Death, what is?

What is death and what happens at death? Do we know the exact mechanism that occurs at death? Do only good people go to heaven after death as many of us have been taught?

When can someone declare a person dead? The usual answer, in management school is, “it depends“. No pun intended, but it is true.

Different Concepts

Concepts of death are different in secular, religious groups and even among themselves in the same groups. In secular parlance, one considers death when the person is unconscious, not breathing on his own and there is no pulse. However, with today’s technology, a person maybe in coma, artificially breathing on respirator, heart beating because of pacemaker, blood pressure maintained on medications, bodily functions intact, and still can be pronounced dead legally when EEG is “flatline“; not having brain waves. Yet, among religious groups, what is commonly defined as a dead person in the tomb at any length of time, that state may still be defined as “sleep“.

Unanimity in Christian Tenet

Death considered as “sleep“, is a well-entrenched tenet for Christians. It is taken as a temporary state, much like sleep, as we wake up even after a long sleep. A waking-up period is a given because of the “hope of resurrection”. When a person dies, according to this teaching, at resurrection the person will not know events in-between, as in being “asleep” sans dreams. While they believe in eventual “eternal death” for non-believers, there is hope of resurrection for those who believed in Jesus. Hence, death is only “sleep“. Similarly, among living Christians, being “dead to sin”, is a state to be in as an admonition against sinning and to reckon themselves as in:

Rom. 6:11, “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus“.(NIV)

A Christian is expected to follow the Ten Commandments and not commit sin.

What happens at death?

While death’s definition depends upon how each person perceives it in a secular sense, the ultimate mechanism that brings about death, in a religious sense, is shared by many. To grasp the mechanics of this truth, one has to understand how a person comes to be and becomes alive before knowing how one dies.

Going back to the narrative in Genesis, human evolution is “fake news“. We were informed that there is a Creator by the name of YHVH Elohim (Lord God), who is an “intelligent designer” of man, as in:

Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul(being)”.

Notice that man has 2 components, viz, dust + breath of life. That dust, which is the body, came from the ground and therefore matter-composed. Whereas, the breath of life, which is the “spirit of man“, the mind/psyche, comes from a Spirit-Being/God (from above) and therefore spirit-composed. The body, of and by itself, was not alive until the “breath of life” was “breathed into his nostrils.” Therefore, a living soul (nephesh) is composed of body + spirit of man (mind or psyche). In other words, man is composed of body which is matter as it comes from earth/mud/dust and a “breath-of-life“, mind or psyche which is spirit as it comes directly from a spirit-composed God breathing into man’s nostrils.

Now see how death is described and what happens to the 2 components of man at death in Ecclesiastes 12:7 (NIV)

“The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it”

Also, in Gen. 3:19 ” for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead,…”

Essentially then, the mechanism of death is that the spirit component of man, whether good or bad in life, separates from the matter component flesh-body; the former goes back to God where it came and was “breathed” from; the latter goes to hades/grave (buried in the tomb to rot) to dust, where it was formed from. Scientifically, although an assumption, the sudden electrical burst in EEG at time of death may find basis for this “separation“( 1,2,3). Experiences of “electrical-mechanical energy” manifestations after human death are well-known. Notice that, whether good or bad, this “spirit-of-man” goes back to Creator God.

Where Differences Lie

Let us then examine this concept of death in light of where the differences lie among biblical teachings of different sects in Christianity. In so doing, we may re-evaluate, optimize our current understanding of this subject and hopefully limit animosity. After taking up what teachings Christians (Catholics, Protestants, etc) align with, we can now enumerate where they differ from, viz.,

1. Is anyone who died, currently living in heaven?

It is a common belief that when we die, we immediately go to heaven or hell. This teaching was based on what Jesus at crucifixion said to the criminal and robber in the cross with him, as in:

Luke 23:43: “Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

In the original Greek text, there is no “comma‘ before the word “today“. This “comma” was an English grammar construction and interjected interpretation. Thus, with this comma before the word “today”, Jesus went to heaven with the criminal on that “day” or immediately at death. With this teaching, one has to explain how could this happen when Jesus was still in the tomb for “3 days and 3 nights” and not “in paradise“. Moreover, a teaching that a criminal goes directly to heaven had to assume that Jesus forgave him at the cross, without proof that he actually said so and does not need to do any “good works emanating from the Holy Spirit”.

