Where the Dead are now

WHERE ARE THE DEAD NOW?

We will use the Word of God to establish were the dead are now. Some teach the dead are in heaven/hell, or in Paradise. Some teach the dead are gone and lost forever. But our question today is where, exactly, are the dead? Not only must we determine where the dead in Christ are, the dead before Christ Jesus and the lost dead are now.

The Bible is quite clear, but unfortunately we have been taught to selectively view the Word, with our particular "polarized lenses" (which let in only certain light). We need to take off our predetermined opinions and open our minds to "Thus says the Word of God".

Where did Jesus say the dead are?

Matt 9:23-25 23 When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,24 he said, "Go away. *The girl is not dead but asleep*." But they laughed at him.25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.(NIV)

John 11:11-14 11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better."13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead,(NIV)

Jesus declared Lazarus to be asleep.

When Jesus called Lazarus forth, where did He go to call him? Jesus went to where he was, in the tomb asleep. Did He call Lazarus from heaven? Or did He call Lazarus from Paradise, back to this world to die again? No, He simply woke Lazarus from sleep, and called him forth from the grave where he was.

Where did Paul say the dead are?

1 Cor 15:16-23 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.18 Then those also who *have fallen asleep in Christ* are lost.19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.20 *But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.*21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, *when he comes, those who belong to him.*(NIV)

Paul said the dead in Christ are asleep, and this is in agreement with Jesus teachings.

When will the dead be raised? The dead that belong to Jesus will be raised when Christ comes, at the first resurrection.What does the Bible say about the dead? Are they somewhere looking down,conversing, worshiping, or leaning over heaven’s balcony looking at you? Exactly what do the dead know about what is going on in the earth?

Eccl 9:55 For the living know that they will die, *but the dead know nothing*; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten.(NIV)

Isa 26:19-21 19 But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. *You who dwell in the dust, wake up* and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.20 Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by.21 See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer.(NIV)

You mean there is no one in heaven now? What about the righteous men of old, like King David, Moses, Solomon, Noah, Abraham? Are they not now in heaven? Let's hear what Jesus says about that.

John 3:12-13 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?13 *No one has ever gone into heaven* except the one who came from heaven-- the Son of Man.(NIV)

Well, that is before His resurrection, what about after, where is King David now? Let's hear the Word.

Acts 2:29 29 "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch *David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.*(NIV)Acts 2:3434 *For David did not ascend to heaven*, and yet he said, "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand (NIV).

So we see, by the mouth of 2 witnesses, that the righteous dead are not in heaven, in fact no one has ascend to heaven, but Jesus who came down from heaven. David did not ascend, but died and was buried and his tomb is with us still to this day.

Where was Jesus during the 3 days and 3 nights He was buried in the tomb. Let's allow Jesus own words declare to us where He was.

John 20:17 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for *I am not yet ascended to my Father*: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.(KJV)

So during the 3 days and nights, Jesus was in the tomb, not in heaven.

What about all the people who are in Hell (torments) now? What about the parable of the rich man and Lazarus? To correctly divide the Word of God, we know that no scripture can contradict other verses. So we must rightly divide the Word. 1. Do we believe this parable taught us about salvation, and being lost? The rich man did nothing to be lost, and Lazarus did nothing to be saved in the parable. The Jew taught that riches showed blessing and poverty a curse. Jesus reversed that thinking.

2. Do we believe the lost communicate with the saved across the great divide? The Bible says the dead know nothing.

3. The purpose of the parable was for Lazarus to come back from the dead, which he did, but did the Jews believe? No they sought to kill Lazarus and Jesus.

4. The purpose of the parable was to teach us to believe the Word and not miracles. But doesn't the Book of Revelation speak of the souls under the altar beheaded for the gospel? Where is the altar? Where was the blood sacrifice offered? On the earth, so the altar of sacrifice was on the earth.Calvary was the offering for sin, the altar of sacrifice.So we have the martyrs under the altar, buried in the grave (Sheol, hell). The Lord told the souls under the altar to rest a little while longer. The dead are asleep, resting in the grave, awaiting the resurrection.

Rev 6:9-119 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw *under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held*:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that *they should rest yet for a little season*, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.(KJV)

But didn't Paul say, "Absent in the flesh and present with the Lord? Doesn't that mean when we die we immediately go to the presence of the Lord? No, for no man has ascended into heaven. The dead know nothing, so they are not aware of the passing of time. The dead close their eyes in death and open them again in the resurrection, which seems but a minute, but could well be the passing of thousands of years. This agrees with the rest of the Word.

But are there not millions in torments burning forever and ever now? Don't the dead go immediately to their eternal reward? Answer: Would it be right for the dead to be punished before their judgment? No! After judgment the wicked will be cast into the Lake of Fire,the Second Death. Let's hear what the Word says about the unrighteous dead.


1Thes 4:13-18
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
(NIV)

Above is exactly what Paul preached. Let’s review: Paul says I don’t want you ignorant about the dead (those who fall asleep). He could have stopped right here and said, “They are with Jesus”. But he did not! What did he say? He said when Jesus comes from heaven, He will bring the dead with Him that are now in heaven? NO! He said when Jesus comes from heaven He will raise the dead first. Jesus does not bring them with Him until after He raises them from the dead, out of the grave. The dead are raised, brought back to life, at the first resurrection.

Rev 20:4-74 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast,neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.5 *But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished*. This is the first resurrection.

(The dead are not alive some where, the rest of the dead lived not again, until after the 1,000 years.) 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection:on 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.7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,(KJV)

Rev 20:11-15 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life:and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.13 *And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell (the grave) delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works*.14 And death and hell (the grave) were cast into the lake of fire.This is the second death.15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.(KJV)

Here we see the order of Resurrection. The first resurrection, the dead in Christ are awakened to live with Jesus for 1,000 years on the earth, then at the end of the 1,000 years, the rest of the dead will be raised(awakened) to be judged. No one will be punished before their judgment day.Where then is the Lake of Fire? Peter spoke to us about that:

2 Pet 3:10-1310 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, where in the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.(KJV)

Here we have examined the Word concerning the state of the dead. No one is in heaven, and the wicked have not been judged yet, thus cannot be suffering for their sins yet. There are 2 resurrections. The first when Jesus comes,and all the dead in Christ shall be raised, but the rest of the dead lived not again until after the 1,000 years. At the 2nd resurrection all the dead will be brought forth from their sleep to be judged, after which they will be cast into the Lake of Fire, consuming the heavens and the earth, and a New Earth and a New Heavens will be created.


Be Blessed,
Billy Wells