Judgment Day Excuses that Won't Work
Author: Brandi With An I
•1:00 PM
We can imagine that on "the judgment of the great day" (Jude 6), there will be many excuses. 

Let's consider some.

"But, Lord, what about all of the good that I have done?" - - -

This sounds like Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not done many wonderful works?" 

But what will Jesus say?

"I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:23).

What was their shortcoming? They failed to do the Father's will (Matthew 7:21). The Lord wants us to be "zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14), but all the good works in the world cannot cover sin.

"But, Lord, I was just doing what other folks were doing." - - -

Christ taught that this course of action leads to destruction: "Enter ye in at the strait [narrow] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" (Matthew 7:13). 

Remember, something is not right in God's sight just because a lot of people are doing it.

"But, Lord, I was always so busy with work and everything that I didn't have time for church." - - -

A more truthful statement is that one does not make time. Jesus warned: "And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word" (Mark 4:19)

"Lord, I am sorry for the way that I lived. If I had a chance to do it again, I would do better." - - -

None gets a second chance. 

"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). 

Our life on earth is a one-shot deal (Titus 2:12)

Let us all be certain that we are prepared for that day, so we won't need any excuses.

--- Roger Campbell, Cleveland, Tennessee
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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•9:47 AM
Does each person have a particular appointed time to die?

Bob Prichard
Topic(s): Death, Eternity, Judgment, Time

Many believe that since He is all powerful and all knowing, God takes people at their appointed time to die, and there is nothing that man may do to change or affect this. 

This concept of fate is not biblical, however. 

 According to Greek mythology, there are three goddesses, or fates, who determine the destiny of men, and men have no control over the course life will take. 

People express the idea of fate as they say of someone who has died, It was just his time to go, or It was her time to die, nothing could be done for her, and she would have died no matter what anyone did.

There is no question that death is inevitable for all people, but the inevitability of death does not mean that either the fates have determined a particular time for individuals to die, or that God has predetermined a particular time when He has ordained a person must die. 

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 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 (Hebrews 9:27-28). These verses do not teach that man has a fateful, specific appointed time to die, but that death is inevitable for all mankind, and just as surely as death is inevitable, judgment must follow. 

The key is for each person to prepare for the judgment by accepting the salvation offered by God through the sacrifice of Christ.

The false idea of a predetermined fate conflicts with the teaching of scripture that each person has the free will to choose how to live, and whether to respond to God's will. 

God chooses to love and redeem us. 
He has free will. 
We, created in His image (Genesis 1:27), also have free will. 

John writes, Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). Since man sins and separates himself from God by choosing to transgress the law, he also has the free will to choose righteousness. 

The actions of others may influence when we die, but we have much control over when we will die. 

If we choose to risk our lives by abusing alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, speeding on the interstate, or engaging in other risky behavior, then we take our lives into our own hands.

Along with the free will He gives us, God also makes us responsible for the consequences of our actions. He doesn't just take us [kill us] at some time He has appointed. We can choose to live as we should.

Since no one knows when he or she may die, each person needs to be ready to die at any moment. 

Paul recognized that in his service as an apostle, he had to be ready to die. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men (1 Corinthians 4:9). 
He was ready to accept this death sentence, because he had already committed all he had to Christ. He said, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

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Devotional
Author: Brandi With An I
•9:30 AM
Preaching on Hell
[ taken from Wooddale Church of Christ ]

by Hugh Fulford 
Guest Columnist for Forthright Magazine
 This past Sunday evening I heard a moving sermon on "The Horrors of Hell."

We don't hear sermons on hell much anymore these days.

One preacher among us used to preach a powerful sermon titled, "What Is Hell Like?" In his autobiography a few years ago, he confessed that he had not preached the sermon in 25 years and no longer believed what he had previously preached about hell.

Jesus talked a lot about hell.

In fact, he said more about hell than anyone else in all the New Testament. Just before he ascended back to heaven, he commissioned his apostles to "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16, KJV).

Some folks wonder about the fate of the pious un-immersed.
What about the fate of the pious unbeliever?

Might as well wonder about the fate of the latter as the fate of the former.

Jesus made both belief and baptism (immersion) essential to salvation.

I sometimes wonder if some folks believe anybody is going to be lost.

Old brother T. W. Caskey, one of the great advocates of the restoration plea (the plea to return to faithful New Testament teaching and practice), said if nobody is going to be damned, "you may as well convert hell into a calf pasture and be done with it."

My son, Brett, recently observed that people believe everything on the Internet and question everything about the Bible.
He went on to say, "It should be the other way around."
Well said, son.

According to Christ, we all are going to face his word on the Day of Judgment. "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him, the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).

