Post-death Consciousness? (Q&A)

 

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Q.  What does The Bible say about post-death consciousness?

 

A. Thank you for this very deep and pertinent question. The Bible has quite a LOT to say on this topic. I will endeavor to summarize what I perceive and understand, with relevant references. Please be patient as I unfold many of its insights.

 

The Bible attests, and is abundantly clear there are two stages of our post-death consciousness:

 

     1. A temporary, post-death, pre-resurrection consciousness

     2. An eternal, post-death, post-resurrection consciousness

 

Let’s dig in…

 

1. Post-death, Pre-resurrection Consciousness

 

In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells this story. The introduction is proof enough that it was not a parable, but an historical event that only He alone was equipped to share with us.

 

There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ (NKJV)

 

In this dialog, the twins spirit and soul of the three deceased men were conscious, fully aware of their environment, and also very sentient. Moreover, Father Abraham was aware of the pre-death lifestyles of both the rich man and of Lazarus. The three men were experiencing significantly different post-death, pre-resurrection conditions – the rich man in hellish torment, while Abraham and Lazarus were in the protected, non-tormented region of hades. This requires some background…

 

Since the creation of man, The Lord’s highest strategic objective has been and remains …to harvest, from six ages of human history on this current version of Earth, a remnant of humans, called faithful saints, to whom He will show everlasting Grace and Mercy on a new, eternal Earth. (See: Human History Ages (Series)) Before He was born as a man to pay the price for our sins, every person who died was destined for one of two regions of hell (hades): the lower tormented region or the protected upper region. Once He paid our sin price, via His crucifixion, The Lord’s twins spirit and soul descended into hades (Ephesians 4:9-10), and preached His Gospel to deceased saints, people from the first two ages of human history who had died in faith toward God. (1 Peter 3:18-22) They were all resurrected with Him, and were very likely raptured to the new, eternal Earth that The Lord had long promised to Isaiah. (Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22) 

Apparently, Matthew 27:51-53 is the only known record of a tiny slice of this global event, as Matthew could only recount what he either experienced and/or heard about. This resurrection and rapture event was predicted in Psalm 68:18, and was affirmed in Ephesians 4:8. This event signals that Christ’s death and resurrection not only opened the gateway to Heaven for all saints who would die during the remaining ages of history. It also signals that the upper region of hell has been shut down, no longer needed! HALLELUJAH to Jesus!!! As a result, Apostle Paul was commission to write 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, affirming the location of the twins spirit and soul of every saint who dies in the remaining (3rd to 6th) ages of history. The Revelation of Jesus Christ even confirms this point in Heaven. (Revelation 6:9-11 and 7:9-17) 

 

Here are some further Bible proofs of a post-death, pre-resurrection consciousness:

 

--Though The Lord had long warned ancient Israel not to engage in séances with mediums to access the spirit world, they disobeyed. 1 Samuel 28 is an historical account of one such séance that ‘called up’ the spirit of Samuel, a deceased prophet. See what he was clearly aware of! 

--Job is reportedly the oldest Book of The Bible. I discuss the considerable significance of this in Cornerstone: Cause=>Effect (Series). Much like the first chapter in a well-written book, it literally ‘sets the stage’ for every strategic point The Lord God desires mankind to understand. Then, every subsequent book of The Bible strategically unfolds and elaborates the details of these points, with an incredible array of promises to both the good and wicked people, and wraps it all up with an amazing array of good and bad examples pertaining to each promise! Ever imagined that?? In light of that, ponder this: In Job 14:22 (read in context), does he seem to infer a type of post-death consciousness?? This question has been debated at length. What insights do you intuit The Lord wants us to derive from this curious verse, insights that are strategically unfolded and elaborated throughout …the rest of The Bible??

 

2. Post-death, Post-resurrection Consciousness

 

Christ’s resurrection from the grave is demonstrated proof of life after death. Apostle Paul declared Christ was ‘the first-fruits’ of humans who will die. We all shall live again, eternally, to experience one of only two pre-determined, conscious, sentient, full-bodied lives (spirit, soul, body): either in a glorious region on The Lord’s promised new, eternal Earth, or in His lake of fire, likely on the same Earth, in the company of every devil and demon, plus death and (get this) hell, itself. Yep, hell itself will be cast into the lake of fire, insinuating that the lake of fire must be much bigger and possibly much hotter than hell. Imagine that!  (See: Earth’s Next Versions (Series), and The Lake of Fire, A Preview (Series). See also: Revelation 20 – 22.)

