The Soul at Death

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The Soul at Death

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Many ask what happens to those who die in Christ, or who have died not knowing the Lord nor repented. The
Book of Luke gives us an idea with the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man. We will read what Paul wrote.
We will also cover what is written in the Apocrypha, which gives us an even clearer picture of what many call
heaven and hell. Let's go to 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4
1 Thes 4:13
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not,
even as others which have no hope.
The subject is set in verse thirteen. The subject is where the dead are. Paul is telling you not to be ignorant
as to where they are.
1 Thes 4:14
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring
with him.
If you believe Jesus rose from the dead, then you should you know that those have died in Christ are with
Him also.
1 Thes 4:15
15 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 them which are asleep.
The word prevent here means "precede". We cannot precede them, why? Because they’re already there with
the Lord.
1 Thes 4:16
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:
This is very similar to verse fifteen. Why will the dead in Christ rise first? Again, because they’re already
resurrected. As mentoned before our flesh bodies will be replaced by the spiritual body. There won’t be
anything crawling out of the graves.
What is this trump? Paul states that it is the last trump (1 Cor. 15:52). That is the seventh trump of
Revelation. Jesus will not return until after the sixth when Satan appears as the false christ and has his reign.
1 Thes 4:17
17 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.
Now this is not some secret or pre-tribulation rapture Paul is talking about. Aside from what this verse may
appear to say, let me ask you a question. Who is the prince of the air? In Ephesians 2:2 it is the devil or
Satan. Think about it. Who are you going out to meet then? That’s right, the one that started the pre-
tribulation lie, Satan. Mainly from a woman in 1830.
What Paul is saying here is, in a cloud of believers we will meet Jesus. This word air (ah-ayr’) in the Greek
means the spiritulal or air body. Jesus is returning here to this earth as it written in Zechariah 14. His feet
touch Mt. Olivet and it splits to make way for His own to meet Him.
Now let's turn to Luke to learn what the separation is between the believer and unbeliever's soul when they
die.
LUKE 16:19
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every
day:
There is no sin in being rich if God has blessed you, it is ill-gotten gains that is a sin.
LUKE 16:20-21
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and
licked his sores.
If one comes to you spiritually sick do you share the bread - God’s Word which feeds and strengthens. Skip
down to verse 24.
LUKE 16:24
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of
his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
It will be documented later that this flame is a burning shame.
LUKE 16:25-26
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise
Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from
hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
There is a gulf that separates those who have overcome and those souls that have not accepted our Savior.
It cannot be crossed at this time as the prophet Ezekiel could not cross it (Ezek. 47:5)
Another witness to the gulf and the countenance of those with God and those apart from Him. It is the
Apocrypha. The Second Book of Esdras, which is Greek for Ezra, speaks of where the dead are. We go to
chapter 7 and Ezra speaking.
2 ESDRAS 7:75
75 Then I answered and said, "If I have found favor in your sight Sovereign, show this also to your servant;
whether after death as soon as each one of us gives up his soul, we shall be beautifully kept at rest until
those time come when you begin to renew the creation, or shall be tortured at once.”
Ezra is inquiring about our souls when we give up the spirit. Paul speaks of our spiritual bodies all receive at
death (1 Cor. 15) and that our souls return to our Father (2 Cor. 5:6-8).
2 ESDRAS 7:76-77
76 And He answered me and said, "I will show you that also; but you must not associate with those who have
shown scorn, or count yourself among those who are tortured.
77 For you have a treasure of works laid up with the Most High, but it will not be shown to you until the last
times.
Your works are the only thing you can take with you (Rev. 19).
2 Esdras 7:78
78 For about death, the teaching is: When the final sentence goes forth from the Most High that a man is to
die, when the soul departs from the body to return to Hin who gave it, first of all it prays to the glory of the
Most High;
What happens to the soul is documented again in Ecclesiastes 12:7.
In the following few verses God says that the righteous shall worship the Most High and those who have
despised His law and hated those who reverenced God shall wander in torment always grieving and sad in
seven ways.