Back to the sermon I heard on hell.

The preacher, Don Blackwell of North Charleston, SC, in talking about the rich man's capacity in torment to remember the situation of his five brothers back on earth (Luke 16:19-31), made the observation: "If live men knew what dead men know, the whole world would be Christian."

I don't doubt that for a moment.

I mentioned above a preacher who used to preach on hell but no longer does, at least, not in the way he used to.

Some would say he has "evolved" to a more "mature" understanding of the subject.

"Evolved" is a popular way today for saying that a person no longer believes what he once believed.

Another word comes to my mind.

When a person abandons biblical truth, he has not "evolved"; he has "devolved"!
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Thought of the Day - "Focus on Things Above"
Author: Brandi With An I
•12:45 PM
"I know I have another building not made with hands..."

 
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:2 
 
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Heaven only knows.
Author: Brandi With An I
•11:14 AM
The following is a repost originally written by myself on 3.26.09. I wanted to share it once again because, right along through here, I feel it can help someone. Hope it touches and helps you. God Bless!

I am dying. 

No, I don't have a fatal disease or terminal illness, but it's true. 

I AM dying. 

I'm one step closer to death than I was yesterday. 

And if we stopped and thought for a moment, we all are. 

Life is soooo short, man. Death has no respect for age. It used to be at one time, all the older people would die off, but lately it seems as if the young ones are filling up those vacancies in those graveyards. 

One minute you're here, and the next you're gone..just like that. 

Some people don't like to think about it, or talk about it, but hey, that's reality. 
You're not here to stay. 

When you die, that's just the beginning of it all. 

I know some of us are in that mode "I'm young and i'm gonna do what I wanna do while I can do it" but that's not the mindset we should have. 

The devil wants us to think that we have all the time in the world...but in reality we don't. 

Don't you know if you die in your sins, your soul goes to him to be tortured for all eternity?

Since young people are dying as quickly as the older generation, don't you think we should be in good standing with God? 

When we die and judgment comes, we have to stand before Him and give an account of everything we did on earth. 

Some of us say "I'm a good person" or "I love God" but it takes more than just that. You can't live your life any old way and expect God to be pleased with you. You have to live according to His teachings. 

Sure, it might be hard and you'll have to give up a LOT. 
But look at the BIG PICTURE..if you live as He would have you to live and follow His word, you spend eternity with Him? 
Isn't that a wonderful thought? 

To know after all the hurt and pain and drama down here you had to deal with, you can rest in Heaven with him forever? 

Why would you wanna live a life full of hell here on earth and spend eternity in hell 'cause of how you were living? 

We need to take self examinations and change up the way we live if it's not measuring up to God's standards. 

Tomorrow is not promised...neither is the next second. 

We should stop saying "I'll worship God when I get older", who's to say you have that long left? 

You should do it NOW while there's still breath in your body and blood running warm in your veins. 

Sure you may lose some friends along the way, your family may even turn against you, but when you face God you have to answer for YOU and what you did or didn't do during your life. 

It's funny how we can talk about any and everything, but when God is brought up, there's cause for debate. 

Why can we talk hours and hours about the latest music, gossip about this and that person, but when something comes up about our soul and eternity we get defensive? 

God loves ALL OF US and doesn't want any of us to perish. 
But he destroyed the world once before and only eight survived, He has the right to do it again. 

Why take that chance? 
Don't you want to hear Him say "Well done" on that last and final day? 
Don't you want to see His face in peace instead of fear?

Some may think i'm crazy, or a "religious nut" but hey...
you think what you want. It used to bug me that people would
think I was weird for standing up and doing what was right
by telling others about God, but it doesn't bother me anymore.
I know i'm doing what God would have me to do;
and as long as He's pleased, that's all that matters to me.

Don't you want to be on someone's side who...
..will love you unconditionally?
..will be there for you all the time when others turn their backs?
..will forgive you when you do wrong instead of hanging it over your head?

Do what's right:
Live for Him♥
What Must I Do To Be Saved?

Hear the Gospel. "How shall they call on him whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14).

Believe. "And without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him" (Hebrews 11:6).

Repent of past sins. "The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent" (Acts 17:30).

Confess Jesus as Lord. "Behold here is water; What doth hinder me to be baptized ? And Philip said, if thou believeth with all thy heart thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:36-37).

Be baptized for the remission of sins. "And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

Live a Christian life. "Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).

Want to learn more?

http://church-of-christ.org/churches/

Visit that site,
click the area in which you reside,
find a congregation near you and pay a visit.
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Thought of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•10:52 AM
II Peter 3:8-10 -> "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare."