 

For the coming ages of history on this current Earth (post-Christ’s resurrection), He has emphatically given us His criteria for joining Him in the glorious region on the new, eternal Earth. It is summarized in His pre-death discourse with Nicodemus, in John 3:1-21. Since then, we have found many creative ways to challenge and deny The Lord’s assertion that, we must be born-again to enter into The Kingdom of Heaven. Similarly, we have found ever creative ways to challenge and deny His personal revelation about the final four ages of human history, although on His version, He has sealed an exceptionally strong ‘copyright’. (See: Is Jesus God (Series))

 

Revelation includes 12 references to ‘elders’ who surround The Throne of God upon which Jesus sits -- one Throne, per Revelation 22:1-3. These elders wear a crown and white robes. They might possibly be either some of the people who were led out of hell and raptured into Heaven when Jesus was resurrected, or people who had been raptured directly into Heaven before His crucifixion, e.g., Enoch, Elijah, etc.

 

My conclusion: The Bible is admirably internally consistent in its core, strategic messages to humans!

What's yours?

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FYI, here’s why I refer to the spirit and soul as ‘twins’:

 

--Per Hebrews 4:12, they can be separated, thus they must not be identical.

--The Bible reveals they both (1) have the same key attributes of imagination, emotions, and the abilities to see, hear, perceive, understand; and (2) are receptive to, ‘seeds sown’ that will  produce good and evil fruits. All that we experience in this life is the result of such seeds sown… good, bad and ugly!

 

Jesus, The Lord God, created mankind in His own, personal, tripartite image: eternal spirit, soul and body. Thus, Adam and Eve were created as immortal, tripartite beings. Sin made only their (and our) bodies mortal, able to die physically. Our spirit and soul never lost their immortality. Sin only changed the eternal destination of our resurrected, immortal, tripartite being. Folks who deny this are in for …the SHOCK of their eternal lives!!!

The Shortest, Most Powerful Sermon, Un-heard (Poem)

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Mark my words about the shortest sermon ever.

It will not be heard, and no preacher will be seen.

But across the world, it’ll be the most powerful!

To tell you all about it, I am very eager,

To describe in detail this sermon’s future scene,

And to explain and portray its awesome potential!

Imagine waking up one morning, tuning into the news,

To be greeted with unending reports of much shock and awe,

Of folks having suddenly disappeared, and graves burst open!

In those churches that remain, folks are ‘spilling over the pews’.

And everywhere else, folks are questioning their religions’ flaw!

They are all trying to make some sense of this …global omen.

By now, you may know I speak of the long-predicted rapture,

The ‘catching away’ of every bona fide Christ-follower,

Those who died, and those who were alive in history’s 3^rd age.

This event will clear the way for the darkest ever figure,

The anti-Christ man, who’ll be endowed with satanic power.

To this, most folks will be blind, since to solve problems,

he’ll be sage! ¹

So why will the rapture be the shortest, un-preached sermon??

Though l-o-n-g-predicted, it’ll happen in a nano-second.

Perhaps the quiet part of A NOISY, GLOBAL EVENT!  

Its ‘silent voice’ will echo throughout the ages to come:

"The Bible IS TRUSTWORTHY! Forsake other ‘faith’ notions!!!

Prepare for its coming predictions, no one can prevent!!!" ²

This event will signal the start of history’s 4^th age.

Many folks who were fake Christ-followers in the 3^rd age,

And some who were once ‘real’, but who extinguished their Christ-light,

Will be jolted to know, without them, ‘The Lord turned His page!’ 

LEFT BEHIND, they will have a clue of the coming rampage.

In their angst, many will renew relationships with Christ. ³

But in their rush, I intuit they won’t be alone.

Many religious-minded folks who ‘never knew’ Christ,

Who embraced strange faith notions never sanctioned by Him,

Will join in massive conversions, their sins to atone.

They will embrace Jesus, Who for their sins, paid the price. ⁴

 

My spiritual heart aches as I ponder this scene,

Knowing the price they’ll pay for their decision, postponed. ⁵

If only there was a way, in history’s 3rd age,

To help some un-believing soul, The Lord’s TRUTHs to glean.

