Where Do The Spirits Of Believers Go At Death?

      "LIFE AFTER DEATH"

              

INTRODUCTION

1. Having determined from the Scriptures that man possesses a soul or 
   spirit which continues after death, the question now before us is 
   this:  "Where do the spirits of believers go at death?"

2. In this lesson, I will be examining two different views:
   a. One that I will call the "traditional" view, which is held by many
      Christians
   b. Another that I will propose as the "scriptural" view, which I 
      believe is more in harmony with what is revealed in the New 
      Testament
   -- PLEASE NOTE:  The use of the terms "traditional" and "scriptural"
      is rather arbitrary, used only to distinguish between the two 
      views

[Beginning, then, with...]

I. THE "TRADITIONAL" VIEW EXPLAINED

   A. STATED BRIEFLY, THIS VIEW TEACHES THE FOLLOWING...
      1. When we die...
         a. Our body return to the dust
         b. Our spirits go to HADES, the realm of the "unseen"
      2. This realm of departed spirits (i.e., Hades) is divided into 
         three parts...
         a. PARADISE, the place of rest for the righteous
         b. TARTARUS, the place of torment for the wicked
         c. And a GULF, separating the two
      3. During this interim period between death and the resurrection, 
         the righteous...
         a. Are separated from God and Christ
         b. For God and Christ are "in heaven", and Paradise is in Hades,
            not heaven
      4. Such is the state of the "disembodied spirits" until the 
         Resurrection
         a. At which time the spirits of both the wicked and the 
            righteous will be united with their resurrected bodies
         b. At this time will occur the Judgment, after which...
            1) The RIGHTEOUS will spend eternity with God
            2) The WICKED will spend eternity in "HELL" (Grk., gehenna)

   B. THE SCRIPTURAL JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS VIEW...
      1. Is based heavily upon what we read in Lk 16:16-31
         a. I.e., the story of the rich man and Lazarus
         b. Notice especially verses 22-26
      2. Lk 23:43 is also offered as support
         a. Where we read of the account of Jesus and the thief on the 
            cross
         b. Both of whom would be in PARADISE that very day following 
            their deaths
      3. That this PARADISE was not in HEAVEN where God dwells is based 
         upon Jesus' statement in Jn 20:17
         a. These words of Jesus were made three days after promising 
            the thief they would BOTH be in PARADISE
         b. Yet Jesus had not YET ascended to the Father!
         c. Suggesting, therefore, that PARADISE was not HEAVEN (or IN 
            heaven)!
      4. As further evidence that PARADISE is not in HEAVEN, appeal is 
         made to Ac 2:29-35
         a. Concerning CHRIST...
            1) His soul was not to be left in HADES (the realm of the 
               dead, which included PARADISE)
            2) But after His resurrection Jesus ascended to the right 
               hand of God (i.e., HEAVEN)
         b. Concerning  DAVID...
            1) Surely he went to PARADISE (in HADES) when he died, as 
               did Abraham, Lazarus, and the thief on the cross
            2) But note that Peter said "David did not ascend into the 
               heavens" (Ac 2:34)
               a) Suggesting the one could die, be in HADES (Paradise), 
                  and yet not be in heaven with the Father
               b) Just as Christ implied to Mary in Jn 20:17

[Such is the "traditional" view as I understand it.  Now let's take a 
closer look...]

II. THE "TRADITIONAL" VIEW EXAMINED

   A. THE EVIDENCE FOR THIS VIEW IS CONVINCING, TO A POINT...
      1. This explanation for what happens after death appears to be 
         consistent with all the information we have PRIOR to the 
         ASCENSION OF CHRIST!
      2. But in light of what is revealed in the Scriptures AFTER Jesus'
         ascension into heaven...
         a. This "traditional" view may need some revision
         b. But only concerning what now happens to the spirits of the 
            RIGHTEOUS between death and the resurrection

