What Happens After I Die?

[@MGT-sv9qc]

John 14:3, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be." Jesus did not tell his disciples they would be with him instantly upon death. They would be where he is when he comes. 2 Timothy 4:6-8, "[6]For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; [8] in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." Paul speaks of the time of his departure, but doesn't mention that he's about to enter the presence of Christ. Instead, he places emphasis on the appearing, which is the blessed hope (Titus 2:13), because at the appearing, the resurrection takes place, of which Paul states... Philippians 3:11, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."

[@MGT-sv9qc]

@@davidbradberry7637 I have to say, just for clarification, that I have been heavily questioning the New Testament recently, and do not consider myself a Christian or necessarily even a believer in it. Just wanted you to be aware of that for honesty's sake.

[@tammlen2284]

...as a previous agnostic w/no religious upbringing... from my very first reading of the entire bible (first page to last), I clearly understood from verses that repeated over and over, both OT and NT, the following: 1) Our spirit goes back to God at death. 2) At resurrection we receive a new body (an immortal body for those in Christ). 3) Then comes judgment; believers headed to varying rewards and a future eternal life with God; unbelievers to a second death/destruction (of soul and body) by God's fire. As for what happens "in-between" death and resurrection, God seemed to have left that something of a mystery. In fact, one of the biggest surprises for me was not seeing all this heaven/hell stuff (aside from the single Lazarus/Rich Man account that seemed more pagan (?), like movies about Hercules, which was confusing). But it probably also helped that I first read the "Amplified" translation, which simply uses the original wording (sheol, hades, gehenna), instead of the loaded word "hell", like the KJV. But since then, as a new Christian, I've studied a LOT on this subject. I wanted to understand this belief in "hell". So I know those few verses very well, which have been "pieced" together, to justify this doctrine. Then, on the other hand, I've also studied alternative interpretions of these verses. And, frankly, to me, they are much more plausible and in line with my initial impressions I had in my first read of the Bible, especially as to God's character. Long story short, I finally concluded that this "paradise/heaven/hell/torment" concept is just not based on enough verses for me to consider it totally fact. Maybe I'll be surprised after death. But I don't consider it a salvational issue, so hoping God will be okay with my "non-stance" on this. However, it is too bad that many church denominations have made this a "doctrine", with so little evidence in my opinion. This idea of a god that would give people over to horrible torment "forever", even relatively "good" people, was one of the concepts that kept me walled off from God for most of my life. If it is not true, as these Churches insist, then Satan has certainly promoted this hell/torment idea to great effect for agnostics and atheists. Currently, I am non-denominational. Will likely stay that way. As to my CONJECTURE about our soul and what happens after death (which I pieced together from scripture too) is... 1) I think our "soul" is our "embodied" spirit, which develops from the moment of conception, as we are a child of Adam. I've never found verses to indicate we were ever created to exist without a physical body, like angels. In fact, God says He is going to create another physical earth for us, and He will live with us. So the idea of having some kind of temporary spiritual body after death, while we are in some kind of temporary paradise/heaven/hades place, just doesn't make sense to me. And scripture supports this view (actually, like the one noted in this vid, which links body and soul being "together" at destruction by God.) 2) At death, our "spirit" (that which makes our body alive and us, who we "are") separates from our body and goes back to God. Our physical body decomposes into the earth. However, where God "keeps" our individual spirits, until resurrection, I just don't know. The Lazarus/Rich Man story, has a very plausible alternative explanation. And no other verses really support the idea that the righteous go "here", and the unrighteous go "there". 3) Are we conscious? I don't think so. Some verses seem to indicate there is a short period, when the disembodied spirit can still feel, maybe think, before it finally leaves the body for good (it can "mourn" the body and can be "turned back"). But once with God, are we still aware? My sense is no. If God is "outside of time", it would make no sense that we can be thinking in any kind of spatial way. So our spirit may not even know the body is dead, until resurrection. This would coincide with God's loving and merciful character. Who would want to know they are dead and have left loved ones on earth? Also, maybe another layer of meaning to the "first will be last, the last first" verses (i.e., we will all "be" with Jesus at the same moment of time when resurrected). It might also be why God considers it an abomination to call spirits back to the physical realm; they are not meant to be "aware", until that resurrection time. 4) Believing that the unrighteous would be kept aware, and in terrible torment in some temporary hellish place, until the resurrection/judgment time, is also just not in character with the God I came to know when I first read the Bible. Is He capable of bringing down terrible wrath and judgment? Yes. But He is also JUST. And how is it "just" to imprison and torment someone, BEFORE they are resurrected and fairly tried (with the opening of the books) and then judged? Also, the verses speaking of torment are usually always in context with judgment. So the idea of a temporary hell makes no sense to me. 5) I also haven't found any scripture to support that the "torment" of the resurrection/judgment time will continue FOREVER for the unrighteous. Never found any reference to them receiving an immortal resurrected body. So how would that work, after their mortal body dies a second death by burning up in the lake of fire? Are they to be resurrected again, to an immortal form, in some hellish place, which God would have to create, apart from the new heavens and earth? But there are just no Bible verses talking about anything like this. (In fact, this idea is much more in line with what the Qur'an teaches, which is enough to give you nightmares, if you read it). No. Just can't believe it. I think the worse fate, which God mourns, is that the unrighteous will PERISH, just as He plainly says. Well, that was way too long. But I've struggled with this issue, which is another reason to think why I may not be too far off, or it's okay with God. In the last few years since becoming a Christian, God has been very good to me. Whenever I've had serious questions, or taken a "wrong turn" due to bad teachers of scripture, ....(sooner or later) ....I get either "confirmations" that answer my question, or I am led away from false thinking. But so far, God has been very quiet about this subject. So now, I'm content to just leave this a mystery. Well, better stop there. Just thought I'd share my perspective. Peace--

