Death: What happens to us when we die? What Bible says

Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ... 

 

* Jesus describes Lazarus as being "asleep".  John 11:11

 

* When Jesus returns, the "trump" sounds, Jesus shouts, the dead in Christ rise first.

 

I Thessalonians 4:13-18

 

* We are taken to the new heaven and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  Rev. 21:1-5

 

I Thessalonians 5:21   Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

 

(Prove all thing by the Bible:  What does the Bible say about this?

 

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John 11:1-14    Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.  (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

 

Therefore his sisters sent unto HIM (to Jesus), saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

 

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

 

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

 

When HE (Jesus) had heard therefore that he (Lazarus) was sick, HE abode two days still in the same place where HE was.

 

Then after that saith HE (Jesus) to HIS disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

 

HIS disciples say unto HIM,  Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

 

Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

 

These things said HE (Jesus): 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 (Lazarus') death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

 

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

 

(Death is "falling asleep".)

 

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The dead in Christ are awakened by Jesus when HE returns with a shout!

 

Thessalonians 4:13-17 The apostle Paul says:    But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

 

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.

 

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep (dead).

 

16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

 

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

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I Thessalonians 5:1-4   But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.   For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

 

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

 

(As the wickedness of this world increases, we draw nearer to the return of Jesus.)

 

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Before Jesus returns, the apostasy comes into the churches:

 

There are "many" antichrists ... even in the apostle John's day.

 

John says:

 

I John 2:18    Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

 

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Some of the elect of God will be on the earth during the great tribulation:  Matthew 24:21-22  Jesus says:  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

 

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

 

(Those persons who follow scripture as they live on this earth will be removed by Jesus before the great tribulation.)

 

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What does the Bible tell me about the subject of homosexuals?  (and lesbians)

 

Romans 1:26-27    For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 

 

And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

 

Destruction of Sodom:  Sodomites (Homosexuals)

 

Genesis 19:1   And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

 

(Angels look like men.  Angels do not have wings.  Hebrews 13:2  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.)

 

2-5   And he (Lot, the nephew of Abraham) said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

 

And he (Lot) pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

 

4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:  (Homosexuals came from "every quarter" of the city of Sodom, to have sex with the 2 angels who looked like ordinary men.)

 

And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.  (Have sex with them.)

 

And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

 

And they (the men of Sodom) said, Stand back.  And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

 

But the men (the angels) put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.

 

And they (the angels) smote the men (of Sodom) that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

 

15-17   And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

 

And while he (Lot) lingered, the men (the angels) laid hold upon his (Lot's) hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

 

And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.  24-26   Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;  And HE overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

 

But his wife (Lot's wife) looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

 

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Sodomites: (homosexuals)

 

I Kings 14:24   And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.

 

(A homosexual/lesbian can be saved if he/she sees the sin in the sight of God and repents and turns from that sin doing no more those sinful things.)

 

Jesus says to the woman who was taken in adultery:  "Go ... and sin no more."

 

(That woman could not continue in adultery after she was forgiven by Jesus.)

 

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Hebrews 10:22-31   Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

 

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for HE is faithful that promised;)

 

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

 

He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

 

For we know HIM (God) that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto ME, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge HIS people.

 

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

 

(God will judge us by the doctrines that are in the Bible.  If you stay in a church where portions of scripture have been changed or removed, you are going to be judged by God in a negative way.  For we will be judged "by the Word" which is the Bible.) 

 

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II Peter 3:10-14   But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

 

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

 

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 

 

Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

 

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.

 

Keeping ourselves daily as follows:

 

- In peace:  We keep ourselves in peace continually by praying to God over those things that concern us on this earth.

 

- Without spot:  We remain without spot as we follow scripture, conforming ourselves to the scriptures.

 

- Blameless: As we forgive those who offend us and ask them to forgive us.

 

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Revelation 21:11-5   The apostle John said:   And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

 

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

 

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,  Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and HE will dwell with them, and they shall be HIS people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.

 

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.

 

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I Corinthians 15:49-52 The apostle Paul says:   As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

 

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 

 

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

 

* For writings on additional subjects, click here:  Jesus Ministries Exhortations Blog