While it's true that the Lord does not want anyone to perish, He also gives us free will. We can choose to achieve the great salvation, live for Him and make Heaven our home OR we can choose to do things our way, live for self, and spend eternity with the devil and his angels.

The choice is yours. . .

- B.
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Devotional
Author: Brandi With An I
•12:32 PM
 

Condemned by Ignorance
By: Wooddale Church of Christ

"God will like it because I like it" is the claim that many make. Many assume that our Heavenly Father will accept whatever they do in life simply because it pleases them. 

Note what Ephesians 4:17-18 says about this type of mindset: 

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." 

The majority of people will be separated from God through eternity because of their own ignorance. 

People fail to understand that God expects complete obedience to His will. We cannot decide for ourselves what is acceptable to God and what isn't. 

Because people do not search the scriptures for themselves (Acts 17:11) they leave themselves open to being deceived by false teachers: 

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:1-2). 

Just as in the secular world, God tells us that "ignorance of the law is no excuse." 
We will all be judged by the word of God (John 12:48) and that word will continue till the day of judgment (Revelation 20:12). 

In order to be ready for the return of Christ, study the Bible often, read it daily and do what it says. 

Do not let ignorance of the word of God keep you from entering heaven. 
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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•1:43 PM
Since death seals man's fate, why is there a judgment day?

Bob Prichard
Topic(s): Death, Eternity, Judgment

Numerous times the scriptures refer to the day of judgment, the day of the Lord, or the day of Christ. On that day, the Lord will judge all mankind. 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 hath done, whether it be good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). 

Recording his heavenly vision, John described the scene: I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; 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 (Revelation 20:12).

Jesus described the scene as a great division between the sheep and the goats. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left (Matthew 25:31-33).

Many think of the great judgment day in terms of a trial, in which God weighs a person's good and bad deeds in the balance, but instead it is more a day for God to render final judgment, or give the final sentence for eternity. 

The vision of Revelation 20 describes it as the opening of the book of life, and other books describing the works of men. 

The ultimate question of the day is: Whose name is written in the Lamb's book of life? 

That is all that will really be important that day. 

Those with their names in the Lamb's book of life will rejoice as the Lord says, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34).  

Those on the left will hear the awful words, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).  

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

Death settles the issue of judgment. 

God judges every man according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). 

The idea of changing a person's eternal fate after death due to suffering in an intermediate state is absolutely foreign to scripture. 
There is no second chance! 

Jesus described the fate of a rich man, and the beggar Lazarus outside his gates. 

Both the rich man and Lazarus were in the realm of the dead, in preparation for the last great judgment day, but the rich man was in torment and Lazarus was in Abraham's bosom. In torment, the rich man cried for Lazarus to come to comfort him, but Abraham said, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence (Luke 16:24-26). 

All of us will stand before God's throne someday. 
We must be prepared. 

The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (2 Peter 3:10). 

He enters our names in the book of life as we obey His gospel.

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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•8:30 AM
Does each person have a particular appointed time to die?
Bob Prichard
Topic(s): Death, Eternity & Judgment, Time

Many believe that since He is all powerful and all knowing, God takes people at their appointed time to die, and there is nothing that man may do to change or affect this. This concept of fate is not biblical, however. According to Greek mythology, there are three goddesses, or fates, who determine the destiny of men, and men have no control over the course life will take. People express the idea of fate as they say of someone who has died, It was just his time to go, or It was her time to die, nothing could be done for her, and she would have died no matter what anyone did.

There is no question that death is inevitable for all people, but the inevitability of death does not mean that either the fates have determined a particular time for individuals to die, or that God has predetermined a particular time when He has ordained a person must die. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 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 (Hebrews 9:27-28). These verses do not teach that man has a fateful, specific appointed time to die, but that death is inevitable for all mankind, and just as surely as death is inevitable, judgment must follow. The key is for each person to prepare for the judgment by accepting the salvation offered by God through the sacrifice of Christ.

The false idea of a predetermined fate conflicts with the teaching of scripture that each person has the free will to choose how to live, and whether to respond to God's will. God chooses to love and redeem us. He has free will. We, created in His image (Genesis 1:27), also have free will. John writes, Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). Since man sins and separates himself from God by choosing to transgress the law, he also has the free will to choose righteousness. The actions of others may influence when we die, but we have much control over when we will die. If we choose to risk our lives by abusing alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, speeding on the interstate, or engaging in other risky behavior, then we take our lives into our own hands. Along with the free will He gives us, God also makes us responsible for the consequences of our actions. He doesn't just take us [kill us] at some time He has appointed. We can choose to live as we should.
Since no one knows when he or she may die, each person needs to be ready to die at any moment. Paul recognized that in his service as an apostle, he had to be ready to die. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men (1 Corinthians 4:9). He was ready to accept this death sentence, because he had already committed all he had to Christ. He said, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

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The Book of Life
Author: Brandi With An I
•3:09 PM




by J. Raymond Pecoraro, Wooddale Church of Christ

“And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, & the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.” (Phil. 4:3). 

