1. Attitudes and actions that garner God’s blessings

2. What is this series about? An examination of 21 attitudes and behaviors identified in the New Testament as “blessed” A look at Christian conduct and characteristics that will enrich our lives with lasting joy A look at the condition of those who lack these qualities

3. Revelation 14:13 Outline A blessed death What happens when we die The blessings of dying in the Lord The cursed life: dying apart from the Lord

4. A blessed death As we approach the end of our lives, we do three things: Seek a way to extend life, as King Hezekiah did (2 Kings 20:1-6) Think about one’s legacy and posterity (2 Pet. 1:13-15) Think about the afterlife – what happens next when we die? The end of a blessed life is punctuated by a blessed death Punctuated with a comma, because there is more to come! The end of trials in this life, and the beginning of the next life “Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people” (Gen. 25:8) How blessed it must be to face death in such a way! “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord” (Rev. 14:13)

5. What happens when we die? (Luke 16:19-31) The rich man and Lazarus were real people who died… Do not confuse Hades with Hell (Rev. 20:14) Hades = Sheol, the tomb of souls (Ps. 89:48; Prov. 9:18; Is. 14:9) Hell = Abaddon (destruction), lake of fire (Mt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10) KJV errs rendering hades/sheol as hell (Prov. 15:11; Mt. 16:18; Lk. 16:23; Acts 2:27) Hades/Sheol is divided into two parts: Paradise, a place of comfort (Gen. 37:35; Lk. 23:43; Acts 2:27) A pit of darkness, shame, & torment (Is. 14:3-20) The occupants of Hades: Are aware and conscious (vs 23-24) (not soul sleep – 7D Adventists) Experience agony or comfort (vs 25) (not annihilation - JWitnesses) Can see out, cannot escape (vs 26) (no ghosts haunt the living) Have memories (vs 28) (but no repentance, no baptism for - LDS)

7. The blessings of dying in the Lord Blessings in this life As death nears, the faithful know what is next (2 Tim. 4:6-8) Death is escape from this world (Phil. 1:21-23) – be grateful! Suicide is self-murder…a sin…not a way to die in the Lord! The living can rejoice over a saint who dies in the Lord Blessings in paradise of Hades Comfort with the saved, gathered to your people (2 Sam. 12:23) Confirmation of faith – all that you believed proves true The dead in Christ know of the coming resurrection (1 Cor. 15:52) Blessings received on resurrection day (1 Thess. 4:13-18) The dead in Christ will accompany Him (1 Thess. 4:14) The dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thess. 4:16) All the saved will be united with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:17)

8. The cursed life: those who die outside the Lord They die in their sins (John 8:24) They die without hope (1 Thess. 4:13) The living can only grieve for their souls (1 Thess. 4:13) They will wait final judgment in torment (Luke 16:23) Cries of “Lord, Lord” will not save them (Mt. 7:21-23) They will regret their mocking, but too late (2 Pet. 3:3-4) There will be no atheists among them (Phil. 2:10-11) Will suffer the penalty of God’s wrath (2 Thess. 1:8-9) “Be saved from this perverse generation!” (Acts 2:40)

9. Summary Death is the end of physical life, but not the end of existence. Hades is the realm of souls, where the dead await final judgment, either in the comfort of paradise or the torments of the pit. The one who lives a blessed life in Christ shall know a blessed death in Christ. Saints need not fear death! The one who lives a cursed life, apart from Christ, shall find agony in death. Which life and death will you pursue?

10. Believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:1; Acts 16:30-34) That He died for your sins and was resurrected (1 Cor. 15:3-4) Repent of your past sins (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9) Commit yourself to holy conduct (Acts 26:30; Titus 2:11-12) Confess your faith (Matthew 10:32) Declare your belief that Jesus is God’s Son (Acts 8:37) Receive Baptism (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12) Baptism puts you into Christ (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27) Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16) Baptism saves you (1 Peter 3:21) Be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10) Trust His grace and obey His commands (Hebrews 5:9) Or face the retribution due to those who do not obey 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 2:8; John 3:36

11. Pray without ceasing…Practice what Jesus preached…Prepare for our next assembly