The Bible has the answer to the question of where the dead are now.  In the Old Testament, Daniel was not told that he would be in heaven the moment he died. Instead he was told,

“But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.” Daniel 12:13 NKJV

In the New Testament Jesus did not tell His disciples they would be with Him in heaven the moment they died. He told them He would have to come again so they could be with Him again.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:3 NKJV 

Both the Old and New Testaments agree about what happens when we die, and the hope we have in the resurrection. Let’s take a look at Death and then the resurrection in both the Old and New Testaments. 

Death

Overview:
Death is a state of unconscious sleep. The dead do not know anything at this time and are not awakened until the last trump at Christ’s second coming. See Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, Job 14:12, 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Why is it important to know the truth about death:

The teaching that you don’t really die is a lie Satan started in the Garden of Eden when he told Eve, “Ye shall not surely die.” By telling this lie Satan hoped to get Eve and all mankind to believe that there is really no consequence for disobeying God. He also wants us to believe that we are all immortal even if we have no relationship with God. This opens the door for spiritualism in which people may actually communicate with the devil and his angels, thinking they are speaking with their loved ones.

Our salvation does not come from knowing what happens when we die. Our salvation is found alone in God’s love. However, no lie is ever harmless, and when Satan told the lie, “Ye shall not surely die,” not only was he lying, but he was also calling God a liar.

Why understanding death in the light of the cross is important:

If you don’t really die, then Jesus did not really die for us, and we still need a Savior. The lie that we don’t really die destroys the cross and everything Jesus endured and accomplished on it. If Jesus was not really tasting death like Hebrews 2:9 says He did, then we have just minimized the cross to a six-hour pain endurance marathon.

I remember sitting in a funeral for a little girl who was hit and killed by a car. Her mother sat on the front pew, sobbing uncontrollably. Meanwhile the pastor talked about how happy the little girl and Jesus were right now up in heaven. Do you know how cruel that made Jesus look to the poor mother? Would Jesus tear a mother’s heart apart just to go have fun with her daughter? I think not! The little girl is resting in her grave and will be united with Jesus in heaven when the mother is reunited with her at the second coming.

For Further study on Death:

What did Adam become?

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. Genesis 2:7

What returns to God?

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7

What is the spirit?

All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; Job 27:3

Note that this is an example of poetic parallelism, which is used a lot in Scripture. In this case,  both parallel passages are synonymous. In other words, “my breath is in me” means the same as “the spirit of God is in my nostrils.” This “spirit” is the same as the “breath of life” God breathes into Adam’s nostrils. It is not the same as the Holy Spirit. 

What does God take that turns the body to dust?

Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Psalm 104:29

What age-old question did Job ask?

But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he? Job 14:10

What is the Bible answer?

So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. Job 14:12

Do the dead know what happens to the living?

His sons come to honour, and he knoweth [it] not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth [it] not of them. Job 14:21

How much do the dead know?

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any [thing] that is done under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:5–6

What did Jesus call death?

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. John 11:11-14

How long had Lazarus been dead?

Then when Jesus came, he found that he had [lain] in the grave four days already. John 11:17

Did Martha believe Lazarus was in heaven?

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. John 11:24

What did Mary say?

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. John 11:32

Was Lazarus called from heaven, hell or the grave?

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. John 11: 43-44

The Resurrection

When does the book of Daniel tell us that the dead will awaken?

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2

“But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.” Daniel 12:3 

When are the dead raised?

For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 1 Corinthians 15:16-23

When do we receive immortality?

Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Our hope and comfort:

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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

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Read Isaiah 26:14 and Isaiah 26:19. What is the contrast between those who will perish forever (Isaiah 26:14; see also Malachi 4:1) and those who will receive eternal life (Isaiah 26:19)?

The book of Isaiah presents a major contrast between the majesty of God and our human fragility (see Isaiah  chapter 40). Though we are like the grass that withers and the flower that fades, the word of God remains forever (Isaiah 40:6-8). Despite our human sinfulness, however, God’s saving grace is available to all human beings and becomes effective even to the Gentiles who embrace His covenant and keep the Sabbath (Isaiah chapter 56).

In the book of Isaiah, the hope of the resurrection is broadened significantly. While previous biblical allusions to the resurrection were expressed more from personal perspectives (Job 19:25-27, Psalm 49:15, Psalm 71:20), the prophet Isaiah speaks of it as including both himself and the covenantal community of believers (Isaiah 26:19).

