In our journey to life we really need to consider death. Ask those around you, and most assume they are going to heaven, if it exists. Let’s be clear about the importance of this topic. Whenever you talk about living forever somewhere, it would help to know for sure where you are going. After all, if you’re wrong about heaven, you’re going to be wrong for a long, long time.
Here are some popular misconceptions about what happens when you die:
Game over. You cease to exist. This is perhaps the most popular misconception in our Western society, but somehow it doesn’t satisfy. Somehow we know deep down that there must be more. We want there to be more, but don’t know where to get reliable information, so it has become a taboo to talk about such subjects. This view is explored more in our articles on Atheism, Individualism, Scientism, Naturalism, Materialism, and reality. Explore “What is real?”
Do we die and that’s it? That is what a lot of people hope for. If so, then you can live life the way you want to – be evil or wicked or unkind, proud, arrogant, selfish, etc., and not ever pay a price for it. That is probably what Hitler and Stalin hoped for. But then there would never be true justice.
Begin life again. You just begin your next life, perhaps as a bug or a bear, or some other creature. Reincarnation is a central belief in many Eastern worldviews such as Hinduism, Buddhism, as well as Paganism and others. But with no consciousness of your previous life, or evidence for this connection, it is a view of life without much reliable evidence. It just seems right to have consequences for how you live.
Leave your body and float up to the clouds. You look down on those you care about, visit them, talk to them in their dreams. This idea comes primarily from movies and perhaps from personal accounts of near death experiences. This has been studied in detail, some common themes found, but these are not much to base your life on.
These views of life after death are not options we can choose from like flavors of ice-cream at the store. We don’t choose reality, we discover it. If you still believe in one of these views, ask yourself “why?” How do you know it is true?
What does the Bible say about death?
- We are enslaved by our fear of death. (Heb. 2:15) Have you ever thought about this? Any action film is full of people being killed or escaping death. A gun gives one person power over another because it can cause death. Death both fascinates and terrifies us, and that sells movies.
- Death is a consequence of sin (disobeying God). “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
- Death has a physical side and a spiritual side. Jesus said, “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.” (Luke 12:4-5)
- Death is an enemy that will be defeated. “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Cor. 15:26) Some in Corinth were saying that there was no life after death. The Apostle Paul responded that everything hinges on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 15:1-58) In this fascinating chapter he points out that Jesus appeared not only to the twelve apostles, but also to himself personally, and to 500 disciples in one event, most of whom were still alive at the time of his writing. This wrecks the idea that the death and resurrection of Jesus was a rumor, or a story that a few people made up. If so, Paul would never have written such things, it would be too easy to disprove as a legend.
- Jesus conquered death. Although the final defeat of death is future, it has already been defeated by Jesus.
There is much more that could be said about death and sin in the Bible, but let’s move on to the subject of life after death. Jesus spoke a lot about both heaven and hell, and he spoke with urgency.
What do we know about hell?
- Hell is a place of torment. (Mark 9:42-49)
- Satan does not rule in hell, he will be punished there forever. (Rev. 20:1-10)
- Hell was not designed for humans. “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt. 25:41)
- Hell is called the second death, the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:14) “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8)
- Hell is the only alternative to heaven. (Matt. 25:31-46) This is a key understanding for those of us who wonder, “How could a loving God send people to eternal torment in hell?” There is clearly no other option. We are given a free will to choose. We are created as eternal beings in God’s image, we can not just cease to exist. All life comes from God. Just existing without food, water, friends would be torment.
- God wants to rescue everyone from hell. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
- Jesus’ main mission was to rescue mankind from hell. ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
What do we know about heaven?
- Heaven is a real place, just like Berlin or Budapest. (John 14:1-3) Twice in just a few verses Jesus talks about a place, a specific location. He compares it to a mansion with many rooms.
- Heaven is the center of God’s rule. Jesus spoke about the kingdom of heaven. He taught us to pray “Our Father in heaven” and request that “Your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:7-13).
- Christians have citizenship in heaven already. (Phil. 3:20)
- Heaven and earth will be remade. God will live with mankind. He will end pain, tears, death. (Rev. 21:1-8)
- Heaven will be a place of joy, celebration, responsibility (Matt. 25:14-30)
- In heaven we experience permanence. Our current physical body is like a temporary tent. “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling. (2 Cor. 5:1-2)
- In heaven we are with God always. “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:17)
In Germany 45% believe in God, 28% in Heaven and only 12% in Hell. How can you believe in God, but not heaven and hell? Clearly there are many who make up their own beliefs, not based on the Bible. Of course we don’t vote to determine reality, so don’t let the beliefs of those around you cloud your view. You can know God today and know there is a heaven and know that you are going there. Contact us to learn more.
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