Alternatively, it may well be argued that the “comma” should follow the word “today” which then changes the connotation, as in:

Luke 23:43: “Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise.”

With the preceding rendering that the “comma” was placed after the word ” today”, the meaning changes to another interpretation. That is, Jesus said those words on that day, but the criminal would have that “rendezvous in paradise” in the future; yet, another conjecture. Or, wherever the comma is placed before or after the word “today“, it may just mean that both of them will die the same day and both their spirits(spirit of man) would go back subsequently to the Father in heaven, following the same mechanism that defines death.

Going back to the 1st question whether any man (the whole body and spirit) after death is currently living in heaven, one only has to listen to Jesus words, viz.,

John 3:13 “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven–the Son of Man.”

Also, consider what apostle Peter said on the Day of Pentecost:

Acts 2:29, 34 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day…For David did not ascend into the heavens…”

Notice that the context refers to the whole person, body + spirit. When the text says, no one who died is in heaven, it therefore refers specifically only to the body. David, and for that matter anybody, is still buried, i.e. his body. The claim that no one who died ascended into heaven, refers to the body-component. From this rendering and understanding one can see the fallacy in the concept that Mary ascended to heaven,’aka, “Mary’s Assumption“.

However, while the whole person did not go to heaven and the matter-composed body is still in the tomb, we learned (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Genesis 3:19; James 2:26) that the active spirit-component went to God where it came from. The spirit-component of man although active is “naked“, unclothed, as in 2 Cor. 5:3, i.e., not having a body and therefore “nobody”, alive but not functional for lack of body. At death, like any human, Jesus’ spirit went to the Father in heaven and was restored after 3 days and three nights on earth with a resurrected immortal body. Only Jesus, who came from heaven, ascended into heaven with a “glorious body“, i.e., his mortal body did not rot in the tomb. Instead, after “three days and three nights”, it was changed “in a twinkling of an eye” into a glorious/spirit-composed body that is immortal. And with his spirit-composed body combined with his psyche/spirit, the whole person ascended into heaven, (compare John 20:17, Matthew 28:9, Mark 16 and Luke 24). This new body of Jesus can be visible or invisible to human eyes.

2. Can the dead (body) speak?

The following verses are self-explanatory:

Psalm 115:17 (ESV), “The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence”.

Psalms 6:5 “For the dead do not remember you. Who can praise you from the grave?.

Psalms 30:9 “What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness?

Isaiah 38:18 “For Sheol (grave) cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.”

Preceding verses clearly referring to dead body.

How about in Rev. 19:1? Did not Apostle John hear “a loud voice from heaven” as in:

“After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, ‘Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power to the Lord our God!’

Did John hear the voice of dead saints? Compared with Revelation 5:11-12, this voice clearly came from a multitude of angels, “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

How about the “voices of the slain” in Revelation 6: 9-11

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne; they cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.”

Knowing what we know now that only the psyche/spirit of man goes to God at death, not the body nor the whole person, one maybe able to explain this event. By itself and without a matter-composed nor spirit-composed tongue, the psyche/spirit is incapable of talking and vice-versa. For one to speak, both psyche/spirit and body have to be together. Like “faith without works is dead being alone“(James 2:26), the body is dead being alone.

