After Here, What's Hereafter Pt 2 Series

AFTER HERE, WHAT’S HEREAFTER? (PART 2)

1. A REVIEW OF LAST WEEK – SUMMARY

a. We talked about our curiosity concerning the hereafter.

b. The different emotions we experience when we face death.

c. The fact that, in the end, there is nothing we can do to prevent death.

d. We looked at some of Hollywood’s apparent concept of death.

i. Everyone ok

ii. Happy reunion for all

1. We know from scripture this in not true.

e. Critical to know the truth.

f. What God has to say about trying to contact the dead.

i. Through mediums

1. Don’t

ii. THE ONLY GOOD SPIRIT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT!

2. Reincarnation

i. Despite what Shirley claims, there is no biblical evidence.

3. Near Death Experiences

4. If Paul did die, then was revived.

a. Could be classified as near death experience.

5. If Stephen saw our Lord before he died and if Paul died and was caught up into paradise, it is just possible that other believers might also have such a vision.

a. Reports of seeing Christ, relatives long dead may have some validity.

i. Shouldn’t expect, but it may be possible.

6. Problem – Cannot accept without careful examination.

a. May or may not reflect true conditions of life beyond death.

b. Do they conform to the biblical picture of the hereafter?

c. Also, prior beliefs are essential en evaluating what was experienced.

i. More on this important aspect of our walk with Christ later.

7. MOST IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER:

a. Satan will try to duplicate the same positive experiences for unbelievers that God gave to Stephen and Paul.

b. The Great Deceiver want people to think one’s relationship with Christ has no bearing on the beauty and bliss that awaits everyone.

i. If angels await those who have been made righteous by Christ, it is understandable that demonic spirits await those who enter eternity without God’s forgiveness and acceptance.

8. ABOUT THE LIGHT

a. God is light.

i. Don’t you think satan duplicates light of his own?

b. CANNOT EMPHAZIE ENOUGH THAT SATAN WISHES TO DISQUISE HIMSELF AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT!

i. 2Corinthains11:14 –“And no wonder, for satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

9. IT’S NOT THE TRANSITION, BUT THE DESTINATION THAT REALLY COUNTS.

10. WE DO MUCH BETTER TO TRUST SOMEONE WHO WAS ACTUALLY DEAD, NOT SOMEONE WHO WAS JUST NEAR DEATH.

11. CHRIST is the only one who is qualified to tell us what we can expect on the other side.

12. We learned “Sheol and Hades” are one in the same

i. Neither is “Hell”

13. At this point in our study, in “Hades/Sheol” there are two regions.

14. WHAT IS HINTED AT IN THE OT IS MADE ABUNDANTLY CLEARER IN THE NT

15. The OT was written in Hebrew. The Hebrew word sheol is used for the realm of the dead in the OT.

16. The NT written in Greek. Sheol translated to “Hades.”.

a. In fact, when the whole OT was translated into Greek before the time of Christ, sheol was always translated “hades.” Similarly, when the NT quotes OT texts, sheol is always translated “hades”; they are one and the same.

17. NT “hades” is never used of the grave, but always refers to the world of departed spirits.

18. NT gives details about what hades is like for both believers and non-believers

19. Christ accepted the rabbi’s understanding that sheol, or hades, had two compartments.

a. To emphasize to greedy Pharisees how the fortunes of rich people might someday be reversed in the world to come,

i. Told a story that takes us behind the veil which separates the dead from the living.

20. READ LUKE 16:23-26

a. Point – Tormented rich man not in hades because he was rich.

i. Bible teaches riches, or lack of them does not dictate our eternal destiny.

b. Christ told story to jolt greedy Pharisees into realization that their riches cannot save them; poor people might be better off in the life to come.

i. We will expand on this more over the next few weeks.

c. Christ describing the radically different destinies of a believer and unbeliever.

i. Let’s focus on the fate of the rich man, trying to understand his predicament while his family was still enjoying the creature comforts of earth. Though we can be quite sure his family didn’t know it, he was in acute distress.

ii.

d. Remember the rich man Lutzer spoke of.. the one who for whom a “quick” funeral was prepared?

i. Both he and the rich man in the parable, and millions like them have discovered too late that their worldly influence could not save them; nor could their wealth and reputation extricate them from this bind. Instead of victors, they were now victims; rather than bragging about their freedom, they now had to confess their enslavement.