Live life ‘in-LIGHT-ened!’ That’s my assignment ‘till I’m gone.

Friend…

Are you ready for The Lord to turn His …‘ages page’?

Across the world,

precursors of the 4th age are apparent...

Please take time to read this companion poem:

Letter to 4th Age Christians (Poem)

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¹ See: The Rapture (Series), Human History Ages (Series), and anti-Christ (Series). In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Paul infers a link between the rapture, and the revealing of the anti-Christ. It stands to reason that this event will have global repercussions …possibly much worse than climate change! Imagine the plethora, of intractable, global problems that will need to be addressed in every sector of life, after the rapture. I intuit the whole world, will be clamoring for an exceptional strong man to take control, globally. Voila! 

² See: The 6th Seal, Civilization's Reset? and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. For serious Bible students, see: Is the last trumpet of 1 Thessalonians 4 the same as the seventh trumpet of Revelation?

³ See: Revelation 3:14-22, Audacious Christians (Series), especially Part 2, Christianesque (Poem), and Letter to 4^th Age Christians (Poem). According to Revelation 7:9-17, many or most of these 4^th age converts will be beheaded by the anti-Christ governance system.

⁴ See: Prayer of Salvation (Poem).

⁵ Again, according to Revelation 7:9-17, many or most of these 4^th age converts will be beheaded by the anti-Christ governance system.

Re-thinking the Big Bang

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Following are some ‘What ifs…’ about water I have long pondered. (See: The Womb of Water (Series)) Since none of us witnessed any creation events, we can only imagine and speculate about details not revealed in The Bible, the only credible record available to us. No need to get out of sorts if my imaginations and speculations may differ from yours. Mine are not intended to challenge The Biblical account of creation. Rather, they intend to examine some strategic issues that underpin our commonly held perspectives on that account. Consider how often in history commonly held perspectives were challenged, initially rejected, and much later …significantly changed.

 

Fasten your seat belts! ;o)

 

1. What if… we have been interpreting The Bible’s creation story incorrectly, from an upside-down, Earth-bound perspective? Let’s take some time and try to re-imagine it from The Lord’s possible angle. Apostle Paul once asked, ‘Who has known The Mind of The Lord…?’ And he answered, ‘But we (bona fide born-again Christians) HAVE [been gifted] The Mind of Christ.’ (1 Corinthians 2:16) The Lord’s challenge to us is to develop and practice applying this incredible gift, to perceive things ‘through the eyes of His heart’. 

‘In the beginning, God (Who has no beginning nor end)

created the heavens and the Earth.’ 

(Genesis 1:1)

 

The Bible affirms Father God did this through, by and for Jesus, The Lord God. (Ephesians 3:9, Hebrews 1:10) It also reveals there are three heavens’ from its (not our) perspective:

 

A. The first heaven is His Heaven, the place of His Throne Room, as John described in The Book of Revelation. John’s vision starts with a tight focus on Jesus, The Lord God, then broadens out to the Throne Room. It concludes with a vision of Heaven on the promised new, eternal Earth. The Bible gives no clues about the creation of this Heaven. (Isaiah 65:17, Isaiah 66:22, 2 Peter 3:13, and Revelation 21:1).¹ 

 

B. The second heaven is the void of deep, celestial space.

 

C. The third heaven is the atmosphere around the Earth. Since there is an atmosphere surrounding each celestial body, there are countless third heavens! Ever thought of that? Since The Bible is ‘Earth-centric’, it focuses on our planet’s heaven (i.e., atmosphere) wherein Apostle Paul confirms a significant contingent of satan’s earthly kingdom of demons and devils dwell, at least for now! ²

 

From our Earth-bound perspective, we flip this order, and regard Earth’s atmosphere as our first heaven, deep space as the second heaven, and The Lord’s abode as the third Heaven. Since The Bible principally has an Earth-centric focus, it gives us only a few clues about the creation of the second heaven – deep, celestial space.

 

2. What if… just as man was created on the last (6th) day of creation, Earth, which would become the place of man’s abode, might have possibly been the last celestial body on which The Lord focused His creational attention and energy?

The Earth was without form, and void;

and darkness was on the face of the deep.

