Introduction
1 Thessalonians 4:13 –”But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not sorrow, even as others who have no hope.“
Daniel 12:13 –”But as for you, go your way until the end, for you will rest and stand up in your inheritance at the end of the days.“
The Creation of Living Beings
1. In creation, how was man formed?
Genesis 2:7 – “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground…“
2. What did God do after forming man from the dust of the earth?
Genesis 2:7 – “…and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul“
Comment: During the creation of our world, God created human beings from the dust of the earth. The “clay doll” was made, but there was still no life in it”.puppet“. So that he might have life, God breathed into his nostrils the “breath of life“. Therefore, we can conclude that the human being is a combination of “dust of the earth” with the “breath of life” granted by God. There is no other element that gives life and grants existence to the human being other than these two mentioned above.
3. When we lose our breath of life, what happens to our body?
Psalms 104:29 – “…if you take away their breath, they die, and return to their dust“
Ecclesiastes 12:7 – “And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.“
Comment: Notice that both texts explain what happens when a human being dies. They both use different terms for the same thing. The psalmist uses the term “breath“, the same term used in the book of Genesis in the creation of the human being. Another term used in reference to the “breath of life” is “spirit“. In the context of existence, the word “spirit” can be understood as referring to the “breath of life” that God granted to human beings to have life. In other words, when we lose the “spirit“, our body returns to the “dust of the earth“, from where it was originally created, and finally, the human being ceases to exist.
4. Besides humans, who else has the breath of life?
Genesis 7:21-22 – “And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man. All that had the breath of the spirit of life in their nostrils, of all that was on the dry land, died.“
Comment: All living beings have the “breath of life spirit” in your body. Remember that without this breath, there is no life! Only with the “breath of life” granted by God is that life is possible to exist.
5. Is the breath of life that God gave to human beings the same or different from that given to animals?
Ecclesiastes 3:19 – “For what happens to the sons of men happens to the beasts, and one thing happens to them: as one dies, so dies the other; and they all have the same breath…“
6. Is the fate of human beings in death the same as that of animals?
Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 – “…man has no advantage over beasts, for all are vanity. All go to one place; all were made of dust, and all return to dust.“
Comment: The same “breath of life” or “spirit“that God gave to human beings to have life, is the same granted to animals and all other living beings. There is no difference between living beings in this regard. They all have the “same breath“. Likewise, the fate of both is the same. When they die, the physical part returns to the “dust of the earth“, and the “breath of life“, or “spirit“, returns to God, as we saw in Ecclesiastes 12:7.
7. To what does the apostle James compare a life of faith without works?
James 2:26 – “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.“
Comment: A body without the “spirit” is dead. That is, a person is dead when the “spirit” (breath of life) from your body has already returned to God, the source of life.
8. Does the human being have some control or dominion over the “spirit” what’s in it?
Ecclesiastes 8:8 – “There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain it; neither hath he power over the day of death; neither is there any leave in this warfare; neither shall wickedness deliver the wicked.“
Comment: The “breath of life” or “spirit“that God gave to man belongs to God Himself, and He alone has dominion over it.”spirit” that was given to us. Human beings have no dominion or control over this “breath of life“.
9. What is a “living soul“?
Genesis 2:7 – “…and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul“
Genesis 1:20 – “And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the creeping thing that hath life; and let birds fly above the face of the expanse of the heavens.“
Genesis 1:24 – “And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.“
Comment: As we have seen, within the context of “existence“, the word “spirit” is used in the Bible to refer to the “breath of life” granted by God to provide life to humans and animals. The combination of the “dust of the earth” with this “spirit” results in what the Bible calls “living soul“. That is, the term “living soul” is nothing more than the existential life of some creature of God. Within this existential context, the words “spirit” and “soul” never refer to a spiritual entity apart from the living being, but rather to its own formation and existence. The human being does not possess a “soul“, but he “was made a living soul“. In the same way, God commanded that each animal should produce other animals” living soul after its kind”.
