Death just might be one of the most misunderstood subjects today. To many it is enshrouded in mystery and evokes dreaded feelings of fear, uncertainty, and even hopelessness. Others believe that their deceased loved ones are not dead at all, but instead live with them or in other realms! Still others are confused about the relationship between the body, spirit, and soul. But does it really matter what you believe? Yes… absolutely! Because what you believe about the dead will have a profound impact on what happens to you in the end-times.
1. What happens when a person dies?
Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Hebrew Definition: Thou return which is “Shoob” means: slide back, still, X surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from)
The bible states that man will return “back again” to the dust, meaning that he had already been there before; Remember when God created man, what element from the earth was used? “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground…” Gen 2:7
“All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” Ecclesiastes 3:20
“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7.
Answer: The body turns to dust again, and the spirit goes back to God, who gave it. The spirit of every person who dies–whether righteous or wicked–returns to God at death.