Nothing was said about the psyche/spirit that goes to God whether alive or dead. In this narrative, only the psyche/spirit is with God as the body of the slain is still in the earthly tomb. Since the psyche/spirit has stored memories, what is in there can be accessed and can be expressed, not by the psyche/spirit itself as it has no body to be used to vocalize with. This is akin to “dream” where through the mind we appeared to be talking or walking, but actually still asleep; not vocalizing using our tongue nor walking using our legs. This verse that says “the slain cried out with a loud voice“, must be taken as an allegory with memories of the slain longing and hoping for the resurrection with new immortal body. Not that the “slain” actually spoke and voice heard.

3. Do dead people know anything?

Here again, the following are self-explanatory:

King David said, “for the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing… their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, NKJV, see also Psalm 146:4; 115:17

Eccl. 9:10 “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (grave)where you are going”

The preceding has to refer to the body, not the “spirit of man” that separated from the body at death and went (with all its memories) to the Father.

4. Jonah praying in the belly of whale

Here is the narrative:

Jonah 1:17 “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”

Jonah 2:1-10 “Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”

The common teaching was that while in the belly of the big fish, Jonah was alive and praying to God. Was he really alive in the belly of the fish and praying? Remember that he was there in the “belly” for “three days and three nights” after having been swallowed. The answer lies in the actual testimony of Jesus and what happened to him.

Matt. 12:39-40 “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Jesus used the story of Jonah as an example of his death and how long he would be in the tomb as the only sign to “a wicked and adulterous generation”. No one disputes the fact that Jesus was dead and was buried. And so, shouldn’t we extrapolate that while in the belly of the big fish, Jonah was dead and was not alive praying? This was confirmed by the description that Jonah was “brought up my life from corruption“, i.e. from death. It is therefore conceivable that while he was still alive, drowning and about to become unconscious, he was praying. He was then resurrected after 3 days and 3 nights like Jesus was. Otherwise, the danger of assuming Jesus did not actually die on the cross, as some Christians and Muslims teach

5. Lazarus/Rich man-story?

When does this narrative find application? The common teaching is that after death, they were still “alive” but Lazarus was in “comfort” at Abraham’s bosom while the rich man was tormented in flames. A number of areas are conflicted here. We now know that when a person dies, he is actually dead, not alive. Also, which hell is referred to? When was this resurrection? Which of the 2 final resurrection was referred to? Let us then go through the whole account for analysis:

Luke 16: 19-31: “There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, `Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, `Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, `They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, `No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, `If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.”

This narrative speaks about their death and subsequent resurrection. Lazarus went to “Abraham’s bosom”, while the rich man was resurrected and found himself “in torment”, and “in anguish in this flame”. To begin with, there are 3 types of “hell“, viz., Hades where dead people are buried(entombed,grave), Tartaros where rebellious angels are and Gehenna fire, the final death. Only Gehenna has unquenchable fire. Hades does not have “flame” of fire nor does Tartaros. What was referred to, could only be “Gehenna fire“, which has flames of fire that living people can be tormented till death. The following are other English translations of this story:

Luke 16:23 “While being tormented in the place of the dead, he looked up and saw Abraham at a distance with Lazarus at his side.”(CEB). Notice, that the place of the dead was not specified as to any of the 3 types.

Luke 16:22-23 (CPDV) “Then it happened that the beggar died, and he was carried by the Angels into the bosom of Abraham. Now the wealthy man also died, and he was entombed in Hell. Then lifting up his eyes, while he was in torments, he saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom.”

Notice from these alternate English translation, that the place where he was buried was in “hell” or Hades-Sheol. But where he was resurrected or “lifted up his eyes” and was in torment, because of the flame, was not specified.

Luke 16:21-23 (DRC1752)”And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell. And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom:”. Again, notice here that the place where he was buried was in “hell” or Hades-Sheol but where he was resurrected or “lifted up his eyes” (already with eyes) and was in torment because of the flame was not specified.