2 ESDRAS 7:80
80 The first way is that they have scorned the Law of the Most High. The second way is that they can no
longer make a good repentance, so that they may live.
In other words they are spiritually dead and have mortal souls.
2 ESDRAS 7:83
83 The third way is that they will see the reward destined for those who have believed the agreements of the
Most High.
The agreement is the new covenant which Jesus Christ made for us.
2 ESDRAS 7:84-87
84 The fourth way is that they will consider the torment destined for them in the last days.
85 The fifth way is that they will see that the dwelling-places of the others are guarded by angels in profound
silence.
86 The sixth way is that they will see that some of them will pass over to be tormented henceforth.
87 The seventh way, which is worse than all the ways that have been mentioned, is that they will waste
away in shame and be consumed in disgrace, and whither with fear, at seeing the glory of the Most High
before whom they they sinned while they lived, and before whom they are destined to be judged in the last
times.
When those who have been sinful and unrepentant arrive in heaven they see the glory of God and are happy
until they are led to the other side of the gulf, their countenance falls and are ashamed they did not cut it.
God also tells Ezra about that have lived well and served Our Father diligently.
2ESDRAS 7:90-99
90 Therefore this is the teaching about them:
91 First of all, they see with great rapture the glory of Him who takes them up, for they will rest in seven
orders.
92 The first order is that they have striven with much toil to conquer the wicked thought that was formed
with them, so that it should not lead them from life to death.
93 The second order is that they see the labyrinth in which the souls of the ungodly wander, and the
punishment that waits them.
94 The third order is that they see the testimony that He who formed them has borne to them, because they
were alive and faithfully observed the Law which was given them.
95 The fourth order is that they understand the rest which they now enjoy, gathered in their chambers, in
great quietness, watched over by angels, and the glory that awaits them in the last days.
96 The fifth order is that they exult that they have now escaped what is corruptible and will possess the
future as their inheritance, and besides perceive the narrowness and toilsomeness from which they have
been freed and the spaciousness they are destined to receive and enjoy in immortality.
97 The sixth order is that it is shown to them how their face is destined to shine like the sun, and how they
are made like the light of the stars, and be incorruptible thence forth.
98 The seventh order, which is greater than all those that have been mentioned, is that they will exult boldly,
and that they will trust confidently, and rejoice fearlessly, for they hasten to see the face of Him whom they
served in life, and from Whom they are to receive their reward when they are glorified.
99 These are the orders of the souls of the upright, as henceforth proclaimed, and the above ways of torture
are those who would not give heed will henceforth suffer.”
Part of the seventh order is that we will rejoice fearlessly. We will worship God without anyone telling us
when to pray or if we can at all.
What side of the gulf will you be on. Those who have not made it and will burn with shame until this earth
age passes or those who serve The Father with all their heart. Do the best you can, though you may fall
short, but upon repentance have a fresh start. There is also the Millennium when those who have not heard
the true Word of God will be taught.
In closing let's turn to the Book of Ecclesiastes. Chapter 9 is frequently used to teach "soul sleep". In other
words when you die you sit out here in a hole in the ground.
Eccl 9:3
3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the
heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to
the dead.
Simply put we are all going to die eventually. Unless your still here when Jesus Christ returns. Ecclesiastes is
written to the man under the sun, his flesh not soul necessarily, and how to be happy in it.
Eccl 9:4
4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
When man sees the corpse of the dead he is glad he is alive. Why is a living dog better? The lion being king
of the beasts is nothing if dead. Nothing but a carcass. The dog still has life in it.
Eccl 9:5
5 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.
Does it say anything about your soul here? No, it doesn't. When the flesh dies what happens to the soul? We
just covered it. Your soul and spirit return to He who gave it. Now, if there is no spirit or soul in that dead
carcass, what can it know? Nothing! There isn't a thing there for it to know. The flesh is done with reaping
any more rewards of it's labor.
