WHERE ARE THE DEAD PART I

The dead, we have so many beliefs of where the dead are. It seems we almost have a choice, heaven, hell, limbo, reincarnation, so many to choose from. Do we really have a spirit that moves on, watches over loved ones, do we have people burning in hell right now? Where does one go after they pass away? Who was the first to be resurrected? Where did death originate from? Are we really born to die? There is no mystery in death, the Lord gives us the answer if we search the scripture for the truth, and if we are able to accept and believe it.

1.) When did we become a living soul?

Genesis 2:7
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.

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

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

We see not only did the Lord form us out of the dust of the ground, we didn't become a living person until he breathed into the nostrils, then we became a living soul. At the same time, when when he calls you home, your breath is taken and you die and return to dust.

2.) When was death brought in, and by whom?

Genesis 2:16-17
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

1 Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Death was brought in by Adam, in the Garden of Eden. Through Adam there was no hope, only the death penalty. All mankind would not have any hope because we have all sinned, but only through Jesus Christ we have eternal hope, a resurrection to Eternal Life. So we can see that our Lord gave us life by breathing into his nostrils, and because of sin we had a death penalty upon us, and yet we were given a way through Jesus Christ to have life once again.

3) Where do we go at the time of death?

Job 17:11-13
My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness. If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

Job 14:10-13
But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Job 21:13
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

According to scriptures the grave becomes our home at the time of death! We go back to dust where we came from! So man lieth down and riseth not! We are in the grave, life has gone out of us, the breath of God has returned to the Lord. But is this final for us? If we would stop here it seems this is our final stage, the grave would be our home, with no hope.

4.) What does Jesus call death?

Acts 7:59-60
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

John 11:11-14
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.

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

We see that Christ called this "death" sleep, yet at the same time he explained to the disciples that Lazarus is dead. Why? Christ knows this is a temporary "sleep", that all will be awaken for judgment. If sleep is temporary, do they know anything, see, or hear anything during this state?Are you able to watch your loved ones, make sure they come to know harm?