Jeshurun's Mind: Spiritual Food

Do people really go straight to heaven or hell after death? 

Are they sent to purgatory or even some other place? Is there anything like God resting the souls of the dead in eternal peace? These are some of the questions we will seek to answer in this brief study of the truth about death and what happens thereafter. But let us first look at the status of the dead:

“... For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, KJV)

Solomon clarifies that the dead simply know nothing. If indeed they were already in heaven or hell, surely they would notice where they are! That notwithstanding, many people who profess to be men of God including those who preside over burial ceremonies console the bereaved by urging them to be strong hearted since their beloved is already in heaven with Jesus. In obituaries, some statements are directly addressed to the departed, probably with the hope that they will get to see and read them. At the same time, tales of near death and after death experiences continue to be chronicled in books which sell no less than millions of copies. One such book is 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper whereby he captures the “events” that followed his car crash in 1989. But what did the Lord Jesus tell Nicodemus when the latter visited Him at night?

“....And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” (John 3:13, KJV).

On the day of Pentecost, the same words were echoed by Simon Peter when he addressed his fellow Jews and those who lived in Jerusalem:

“...For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool.” (Acts 2:34-35, KJV).

Many Christians view Jesus' promise to the criminal during crucifixion as a justification that people do go to heaven straight after death. But let's analyze the Saviour's words objectively:

“...And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise,” (Luke 23:43, KJV).

“...Jesus answered him, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43, NIV).

The above statement would have a totally different meaning if we shifted the comma between thee and Today (KJV); and between truth and today (NIV). It is important to note that commas were introduced into the Greek manuscripts centuries after authors of the New Testament books had died. Thus, commas have no syntactical value in New Testament Greek. This means that if they are later introduced by an editor, they would serve only to make the text easier to read and not to clarify the meaning. In any edition of the Greek New Testament, they are intended only as a help to the reader, not as a means of safeguarding the correct understanding of a passage.

Therefore, if we placed the comma between Today and shalt (KJV); and between today and you (NIV), the statement would read:

“...And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee Today, shalt thou be with me in paradise,” (Luke 23:43, KJV).

“...Jesus answered him, I tell you the truth today, you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43, NIV).

It is the promise alone of being in heaven with Jesus that was made on the day of Crucifixion. The real act of going to heaven was not to happen the same day. This is supported by Jesus' own words to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection:

“...Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not ascended to my Father: but rather go to my brethren , and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (John 20:17, KJV).

Death has truthfully and numerously been referred to as sleep in the Bible. This is more so because of the indisputable and inevitable fact that both the just and unjust will resurrect albeit at different times. While writing to Corinthians, Apostle Paul described what shall happen to both the living righteous and the dead righteous upon the second coming of Christ:

“...Behold I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, 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 this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, KJV).

In his epistle to Thessalonians, Apostle Paul also told them of the events that would take place at the second coming of Jesus Christ.

“...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. 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 clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, KJV).

Even though Martha was sad she had lost her brother Lazarus, she knew that he would resurrect on the last day. Never did the thought of Lazarus being in heaven cross her mind because she knew the truth:  

“...Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11: 23-24, KJV).

But what will happen to the wicked dead?

“...But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."(Revelation 20:5-6, KJV).

The wicked dead will not rise until Christ has taken His Church to heaven and ruled for a thousand years. The living wicked will be killed during the second coming of Christ.

“...And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” (2 Thessalonians 2:8, KJV).

After they resurrect, the wicked will be paid according to their deeds:

“... Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29, KJV).

“...And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2, KJV).

It is more than evident that no one goes either to heaven or hell immediately after death. Both the just and the unjust sleep in their graves until the second coming of Christ after which they will be judged and rewarded accordingly. 
 

The coming of Jesus Christ is sooner that you and I think and we better be always ready since we know not the time nor the hour.

“...And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Revelation 22:12, KJV).