These words are from the pen of the great apostle Paul. 
This article is about God’s Book of Life where He records the faithful because He knows that they are His people.


There are many books in the world. 


In fact, Solomon said, “that there is no end to book making.” (Eccl. 12:12). 


There are works of fiction, novels, technical books, self-help books, textbooks, and many, many more covering almost any subject imaginable! 


But the greatest, best-selling book ever written is the Bible. 
It contains answers to life's simple and most complex questions ever asked by man! (II Tim. 3:16, 17). 


Through the ages there have been legions of people who tried to dispute the validity of the Bible, yet to no avail! 


In Luke 2:1-5, Joseph & Mary were required by Roman law to register for taxation! Courthouses have large books containing the name of its citizens who own property, pay taxes, owe taxes, births & deaths. The government records the census of all citizens of the U.S.A. Paul tells us that our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Therefore the Christian’s name is written in God’s “Book of Life.”


The Heavenly Registry: “Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20). 


The early disciples had the ability to work miracles & they thought this was great. They rejoiced because they had this power over the serpents, scorpions, & even their enemies. (V.17). Yet Jesus said it was a greater blessing to have your name enrolled in heaven! Paul’s challenge to “rejoice in the Lord: always immediately follows the statement about the “Book of Life.” (Phil. 4:4).


Whose Names Are Enrolled In Heaven? 
“But ye are come unto mount Sion, & unto the city of the living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, & to an innumerable company of Angels. To the general assembly & church of the first born, & to God the Judge of all, & to the spirits of just men made perfect.” Heb. 12:22, 23 …the Redeemed). 


The triumphant of the church of the Lord:
1. Those “called out” of the world (Ekklesia).
2. People who belong to God. (I Cor. 1:2).
3. People who are sanctified (set apart from the world). (I Cor. 1:2).
4. Those who are “in Christ” …God’s children through baptism. (Gal. 3:26, 27).
5. People who are called by the gospel. (I Cor. 1:2).
6. Those who “call upon the name of the Lord. (Rom. 10:13-17).


“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; & I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father, & before His angels.” (Rev. 3:5). 


Paul said, “For I am now ready to be offered, & the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (II Tim. 6, 7). 


We must keep the commandments of the Lord & our names will be there come Judgment Day! 
Make no mistake about this, friends!


The Tragedy Of Not Having One’s Name In The Lamb’s Book of Life: 
“And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:15). 


There won’t be any computer errors come the judgment! 
God is the Divine bookkeeper. (Read Daniel 12:1-3). 


All jokes about heaven will cease because it won’t be funny. 


In John 11:25, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, & the life: he that believeth in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.” 


If you haven’t yet made preparations to have your name written in God’s Book of Life, there may not be a better opportunity than now!


“One day when heaven was filled with His praises, 
One day when sin was as black as could be, 
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin, 
Dwelled among men, 
my Example is He. 


Living He loved me, 
dying He saved me, 
Rising He carried my sins far away. 


One day He is coming, 
O Glorious Day.”


When the roll is called up yonder, will you hear your name? 
Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people!
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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•10:33 AM

Since the Devil can't be everyone at once, does he use demons to tempt people?




Todd Clippard
Topic(s): Eternity & Judgment, Satan, Hell

In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the Devil is described as "the god of this world." Other scriptures giving similar designations are: John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11; Ephesians 2:2; and Ephesians 6:12.

We are warned to "be sober, be vigilant, because our adversary, the Devil, as a roaring lion roameth about, seeking whom he may devour" 1 Peter 5:8. This confirms the devil cannot be all places at all times. However, this is not to say he commands his minions to do his bidding around the world. Demon possession is no longer a reality in today's world (Zech 13:2).

The influence of the devil is found everywhere. When one chooses not to do the will of God, there is only one other who is left to be served, and that is the devil (Romans 6:12-18). When we sin, it is not demons messing with out minds. We all have free will, and God always provides a way of escape when we are tempted to sin (1 Cor 10:13).
At death, all souls go the hadean world (Luke 16:19-31). It is here they reside until the Day of Judgment (Rev 20:12-15). Disembodied spirits ("ghosts") do not roam restlessly around the world.

[ SOURCE ]
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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•3:00 PM
Where is Paradise?