10. What other biblical passages show us that “soul” refers to existential life?
Genesis 46:27 – “And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, who came to Egypt, were seventy.“
Exodus 12:4 – “But if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor next to his house shall take one according to the number of souls; each according to his eating shall be counted according to the lamb.“
Acts 2:41 – “So those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to his body.“
Acts 27:37 – “And there were in all, on the ship, two hundred and seventy-six souls.“
Comment: As we can read the texts above, the word “soul” refers to existential life, and can be applied to the life that living beings become when they exist. In general, in the Bible, the word “soul” has this meaning, but it is not exclusive, because depending on the context, it can be attributed to some other meanings, such as feelings, emotions, heart, or ideas of the kind. In any case, here are other biblical passages in which we can confirm its meaning as being “life“: Genesis 1:20, 21, 24, 30; 2:19; 9:10, 12, 15; Leviticus 11:46; Exodus 1:5; Acts 7:14; 1 Peter 3:20; Revelation 16:3.
Inherent and Conditional Immortality
11. Who is the only being that possesses immortality?
1 Timothy 1:17 – “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.“
1 Timothy 6:15-16 – “Which in his times he will show, the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who only has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and power forever and ever. Amen.“
Commentary: The apostle Paul clearly states that only the Eternal God possesses immortality. No other being in the universe, or in the heavens, possesses immortality inherently (intrinsically, by itself). Thus says the apostle: “He who alone has immortality“.
12. What was the only restriction God gave Adam when he was created?
Genesis 2:15-17 – “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.“
Comment: When God created human beings, he allowed them to eat from all the fruits of the existing trees, with the exception of one tree, the “tree of knowledge of good and evil“. This was to be the test of the faithfulness of the human race, given that they had the free will to choose. In addition to this restriction, God made clear the consequences that would be received if they disobeyed: “you will surely die“!
13. What made it possible for human beings to have eternal life when they were created by God?
Genesis 3:22 – “…and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever…“
Comment: Just like God, human beings were created to live eternally. Therefore, they should also be immortal, but their immortality was not equal to that of God. Human beings possessed immortality conditionally, and not inherently, as is the case with the Creator. Their eternal existence was conditioned on obedience to God, and by being obedient, they would have access to the fruit of “tree of life“, created by God and placed in the “Garden of Eden“, the place where Adam and Eve lived. Having access to the fruit of this tree, both could live eternally.
14. Did Adam remain faithful to the order given by God?
Genesis 3:6 – “And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise: and she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.“
15. What would be Adam’s end because of his disobedience?
Genesis 3:17-19 – “And God said unto Adam, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. 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.“
Comment: With the disobedience of the first couple, death became inevitable in their lives. They both lost access to “tree of life“, and as a consequence, they would live until their bodies weakened and they returned to where they were made from: “for dust you are and to dust you will return“. Although the original purpose was for humans to live forever, because of disobedience, the time of existence and life became limited until they returned to dust.
16. What happened to all men as a result of Adam’s transgression?
Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.“
Commentary: Since God had granted the fruit of the tree of life as a means for mankind to live eternally, and mankind had lost access to the fruit because of transgression, the entire human race was subject to death, from Adam to the present day. God could not allow mankind to continue to enjoy the fruit of the tree of life so that they would not perpetuate sin for all eternity. As a consequence, all living beings that have ever existed, without exception, ceased to exist as soon as their bodies died.
17. How long does the average human being live?
Psalms 90:10 – “The days of our life are seventy years, and if some by reason of their strength reach eighty years, their pride is weariness and sorrow, for it is soon cut off and we fly away.“
Comment: After Adam and Eve’s disobedience, death did not come suddenly to them. They were able to live until their bodies grew old and they died. When the human body was created, it was not the same as it is today, weakened by the consequences of sin over millennia of existence. According to the biblical accounts in Genesis, we can see that the patriarchs had an average lifespan of over 900 years. However, this lifespan decreased until it reached around 70 to 80 years in the time of King David, and this lifespan has remained the same until the present day.
The State of the Human Being in Death
18. Is it possible for us to do anything after our death?
Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.“
Comment: After death, the body is buried and there is nothing more we can do. There is no more “design, nor knowledge, nor wisdom whatsoever“. Everything ends with death. Therefore, we must act while we are alive, because after death, we can do nothing more.
19. When people die, how much do they know about those who are alive?
Job 14:21 – “His children receive honor, and he does not know it; they are humiliated, and he does not know it.“
Commentary: This verse shows that after death, a person no longer has knowledge of what happens to the living. There is no perception or awareness of what occurs in the world of those who are still alive.
20. When do our thoughts come to an end?
Psalms 146:4 – “His spirit goes out, he returns to the earth; in that same day his thoughts perish.“
Commentary: According to this verse, a person’s thoughts come to an end at the same moment his “spirit” (or breath of life) leaves his body. This refutes the idea that the dead have consciousness or continuity of thought after death.
21. Can those who have died praise the Lord?
Psalms 6:5 – “For in death there is no remembrance of you; in the grave who will give you thanks?“
Psalms 115:17 – “The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do those who go down into silence“
Psalms 88:10-11 – “Will you show wonders to the dead? or will the dead arise and praise you? (Selah.) Will your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or your faithfulness in destruction?“
Commentary: According to the above passages, the dead cannot praise God. There is no remembrance of God in death, and therefore those who have already died cannot express praise or recognition. Praise to God occurs while we are alive, for death is a state of cessation.
22. Who only can praise the Lord God?
Isaiah 38:18-19 – “For the grave shall not praise thee, neither shall death glorify thee; neither shall they that go down to the pit hope in thy truth. The living, even the living, shall praise thee, as I do this day; the father shall make known thy truth to the children.“
Psalms 146:2 – “I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praises to my God all my life.“
Commentary: Both Isaiah and the psalmist affirm that praise to God is the prerogative of the living. They recognize that the grave and death cannot glorify or praise God. Only the living can render praise to Him, and this must happen while we are alive.
A Little Comparison with Death
23. To what did Jesus compare the state of death?
John 11:11-14 – “Thus he spoke; and afterward he said to them, ‘Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go to wake him up from sleep’. His disciples therefore said, ‘Lord, if he sleeps, he will do well’. But Jesus spoke of his death; but they thought he spoke of taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead’.“
Matthew 9:24 – “He said to them, ‘Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping’. And they laughed at him.“
Comment: Jesus often used the expression “sleep” to describe the state of death. He compared death to a sleep, in the sense that just as one wakes up after sleep, those who have died will be awakened in the resurrection.
24. Did Paul also understand that death is like sleep?
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 – “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.“
Comment: The apostle Paul also refers to death as a “sleep“, stating that the resurrection of the dead will be like an awakening to eternal life. Death, for Paul, is temporary, like a sleep, and the awakening will be the transformation to incorruptibility.
25. What expression did the psalmist use to refer to his death?
Psalms 13:3 – “Hear me, hear me, O Lord my God; enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep in death.“
Comment: The psalmist used the expression “fall asleep in death“, reinforcing the idea that death is compared to sleep. This indicates the absence of consciousness after death, as falling asleep in death is the loss of mental and physical activity.
26. With what do writings prior to the time of Jesus compare the state of the human being after death?
2 Chronicles 26:23 – “And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with them in the field of burial that belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper. And Jotham his son reigned in his stead.“
Comment: In the Old Testament writings, such as 2 Chronicles and other books, death is also frequently referred to as a “sleep“. Expressions like “sleep with your parents” indicate that death is seen as a state of rest, in which the person loses consciousness. The concept of sleep in death is a way of emphasizing the temporality of death and the promise of a future awakening.
Waiting for the Fulfillment of the Return to Life
27. What message did the prophet Isaiah announce concerning the dead?
Isaiah 26:19 – “Your dead bodies and my dead bodies will live and rise again. Awake and sing, you who live in the dust, for your dew will be like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast out the dead.“
Commentary: The prophet Isaiah announced that one day the dead would be resurrected. The promise of resurrection is a comfort given by the Lord to His people, who would wait with hope for the moment when all would be awakened to eternal life. Isaiah spoke of a future resurrection that has not yet happened, but which is a certainty in God’s promise.
28. When would the psalmist behold the face of the Lord God?
Psalms 17:15 – “As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with your likeness when I awake.“
Commentary: The psalmist states that he would see God’s face when he awoke, which suggests that he believed in the resurrection. He did not expect to see God immediately after death, but believed that this would occur after “to wake up” at the time of the resurrection, when he would be transformed to be in the presence of God.
29. Where did King David go after his death?
Acts 2:29-35 – “Men and brethren, let me speak freely unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. … For David ascended not into the heavens…“
Commentary: The apostle Peter clarified that after his death, David did not go to heaven, but remained buried. David’s expectation, as well as that of all the faithful, was the resurrection in the future. The idea that David was in heaven does not fit with the biblical explanation, since he awaited the resurrection in the future, like all the righteous.
30. At what time would the prophet Daniel be resurrected to receive his inheritance?
Daniel 12:13 – “But as for you, go your way until the end, for you will rest and stand up in your inheritance at the end of the days.“
Commentary: The resurrection of Daniel and the receiving of the “heritage” would be in the “end of days“. The reward for the righteous does not happen immediately after death, but at the resurrection, at the end of time. Therefore, the promised inheritance will only be received at the time of the resurrection, and not immediately after death.
31. Did Jesus go to heaven after his death?
John 20:17 – “Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’’“
Commentary: Jesus made it clear that after His death He had not yet ascended to heaven. He told Mary Magdalene that He had not yet gone to the Father, contradicting the idea that He had gone to Heaven immediately after His death. Jesus was resurrected and did not ascend to heaven until after His resurrection.
32. What promise did Jesus make through his disciples? From when will we be with Christ?
John 14:1-3 – “Let not your hearts be troubled; if you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.“
Commentary: Jesus’ promise is clear: He would prepare a place for His followers and would return to take them to Himself. This will happen at His second coming, and only then will we be with Christ. The idea that one goes to heaven immediately after death is not supported by Scripture, since reunion with Christ occurs when He returns. Until that time, the dead “sleep” in death, awaiting the resurrection.
The Great Resurrection and Eternal Life
33. What did the apostle Paul not want us to be ignorant about?
1 Thessalonians 4:13 – “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not sorrow, even as others who have no hope.“
Commentary: Paul wanted Christians not to be ignorant about the condition of the dead. He emphasizes the importance of understanding that although death is a physical separation, it is not the end for Christians. Those who have died in Christ will have a future resurrection and should not be the subject of hopeless sorrow.
34. Why did the apostle Paul not want us to be ignorant about those who have already died?
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 – “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.“
Commentary: Paul emphasizes that just as Jesus died and was resurrected, so too the dead in Christ will be brought back to life. Jesus’ resurrection is the guarantee of the future resurrection of all Christians. This understanding provides hope and comfort, for death is not the end, but merely a “sleep” waiting for the return of Christ.
35. When will those who have died in Christ be brought back to life through the great resurrection?
1 Thessalonians 4:16 – “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.“
John 6:39-40 – “And this is the will of him who sent me, that of all he has given me I should lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of him who sent me, that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.“
Comment: The resurrection will occur in the “last day“when Jesus returns to seek His own. The dead in Christ will be raised first, and all Christians will be gathered together with Christ when He comes in great power and glory. This event will be the fulfillment of the promises made by Jesus.
36. The resurrection of the dead to eternal life was made possible through whom?
1 Corinthians 15:21-22 – “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.“
Commentary: The resurrection was made possible through Jesus Christ. While Adam brought death into the world, Jesus brought eternal life through His resurrection. Through His victory over death, all who believe in Him will have the promise of resurrection and eternal life.
37. At the resurrection of the righteous, what will happen to their bodies?
1 Corinthians 15:51-55 – “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’. O death, where is your sting? O hell, where is your victory?“
Commentary: When Jesus returns, the bodies of the righteous will be transformed into incorruptible and immortal bodies. The resurrection will not be just a return to life as before, but a complete transformation, in which death will be defeated and will no longer have power over those who are resurrected.
38. What can no longer happen to the children of God after the resurrection?
Luke 20:36 – “For they can no longer die, for they are equal to the angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.“
Revelation 20:6 – “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.“
Revelation 21:4 – “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.“
Commentary: After the resurrection, God’s children will no longer be able to die. They will be transformed and given immortal bodies. Death will no longer have power over them, and there will be no more pain, suffering, or sorrow. The resurrection will bring an eternal existence of peace and joy in the presence of God.
39. How serious is it for the Christian faith when we do not believe in the resurrection? What are the implications of disbelieving in it?
1 Corinthians 15:12-17 – “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ be not raised, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. And so we are found to be false witnesses of God: because we testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not, if in fact the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ risen. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.“
Commentary: The resurrection is an essential pillar of the Christian faith. If there is no resurrection, the Christian faith loses its foundation, because Christ would not have been resurrected, and all the work of the apostles would have been in vain. Without the resurrection, there would be no forgiveness of sins and no hope of eternal life. The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of our own resurrection and victory over death.
The Resurrection of the Unjust and the Day of Judgment
40. Will only the saved righteous be resurrected?
Acts 24:15 – “Having hope toward God, as these also hope, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust.“
Commentary: The resurrection is not limited to the righteous alone, but both the righteous and the unrighteous will be resurrected. There will be a division into two groups: one will be resurrected to eternal life, while the other will be resurrected to damnation.
41. What are the two destinies for all who will be resurrected?
Daniel 12:2 – “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.“
Commentary: The resurrection will lead everyone to two different destinies. Some will be resurrected to eternal life, while others will be resurrected to eternal shame and contempt. This is the final destiny of everyone, depending on their choices and actions during life.
42. According to Jesus, what are the two great resurrections that will occur?
John 5:28-29 – “Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice. Those who have done good will come forth to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation.“
Commentary: Jesus teaches that there will be two resurrections: one to eternal life and one to condemnation. The resurrection to eternal life will occur for those who have done good, while the resurrection to condemnation will be for those who have done evil.
43. When will the second great resurrection reserved for the unsaved occur?
Revelation 20:5 – “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.“
Commentary: The second resurrection, reserved for the unrighteous, will occur after the thousand-year period, after Christ’s return. The first resurrection, which is to eternal life, occurs at Jesus’ return, while the second, the resurrection of the damned, will occur after the millennium.
44. What is in store for the unrighteous?
Revelation 20:12 – “…And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.“
II Peter 2:9 – “So the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.“
Revelation 20:15 – “And whoever was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.“
Commentary: The unrighteous will be resurrected after the thousand years to be judged for their deeds. They will be judged according to their works and, because they did not believe in Christ, they will be condemned. The final destiny of the unrighteous will be “lake of fire“, a place of eternal punishment.
45. Does the Bible mention a second death?
Revelation 20:14 – “And Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.“
Comment: The “second death” occurs in the “lake of fire“, an event of punishment for the unjust. This reflects final and total destruction, not continued eternal suffering. The “second death” is a specific event that occurs after the second resurrection and marks the end of life for those who are not saved, after which the “lake of fire” will be extinguished, completing the final judgment.
Exceptions in Death and Resurrection
46. In addition to the righteous who will be resurrected at the Return of Jesus, which wicked will also be resurrected to see this event happen?
Matthew 26:63-64 – “But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, ‘I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God’. Jesus said to him, ‘You have said it. But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven’.“
Revelation 1:7 – “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so. Amen.“
Commentary: At Jesus’ return, in addition to the righteous who will be resurrected to eternal life, there will be an exception. Those who mocked Christ and condemned Him, such as the priests who rejected Him and Pilate, will also be resurrected, but not to receive eternal life. They will be resurrected to see Jesus return, but they will return to death upon witnessing His glory.
