After Death, What? Intro Over 151,000 people die every single day, but the unanswered question is, after death, what? Does Bible prophecy answer humanity’s unsolved mystery? I’ll be back in a moment with the prophetic perspective on After Death, What? Message Hello, this is Cody Francis with Prophetic Perspectives. The question of death has plagued the minds of humanity for millennia. Philosophers have puzzled over it, but with no answer. Ponce de Leon supposedly searched for famed “fountain of youth.” A few are paying thousands of dollars to freeze their bodies in hopes that in the future medical research will be able to heal, rejuvenate and revive them to immortality. Others make millions by relating their quote “near death experience.” Death and what is after is the unsolved riddle of human experience. All know that death is unavoidable, but what comes afterward is still a mystery, except to those who have studied Bible prophecy. Today we will look and see if there is an answer to this question which has perplexed man’s mind for millennia. As we look at our topic of “After Death, What?” let us turn to the Lord in prayer. Outline A. Man goes to the grave in death 1. Grave where you are going – Ec. 9:6 2. Calls all forth from grave – John 5:28, 28 B. Dead are unconscious 1. Dead know nothing – Ec. 9:5, 6 2. Thoughts perish in death – Ps. 146:4 C. Dead are asleep 1. Weight evidence reveals truth – Is. 28:9, 10 2. Bible authorities on death a. David – Ps. 13:3; Jeremiah – Jer. 51:39, 57 b. Daniel – Dan. 12:2; Jesus – John 11:11-14 c. Paul – Acts 13:36; Peter – 2 Pet. 3:4 3. Over 50 references to 4. RIP – unconscious sleep 5. Nap – no knowledge of time D. Dead do not go directly to heaven/hell in death 1. Dead do not praise or thank God a. No praise – Ps. 115:17 b. No thank – Ps. 6:5 2. Dead do not go to heaven a. David no ascend to heaven – Acts 2:29, 34 b. Abraham not in heaven – Heb. 11:10, 13, 40 c. Imagine Lazarus returning heaven! – terror 3. Rewards @ 2nd, not before – Rev. 22:12 a. Judgment no sense if already rewarded! b. Paul was awaiting – 2 Tim. 4:7, 8 4. Death must be an unconscious sleep awaiting a. Man would be immortal if went heav or hell b. Judgment would be a farce: burn or bliss c. Resurrection unnecessary if in heaven d. Rewards would be at death not 2nd 5. God’s way best? a. Mother watching boy blasted Iraq b. Husband watching wife abused & miserable c. Does not know – Job 14:21 II. Jesus, our Livegiver, promises hope beyond the grave. A. Jesus promises HOPE – 1 Thes. 4:13, 16 1. Reunion son, daughter, parents, spouse 2. No more tears, aches, pains, problems! B. Hope beyond graves—Catacombs 1. Difference those, like thief seen Jesus uplifted! 2. Is Jesus the only thing matters to us? C. Believe in Jesus, reunion promised – John 11:25
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