The questions most often asked after reading the following verses are about what happens to the physical body and spirit at the moment of death.
"But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven." (1 Corinthians 15:35-49 ESV)
QUESTIONS
There are six common questions:
1. 'When I die will I be asleep in the grave, or will just my body lay in the grave and my soul is in Heaven?' (see 1 Thessalonians 4:14; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23).
2. 'When I die will my soul reunite with my body when Jesus returns because I must appear before the judgment seat of Christ and receive what is due for what I have done?' (see 2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV)
3. 'Since Jesus says I will get a new body, why do I need to be reunited with the old body?'
4. 'How would resurrection work if my body was cremated or has decomposed into nothing?'
5. 'Because Jesus was raised in the same body He had before He died and His resurrection, then it must be the pattern for all Christians, so won’t my resurrection follow suit, and I will be raised with the same body?' (see Luke 24:1-6; John 20:25, 27; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:49).
6. 'What about those who say they had a near-death experience (NDE)?'
ANSWERS
"But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised." (1 Corinthians 15:13-14 ESV)
"An hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment" (John 5:28-29).
The word "resurrection" (Gk: 'anastasis') denotes a raising up or rising. The word "dead" (Gk: 'nekros') is sometimes used for the death of the body but its most frequent sense is the actual spiritual condition of a person who is not Born-Again (see Matthew 8:22, 10:8, 11;5; Luke 7:22, 60, 15:24; John 5:25; Romans 6:11,13; Ephesians 2:1,5; 5:14; Phil 3:11; Col 2:13; Revelation 3:1)[see Vines and Thayers].
"I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:50-55 ESV)
The Bible does not explicitly say that the resurrected body is a reanimated or recreated old body of flesh that God will somehow put together the cremated ashes or powdered dust of a decomposed earthly body and then return it to the Born-Again Christian at the Resurrection.
The Bible does say that the Born-Again Christian will retain their personal identities at the moment of death and will be given a "spiritual body" patterned after the old one that is "raised in power" and which God will supernaturally transform into a new "imperishable" "and immortal body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself" (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 ESV).
Nothing is impossible with the Triune God. As with the countless miraculous aspects of God, how a new eternal body is transformed and received cannot be explained because it is simply beyond human comprehension and understanding (see John 12:23-28; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-48).
The human body was created to live on the Earth alone (see Genesis 2:7). The supernatural Resurrection body will be suited to the trans-dimensional spiritual environment of Heaven (see Luke 24:33-43; John 20:19-29).
SOUL SLEEP
Question number one refers to the belief of Soul Sleep which says that when a Christian dies, their soul begins to sleep and remains unconscious for years, and even centuries until they are awakened when Jesus comes again and raises all the bodies out of the grave; reawakening the souls that are sleeping within those bodies. This is believed because the Bible appears to say that it is the "dead in Christ" who "will rise first" and their "mortal body must put on immortality”; therefore, they must still be asleep in the grave (1 Thessalonians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 15:52 ESV).
"For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:16-22 ESV)
The word "asleep" (Gk: 'koimaó"] in context refers to the sleep of death. One dominant interpretation is that the dead in Christ arising first could be referring to those who have just died because the Bible emphatically states, "it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27-28 ESV).
In addition, the Bible also says that "we would rather be away (Gk: 'ekdemeo' = to depart, emigrate) from the body (Gk: "soma" and at home (Gk: 'endemeo' = to be in your country with family) with (Gk: "pros" = at the side of) the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8 ESV - see also Philippians 1:23).
Jesus assured the thief on the Cross that "today" he would "be with" Him "in paradise" (Luke 23:43 ESV). Paradise was part of Hades (aka Hell, or Sheol, in the OT - see Psalm 16:10; 63:9), which was the realm of the dead who were conscious and aware. Hades and Paradise had a gulf between them (Luke 16:19-31).
