The Dead Know Nothing
What happens when you die
Everyone wishes they knew what really happens when you die. Is there and afterlife? Are you just gone ? Is there a Hell and Heaven?
These questions can be answered by reading the Bible. God’s Word tells us all we need to know. It explains what is going to happen to you right when you die and later on. If you will remain dead, come back to life, go to Hell, go to Heaven and if you will live for eternity.
Some people do not believe there is life after death but I can assure you there is as God says it and God is the truth. The big question for these people is “Are you going to grab an afterlife or just be returned to the earth you came from”.
The bible says “ in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began“ Titus 1:2
When God made man he was supposed to live forever. This ended with sin by Adam and Eve. Life was shortened but eternal life was still the plan. Adam knew what would be in death. God told him “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return”.
Eternal Life
So if you are going to have eternal life then what happens when you die. Well your body dies, your soul lives on. Your body is consumed by the worms and returns to earth. Your soul simply goes to sleep.
Jesus said about a girl who had died “Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.” Matthew 9:24
He said of Lazarus “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.” John 11
Jesus refers to death as sleep because it is as if you sleep and know nothing that goes on until the day you will be awakened for judgement. On that day you will either receive God’s gift of eternal life in Heaven or be cast to the eternal fire and not live forever in Hell ( the eternal fire ) as some say but be consumed by the fire. You will be as if you never existed. The fire is eternal and your soul is not unless you believe and be born again . See note 1.
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes , a book written about life on earth ” under the sun” without knowing God “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” . Ecclesiastes 9:5
All people know they will die but the dead no nothing that goes on under the sun. They can no longer enjoy earthly things nor be rewarded as they are in the grave. Soon those left behind on earth forget about the dead.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest”.
John chapter 3 is good reading about the need to accept Jesus as your savior. For you are born of water, your birth from mother, and you must be born of the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God.
The Un-Saved
The Bible says “He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They will never see the light.” Psalms 49:19
Quite clear that you will die if not saved and never see the light ( God ).
John 3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them”.
John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.
The Bible says ” I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. “ John 5:13
No where here does it say that you will live forever burning in Hell fire if you do not believe. My opinion is that God would not make you suffer for all eternity as that would be revenge. Besides Hell was made for Satan and some Angles. They were cast in for their evil ways. Satan was cast in because of his greed. God hates greed. So remember to not be greedy nor stray from God’s word.
The Bible says that on the day of the Lord on earth the un-godly will be destroyed. No mention of them living on forever in eternal punishment in Hell fire. The earth will be destroyed by fire. Those un-godly who died before this will be awakened and be burned also in Hell fire.
“By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly”. 2 Peter chapter 3:7
What happens to the body
The Bible says in Isaiah 66:24 that when you die your body will be consumed by the worms if they are not killed. Jesus called sin the worm. “And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”
This was said about people being tossed into the fire , not Hell fire but the eternal fire outside of Jerusalem ( Gehenna fire , the valley of Hinnom ). This is where corpses of man and animal were thrown and they burned in the fire that always was there. If the body landed in the fire it was consumed. If not it was eaten by worms i.e. maggots. The part about not living forever in the fire is evident. The maggot eats, hatches into flies , lays eggs and it goes on until there is no flesh left to feed on and it ends. If the body hits fire then it burns up. The soul lives on in sleep.
Same goes for you if you are not born again. You will either live on or be gone.
The Bible says “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep”.
This means that you will lay as if sleeping and knowing not of earthly things until judgement day when you will be awakened.
In Revelations it says a lot about being condemned to Hell but most of that book has nothing to do with us. It has already passed. Mostly having to do with the sins of the 7 churches.
Notes
1 To be born again you need 3 things and maybe 4. You must :
Believe This means you believe in the Word and know God in your heart and that he will give you everlasting life.
Repent This means you must ask for forgiveness from all your sins. God knows them all but will forget them as if they never were if you but ask. You must then walk in the light of the Word and try not to sin again. You must change your ways and follow the Word.
Faith Actually the same as Repent . Have faith in God and know he will forgive you your transgressions if you ask.
Be Saved Ask Jesus to come into your heart and help you walk in his light.
Baptized There are different opinions on this. How ever John said it must be done. Baptism is a show of faith. It is not like being saved. It is done in front of others so that they may see your faith in God. It symbolizes the washing away of your sins but does not actually wash them away. Jesus was baptized by John.
I would say be saved then baptized.
For more on baptism read my article Baptism , do you need it ?
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. 10 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. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives