State of The Dead

When we die, what does the Bible declare happens to that person, where do they then go and what is their condition or state once dead?

The Bible describes the state of the dead as an unconscious, dreamless sleep, where individuals have no awareness, thoughts, or knowledge. Quite often referred to as resting in the grave or resting in peace, the dead are waiting in this unconscious state for a future resurrection. The Bible declares that death is a temporary cessation of existence until one of two resurrections, unto the resurrection of the righteous or unto the resurrection of the wicked.

Key Foundational Biblical truths on Death and the Dead

Unconscious Sleep: The Bible consistently uses "sleep" to describe death. The dead are not aware of the passing of time or earthly events, just as we that are alive have no awareness of the passing of time when we are asleep. "These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth: but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking a rest in sleep. Then Jesus said unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead." John 11:11-14. "But I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 KJV.

No Knowledge or Consciousness: Ecclesiastes states that "the dead know not anything" and have no further "work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave". "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun." Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 KJV. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work , nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, wither thou goest."Ecclesiates 9:10 KJV

We Return to Dust: Death is described as a reversal of creation "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." Genesis 2:7 KJV. At death the body returns to dust and the "breath of life" returns to God.

Awaiting the Resurrection: The dead remain in an unconscious state, returning to dust and having no memory, until we are resurrected. This includes the resurrection for the righteous and a separate resurrection for the unrighteous. "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:28-29 KJV.

Sheol/Hades: Recorded in the Old Testament, the dead go to Sheol (the grave). In the New Testament the dead go to Hades (the grave), this is often described as the waiting place for the dead.

So what actually does happen to us when we die?

The Bible declares that those who have died know nothing. This means the dead are not aware of the passing of time after death. We are not aware of what is happening in the world, nor is communication possible.

Death is a deep sleep. Our bodies return to dust (a reversal of the creation process), and our Spirit (breath) goes back to God awaiting one of two resurrections.

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 KJV

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy mi=ght; for there is no work , nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, wither thou goest.

Ecclesiates 9:10 KJV

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 KJV

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they all shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with a thousand years.

Revelation 20:5-6 KJV

But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship i the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both the just and unjust.

Acts 24:14-15 KJV

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 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... The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

1 Corinthians 14:20,26 KJV

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

John 11:25-26

And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me i should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one that seeth the Son, and bevieveth on him, may have everlasting life: and i will raise him up the last day

John 6:39-40 KJV

Summary of what scripture has taught us:

1. What happens when we die? Our bodies return back to dust, and our spirit goes back to God, whom gave it to us. The spirit of every person who dies whether saved or unsaved returns to God at the time of death.

2. What is the spirit that returns to God at death? The spirit that returns to God at death is the breath of life. Nowhere in the Bible does it say the spirit has any life, wisdom, or feeling after a person dies. It is the breath of life and nothing more. The body without spirit is dead "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:26 KJV. The spirit of God is in my nostrils "All the while my breath is in me, And the spirit of God is in my nostrils;" Job 27:3

3. What is a "soul"? "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." Genesis 2:7. A soul is a living being. A soul is a combination of two things: body plus breath. A soul can not exist unless body and breath are combined. God's Word shows us that we are souls, and not that we have a soul.

4. Do souls die? Yes, the Bible declares that souls do die. We are souls, and souls die. Man is mortal "Shall man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his maker?" Job 4:17. Only God is immortal "which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man can seeth, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;" 1 Timothy 6:15-16. The concept of an undying, immortal soul is not found in the Bible, rather it teaches that souls are subject to death.

5. Do good people go to Heaven when they die? No. People do not go to heaven or hell at death. They do not go anywhere, but rather wait in the grave for the resurrection. "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:28-29 KJV. "If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness." Job 17:13.

6. How much does one know or comprehend after death? God says the dead know nothing." For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun." Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 KJV. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy mi=ght; for there is no work , nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, wither thou goest." Ecclesiates 9:10 KJV.

7. Jesus called the unconscious state of the dead a sleep in John 11:11-14. How long will they sleep? The dead will sleep until the great day of the Lord at the end of the world. In death human beings are completely unconscious with no activity or knowledge of any kind. 'So man lieth down, and riseth not: Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, Nor be raised out of their sleep." Job 14:12. "But the day of the Lord will come as a theif in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elemnts shall melt with fervent heat, the esrth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elemsts shall melt with fervent heat?" 2 Peter 3:10-12 KJV.

