Where Are They Now?
Introduction
A strange idea is creeping into western society among people who don’t believe in God, the Bible, or the resurrection of Jesus Christ. People are wondering: Is it possible to dispense with Christianity and all religions and religious ideas, yet still believe in an afterlife? Is it conceivable that we can continue living in some shape, form, or fashion – even after our bodies expire and our bodily brains cease to function? There are many books by secularists that say “Yes!”. 32% of nonChristians believe in an afterlife? This includes those who do not believe in a god of any type.
As we discussed in our previous lesson, a Pew Research Center poll published in 2015 found that 72 percent of Americans believe in Heaven, and 58 percent believe in hell. Among religiously affiliated Americans, those numbers increase: 82 percent believe in Heaven. Fewer than half of Hindus, Buddhists, and Jews believe in Heaven. Surprisingly though, the group that includes atheists, agnostics (people that have no opinion of whether there is a god or not), and people that have no identifiable religion, still have 37 percent who believe in Heaven and 27 percent who believe in hell. We have an instinctive belief in Heaven and hell.
Two Questions
Frequent questions arise in our minds when standing at the graveside of a loved one. Where is my loved one right now? Are they alive somewhere? How is it going with them? How are they doing?
Paul the apostle wrote many times in his books of the New Testament to try to comfort the hearts of those who had lost loved ones.
The Coming of the Lord
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 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.
1Th 4:16 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:
1Th 4:17 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.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Two Places For The Righteous
In the Old Testament, before Christ died for us, the soul and spirit of those who were righteous went to Paradise, a place below in Sheol. After Jesus died on the cross, saved souls who trusted in Jesus as their savior went to Heaven.
Two Places For The Lost
Since the beginning of time and through today, lost souls and spirits go to Hades, a place in Sheol also. When the end of time comes, these lost people will stand before The Great White Throne Of Judgement and be cast into hell, the burning lake of fire, and there they will stay for eternity.
Two Principles
While there are many thrilling facts in the Bible about Heaven, the greatest of them all is this: Heaven is being with Jesus! You don’t have to understand everything about Sheol, Heaven, Hell, and The Lake of Fire, and the New Earth and the New Jerusalem; but you can know this: When we die in Christ, we go to be with Him!
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 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.
1Th 4:16 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:
1Th 4:17 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.
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Joh 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
When You And I Die
When we who are saved and who are alive right now die, our soul and spirit will go to Heaven to be with the Lord. We will stand before Him at The Judgement Seat Of Christ where we will not be judged for our sins but rather for the good things we did on earth. We will remain in Heaven untilThe Rapture when our soul and spirit will come and be with Jesus in the air and be rejoined with our resurrected and glorified bodies and return to Heaven. When Jesus comes back to earth at The Second Coming, we will return with Him to rule and rein here on earth for The Millenium. We will never return to The Third Heaven but will live for eternity in Heaven On Earth – The New Jerusalem on The New Earth.