Where are the dead
What happens to us when we die?
Why do we die would it be comforting to know the truth about death?
Paragraphs one through three
Question what questions do people ask about death and what answers to various religions offer?
These are questions that people have thought about for thousands of years they are important questions
No matter who we are or where we live the answers concern each one of us
In the preceding chapter we discussed how the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ opened the way to
everlasting life
We also learned that the Bible foretells a time when death will be no more
revelation 21:4
Meanwhile we all die the living know that they will die said wise King Solomon
Ecclesiastes 9:5
We try to live as long as possible still we wonder what will happen to us when we die
When our loved ones died we mourn and we may ask what has happened to them are they suffering
They watching over us
Can we help them will we ever see them again?
The world's religions offer differing answers to these questions
Some teach that if you live a good life you will go to heaven
But if you live a bad life you will burn in a place of torment
Other religions teach that at death people pass on to the spirit realm to be with their ancestors
Still other religions teach that the dead go to an underworld to be judged and are then
reincarnated or reborn in another body
Paragraph four question what basic idea do many religions share concerning death?
Such religious teachings all share one basic idea that some part of us survives the death of the physical body
According to almost every religion past and present we somehow live on forever with the ability to see
hear and think
Yet, how can that be our?
Senses along with our thoughts are all linked to the workings of our brain at death the brain stops working our
Memories feelings and senses do not continue to function independently in some mysterious way
They do not survive the destruction of our brain
What really happens at death
Paragraph five and six question, what does the Bible teach about the condition of the dead?
What happens at death is no mystery to Jehovah the creator of the brain?
He knows the truth and in his word the Bible he explains the condition of the dead
It's clear teaching is this when a person dies he ceases to exist
Death is the opposite of life the dead do not see or hear or think?
Not even one part of us survives the death of the body
We do not possess an immortal soul or spirit
After Solomon observed that the living know that they will die he wrote, but the dead know nothing at all
He then enlarged on that basic truth by saying that the dead can neither love nor
Hate and that there is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave
Ecclesiastes 9:5 and six reads
For the living know that they will die
But the dead know nothing at all nor do they have any more reward because all memory of them is forgotten
also their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished and
They no longer have any share in what is done under the Sun
verse 10 reads
Whatever your hand finds to do do with all your might for
There is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave
Where you are going?
Similarly Psalm
146 for says that when a man dies
his thoughts perish
we are mortal and do not survive the death of our body the
Life we enjoy is like the flame of a candle
When the flame is put out it does not go anywhere
It is simply gone
What Jesus said about death
Seven question how did Jesus explain what death is like?
Jesus Christ spoke about the condition of the dead
He did so with regard to Lazarus a man whom he knew well, and who had died
Jesus told his disciples
Lazarus our friend has fallen asleep
The disciples thought that Jesus meant that Lazarus was resting in sleep
recovering from an illness
They were wrong
Jesus explained
Lazarus has died
John 11 11 through 14 reads after he said these things he added
Lazarus our friend has fallen asleep, but I am traveling there to awaken him
The disciples then said to him Lord if he is sleeping he will get well
Jesus however had spoken about his death, but they imagined he was speaking about taking rest in sleep
Then jesus said to them plainly Lazarus
has died
Notice that Jesus compared death to sleep
Lazarus was neither in heaven nor in a burning hell
He was not meeting angels or ancestors
Lazarus was not being reborn as another human
He was at rest in death as though in a deep sleep without dreams
other scriptures also compared death to sleep
For example when the disciple Stephen was stoned to death the Bible says that he fell asleep
similarly the Apostle Paul wrote about some in his day who had fallen asleep in death first Corinthians
15:6
Paragraph eight question how do we know that it was not God's purpose for people to die
Was it God's original purpose for people to die not at all?
Jehovah made man to live forever on earth as
We learned earlier in this book God placed the first human couple in a delightful paradise
He blessed them with perfect health
Jehovah wanted only good for them
Does any loving parent want his children to suffer the pain of old age and death of course not?
Jehovah loved his children and wanted them to enjoy endless happiness on earth
concerning humans the Bible says
Jehovah has even put eternity in their heart
Ecclesiastes 3:11
God created us with the desire to live forever, and he has opened the way for that desire to be fulfilled
Why humans die
Paragraph nine question what restriction did jehovah place upon adam, and why was this command not difficult to obey?
Why then do humans die
To find the answer we must consider what happened when there was only one man and one woman on earth
the Bible explains
Jehovah God made to grow out of the ground every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food
Genesis 2:9
However, there was one restriction
Jehovah told Adam from every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction
But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it
For in the day you eat from it you will certainly die
Genesis 2:16 and 17
This command was not difficult to obey there were many other trees from which Adam and Eve could eat
But they now received a special opportunity to show their gratitude to the one who had given them everything
including perfect life
Their obedience would also show that they respected the authority of their Heavenly Father and that they wanted his loving direction
Paragraphs 10 and 11 question a how did the first human couple come to disobey God?
