24:37-39.

“But they were terrified and affrighted and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38. And he said unto them, Why are you troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see me have.”

Jesus himself does NOT deny that spirits are not real. In fact, Jesus knows that spirits are real. But he shows them that he himself is NOT a spirit because spirits do not have flesh and bones as they could plainly see that Jesus had. They knew that it was Jesus but the THOUGHT that he was a GHOST.

If human souls or "spirits" go to heaven (the redeemed) upon death, that implies a judgment occurs at the moment of death. However, the Bible speaks of only one judgment that occurs after Jesus' return to earth and everyone who ever lived is resurrected to face Jesus' judgment seat.

Well, it only IMPLIES that there is a judgment at the moment of death if one INTERPRETS it that way. To ME, the judgments speak of RECEIVING the reward of ETERNAL LIFE or receiving the wages of sin. The sinner does not actually receive the punishment of their sins UNTIL the FINAL Day of Judgment at the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus. And the dead IN Jesus Christ do not actually receive their reward of eternal life UNTIL the coming of Jesus BEFORE the Millennium. The dead sinner is being held in the holding place of the wicked dead UNTIL the final Day of Judgment AFTER the 1000 year reign of Jesus has ENDED. And the righteous dead in Jesus, are in Heaven under the altar awaiting their reward of a NEW glorified IMMORTAL body of flesh and bones like Jesus has now.

Secondly: There is no sin in heaven. When sin was found in Satan he was cast down to the earth. Are Christians sinless? Definitely not. They have placed their trust in Jesus' payment for their sins, but they still sin daily in thought, word, and deed. Paul explains this in Rom 7:19: "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."

A Christian is indeed sinless and perfect before God the very moment they confess their sin. And Christians sin every day BECAUSE they are constantly being dogmatically TOLD that they are nothing but filthy sinners every week at church. Please read the study “HOW YOU CAN LIVE FREE FROM SIN!”  

They are not made sinless until after the resurrection and judgment when everything is made "new " again.

Again, everything is NOT made NEW at the second coming of Jesus. Yahweh the Father does not make all things NEW UNTIL after the 1000 years have ended.

So a human soul (if such a thing exists) is still sinful until after the resurrection and would never be allowed in heaven. However, as we saw above in a proper understanding of Gen 2:7 and Rev 16:3, humans don't have immortal souls, so this really isn't an issue.

Again, I have already shown to you how they have INCORRECTLY interpreted these verses to try and prove that we are made up of TWO parts, the spirit of life, and the physical body.

Thirdly: the thief on the cross..... The thief asked Jesus to "remember me when you come into your kingdom". Jesus replied, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

The new testament was written in Greek. Greek had no punctuation (you could look it up). https://www.greeklanguage.blog/

There is an ongoing controversy about the comma. The comma was inserted hundreds of years later by translators and is misplaced. If you move it after the word "today" then the meaning changes to: "I'm telling you this day, that you will one day be with me in Paradise".

Jesus didn't go to paradise or heaven the same day he died. He was in the tomb for three days so he couldn't possibly have meant the thief would be "with him" that very day.

While I agree that there were no punctuation marks in the original Greek text, that does NOT prove that the translators placed the comma in the wrong place. That is simply one’s own personal interpretation of the words of Jesus.

And I will prove to you that it is an INCORRECT interpretation by taking a look at this brother’s next CLAIM that Jesus was in the GRAVE or the TOMB for the full three days and nights. This brother along with all soul sleep believers do NOT believe that the SOUL ever LEAVES the body even AFTER the body decays to dust. They sincerely believe that the SOUL remains IN the grave UNTIL Jesus returns to resurrect the bodies of the believers in Jesus.

But that is NOT what the Bible ITSELF teaches us. Jesus himself said that he would be in the belly or in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

Please read Matthew 12:40.

“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the HEART of the earth.”

The HEART of the earth is speaking of the underworld or the netherworld. You see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus DESCENDED into the HEART of the earth for three days and three nights.

Please read Ephesians 4:8-10.

“Wherefore he says, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men.

9. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”

So then, BEFORE Jesus was resurrected and he ascended into heaven Jesus DESCENDED DOWN into the LOWER PARTS of the earth just like he said he would in Matthew 12:40. Now if you want to know WHY Jesus descended down into the lower parts of the earth that are also called the NETHERWORLD then please read the study “WHAT AND WHERE IS PARADISE?”

When does Jesus "come into his kingdom"? Jesus "comes into his kingdom" after the resurrection and judgment and the earth is made new again. Jesus will reign as king of all the earth in "his kingdom". What did Jesus mean by "Paradise"? He didn't mean "Heaven". Jesus certainly knew the difference between "Paradise" and "Heaven". The first Paradise occurred immediately following the creation when there was no hunger, no sickness, no aging, no death, in other words, "Paradise". But it was lost due to Adam and Eve's sin.

The Paradise, of which Jesus told the thief, will be the earth after the resurrection and judgment when everything is made "new" again. Once again there will be no hunger, no sickness, no aging, no death, in other words, "Paradise". That is when Jesus "comes into his kingdom" as in the thief's request.

So the thief and Jesus, each in his own way and terminology, were speaking of the same place: the "new earth", the earth after it is remade to be like it was immediately following creation.

I can see why this brother has come to believe in the FALSE teaching of soul sleep. He has not yet discerned the DIFFERENCE between the 1000 year reign of Jesus and the New Heaven and the New Earth. He does not realize that there will be aging and DEATH for the MORTAL humans DURING the 1000 year reign of Jesus.

Then this brother in the Lord gave me a link to this YouTube video which I will cover in a different study.

Do Christian God STRAIGHT To HEAVEN When they Die?

Again, please read the study called “WHAT AND WHERE IS PARADISE?” along with the other studies that I have exposing the errors of interpretation made by Christians who teach the doctrine of soul sleep.

“IS THE DOCTRINE OF SOUL SLEEP BIBLICAL?”

“SCRIPTURES USED TO TRY AND SUPPORT SOUL SLEEP”

“DO CHRISTIANS GO TO HEAVEN OR NOT?”

Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.

Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Brother Mark.

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