Facing the Future What happens after we die?

Facing the future: What happens after we die? Christ taught an astonishing thing about physical death: not merely that it is an experience robbed of its terror, but that as an experience it does not exist at all. To "sleep in Christ," "depart and be with Christ," "fall asleep," — these are the expressions the New Testament uses. It is high time the "icy river," "the gloomy portal," "the bitter pains," and all the rest of the melancholy images were brought face to face with the fact: Jesus Christ has abolished death.

Facing the future: What happens after we die? Ah Christ, that it were possible For one short hour to see The souls we loved, that they might tell us What and where they be. Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Facing the future: What happens after we die? Rev 20:13-15: The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

OT “ Sheol ” =place of the dead But a rising hope (psalm 16:10) NT “ Hades ” (Matt. 16:18) (Death) + “Gehenna” (Matt 10:28) (Hell)

Facing the future: What happens after we die? Rev 20:13-15: The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Facing the future: What happens after we die? Positive implications: (1 Cor 15:53-54) For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

Positive implications: (1 Th 4:16-17) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Positive implications: (Rev 6:9-11) …I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"

Positive implications: Those “dying in the Lord” are not dead, just absent from us. They are only “asleep” in body – they are conscious with the Lord. We are “away from the Lord” but long to be with him.