When the flesh dies your done with it. It is not coming back. Whether your buried or cremated it doesn't
matter. Your soul returns to God, saint or sinner. As we have studied you will be on one side or the other of
the gulf in heaven. For those that believe on Jesus we are much better off than those who don't. The
scripture "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living" has a greater meaning than most would think.

The rapture is what many Christians believe to be that Jesus Christ is going to come for them before the
great tribulation. Is the rapture from the word of God? Lets turn to I Thessalonians 4 the place where many
get the idea for the rapture.
I Thessalonians 4:13-18
The subject is where are the dead.
V13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow
not, even as others which have no hope.
asleep in Greek means to decease, to be dead. This is talking about people that are already dead not people
that are living on earth now. The second our flesh body dies our soul goes back to God.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
V7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
We can take comfort knowing that our loved ones who have passed on are with God our Father and not lying
in a hole in the ground. The flesh body stays in the ground but our soul goes back to God. The people that
have no hope are those that do not believe in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God.
V14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring
with him.
This is talking about people that have passed on that believed in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
V15 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 them which are asleep.
Prevent means to precede before hand, to have arrived at already. We are still talking about where the dead
are the subject has not changed. This verse tells us that people that have died are already with Jesus. The
people alive when Jesus returns will not be with Jesus before the people that have already passed away
because they are already there.
V16 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:
This tells us when Jesus will return and not before. This is not the rapture. The rapture is a lie and can not be
found in God's word. This is talking about the second coming of Jesus at the end of the tribulation. Jesus will
come at the seventh trump and not before the seventh trump for anyone. Those that have died already rise
first because they are already with Jesus. The second we die we go back to God our Father.
V17 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.
This happens after the tribulation when Jesus returns as Lord of lords and King of kings. This is not talking
about a rapture, their is no rapture. Clouds is symbolic for a mass of people.
Hebrews 12:1
V1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
When Jesus returns at the seventh trump the people alive on earth at that time will be changed into their
spiritual bodies in the twinkling of an eye.
I Corinthians 15:52-53
V52 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.
V53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
The rapture is a lie from Satan trying to trick God's children into believing in a easy way out. Always
remember as long as we are still in our flesh bodies the true Christ has not returned yet. Satan will come
back to this earth with supernatural powers saying he is Christ here to rapture you away but it is a lie.
V18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
We can comfort our loved ones and friends when they lose some one they love because we can tell them
where their loved ones are when they pass away. The moment some one dies they go back to God our
Father.
You may be surprised to know that God's word does say something about people teaching you to fly away to
try to save your soul. What does God's word say about this, lets go to Ezekiel 13 to find out.
Ezekiel 13:16-23
V16 To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for
her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD
Their will be no true peace until Jesus returns to this earth after the antichrist has been here and not before,
for anyone. Some people believe in the false peace of the rapture and it is just that a false peace. The
prophets talked about here are false prophets not teaching the true word of God. People telling you that you
don't have to read the book of Revelation because you'll be gone. They are lying to you, their is no rapture
and God is against people that tell you their is.
V17 Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their
own heart; and prophesy thou against them,
This is telling people who know the truth to tell the truth to God's other children. The ones that prophesy out
of their own heart are ones that go on teaching the lie that their is a rapture when God Himself said that it's
not true.
V18 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make
kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save
the souls alive that come unto you?
The pillows and kerchiefs these false prophets use to cover the outstretched arms of Jesus by teaching the
lie of the rapture. The people that teach others the rapture are leading them right to the arms of the
antichrist. Nowhere in the word of God does it say that Jesus will come for anybody before the great
tribulation. God asked if these false prophets will save these people that they lie to by teaching them the
rapture. When in fact these false prophets are leading these people straight to death, the antichrist. Only
Jesus Christ can save somebody.
V19 And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls
that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear
your lies?
Some people are lying to God's children just for money. They are slaying souls by teaching people the
rapture which will lead them right into the arms of the antichrist when he comes to earth claiming to be
Jesus Christ.
V20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls
to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt
to make them fly.