47. What happened to Enoch? Does the Bible say he experienced death?
Genesis 5:23-24 – “And all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was no more, because God took him.“
Hebrews 11:5 – “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.“
Comment: Enoch was taken directly to Heaven without experiencing death. He was an exception in the Bible, being the first man to be translated to be with God, symbolizing the righteous who, at the return of Jesus, will be transformed without experiencing death.
48. Where was Elijah taken while he was alive?
2 Kings 2:11 – “And it came to pass, as they went on and talked, that, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.“
Comment: Elijah, like Enoch, was taken to Heaven without dying. He went up to Heaven in a whirlwind, being one of the exceptions in the Bible, representing those who, at the end of time, will be taken directly to Heaven without having to go through death.
49. Whose body did Archangel Michael dispute with the devil?
Jude 1:9 – “But Michael the archangel, when he contended with the devil and disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.“
Commentary: The Bible mentions that the archangel Michael disputed with the devil over Moses’ body after his death. This shows that after his death there was a spiritual dispute over Moses’ body, but there is no detailed information about the reason for this dispute.
50. Who was dead but appeared before Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration?
Matthew 17:1-4 – “Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you are willing, let us make three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’.“
Commentary: On the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared before Jesus, even though Elijah was taken alive to Heaven and Moses died. The appearance of Moses and Elijah symbolizes the resurrection and translation of all the righteous, representing, respectively, those who will die and be resurrected, and those who will be alive and taken to Heaven at Jesus’ return.
51. What happened to the bodies of many of those who died when Jesus was resurrected?
Matthew 27:50-53 – “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. And, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in twain from top to bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks were split; and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept were raised: and they came out of the tombs after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.“
Comment: When Jesus died and rose again, many saints who had died were resurrected. These were resurrected as a symbol of the “first fruits” of Jesus’ saving work. When they appeared to many in Jerusalem, they were probably taken up to heaven with Jesus. They are seen as the first fruits of the resurrection, indicating that the resurrection to eternal life had begun with Christ’s victory over death.
Conclusion
Although there are different interpretations in defense of beliefs based on the “Immortality of the Soul“, the study of biblical passages reveals a clear vision on the subject. First, when we consider the account of the creation of the human being, we learn about his origin. The human being was created from the dust of the earth and received life through the “breath of life” (or spirit) given by God, becoming a “living soul“. From this explanation it is clear that “spirit” and “soul” are not spiritual entities that live independently, as many believe. The life of a human being is not based on an immortal soul that remains alive after death.
Immortality of life was granted by God, but conditionally. Human beings were given the opportunity to live eternally if they remained obedient to God, especially by having access to the fruit of the tree of life. However, due to Adam and Eve’s disobedience, access to this tree was prohibited, resulting in death, which is the end of life. Therefore, the idea of life after death is contradictory, since the consequence of disobedience was precisely death and the loss of eternal life.
Furthermore, we learn that after death, a human being completely loses his existential prerogatives, such as thoughts, emotions and knowledge. There is no awareness whatsoever of the events that occur in this world or anywhere else. The Bible describes this state as a “sleep“, where the person is unconscious, unable to praise God or communicate with the living.
Despite this reality, Jesus, the Son of God, took upon himself the condemnation of humanity and died in our place, offering reconciliation with God. Eternal life will be restored to all those who accept His salvation, but this will only occur when Jesus returns to earth. At that time, the resurrection of the dead in Christ will occur, along with the transformation of those who are alive, all awaiting the great event of the resurrection.
Bible study reveals that until Christ returns, the dead will be in a state of “sleep“, awaiting the resurrection. Those who rejected salvation, in turn, will also be resurrected, but for the judgment of their deeds, which will occur after the millennium.
In conclusion, the Bible teaches that the soul is mortal, which contradicts the prevailing view of many religious institutions. Even though there are passages that can be interpreted in a way that supports immortalist beliefs, such as certain texts about the “hell“, the translation of “soul” and “spirit“, the “eternal fire” and others, a more in-depth study of these passages reveals that the Bible clearly teaches that the human soul and life are finite. For a more complete and enlightening understanding of these issues, I suggest reading the additional studies available in the links below.