   B. REASONS TO SUGGEST A REVISION OF THE "TRADITIONAL" VIEW...
      1. After Jesus ascended to heaven...
         a. PARADISE (the resting place of the righteous) is now spoken 
            of as being in heaven!
            1) We saw earlier that when Jesus spoke to Mary He had not 
               yet ascended to the Father (i.e., heaven), though He had 
               been in "Paradise" prior to His resurrection
            2) But note carefully that "Paradise" is used synonymously
               with the "third heaven" (i.e., God's dwelling place) by 
               Paul in 2Co 12:2,4
            3) Whereas Paradise was once distinct from heaven, now it is 
               not!
         b. The expectation of the righteous is to be with Christ upon 
            death - Php 1:23; 2Co 5:6-8; 1Th 5:9-10
         c. The book of Revelation speaks of the righteous dead being in 
            heaven while much is still going on here on earth - Re 6:
            9-11; 7:9-17
         d. The Scriptures speak of Jesus bringing the righteous with
            Him at His Final Coming - 1Th 3:13: 4:13-14
            1) I understand this to refer to the "spirits" of those who 
               were righteous, and who are coming to be united with their
               resurrected bodies - cf. 1Th 4:16
            2) Of course, I suppose Jesus could "pick up" these saints 
               in HADES on His way, but in view of other passages I 
               believe they are already with Him
      2. Such passages as these found AFTER Christ's ascension into 
         heaven I have a hard time reconciling with those made BEFORE 
         Christ's ascension (unless something has changed, of course)

[Therefore, as an alternative to the "traditional" view, I propose a 
more "scriptural" view...]

III. THE "SCRIPTURAL" VIEW EXPLAINED

   A. FIRST, EVERYTHING ABOUT THE "TRADITIONAL" VIEW REMAINS THE SAME 
      FOR THE PERIOD "PRIOR" TO JESUS' ASCENSION...
      1. All who died went to HADES
         a. The wicked went to torment, awaiting judgment
         b. The righteous went to Paradise to await the Judgment
      2. Even Jesus, with the thief on the cross, went to Paradise, which
         was in Hades

   B. BUT NOW, AFTER JESUS' ASCENSION, THE "INTERMEDIATE STATE" OF THE
      RIGHTEOUS IS DIFFERENT...
      1. Paradise is now in HEAVEN, not HADES
      2. The hope of the righteous is to spend the "intermediate state"
         in the presence of the Lord, awaiting the resurrection and the 
         Judgment

   C. IF THE "INTERMEDIATE STATE" OF THE RIGHTEOUS CHANGED, WHY?
      1. That the change did occur appears to be clear
      2. The "why" may be speculation on my part, but here is one 
         suggestion...
         a. God is holy, and sin cannot be tolerated in His presence
            1) The righteous who died before the cross of Christ, were 
               forgiven in view of Christ's coming death
            2) But prior to the death of Christ, the true price for sin 
               had not been paid
            3) So until their spirits were actually "redeemed from sin 
               by the blood of Christ", they were not permitted in God's
               presence, and Paradise remained in Hades
         b. After the cross, and when He ascended, Jesus offered His 
            blood as the "eternal redemption price" to God to appease for
            sin - cf. He 9:11-15; 23-26
            1) With such an offering, the spirits of just men were now 
               "made perfect" (He 12:23), and now in a position to be 
               with God and Christ in heaven, awaiting the resurrection 
               and Day of Judgment - cf. Re 6:9-11
            2) Thus Paradise (the intermediate dwelling place of the 
               righteous) can now be in heaven!
         c. And therefore the Christian, whose spirit is also made 
            perfect by the blood of Christ, can have the hope to be with
            Christ and God in heaven, during the "intermediate state"
            prior to the bodily resurrection at the Last Day!

CONCLUSION

1. Again, the WHY may be purely speculation, but I do believe there is
   sufficient evidence to re-examine a view many have traditionally held
   a. A view that was true prior to the ascension of Christ
   b. But one that now fails to adequately explain many statements made
      after Christ's ascension

2. Our next study will look more closely at the condition of the
   righteous during the "intermediate state