Topic: Eternity
Todd Clippard

There is some confusion as to the identification and location of paradise. This is because the word itself is used in more than one way. 

For example, in Revelation 2:7 we read of the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God. This usage obviously refers to heaven.

However, in the passage given in your inquiry (Luke 23:43) Jesus uses the term in a different way. The paradise of Luke 23:43 is a part of the hadean realm. In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus taught that our spirits leave our bodies at the time of death. Also, James 2:26 says, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, even so faith without works is dead also."

Luke 16:19-31 also teaches us where our souls go at death. According to this text, all the dead go to the hadean realm (Hades) and await the Judgment. 

This is what Jesus taught in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. 

According to this text, Hades is divided into two dwelling places, one for the righteous and the other for the unrighteous. The place of the righteous is a place of comfort (v 25) described as Abraham's bosom (v 22). From the cross, Jesus referred to this place as Paradise (Luke 23:43). The waiting place of the unrighteous is a place of torment (vv 23-25, 28). Peter calls this place Tartarus in 2 Peter 2:4 (cf Jude 6). Most scholars agree that torment and Tartarus are the same place. Paradise and Torment are separated by a great impassible gulf (Luke 16:26).

There is a third use of Paradise in 2 Corinthians 12:4. I will be honest I am unsure as to which usage is intended here, but I lean strongly toward the heavenly usage and not the hadean.

As with any word used in different ways, we must allow the context to determine the intended meaning of the text.

[ SOURCE ]
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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•12:09 PM
Where do our souls go at death?


Todd Clippard
Topic(s): Death, Eternity, Judgment

There is no consensus among Bible scholars concerning the destination of one's soul at death. However, I will give you the results of my study.

I believe the souls of all the dead go to the hadean realm (Hades) and await the Judgment.

This is what Jesus taught in Luke 16:19-31 in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

According to this text, Hades is divided into two dwelling places, one for the righteous and the other for the unrighteous. The place of the righteous is a place of comfort (v 25) described as Abraham's bosom (v 22). From the cross, Jesus referred to this place as Paradise (Luke 23:43). The waiting place of the unrighteous is a place of torment (vv 23-25, 28). Peter calls this place Tartarus in 2 Peter 2:4 (cf Jude 6). Most scholars agree that torment and Tartarus are the same place. Paradise and Torment are separated by a great impassible gulf (Luke 16:26).

Jesus said in John 5:28-29 that when He returns, "all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, they that have done good to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation."

2 Corinthians 5:10 says that all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to receive the things done in our own bodies, according to that which we have done, whether it be good or bad."

Revelation 20:12 teaches a single day of judgment for all men, "I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God and the dead were judged according to their works."

There will be only one resurrection of the dead, subsequently there shall be only one judgment. It appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment (Heb 9:27).
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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•4:36 PM
Are the dead, before the resurrection, conscious, or do they just sleep?
Bob Prichard
Topic(s): Death, Eternity & Judgment

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:20, But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Paul refers to the dead as them that slept, but refers not to the soul, but the body of the dead.

The body, separated from the soul, or spirit by death, sleeps. The soul, in Hades, awaits the judgment. John writes, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them (Revelation 14:13).

The dead rest from their labours on earth, but they are not unconscious.

Some teach a doctrine called soul sleep, saying that the soul loses all consciousness at death. But this would require not only a resurrection of the body at the judgment, but also a re-creation of the soul, because it would have ceased to exist as it was in life.

The scriptures do not teach this hopeless doctrine.

Paul told Timothy, I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better (Philippians 1:23).

How could Paul say that it was better for him to die, and leave his vital ministry, if death would mean a cessation of all consciousness?

Paul also wrote, We are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6, 8).

Certainly Paul would not be confident about death, if death is an unconscious state. Paul spoke of being absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. This would be meaningless if the soul were unconscious.

In examining the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31, it is obvious that both the rich man and Lazarus were conscious, able to communicate, and able to remember.

The rich man was conscious of where he was, and why he was there.
He communicated to Abraham.
Though God may have specially permitted the rich man to speak across the great gulf fixed by God, nevertheless, he did communicate. He remembered the brothers he left behind, and he knew he suffered. I am tormented in this flame (Luke 16:24). He certainly was not unconscious, or soul sleeping.

Revelation 6 records the scene of the souls of martyrs under the altar. These souls were conscious, crying out for vengeance on those who had killed them.

They were not soul sleeping.

The psalmist wrote, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints (Psalm 116:15).

Would God really want his followers to cease their work in His behalf and sink into an unconscious existence?

Undoubtedly, the dead are conscious.

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