Death -Do We Really Know What To Expect?

At sometime in our lives, everyone ponders what actually takes place with us when we die. Some believe that death is finale and there is nothing more. Others believe that when we die we ‘sleep’ until the resurrection. Still others believe that some go into the ‘light’ while others remain lost in the form of ‘ghosts’, wandering the earth confused needing our guidance back to the ‘light’. Then there are those that believe we go before or Lord and begin eternity. Who is right in this?









Let us look at these in light of Luke 16:19-31. God’s Word is full of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. And if we look closely, the Lord will reveal understandings that we may not see at first, but later become very clear. “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not understand.” Jeremiah 33:3. The knowledge and understanding of His Word comes from one place and one place only…the Holy Spirit. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us in God. Which things we also speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches. 1 Corinthians 2:12-13.









Let us examine Luke 16:19-31. This is a story of a rich man, and a poor man, Lazarus. How one lived in riches and material gain while the other begged for food, and what became of them both in life and death. Here both the rich man and Lazarus die. The conversation begins after death in the presence of the rich man, Lazarus, and Abraham. The rich man goes to Hades while Lazarus goes to be at the side of Abraham. The rich man is suffering in Hades and is tormented. He looks from far away and sees Abraham and Lazarus together. The rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to him so he may dip his finger in water and cool his tongue, because he was in agony in the fire. There is much being said here. There is complete self-consciousness, self-awareness, and of who they are and who they were in life, and of the life they had led. That there is a separation of place. Hades and heaven. One of torment and one of rest and peace. Yes, hell and heaven do exists!









Abraham then responds to the rich man and reminds him of the life he had led. One of richness and material wealth, and how Lazarus received nothing. The rich man then begs Abraham to send Lazarus to his family to warn them so they will escape going to the same place. Abraham replies to him that they have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them (the Word of God). In addition, Abraham tells the rich man they could not, even if they wanted to because there is a great gulf fixed between them that cannot be crossed. Again, there is much being said here. The knowledge of self-identity, self-awareness. The remembrance of his past life and deeds. And that it is happening in the present tense. Not in the future. Also, that where they are, is where they will be and they may not cross over. It is also stated that all we need to know and hear, is the Word of God. If we do not believe that, we will believe nothing else.









This answers the earlier questions. There is life after death and not ‘nothing’. We do not ‘sleep’ until the resurrection. This is further understood in God’s Word. “We are confident, I say, and rather willing to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8. And as was said to the good thief on the cross “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43. Jesus is impartial and favors no one. His Word applies equally to all. Next, there is no one lost between heaven and hell! Jesus said, “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.” Luke 16:22. We are at one place or the other. And to infer that one who has departed needs the guidance of man, is to say that God does not have complete control. “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.’ Colossians 1:17. It is set in eternity. Finally, the view of being before God at the instant of death. Not only are we before God in His kingdom, we have complete self-consciousness, self-identity, and awareness of all things, past and present.









This just touches on the depth of God’s Word. There is so much there, if we only seek it, and go before God and ask Him to reveal and teach us His truths. He will do so just as He has said in Jeremiah 33:3. I pray that this stirs your hearts desires to seek the fullness of His truths, and not the truths of man. And also to bring peace and understanding as to what happens to us a death. So yes, we know what will happen at death because the Word of God tells us. And it is final! And that finality depends on the choices and beliefs we choose to follow in this life. So we must all choose wisely. These, the Lord's Words, confirms my hopes and brings me great peace. I know that when I shut my eyes, I will immediately open them the see my Lord and Savior. I would like to end with these Word’s of God: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.” Hebrews 11:6. God bless you all.














Your comments are always welcomed and encouraged.




Psalm 34:3 "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." (KJV)