Exposing the Hidden Truth

Death and hell are probably two of the most misunderstood subjects in the Bible today – full with mystery and corrupted with medieval myths, they often evoke feelings of fear and hopelessness. Yet the bible’s real message about life after death and the existence of hell are surprisingly full of good news and knowing the real truth about them will help you avoid the confusing distortions leading many astray.

Don’t be fooled, because what you believe about hell and the state of the dead greatly impacts what you think about God’s real character – it’s true, God’s reputation is affected by the answers to these fascinating questions. You owe it to yourself to know what the bible really says about death and hell.

1. How did people get here in the first place? Genesis 2:7
To rightly understand what happens when a person dies, we need to start with how God gave life to man in the beginning. The bible says plainly that God made man from dust, from the elements of the earth at the beginning of earth history. Notice it does not say God gave man a soul but that man became a soul after God combined the body and the breath of life.

2. What happens when a person dies? Ecclesiastes 12:7
At death the reverse of creation occurs; the body returns to dust and the spirit goes back to God, the one who gave it. The spirit of every person who dies – whether righteous or wicked – returns to God at death.

There is nothing mysterious about this spirit – nowhere in the bible does it say this spirit has life, wisdom, or feeling when a person dies. The spirit of God (the breath that God gave him) is in my nostril (Job 27:3), w2hich means it is the breath of life and nothing more.

3. Then what is a soul and doesn’t it live on after we die? Ezekiel 18:20, Revelation 16:3
A soul is a living being – a combination of two things: body and breath. A soul cannot exist unless body and breath are combined. God’s word teaches that we are souls, as well as the animals.

And according to God’s word, souls do die – they are not immortal! Man is mortal (Job 4:17). Only God is immortal (1 Timothy 1:17). Immortality is a gift God gives to the saved (1 Corinthians 15:53-54). The concept that everyone has an undying, immortal soul goes against the bible. When we die, the soul ceases to exist – there is no such thing as a disembodied soul .. ie ghost, poltergeists, etc. This also means that the growing belief in reincarnation is in direct opposition to the bible.

4. You mean people are not conscious after they die? Ecclesiastes 9:5-6,10, Job 14:12, 21, Psalm 146:4
Yes, God’s word says that the dead know absolutely nothing! Nor can the dead communicate with the living! The dead person’s thoughts have perished (Psalm 146:4). Though millions think it is possible, the dead cannot communicate with the living. The bible not only shows that it is impossible, it says we should not even attempt it.

5. How did the devil first lie about death? Genesis 3:4
Satan, speaking through the serpent, told Eve that sin would not bring death. “You shall not surely die. He said even though God told Adam and Eve that they would surely die. The devil is the first one who said man is immortal despite God’s clear teaching.

Throughout history Satan has worked powerful miracles through people who claim to receive their power from spirits of the dead. (Example – Magicians of Egypt – Exodus 7:11; Woman of Endor – 1 Samuel 28:3-25, Sorcerers – Daniel 2:2). And in the end-times, Satan will again use sorcery to deceive the world (Revelation 18:23). Sorcery is a supernatural agency that claims to receive its power and wisdom from the spirits of the dead. So posing as godly loved ones who have died, bible prophets or even the apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13). Satan and his angles will deceive billions. Those who believe the dead are alive, in any form, will most assuredly be deceived.

6. Don’t all good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell as soon as they die? John 5:28-29, No good people do not go immediately to heaven at death, and there is not one single soul burning in hellfire today. The bible is very specific about this issue. All go to their graves to wait for the resurrection and judgment day (Job 21:30,32). The bible says that God reserves, or holds back, the wicked until the judgment day to be punished. They will enter hellfire at the end of the world, and not one day sooner (John 12:48). Until then, they sleep in their graves (John 11:11-14)

Think about it. Would God punish a person before their judgment – their day in court? Or would He burn a petty thief who died 5,000 years ago 5,000 years longer than a cruel murderer who died today?

7. What about the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43? John 20:17
Jesus said these words to Mary on Sunday morning, the day of His resurrection. Many say that Jesus promised the thief on the cross that they would be together in paradise on the evening of their deaths – but John 20:17 shows Jesus had yet to ascend to heaven.

In the original inspired language, there is no punctuation, so it appears that when all the other bible evidence about the state of the dead is considered, the only plausible explanation is that the comma in Luke 23:43 simply seems to have been put in the wrong place. Instead, it should be read, “Verily I say unto you today, shall you be with me in paradise”. Or I’m telling you today – when it seem that I can save no one, I give you the assurance that you will be with me in paradise.

8. After the resurrection, will the wicked enter hell in bodily form? Matthew 5:30, Matthew 10:28
Real, live people – and not just spirits – will enter hell in bodily form and are destroyed, both spirit and body. The fire from God out of heaven will fall upon and consume real people and blot them out of existence.

9. What happens to those in hellfire? Revelation 21:8
The bible is clear the wicked are obliterated in hellfire. If they lived forever, they would be immortal. But this is impossible because the bible says God only hath immortality (1 Timothy 6:16). Immortality is a gift given only to righteous humans at the judgment.