by Steve A. Hamilton

Introduction: Not everything is told concerning life after death. At least, not everything we want to know. When Lazarus was raised from the dead after four days in the grave (John 11:1-46), there was no record of any of his experiences after death. There is a reason for this (2 Cor. 12:2-4). Man is not permitted to relate their experiences in the after life!

I might also suggest, when you hear of people who claim to have experienced death and they tell what they experienced, don’t believe them. It is not lawful for them to speak of such things.

The only way we can learn of the after life is through the things Christ has revealed for us in scripture.

I. After death, what then?

    A. Upon death, a separation occurs (Eccl. 12:7; Gen 35:18; Jas. 2:26). Our physical bodies return to dust (Gen. 2:7), and our soul lives on (Heb. 12:9).

    B. Upon death, our souls go somewhere.

        1. We are not dead all over like Rover.

        2. We are not reincarnated (Heb. 9:27). Lazarus wasn’t reincarnated.

        3. We don’t go to purgatory (invented by Council of Florence, 1439).

            a. Each person must account for their deeds (2 Cor. 5:10).

            b. Heaven can‘t be earned by anyone‘s work (Eph. 2:8-9).

        4. We do not proceed straight to heaven. The Lord tells us there will be a judgment day before our fate is determined (Acts 17:31). It is quite offensive to hear at a funeral how the deceased are in heaven. Not only has the judgment day not yet come, put to make that assertion is to take Christ’s place as judge.

II. There is a place of waiting known as Hades.

    A. The story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).

        1. Though man is not allowed to explain the after life Christ can and has revealed this much to us.

        2. This is not a parable because Christ identifies actual people (Lazarus and Abraham) in the story.

    B. Hades in verse 23 means the “all-receiving” place. We might say, the realm of the dead. It is distinct from Gehenna which is translated hell.

    C. Notice in verse 22 that the soul of Lazarus was delivered to Hades by angels. This should give us comfort to know when we die, we will not be left alone.

    D. There are two sides to this realm separated by a great gulf or chasm.

        1. One side we find comfort which is called Paradise in other scriptures (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4). Please notice this is where Jesus went upon his death on the cross for those three days (Acts 2:27,31).

        2. The other side is called torment (vs. 23) and is described as a place with pain in a flame (vs. 24). This is the same place (from the same Greek word for torment) that fallen angels and all the unjust are being reserved for judgment (2 Pet. 2:4, 9).

    E. Notice the deceased can talk across the chasm (vs. 24-31), they can see across the chasm (vs. 23), but they can not go across the chasm (vs. 26). I am often asked if we will see our departed loved ones when we die. You can see the departed with these restrictions if you are not on the same side.

    F. Further notice the conversation between the Rich Man and Abraham.

        1. Abraham tells the Rich Man in essence, he is getting what he deserved (vs. 25).

        2. The Rich Man knowing this to be true turns his attention to those of his family who yet live (vs. 27-28). He does not want any one in his family to make the same mistake of neglecting one’s own salvation. We should never feel like our departed loved ones want us to live life like they did if they weren’t obedient to Christ. The departed know the truth and they long for you to know it before you die.

        3. Though the reality of the situation in which we live prevents the dead from coming to us to tell us how to straighten out our lives. Abraham says, the truth is, we have that knowledge before us and those who know the truth are with us while we yet live. Are we paying attention? We don’t have to make the same mistakes as our departed loved ones nor do they want us to make the same mistake. Know the scriptures and do as they tell us!

III. Those in Hades will be delivered to the judgment day to learn of their fate (Rev. 20:11-15).

IV. Those still on earth will be delivered to the judgment (1 Thes. 4:13-18; Matt. 24:36-44).

V. Just because we may find ourselves in Paradise is no guarantee we will go to heaven. In the explanation of the parable of the tares, Jesus make clear the church will be judged separate from those of the world (Matt. 13:36-50; 7:21-23).

VI. The heavens and the earth will be destroyed in that final day (2 Pet. 3:10-12).

Conclusion: While we yet live physically and before we die, we have a choice in life. Do we want to live in sin or do we want to live in Christ? One or the other must be put to death (Col. 3:2-10)! Dependent upon how we answered that question in life, determines how we will live beyond our death.