Considering all the preceding, the timing of this resurrection had to be the “second resurrection”(Rev. 20:12-13), post-Millenium; in contrast to the “first” resurrection to immortal spirit-composed bodies at the beginning of the Millenium(Rev. 20:4-6; I Cor. 15:20; I Thes. 4:16; Rev. 20:4) This is a resurrection of the dead to flesh-composed bodies where people are judged whether to accept the “good news” of salvation and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Those who did, went to Abraham’s bosom for spiritual growth and development to attain salvation/immortality. Those who rejected this final offer, gift and grace of God, were thrown in the “Gehenna fire”(hellfire) to be tormented till fully consumed to die. This could only be the reason why Abraham said “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead”; some finality to this punishment.

6. Do we now have immortal soul?

Only God is immortal (see 1 Timothy 6:15, 16). Paul says that the righteous “seek for glory, honor, and immortality” (Romans 2:7). If we now have immortal souls, why would the righteous seek after something they already have? Moreover, the “spirit-of-man”(psyche/mind) can be killed as in:

Matthew 10:28 “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body (soma)but cannot kill the soul(psyche). Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell”

Summary:

When man was created, YHVH ELOHIM (Almighty God) made the body, all parts of it, matter-composed from the ground/earth. This “body” of man was not alive until “the breath of life” was breathed into his nostrils by God. This life-giving component came directly from a spirit being (YHVH Elohim/Lord God)and therefore spirit-composed. These are the 2 components of man, viz., matter-composed body + spirit-composed mind/psyche (aka. spirit of man).

At death, these 2 components separate; the body which is matter-composed goes to the grave (hades/hell), entombed and rot, while the psyche/mind which is spirit-composed goes back to the Creator, whether good or bad. The body is dead without the spirit while the mind/psyche is “life-giving”. It is “potential and not kinetic energy” but it cannot speak, praise, vocalize, pray, etc because it has “nobody“. Yet, it is still active, although non-functional, and has embedded memories, desires, longings that allegorically can be expressed. This spirit-of-man (psyche/mind) is not immortal and can still be killed. This “spirit-of-man”(not matter-composed) is the “real you”(4), the essence of the “kingdom of God in you” (Luke 17:21).

To be functional or kinetic, this spirit/psyche/mind combines with either a “glorious, spirit-composed body”, immortal (made by God) at first resurrection that commences at the Millenium and reigns with Jesus on earth. Or, with a “flesh-composed, mortal body” at the second resurrection after the Millenium to have a chance to believe the gospel, receive the Holy Spirit of power, be guided by that Spirit for spiritual growth and development and eventually to become “son of God” with immortal body. Those who rejected this last chance will be thrown in “Gehenna hellfire” to be consumed and die forever, not tormented forever,i.e., both body and spirit-of-man can be destroyed in hell (Gehenna fire).

The new heavens and earth will therefore be ruled, not by angels, but by the “sons of God” with Jesus as the head of this “kingdom of God”, all spirit-composed. This is the gospel of the “kingdom of God”, the destiny planned by God from the foundation of the world.

May God bless us with this knowledge to enhance our faith in Him.

God Bless 🙏😇

References:

1. Stokes, Mark, Brain Metrics: Retrieved 5/4/17 from:

http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/brain-metrics/could_a_final_surge_in

2. Horizon Research Foundation: Spikes in EEG at time of Death. Retrieved 5/4/17 from:

http://www.horizonresearch.org/learning-zone/past-featured-topics/spikes-in-eeg-at-time-of-death/

3. Tsakiris, Alex, EEG Expert Can’t Explain Near Death Experience Data… and, Dr. Penny Sartori Finds More Than Hallucinations in NDE Accounts. Retrieved 5/4/17 from:

http://skeptiko.com/eeg-expert-on-near-death-experience/

4. Who and where is the “real you “. Retrieved 12/5/18 from http://fact-s.net/2018/08/30/who-and-where-is-the-real-you/

Original post:4/25/17

Revised:12/5/18

Hyperlink version reposted 8/20/19

DEDICATED to a friend whose funeral we attended Dec 2012 in Inverness, Illinois