Isaiah 26:1-21 contrasts the distinct destinies of the wicked and the righteous. On one side, the wicked will remain dead, without ever being brought to life again, at least after the “second death” (Revelation 21:8). They will be completely destroyed, and all their memory will perish forever (Isaiah 26:14). This passage underscores the teaching that there are no surviving souls or spirits that remain alive after death. Speaking about the final destruction of the wicked, which comes later, the Lord stated elsewhere that the wicked will be completely burned up, leaving them “neither root nor branch” (Malachi 4:1, NKJV).

On the other side, the righteous dead will be raised from death to receive their blessed reward. Isaiah 25:1-12 highlights that the Lord God “will swallow up death forever” and “will wipe away tears from all faces” (Isaiah 25:8, NKJV). In Isaiah 26:1-21 we find the following words: “Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead” (Isaiah 26:19, NKJV). All the resurrected righteous will participate in the joyful feast that the Lord will prepare for all people (Isaiah 25:6). The final resurrection will bring together all the righteous from all ages, including your beloved ones who already died in Christ.

Imagine if we didn’t have any hope, any assurance, any reason to think that our death was anything but the end of everything for us. And then, even worse, anyone who ever knew us would be gone, and soon it would be as if we never existed and that our life never meant anything at all. How does this fate contrast to the hope that we have?

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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In Lesson 4, The Old Testament Hope, we learn valuable insight into dealing with death. Join the discussion. 

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Key Thought: The Old Testament hope is grounded on the final resurrection of the dead. If God was able to create life in the first place, why shouldn’t we believe in His capacity to recreate life and restore its original identity?
October 22, 2022

1. Have a volunteer read Job 19:25-27.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. Under what circumstances was Job expecting t see God and when?
3. Personal Application: What kind of faith do we need to trust God when things aren’t going our way?. Share your thoughts..
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “How did Job know about the resurrection and second coming of Jesus, when He hadn’t come and died on the cross yet?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Psalm 49:11-15..

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. In what ways have you seen the folly of those who trust in their wealth and accomplishments?
3. Personal Application: How do you know that God is going to redeem you from the power of the grave? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Shouldn’t a person try to accomplish a lot in life and doesn’t everyone strive for economic and financial security and make a difference in their community? What is the difference between David and other self-indulgent rulers?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 26:14,19

1. Ask class members to share a short
2. What is the contrast between those who will perish forever and those that receive eternal life?
3. Personal Application: How do you want to be remembered, and by whom? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “Did the ones before the cross believe in their redemption because of their relationship with God through obedience or through faith? If faith, how did they know what to have faith in?” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Daniel 12:1,2.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does Michael standing up have to do with the resurrection of th dead, both of the just and the unjust?
3. Personal Application: Do you want to live to see Jesus coming or sleep in the dust until the resurrection? What factors might be involved? Share your thoughts?
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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Read Psalm 71:1-24. What did David imply when he asked God to bring him up “again from the depths of the earth” (Psalm 71:20, NKJV)?

In Psalm 49:1-20 we found a touching expression of hope in the resurrection, in contrast to the false assurance of the fool who trusted in his wealth. In Psalm 71:1-24, David seeks security and hope from God while surrounded by enemies and false accusers who say that God has forsaken him (Psalm 71:10-11).

Amid his trials, David finds comfort and assurance in recalling how God had cared for him in the past. First, he realizes that God had upheld him from birth and even took him out of his mother’s womb (Psalm 71:6). Then, he acknowledges that God had taught him from his youth (Psalm 71:17).

With the certainty that God was his rock and his fortress, David pleads with Him, “Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually” (Psalm 71:3, NKJV). “Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails” (Psalm 71:9, NKJV). “O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!” (Psalm 71:12, NKJV). And then David adds, “You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth” (Psalm 71:20, NKJV).

The expression “from the depths of the earth” could be understood literally as an allusion to the future physical resurrection of the psalmist. But the context seems to favor a metaphorical description of David’s condition of deep depression as if the earth were swallowing him (compare with Psalm 88:6 and Psalm 130:1). So, we could say that “it is primarily figurative speech, but also hints at a physical resurrection.” — Andrews Study Bible, p. 726, note on Psalm 71:20.

In the end, what’s important to grasp is that, whatever our situation, God is there, He cares, and ultimately, our hope isn’t found in this life but in the life to come — the eternal life we have in Jesus after our resurrection at His return.

We all have had some terrible moments of discouragement. How, though, can focusing on the ways that the Lord had been with you in the past help you press on ahead in faith and trust in the moments when He seems far away?

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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