[@martinrenthlei3303]

you should try the Hebrew root stuff

[@Gregoire0]

Fantastic explanation. Thank you brother.

[@kneo12]

I agree with this almost 100% and the things I disagree with were when you were an agnostic

[@lindawickman1388]

Thx for your long, caring post; grapplIng with the scripture is a good thing, rest in Deut.29:29

[@jefferaimer]

I don't care I'm going to live with JESUS for eternity.

[@knitershift]

Dr. Brown I like to watch your videos for your briliant Bible oriented mind, but this topic troubled me, because Bible teaches another message. It rises many questions like: if the soul goes to God, why then in Bible God forbids to talk with spirits of death peoples, even if they were godly? consider the story about king Saul and a Samuel, and many places in old testament. And why the angel of God said to righteos man Daniel saying: "But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." Dan. 12:13. Also here 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Apostle Paul says: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first... there are no words about their bodies but about persons "which are asleep" verse (13). No sinner will be in hell afther death, no saint will be in heaven after death, because Bible teaches that the day will come: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Daniel 12:2 God bless you Dr.

[@AlexartCorp]

People who says " oh, but Dr Brown, Jesus didn't immediately return to heaven, he appeared for 40 days ...." People don't seem to realize that JESUS IS OMNIPRESENT. He can be in many places at the same time. Think ppl plz

[@MarieMacify]

Dr. Brown, thanks for posting great videos, I follow your series. However, I just want to clarify this, if the spirit goes to heaven immediately after death, what does John 3:13 mean? "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man." This confuses me a lot. Thank you and I am hoping for your response. :)

[@paulholmes2797]

Michael, the trouble with your view on this is that if Christ had not been roused from among the dead then the dead had perished, and therefore, if Christ had not been not roused, he had perished. In other words Christ was dead-dead not alive-dead. As for the soul not being able to be killed, that is true but still gives no support to your position in that the soul only exists while the spirit is in the body. It's not an independent entity with a life of its own. Christ gave his soul when he died. He didn't keep it. As for being in paradise on the day he died, that understanding relies on the placement of a comma (And Jesus said to him, "Verily, to you am I saying today, with Me shall you be in paradise.") Paradise is not heaven. Paradise will exist on the new earth. Your interpretation of what Paul meant in Philippians contradicts Paul's own statement about the dead being perished if Christ had not been roused from among the dead. Is a man really a believer if he thinks Christ did not give up his soul as a ransom for many and that, in keeping his soul, he enjoyed *life* in paradise *while dead?*

[@rustyshadow7]

Atheists say; do not fear, there is no just and righteous God who will judge and punish the unbeliever and the wicked "according to their deeds" as is says in THE BIBLE. (Romans 2:6 Rev. 20:13) The most evil people like Hitler, Stalin and Mao, who slaughtered over A HUNDRED MILLION people will meet the SAME fate as a kid who committed suicide. So don't sweat it, eat, drink and be merry. But Jesus said; I tell you, My friends, do not dread and be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom you should fear: fear Him Who, after killing, has power to hurl into hell (Gehenna); yes, I say to you, fear Him! Luke 12:4-5 (AMPC) It all comes down to this; either Jesus is correct, or the atheists are correct. Jesus says FEAR, atheist say DO NOT fear. If the atheists are correct, then the wicked have nothing to fear, no one will be punished "according to their deeds". But if Jesus is correct, then fear. Who will YOU believe... and obey? And as for the righteous; Jesus did not say to the repentant thief on the cross "hey buddy, I'm gonna take a 3 day nap, and YOU are gonna take a really really long nap, like 2,000 years plus" NO, He said "TODAY you will be WITH me in Paradise" aka "Abraham's bosom" Which is where the righteous dead went BEFORE Christ's resurrection, NOW the righteous go immediately to "be WITH the Lord" in Heaven. (2 Cor 5:8) So we have to ask ourselves; is the repentant thief "WITH" Christ, yes or no? Is Paul "WITH" Christ, yes or no? If so, then we can be assured that we too will go to be WITH Christ when we die.

[@kenwalton6711]

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead fear the One who can *destroy* both body and soul in hell." "destroy"; Strong's 622- apollumi: to destroy, destroy _utterly_Doesn't sound like anything continuing on. Sounds like what apollumi means. Utter destruction.

[@nobledpm]

Granted, when we died, we be with the Lord, so the question becomes where is The Lord ?

[@pjfrog10]

The Rich man and Lazerath tells us the answer. And you are again correct.

[@emf49]

Thanks Dr. Brown.

[@julianmanjarres1998]

Is it true that no one seeks God? God chooses who to give faith to and there's nothing anyone can do about it..? I understand that the intent of this is to make sure no one thinks they're being saved through their own works but... it sort feeds the Calvinist point of view at the same time

[@danchilewski7849]

I think you get this one wrong why would Lazzerus be dead for four days be with The Lord then come back to life again as a human where is the logic why would he want to come back to this then die again and go back to The Lord again? Also in the 12th chapter of Daniel tell me how you can say Daniel is with The Lord I believe you missing something read for your self and there is more

[@alexwarstler9000]

Could you discuss Sheol?

[@The-Christian]

Where are Enoch and elijah ? And why are there martyrs under The Who’s souls are under the throne

[@xandyassis1]

Be cautious, Dr. Brown, in the manner that you said, Jesus doesn't need comeback for us, because we already there in the heaven. Jesus himself doesn't go to the heaven right after your death on the cross. As Acts 1:3-9 says that he shows up for many disciples in 40 days before he goes up to the heaven. A better translation would be in Luke 23:43: "And Jesus said to him, Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise". A day , in the resurrection of the dead and no before this. In the Lazarus' passage in Luke 16 it's a allegory/parable isn't a real fact. In Luke yet, Luke 20:37-38 Jesus says: "But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For He is NOT the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.” Thus Jesus confirms Psalm 6:5: "For in death there is NO remembrance of You;In the grave who will give You thanks?" and in many passages in the OT speaking of the "after death" like a unconscious state. I will repeat: BE CAUTIOUS, Dr. Brown and DON'T be a heretic!!!

[@rustyshadow7]

enotstehw And by "civilized human" you mean like atheists like Stalin and Mao?

