DEATH – What happens when I die?
REFLECT
Have you experienced the profound loss of someone close to you dying? What emotions did you experience?
We are fascinated with death, while at the same time we are afraid of it. This is because:
• Death involves a significant personal loss for us when someone we love dies.
• We have no personal experience of what lies beyond death.
• Some of the things that are said to happen after we die can seem quite unfair and even frightening.
William Lane Craig “I remember vividly the first time my father told me that someday I would die. Somehow as a child the thought had just never occurred to me. When he told me, I was filled with fear and unbearable sadness. And though he tried repeatedly to reassure me that this was a long way off, that did not seem to matter. Whether sooner or later, the undeniable fact was that I would die and be no more, and the thought overwhelmed me.“
The Bible’s Picture About Death
What the Bible teaches about death is very encouraging. It teaches us that:
• Death is like sleep.
• Jesus has power over death as demonstrated by His resurrection from the dead.
• When we put our faith in Jesus, we will be raised back to life when Jesus comes back.
• There will be no more pain or suffering or death in heaven and the new earth.
Why is the Bible’s Picture Important?
What the Bible teaches about death is very important:
• Satan’s original lie to Eve was that she would not really die.
• “The dead know nothing.” Ecclesiastes 9:5,6
Reports about dead people coming back to visit family members are actually evil spirits pretending to be their loved ones.
• Satan wants to spiritually deceive people.
Trusting Jesus
We can trust Jesus even in the face of death. He said:
“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will
“I am the living one. I died, but look— I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” Revelation 1:18 live, even after dying.” John 11:25
In which areas of health would you like to improve personally?
FURTHER STUDY
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
BOOKS TO READ
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A Trip into the Supernatural — Roger Morneau
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The Mystery of Death — John Bradshaw
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Beyond Death’s Door — Gerald Wheeler
NEXT STEP
Jesus has promised that if you trust Him, even if you die, He has the power to raise you back to life.
Would you like to accept His promise of eternal life today?