Paradise was also known as "Abrahams Bosom," where the departed saints of old were placed until the resurrection of Jesus when He "descended into the lower regions," unlocked the gates with the "keys of hell and death, "just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale,” and liberated the captive saints there who died waiting for the Messiah and, at the same time, subdued their demonic spirit captors (Matthew 12:40; Ephesians 1:21; 2:1).
Jesus said, "The Father raises up the dead, and gives life to them…." and "The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear will live" and "those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment" (John 5:21, 25, 28-29 ESV). Jesus also exclaimed in the present tense that He would raise people up "on the last day" (see John 6:39).
Jesus "led a host of captives" as He "ascended on high" (Matthew 16:18; Revelation 1:18; Ephesians 4:8-9 ESV). The temporary paradise of Abraham's Bosom is now empty, and one day soon, the eternal paradise of Heaven will be filled entirely with those who received Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Another verse that has caused wild speculation is when Jesus said to Mary Magdalene on Sunday morning;
"Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" (John 20:17 ESV).
The word "cling" (Gk: 'haptomai' means to attach oneself to; to touch. In the Greek context, the verse could be translated as 'stop clinging to me here on Earth as if you will never let go so that you can give My important message to the Disciples right away and I can complete other work before I finally ascend to the Father.' Ultimately, the meaning here is that Jesus was telling Mary there was no reason for her to fear she would lose Him (See also Matthew 28:9).
In light of the facts presented, it would appear that the Born-Again Christian who died in the same moments of Jesus' return (An average of 120 people die per minute in the world) on the "day of redemption" will be physically transformed (Ephesians 4:30 ESV). Those who are still physically alive will instantly follow.
"For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Romans 8:22-25 ESV)
Jesus repeatedly told His disciples that He would rise on the third day (Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; 27:63; Luke 9:22; 18:33; 24:7; 24:46; Mark 8:31; see also Hosea 6:2). Upon death, there can be no 'soul sleep' but the immediate "resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment" (John 5:27-29 ESV; also 1 Corinthians 15:42-49).
NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE (NDE)
Nowhere in the Bible does it say it is appointed for humans to die more than once and, after that, face judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Humans don't die, go to heaven or hell, and come back. A supposed NDE is just NEAR death. These experiences cannot be validated, verified, or substantiated, especially from the Bible. The enemy can disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). Lazarus was 100% dead in the grave for four days and not near death (John 11:17). Jesus said Jairus's daughter was "not dead but sleeping" (Luke 8:52).
When a person has no heartbeat, breathing, or brain activity, that is described as clinical death, but it does not necessarily mean biological death, which is when a person's brain is damaged. Cells in their heart, brain, and other organs die from a lack of oxygen within 4-6 minutes later and will progressively become worse from about 6-11 minutes. After 11 minutes without a supply of oxygen to the brain, a person will have little chance of survival because of the damage caused, which is IRREVERSIBLE. At that point, 'personhood' is removed from the body.
The Apostle Paul had a dramatic event often used to justify belief in NDEs. He said, "I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago, was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter." (2 Cor 1-4 ESV)
Paul said he was talking only about visions and revelations and not a NDE or death itself. The Greek word translated "caught up" is 'harpazó' which means to seize, catch up, snatch away, and is never used regarding death or dying in the Bible. Paul also said he didn't know whether he was "in the body or out of the body," which means he had no idea about how he received his vision/revelation. He also said that the things he heard could never be told or uttered, which means we have no idea where he was told or what it was. Visions are biblical; NDE's are not.
The disciple Stephen had a supernatural revelation just before he died that revealed a celestial scene where the Triune God was at work and on display. As he was dying, "full of the Holy Spirit," he "gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:55-60).
