Beyond the Sunset

What is the state of spirits after death?

What is the state of spirits after death?

“Behold a man raised up by Christ! The rest remaineth unreveal’d;He told it not; or something seal’d the lips of that Evangelist.”

~ Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)

Agenda

• What does God says about our spirits after death?

• What can we know?

What does God says about our spirits after death?

• Not much!– Lazarus (John 11)– Paul (2 Cor 12:2-4)

DISCUSSION: Where did Paul go?

What does God says about our spirits after death?

• DISCUSSION: Why hasn’t God told us more about what happens after death?

• DISCUSSION: Should we believe new accounts about Heaven?

What can we know?

• The dead do not see us– 2 Chronicles 34:28

• Ties to earthly events are severed– Ecclesiastes 9:5-6

• The dead do not retain their earthly status– Isaiah 14:9-20– Luke 16:19-31

What can we know?

• Souls are conscious– Isaiah 14:9-20– Luke 16:19-31– Revelation 6:9-11

What can we know?

• Refuting scriptures for soul consciousness– Ecclesiastes 9:5– Ecclesiastes 9:10– Psalms 146:4

DISCUSSION: In what place do the dead “know nothing”?

DISCUSSION: What does it mean "thoughts” perish at death?

Conclusion

• God hasn’t given us in-depth understandingof what happens after death

• We can look to scripture and deduce some truths:– The dead do not see the living– The dead sever earthly ties– The dead do not retain earthly status– The departed souls are conscious