God Himself is against the teaching of a quick escape to save your soul. God is saying that their is no
rapture. The true Jesus Christ is not coming back for anyone until after the antichrist has already been on
earth, God said so. God is against people that teach lies to His children about the rapture. It covers the
outstretched arms of the true Jesus by leading His children right into the arms of the antichrist.
V21 Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your
hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
God will save His people from the lie of the rapture by giving the truth in His word. Read the word on your
own and ask God to give you understanding in His word so you can see the truth about the rapture.
V22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and
strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
The righteous is Jesus Christ, we all fall short to His righteousness. God is telling us by people teaching the lie
of the rapture Jesus becomes sad. Sad because they are being deceived and lead strait to the antichrist. By
teaching the rapture people strengthen the hand of Satan who is the antichrist.
V23 Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your
hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
God will deliver His people by giving them the truth in His word.
In II Thessalonians 2:1-12 it talks about the return of Jesus Christ. It tells us their are certain things that must
happen before Jesus returns to this earth.
II Thessalonians 2:1-12
V1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together
unto him,
Beseech means to ask or request a person to do something. This is telling us to pay attention because this
tells us what must happen before Jesus returns.
V2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from
us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
This is saying don't believe people when they say Jesus Christ can come at any time. Their are things that
must happen before Jesus returns.
V3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away
first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Don't let any one deceive you, read God's word with understanding. This verse tells us that Jesus will not
return until the son of perdition be revealed. Perdition means to perish and die. Satan is the only one who
has been sentenced to death by God so far.
Ezekiel 28:11-19
V11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
V12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD;
Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
V13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz,
and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and
gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast
created.
V14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of
God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
V15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
V16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast
sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering
cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
V17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy
brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
V18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick;
therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes
upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
V19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never
shalt thou be any more.
John 17:12
V12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and
none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
II Thessalonians verse 3 tells us that Jesus will not come for anyone until Satan is revealed. Their is no
rapture. Jesus will not come for anybody until that happens. Satan is the one that deceives the world and
that can be read in Revelation 12:9 and 20:10
Revelation 12:9
V9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the
whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 20:10
V10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the
false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
V4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God
sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Satan is the antichrist and will return to this earth with supernatural powers able to have lighting fall from
heaven. Many will be deceived and think that he is Jesus here to rapture them away. Satan will sit in the
temple of God which is in Jerusalem.
V6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
V7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the
way.
Satan will be cast out of heaven down to earth to play the roll of Jesus Christ. Satan will say that he is here to
rapture you away but as always Satan is lying. Satan will be cast out of heaven by Michael in the last days.
Revelation 12:7-9
V7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought
and his angels,
V8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
V9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the
whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
This will happen before the true Jesus returns to this earth. The true Jesus will not come for any one until
Satan is already here on earth.
V8 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:
This is when Satan is on this earth saying he is Jesus here to rapture you away. Then the true Jesus returns to
earth as King of kings and Lord of lords and Satan is bound for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:1-3
V1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his
hand.
V2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a
thousand years,
V3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive
the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little
season.
V9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
Jesus returns after Satan has already been on earth claming to be Jesus saying he is here to rapture you
away. Satan is the antichrist and he will come before the true Jesus Christ.
V10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love
of the truth, that they might be saved.
Many will be deceived by Satan because he is the king of deception. He will have supernatural powers and
many will believe that he is Jesus because they did not receive the truth in God's word. We need to read the
word of God on our own and ask Him to give us understanding in His word. Don't believe what anyone tells
you read God's word for your self it's your life.
V11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
V12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
People who don't read God's word with understanding and do not believe in the truth of His word will go on
believing in lies. We are to study God's word.
II Timothy 2:15
V15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth.
Read God's word and ask Him to give you understanding in His word. The rapture is a total lie from Satan
himself. Nowhere in God's word does it say that Jesus will come back for any one before Satan comes to
earth as the antichrist. As long as we are still in our flesh bodies the true Jesus Christ has not returned yet.

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