A near-death, and not actual death, experience is possible and could be used by God when it aligns with Scripture. Christians are to value the truth found in the Bible over any possible experience in a so-called NDE (John 8:32). Subjective experience must never overrule the clear teaching of the Bible, which reveals His ways, character, and nature and is the only trustworthy way to hear the voice of God because it is "breathed out" by Him "and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine did a comprehensive study on NDEs and noted that people have a common pattern of events when they are experiencing intense threats, are seriously ill, or close to death. They found most people experienced things that were affirming such as:
- Sensations of leaving the body and being drawn into darkness or a tunnel, sometimes seeing their own physical body
- An intense light
- Quickly functioning, sharp minds
- Sensations of peace, well-being, or complete love
- Remembering important past events
- Previews of future events
- Encounters with deceased family, friends, or religious figures
However, not all NDEs are positive. The International Association for Near-Death Studies published an article written by Nancy Evans Bush and Bruce Greyson, MD, of the National Institutes of Health entitled, "Distressing Near-Death Experiences: The Basics," which said, "The great majority of near-death experiences (NDEs) reported publicly over the past four decades have been described as pleasant, even glorious. Almost unnoticed in the euphoria about them has been the sobering fact that not all NDEs are so affirming. Some are deeply disturbing. Few people are forthcoming about such an event; they hide; they disappear when asked for information; if inpatient, they are likely to withdraw; they are under great stress."
Subjective experience must never overrule the clear teaching of the Bible.
THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
Throughout the first century, there are many stories of people who were raised from the dead by Jesus and the Apostles (Luke 7:11-16, 8:41-56; Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:22-43; John 11:1-54; Acts 9:37-40; 20:9-12). At the moment Jesus died:
"The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many." (Matthew 27:52-53 ESV).
The word "saints" (Gk: 'hágios' means holy, different from the world, and set apart for God. The verse does not explicitly say if it was their physical or spiritual bodies that were raised. Nor does it tell us if they had been in the grave a few minutes, days, or a millennium. What the verses tell us is that the resurrection of Jesus brings resurrection to others.
God's Word, the Bible, is the absolute truth because He wrote it without error through human hands. The Born-Again Christian should rely on what the Scriptures teach to understand their experience rather than experiences shaping or adding to their perceptions of the Scriptures.
Human logic, opinion, emotions, feelings, dreams, visions, experiences, clinical 'evidence,' church dogma, or the teachings of 'spiritual' leaders can never be the basis for sound doctrine. The Born-again Christian must learn to "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV). The Christian can't be established upon sensory spirituality or experiential eisegesis that is based upon the belief in the abstract and subjective 'I hear - I see - I feel - therefore, it must be real' feelings, emotions, and experiences. The five senses: taste - feel - hear- see - smell - are all rooted in the fallen flesh of humanity. It must be God's written Word, which is the concrete cognitive foundation on which all decisions and beliefs are based. The Bible must be studied from God's perspective, not ours.
The relating of experiences or 'divine revelation' outside of the Word of God is what Paul calls "fables." The minute you open the door and teach from the basis of experience, you lose authority and introduce confusion. You should consider the experience but also note the limits of the knowledge which God has revealed. Experience does not add to the truth of Scripture. Born-Again Christians are not to be "tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14).
Jesus is "the God of the Living" and not "the God of the dead who will centuries later come back to life" (Mark 12:27 ESV). Heaven is a paradise for all Born-Again Christians (2 Corinthians 12:1-4). Everyone, including those who just died in the Great Tribulation, will accompany Jesus when He returns from Heaven (See Hebrews 12:23; 1 Thessalonians 4;13-14; Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9-17).
Jesus is the "resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die" (John 11:25-26 ESV). In context, the word "believes" (Gk: pisteuó) means to have been persuaded to entrust your life to Jesus with unwavering confidence as long as you live.
The Born-Again Christian doesn't need to wait for eternal life to happen somewhere in the distant future. Eternal life begins at the moment of conversion when a person repents of their sin and receives Jesus as Lord and Savior; then the Kingdom of Heaven is within them (Luke 17:21; John 5:24,17:2, 1 John 5:11,12,20).