Question B. Why was the disobedience of Adam and Eve a serious matter
Sadly the first human couple chose to disobey Jehovah
Speaking through a serpent Satan asked Eve
Did God really say that you must not eat from every tree of the garden?
Eve replied
We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden
But God has said about the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden. You must not eat from it
No, you must not touch it
Otherwise you will die
Genesis 3:1 through 3
You certainly will not die said Satan
God knows that in the very day you eat from it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God
knowing good and bad
Genesis 3 4 and 5
Satan wanted Eve to believe that she would benefit by eating the forbidden fruit
According to him she could decide for herself. What was right and what was wrong she could do what she wanted
Satan also charged the Jehovah had lied about the consequences of eating the fruit
Eve believed Satan
So she picked some of the fruit and ate it
She then gave some to her husband and he too ate some of it
They did not act in ignorance. They knew that they were doing exactly what God had told them not to do
By eating the fruit. They deliberately disobeyed a simple and reasonable command
They showed contempt for their Heavenly Father and his authority
such disrespect for their loving creator was inexcusable
Paragraph 12
Question what may help us to understand how Jehovah felt when Adam and Eve took a course of opposition to him
To illustrate how would you feel if you raised and cared for a son or a daughter?
Who then disobeyed you in a way that showed that he or she had no respect or love for you that
Would cause you much heartache?
Imagine then how hurt Jehovah must have felt when both Adam and Eve took a course of opposition to him
Paragraph 13 question, what did Jehovah say would happen to Adam at death, and what does this mean?
Jehovah had no reason to sustain disobedient Adam and Eve forever
They died just as he had said they would
Adam and Eve ceased to exist
They did not pass on to the spirit realm
We know this because of what Jehovah said to Adam after confronting him with his disobedience
God said you will return to the ground for out of it you were taken
For dust you are and to dust you will return
Genesis 3:19
God had made Adam from the dust of the ground
before that Adam did not exist
Therefore when Jehovah said that Adam would return to the dust he meant that Adam would return to a state of non-existence
Adam would be as lifeless as the dust from which he was made
Paragraph 14 question why do we die?
Adam and Eve could have been alive today, but they died because they chose to disobey God and thus sinned
The reason we die is that adam's sinful condition as well as death was passed on to all of his descendants
Romans 5:12 reads that is why just as through one man sin entered into the world and
death through sin and
So death spread to all men because they had all sinned
That sin is like a terrible inherited disease from which no one can escape
Its consequence death is a curse
Death is an enemy not a friend
How grateful we can be that Jehovah provided the ransom to rescue us from this dreadful enemy?
Knowing the truth about death is beneficial
Paragraph 15 question why is it comforting to know the truth about death?
Teaches about the condition of the Dead is comforting as we have seen the dead do not suffer pain or heartache
There is no reason to be afraid of them for they cannot harm us
They do not need our help, and they cannot help us
We cannot speak with them, and they cannot speak with us
Many religious leaders falsely claim that they can help those who have died and people who believe such leaders give them money
But knowing the truth protects us from being deceived by those who teach such lies
Paragraph 16 question who has influenced the teachings of many religions and in what way
Does your religion agree with what the Bible teaches about the dead
most do not
Why?
Because their teachings have been influenced by Satan
He uses false religion to get people to believe that after their body dies they will continue to live in the spirit realm
This is a lie that Satan combines with other lies to turn people away from Jehovah God
how so
F17 question why does the teaching of eternal torment dishonor Jehovah
As noted earlier some religions teach that if a person lives a bad life
After death he will go to a place of fiery torment to suffer forever
This teaching dishonours God
Jehovah is a God of love and would never make people suffer in this way
First John 4:8 reads whoever does not love has not come to know God because God is love
How would you feel about a man who punished a disobedient child by holding his hands in a fire
Would you respect such a man in fact? Would you even want to get to know him?
Definitely not you would likely think that he was very cruel
Yet, Satan wants us to believe that Jehovah tortures people in fire forever for countless billions of years
Paragraph 18 question worship of the dead is based on what religious lie
Satan also uses some religions to teach that after death
People become spirits who must be respected and honored by the living
according to this teaching the spirits of the dead can become powerful friends or
terrible enemies
Many people believe this lie they fear the dead and give them honor and worship in
Contrast the Bible teaches that the dead are sleeping and that we should worship only the true God Jehovah our
Creator and provider
Paragraph 19 question knowing the truth about death helps us to understand what other Bible teaching
Knowing the truth about the dead protects you from being misled by religious lies
It also helps you to understand other Bible teachings
For example when you realize that people do not pass on to the spirit realm at death the promise of everlasting
Life on a paradise earth takes on real meaning for you
Paragraph 20 question what question will we consider in the next chapter?
Long ago the righteous man job raised this question if a man dies can he live again?
job 14 14
Can a lifeless person who is sleeping in death be brought back to life?
What the Bible teaches about this is deeply comforting as the next chapter will show?
Bible teaches
Do not see or hear or think
Ecclesiastes 9:5
The dead are asleep they do not suffer
john, 11:11
We died because we inherited sin from Adam
Romans 5:12
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