8. What happens to the righteous dead at the second coming of Jesus Christ? They will be rewarded. They will be resurrected, given immortal bodies, and caught up to meet our Lord Jesus in the air. There would be no purpose in a resurrection if people were taken to heaven at death. "And behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12. "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 KJV.

9. What was Satan's first lie on earth? You will not die. "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:" Genesis 3:4 KJV. "And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelation 12:9 KJV.

10. Why did Satan lie to Eve about death? Could this subject be more important than we think? Satan's lie that we will not die is one of the pillars of his teachings. For thousands of years, he has worked powerful, deceptive miracles to trick people into thinking they are receiving messages from the spirits of the dead. In the near future, Satan again will use sorcery as he did in the past to deceive the world. "And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived." Revelation 18:23 KJV.

Further Bible verses confirming death as a sleep:

"Thou (Moses) shall sleep with thy fathers." Deuteronomy 31:16

"Thou (David) shalt sleep with thy fathers." 2 Samuel 7:12

"The king shall sleep with his fathers." 1 Kings 1:21

"So David slept with his father." 1 Kings 2:10

"David slept with his fathers." 1 Kings 11:21

"Solomon slept with his fathers." 1 Kings 11:43

"He (Jeroboam) slept with his fathers." 1 Kings 14:20

"Rehoboam slept with fathers." 1 Kings 14:31

"Abijam slept with his fathers." 1 Kings 15:8

"Asa slept with his fathers." 1 Kings 15:24

"Baasha slept with his fathers." 1 Kings 16:6

"Omri slept with his fathers." 1 Kings 16:28

"Ahad slept with his fathers." 1 Kings 22:40

"Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers." 1 Kings 22:50

"Joram slept with his fathers." 2 Kings 8:24

"Jehu slept with his fathers." 2 Kings 10:35

"Jehoahaz slept with his fathers." 2 Kings 13:9

"I should have slept." Job 3:13

"Now shall i sleep." Job 7:21

"They have slept their sleep." Psalm 76:5

"and sleep a perpetual sleep." Jeramiah 51:39

"Them that sleep in the dust." Daniel 12:2

"is not dead, but sleepeth." Matthew 9:24

"Lazarus sleepeth." John 11:11

"Some are fallen asleep." 1 Corinthians 15:6

"Concerning them which are asleep." 1 Thessalonians 4:13

"Since the fathers fell asleep." 2 Peter 3:4

The term "sleep" for death occurs some 66 times in 17 different books of the Bible. This is clearly the Biblical term for death. Look up the rest of the texts that mention "sleep" as death. They are:

2 Kings 13:13; 2 Kings 14:16, 22, 29; 15:7. 22, 38; 16:20; 20:21; 21:18; 24:6; 2 Chronicles 9:31; 12:16; 14:1; 16:13; 21:1; 26:2, 23; 27:9; 28:27; 32:33; 33:20; Job 14:2; Psalm 13:3; 76:6; 90:5; Jeremiah 51:57; Matthew 27:52; Mark 5:39; Luke 8:52; Acts 7:60; 13:36; 1 Corinthians 11:30; 15:18, 20; 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 15.

Clearly presented in both the Old Testament and the New Testament the term for death is a sleep.

I saw that the saints must get a thorough understanding of present truth, which they will be obliged to maintain from the Scriptures. they must understand the state of the dead; for the spirits of devils will yet appear to them, professing to be beloved friends and relatives, who will declare to them that the Sabbath has been changed, also other unscriptural doctrines. They will do all in their power to excite sympathy and will work miracles before them to confirm what they declare. The people of God must be prepared to withstand these spirits with the Bible truth that the dead know not anything, and that they who appear to them to them are spirits of devils. Our minds must not be taken up with things arouns us, but must be occupied with the present truth anda preparation to give a reason of our hope with meekness and fear. We must seek wisfom from on high that we may stand in this day of error and delsusion.

Early Writings 87.2

For further studies regarding this subject and others, please email us at Godspillars1844@gmail.com