[@xandyassis1]

If Jesus to contradict some part of the Torah, Neviim or Kethuvim (Tanakh) or for Christians porpuses, Old Testament, he is not the promised Messiah. But He IS the Messiah of Israel and all nations, because He says in Matthews 5:17-19: "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law (Torah) or the Prophets (Neviim). I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot (gk. iota or ar./hb. yod) or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. So, buddy, the Bible is not a isolated passage, is the whole Sacred Book that guides us. I'm very surprised as the prodigious Dr. and guider (Michael L. Brown) has been that erroneous vision of the important Bible's matter.

[@xandyassis1]

rustyshadow7 "civilized human" I didn't say any about it!

[@xandyassis1]

Jeff david Brother, There is no way in a single verse interprets the whole Bible. The Bible uses many many times figuratively language, and a platonic interpretation of the OT as well as Spiritism interpretation of the NT is a foolish and anachronistic effort. In the Bible hasn't any verse literal since the beginning where the "soul" is immortal and conscious. The Hebrew word "ruah" means a breath of life who only God can be possess. When we die this "ruah" (a wind/breath of life) comes back to the LORD and that's it, once upon a time a living-being, rest in peace the bones and reunity them to the dust. When Jesus comes back to us the bones and ligaments are recover and gathered and a new glorious body we (the save-ones, the righteous, the wheat) have it and we'll in the heaven with Jesus.

[@rustyshadow7]

enotstehw Tell me genius, how many did Moses slaughter and why? And how many did Stalin and Mao slaughter and why?

[@anthonyalger1994]

It depends on who you're asking..

[@meatwad9931]

win Jesus told the thief on the cross today you will be with me in heaven Jesus didn't immediately go to heaven

[@rustyshadow7]

Jesus didn't say to the thief that he would be with Him "in heaven" He said "PARADISE" which was also called "Abraham's bosom" (Luke 16:22) which was where the righteous dead would go BEFORE Jesus' resurrection, and according to scripture (and Jesus Himself) it was located "in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:40) Now AFTER Jesus' resurrection the righteous dead go to be "with the Lord" in Heaven. (2 Cor 5:8)

[@meatwad9931]

rustyshadow7 Abrahams bosom was just a parable

[@rustyshadow7]

eli king​ Says who? Even if it was, Jesus used actual every day occurrences to illustrate spiritual truths e.g. sheep getting lost, laborers in a vineyard, wedding feasts, good Samaritans etc. So if Luke 16 is just another parable, then it too must be about something that was REALLY happening every day i.e. people dying and going either to a place of torment or a place of comfort. Also, Jesus never used names of people in His parables.

[@meatwad9931]

rustyshadow7 hell is annalaton in the lake of fire a loving god will not burn people forever and if he deos he is a billion times worse than Hitler and abortion doctors are the best soul savers on the planet because they may have grown up and because bad sinners and god would burn them forever you everlasting torment people are nuts

[@rustyshadow7]

eli king Oh, so you reject what the Bible clearly says? ...And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name. Rev 14:10-11 Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Rev 20:10

[@aaronparsons7826]

John 20:17 clearly states that Jesus hasn't ascended to the father. So the thief on the cross was certainly not in paradise on that day. JW are right about soul sleep.

[@jeroronald6526]

All Dead are Asleep And their is 3 people that is in Heaven 1 Moses 2 Enoch 3 Elijah

[@soultourment]

you understand the text wrong, how bout ask one of the ones that jesus resurrected; how come they didn't talk about where they were when they died. seems reasonable to ask if the people around them believed when you die your alive and conscience,its probably cause they believed what the old testament said about the matter when you die you are conscience of nothing at all Ecclesiastes 9:5,why did jesus say lazerus was sleeping, man that must have sucked for lazerus to be in heaven then resurrected back on this corrupted earth but yeh that makes sense right

[@derrickasiedu4601]

It is appointed for man to die and after death judgment. Right after you die you will find yourself at the judgment seat of Jesus Christ The Most High True God and you will be sentenced to your eternity either with Jesus in heaven or with the wicked in Hell. Don't think about the appearance of Jesus as the time of judgment of the dead. "I am bringing Judgment to the living and the dead" means I am bringing Judgment to all those alive ( the righteous- living and the unrighteous-the dead).

[@meatwad9931]

soul sleep is biblical

[@The-Christian]

Than where are Enoch and Elijah for they didn’t die