WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH? #1

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. In this lesson we shall attempt to answer the question, "What  
      happens after death?"
      1. This question has plagued man from the dawn of creation.  
      2. People of all ages and races have sought its answer.  
   B. The Old Testament did not provide the answer; it revealed very 
      little about it.
      1. The ancient Greek philosophers had miserably failed in 
         trying to give a satisfactory answer.
         a. This was the reason many of the Gentiles readily accepted
            the gospel in the first century.
         b. For the first time they had something that truly had the 
            answers.
   C. 2 Tim. 1:10 -- Thus, through Jesus Christ and His gospel we can
      answer our question.

I. THE SPIRITS GO INTO HADES.
   A. Luke 16:19-31 reveals much about what happens after death.
      1. Some say that this is only a parable.
         a. I do not agree, but even if it was a parable, it does not
            change the facts in the passage.
         b. Parables always deal with the realistic--with things that
            can and do actually occur.
         c. For example, in Luke 8:4-15 Jesus began his lesson by 
            saying, "A sower went out to sow his seed..."  This is a 
            realistic occurrence.
      2. Verse 22 of Luke 16 reveals that a part of man is carried   
         away at the point of death.
         a. What part of man is carried away by the angels at death?
         b. It is not the body for the body is buried here on earth.
            (1) Eccl. 12:7 -- Thus, our spirits return to God when we
                die.
            (2) Psalm 90:10 teaches that there is a part of man that 
                flies away at death.
            (3) Gen. 35:18-19 and 1 Kings 17:21-22 reveal that the
                soul departs when one dies.
            (4) James 2:26
            (5) It is plainly revealed, therefore, that after death 
                our spirits or souls are carried back to God.
      3. Verses 23-31 of Luke 16 reveal that after death man is 
         conscious and rational.
         a. Verses 22b-23 -- Thus, the rich man could see after he 
            had died.
         b. Verse 24 -- Therefore, the rich man could speak and feel 
            after death.
         c. Verse 25 -- Thus, after death he could remember.  In 
            verses 27-31, he remembered his five brothers back here 
            on earth.
         d. We must conclude, therefore, that man does not cease 
            existence after death, but is conscious and rational.
      4. Verses 22-26 reveal the places to which the good and the    
         wicked go when they die.
         a. They are much different from back here on earth.
         b. Verse 22 -- "Abraham's bosom" is described as a place of 
            comfort in verse 25.
            (1) In Matt. 22:31-32, Jesus showed that Abraham existed 
                after death.
            (2) Jesus was showing the error of the Sadducees who 
                profess that "there is no resurrection, neither 
                angel, nor spirit."  Acts 23:8
            (3) His argument was built on the tense of the verb.
            (4) If Abraham had no existence after death, God should
                have said, "I was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and     
                Jacob," but since God said, "I am..." it showed that 
                Abraham still had conscious existence.
            (5) Since Abraham was truly a righteous man, we can 
                understand why he is connected with the place of 
                comfort--a place called "Abraham's bosom."
         c. The place of comfort is also called "Paradise."
            (1) Jesus said to the thief on the cross -- Luke 23:43.
            (2) Thus, both Jesus and the thief on that very day would
                be a place called "paradise."
            (3) Acts 2:27-31 reveals that the place where Jesus went 
                is also called "hades."
                (a) The word for "hell" in verses 27 and 31 in the 
                    original is "hades."
            (4) Some become confused on this subject because the     
                words, "hades," "gehenna," and "tartarus" are all    
                translated by the single term "hell" in the King     
                James Version.
                (a) These words should be distinguished.  "Gehenna" 
                    always refers to the place of eternal punishment,
                    "hades" to the intermediate state, and "tartarus"
                    to that part of hades where the wicked are during
                    the intermediate state.
            (5) Jesus did not go into the eternal place of punishment
                when He died, but into "paradise," a place of comfort
                in hades.
                (a) His soul did not stay in that place because it 
                    was reunited with His body.
                (b) Furthermore, Jesus did not go into heaven when He
                    died.
                    i) After he was raised, He said to Mary 
                       Magdelene, "Touch me not; for I am not yet 
                       ascended to my Father..."  John 20:17
                    ii) This shows that paradise is not heaven, and 
                        the righteous dead do not go directly to 
                        heaven as many believe and teach today.
         d. There is also a place of torment in hades.  See Luke 
            16:22-25 once again.
            (1) The word for "hell" (vs. 23 KJV) in the original is 
                not "gehenna" (the eternal place of punishment), but 
                "hades" (the temporary place where spirits await the 
                judgment).
         e. 2 Pet. 2:4 -- Here the word for hell is "tartarus," the 
            only place it is found in the N.T.
            (1) The American Standard Version renders 2 Pet. 2:9,    
                "The Lord knoweth how to...keep the unrighteous under
                punishment unto the day of judgment..."
            (2) Jude, speaking of the wicked angels, said -- Jude 6.
            (3) In 1 Pet. 3:19-20, Peter spoke of those who were 
                disobedient in the days of Noah as their spirits as 
                being in prison.
            (4) Thus, we must conclude that there is not only a place
                of comfort in hades, but also a place of torment     
                where the spirits of the wicked are in prison and are
                kept under punishment to await the judgment.
         f. Verse 26 of Luke 16 reveals that there is a great gulf 
            fixed between the two places.
      5. In summary to this first portion of our study of "What 
         happens after death?", we answer:
         a. When a righteous person dies, his soul or spirit is 
            carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom in hades, a 
            place of comfort, paradise.
         b. When a wicked person dies, his spirit is placed in prison
            in hades, a place of torment, where he is reserved in 
            punishment until the day of judgment.
         c. There is no passing or moving back and forth from the two
            places.

II. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
   A. The spirits which have passed from this life into hades will in
      their respective places await  the second coming of Christ.
      1. The second coming marks the end of all things on this earth.
         2 Pet. 3:10
   B. At the second coming, Christ will bring the spirits of the     
      righteous dead with him.  1 Thess. 4:13-14
      1. Please notice that Paul said, "...Them also which sleep in  
         Jesus will God bring with him."
      2. This could only refer to the souls of the righteous dead.
         a. They will be brought out of the place of comfort in hades
            and will return with the Lord.
         b. Their bodies which they had previously occupied while 
            here on earth will be raised.
   C. Paul continues -- 1 Thess. 4:15-16.
      1. Thus, Paul reveals a definite order of events.
         a. The righteous who are living when the Lord comes will not
            go before those who have already died, for "the dead in 
            Christ shall rise first" (vs. 16; 1 Cor. 15:22-23).
      2. Paul proceeds to show what will happen after the dead in 
         Christ have been raised.  1 Thess. 4:17
         a. The old humorous adage, "You'll not get out of this world
            alive" is not necessarily true.
      3. There are several other passages which reveal that the 
         bodies of the righteous will be changed at the second coming
         of Christ.  Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:52-53; 1 John 3:2
   D. At the second coming, the bodies of the wicked will be raised.
      1. Acts 24:15 plainly reveals that there will be a resurrection
         of BOTH the just and the unjust.
      2. At that time the wicked will receive the resurrection of 
         damnation.  John 5:28-29
   E. 2 Thess 1:7-9 shows what will happen to the wicked who are 
      alive on this earth when the Lord comes.

Concl.
   A. What happens after death?
      1. When a righteous person dies, he goes into a place of 
         comfort and awaits the second coming of Christ at which time
         he will come back with the Lord and his body will be raised 
         incorruptible.
         a. The righteous who are living when the Lord comes will 
            then also be changed.
      2. When a wicked person dies, he goes into a place of torment 
         and awaits the second coming of Christ at which time he will
         have the resurrection of damnation.
         a. The wicked who are living when the Lord comes will also 
            at that time receive everlasting punishment.
   B. In our next lesson, we will continue our study on "What happens
      after death?"