And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

(Genesis 1:2)

 

3. What if… ‘the face of the deep’ refers to the entirety of deep, celestial space? Conventional understanding has long been that ‘the deep’ in this verse refers to only the water in which the primordial substance of what would become Earth, was bathed. This presumption is likely because so many other Biblical references to that phrase are to deep waters of Earth. And with no reference in Genesis to other celestial bodies, we generally assume the water only covered Earth’s primordial substance, and likely no other celestial body. Science has discovered how water acts in space. So the notion of water covering just one not-yet-formed celestial body, and not floating or evaporating away, is indeed odd. Agree? So…

 

4. What if… Genesis 1:2 refers to two different ‘deeps’: the darkness on the face of deep, celestial space, and Spirit of God hovering over the face of the waters, seeing them from His perspective in the first Heaven, above the void of deep space? But what waters?? Since the answer is not revealed, we are left to speculate based on what mankind has learned. Since The Bible is predominantly Earth-centric, we are automatically inclined to focus on her waters. But…

 

5. What if… the formless Earth was embryonic in nature, and the primordial (unformed) matter, not only of Earth, but every would-be celestial body, was covered in creational waters, akin to the amniotic fluid in which all mammals develop in the ‘zygote>>embryo>>fetus>>baby’ sequence?? If so, the most relevant question would be what could have possibly been the source of the deep, creational waters over which ‘The Spirit of God hovered’? Since The Bible gives us no direct answers, imagine this… 

 

6. What if… the so-called Big Bang was an explosion across the massive void of deep space, triggered by The Lord’s command for hydrogen and oxygen to 'MERGE!' in the proper proportion …to create water? Scientists have proven the awesome challenges they face in trying to merge these elements to create water. In small lab experiments, every effort triggers a small explosion. Remember the incredibly HUGE explosion that occurred when a spark of static electricity ignited the Hindenberg blimp which was filled with hydrogen?? The result was a large amount of water!

 

Only The Spirit of God, acting through Jesus Christ, The Lord God and Creator, could effectuate such a command, creating a massive amount of water across the void of deep space. If so, it should be no surprise that astrophysicists have reportedly discovered evidence of past or possible current water in a variety of celestial bodies! 

 

If/IF ‘the deep’ in Genesis 1:2 might possibly refer to two different things, then…

 

7. What if… the two references to ‘face’ in Genesis 1:2 signal to us that, from Heaven’s perspective, there is a surface of space, and there was a surface of the waters of creation, as seen from Heaven? On the first point, from our perspective on Earth, we perceive space as infinite, yet Genesis 1:2 might be signaling it has a ‘face’, and therefore, is not infinite! Moreover, the very notion of space, situated between The Lord’s first Heaven, and the upper atmospheres of all/any celestial body, strategically seems to signal the second heaven (space) is not infinite! Our notion that Heaven is non-physical might lead us to conclude space is infinite. But The Bible includes several clues that Heaven is not some ethereal, non-physical place, but is a real, physical place, ABOVE the second heaven.

 

If/IF there was a ‘surface’ to the amniotic-like waters around Earth and other celestial bodies (before the suns were lit later per Genesis 1:14-19!), what might that strategically signal about gravity, and a basin (a bottom) for… all that water?? The Lord must have a clear, strategic reason for not revealing to us the source of the waters mentioned in Genesis 1. Perhaps it might ‘blow our minds’, just as my seven What ifs… might be doing to your mind right about now! ;o) ³

 

Bottom line: A watery BIG BANG is clearly not supported by the scientific speculation of a very HOT, DRY, BIG BANG, that supposedly created spinning flaming stars and debris that cooled to become various celestial bodies (planets, moons, asteroids, meteors, and left-over space debris). Science speculates… 

a ‘creation and resulting design’ 

that had ‘neither a creator, nor a designer’!

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¹ I intuit the new, eternal Earth may already exist, and may have been the physical place to which the resurrected saints from the first and second ages of history were raptured when Jesus ‘led captivity captive’, as predicted in Psalm 68:18, and historically confirmed in Matthew 27:51-53 and Ephesians 4:8. For more, see: Your Heaven IQ (Series) and Earth’s Next Versions (Series).

² See: Ephesians 6:12. During The Millennial Reign age, the 5^th in history, every aspect of satan’s earthly kingdom will be locked away in a bottomless pit, per Revelation 20: 1-3. I intuit The Lord's angels (still invisible?) may replace satan's assigned demons over territories. See: Matthew 25:31.

³ See: What Shape is the Universe?