Introduction
The purpose of this study is to give scriptural insight and understanding of God’s plan for man from his original creation, fall, redemption, and restoration of his wonderful purpose.
This study was prepared in the form of questions and comments, it is important to study all the scriptural references, make personal notes from them, and then read the comments that followed the question. All scriptural references are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated. The keyword or words in the reference verses are highlighted to have words to think and meditate upon.
To gain the knowledge God intends, asked Him to open your understanding to the scriptures you read. Remove your mind from any preconceived opinion and focus on what the scriptures say. Be like the Bereans Christians who studied the scriptures to be sure what they heard were true. Believe the Word of God, prove it and hold fast to it, because it is true.
May your heart be blessed as you study diligently.
Content – The Wages Of Sin
1. What happens to man at death?
2. What is the state of man (soul) at death?
3. Does man have an immortal soul?
4. What is death?
1. What happens to man at death?
Read Genesis 3:19, Ecclesiastes 3:19-20
Comment:
At death man returns to the dust from where it came from, the same happens to animals
Scriptural References:
Genesis 3:19, In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground: for out of it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust, you shall return.
Ecclesiastes 3:19-20, For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.
2. What is the state of man (soul) at death?
Read Psalm 146:3-4; Ecclesiastes 9:5, Psalm 115:17, Psalm 6:5, Job 14:21
Comment:
The followings are the description of the state of man at death.
a. The thoughts of man end immediately when they die. The dead do not know anything, they are not aware of their surroundings, Ecclesiastes 9:5.
b. The dead do not praise God, they are in silence, Psalm 115:17.
c. The dead do not remember God (no conscious memory of God) and do not give thanks to God, Psalm 6:5.
d. People who have died are without any awareness, they cannot think nor do they have any ideas. They neither praise God nor have life in another place. The death has nothing to do with the living. When people die, they stay in the grave awaiting resurrection.
Scriptural References
Psalm 146:3-4, “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish.”
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, “For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.”
Psalm 115:17, “The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.”
Psalm 6:5, “For in death there is no remembrance of You: in the grave who shall give You thanks?”
Job 14:21, “His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; They are brought low, and he does not perceive it.”
3. Does man have an immortal soul?
Read Genesis 2:16-17, Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Matthew 10:28; Romans 6:23, Matthew 16:26 NKJV
Comment:
The soul can be lost, it can die and be destroyed by God.
Scriptural References:
Genesis 2: 16-17, “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Matthew 16:26, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Ezekiel 18:4, 20, “Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”
Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him [God] which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin is death,”
4. What is death?
Read Hebrews 9:27, I Thessalonians 4:13, Acts 13: 36, I Thessalonians 4:14, II Corinthians 5:3-4, II Corinthians 5:1, II Peter 1:13-14, Psalms 104:29, Ecclesiastes 12:7, Revelation. 20:13-15, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 20: 4-6,15, Revelation 2:11.
Comment:
Death means absence of life and is not living in another place. When God told Adam that he will die when he disobeys his commandment, the death God was referring to is of two types.
a. Physical death
End or absence of physical life; total and permanent loss of all vital functions of man or any organism. It is appointed for men to die once, Hebrews 9:27. Physical death is also described as
i. Falling asleep (perpetual sleep, Jeremiah 51:39), I Thessalonians 4:13, Acts 13:36, I Thessalonians 4:14
ii. Being unclothed, II Corinthians 5:3-4
iii. Destruction or Dissolution of our earthly house or tabernacle or tent, II Corinthians 5:1
iv. Putting off this tent or tabernacle, II Peter 1:13-14
v. Taking away of breath, Psalms 104:29
vi. The return of the dust to the earth, Ecclesiastes 12:7
b. Spiritual death
This is eternal separation from God; absence of everlasting life. It is the death following physical death (Revelation. 20:14, 21:8). It is also referred to as the second death, this means that after someone has died physical death, raised up at resurrection to face judgment, and then burned up in the lake of fire. Those who will not experience the second death are those who are part of the first resurrection, those who their names are written in the book of life Revelation 20:15, and those that endure persecution, and are killed Revelation 20: 4-6,15; 2:11
Scriptural References
Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”
I Thessalonians 4:13, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.”
Acts 13:36, “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption;”
I Thessalonians 4:14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.”
II Corinthians 5:3-4, “if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.”
II Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
II Peter 1:13-14, “Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.”
Psalms 104:29, “You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.”
Ecclesiastes 12:7, “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.”
Revelation 20:13-15, “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 21:8, “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Revelation 20:4-6, “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
Revelation 2:11, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”
Be sure to study part four.
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