Where Are They Now - Part 1

Christian would someone close to process the word is only natural to wonder what happens off the grid when exactly do souls go around Turning Point.

Dr. Jeremiah offers. I will provide a glimpse of the onset from the gospel of the story of Lazarus and the rich man from the series of revealing the mysteries of heaven is his message now. Well, you know that's one of the most confusing things about heaven. For many people because they say it like this you know Pastor you say that my husband or my wife or my mother, my father, they went to heaven, but I go to the funeral and there they are in the casket what you mean and went to not going to have them there still here. And of course the problem with that is the nature of who a person is as a person's body or is he his soul and spirit. When you talk about that today, as we answer the question where are they now and that's really important to all of us because all of us have somebody we love is gone to heaven. And we need to know everything we can about them, and then will be all prepared for when our time comes to go to heaven as well. Heaven is a wonderful study. It's filled with delightful promises of hope and encouragement, and were glad you condemned for this teaching series for inferences letter month, a Turning Point.

Whatever you can do right to us and let us know what God is doing in your life to this ministry. So here we were now in Indiana cemetery is to install more than 100 years old with the following is like this stranger. When you pass me by. As you are now so once was. I as I am now so you will be preparing yourself. Follow me young man came along and wrote a couple of notes: when they go like this. The following you are not content until I know which way you went right). Alexander Stewart has said that there are two things most people want to know about their deceased loved one number one what are they and number two. How is it going with them. Where are they now that's a question a lot of folks have asked me when I a grief counselor. They now lived in the New Testament times. It was just as concerned about that question as we remember when Paul wrote to the believers and he was writing to them because of the questions in their minds in first Thessalonians 413 we read these words I do not want you to be brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. And I wasn't talking about them falling asleep like you fall asleep at night, falling asleep is a softened term for a believers is used often in the Scriptures to describe a Christian who dies. For instance, you remember, Lazarus was raised from the grave. Jesus said about Lazarus in John 1111 these things he said and after that he said to them, our friend Lazarus sleeps, Lazarus was in the sleepy was that the grave in the Old Testament we read about him in the book of acts is is after he had served his own generation by the will of God, he fell asleep and was buried with his fathers and saw corruption. So in the New Testament the word to fall asleep when it's referring to a Christian is about and the words really is: all and it means to recline. It's the same word that was used for someone who slept in a hotel for one night and the next day we would get up and go on with their journey. It's a beautiful picture of what happens to believers body when they die their body goes to sleep and it's put in the hotel waiting the time when the resurrection will happen now. Every time people asked me where are they now. The first thing I have to tell them is that obviously their body is asleep, the body has died in the body is in the grave and every time you pass the cemetery were reminded of what happens to a person's body when they die their body goes in the great that's not the issue. The issue is about the real person because we all know that body isn't the real person.

The body is just a house in which the real person lives the bodies the shell in which the person resides solely in this body goes to sleep and goes in the grave. What happens to the real person will like in all the problems that we have if we just study the Bible, we can find out only the word of God can lend authoritative teaching. I want to talk with you about two people two places and two principles and that we are built to handle that two people to places and to principles in order for us to get our arms around the subject. I want you to join with me in the reviewing of a passage of Scripture which most of us are familiar with. In the 16th chapter of the book of Luke the 16th chapter of Luke.

We have the story which is usually referred to as the rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus and diabetes which is a Latin word for being rich and in the 16th chapter, we have this record of these two men were going to start with two men, Lazarus and the rich man as we look at the story were going to see these two men kind of split screens contrasted with each other in three ways within watch them in their life to see them in their death and were going to see them after their death and eternity. Are you ready for that watch them. First of all, we just get a little snapshot of the rich man and Lazarus in their lifetime. The two men contrasted in life.

Luke 1619 to 21 says this there was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen anything sumptuously every day.

But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus source 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.

The rich man had received good things he knew the good life sumptuously every day word sumptuously means flamboyantly brilliantly. He was outwardly wealthy. The beggar in contrast, was very unimpressive. Lazarus is said to be both sick and hungry his sores could have been bound and dressed by the rich man's ointment but instead they were elected by the dogs every day. Lazarus was left at the gate of the rich man just to beg for some food. We don't have a hard time understanding that we see something like that almost every week, no matter where we live. He was hoping only for a few crumbs to be thrown in his direction.

So there you have a snapshot of these two men in life, the rich man covered in purple and fine linen and the poor man, Lazarus covered only with sores. The rich man staring sumptuously.

The poor man, Lazarus desiring to be fed with the problems the rich man with many servants.

Lazarus with only the dogs to care for him to men contrasted in life and the curtain comes down on scene one. The next time we see these two men is in that two men contrasted in death and in verse 22 we read first of all, of the death of Lazarus. Notice what it says so what was that the beggar Lazarus died and he was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. It seems from reading the story that Lazarus died first in the rich man died second.

There's no reference to the burial of Lazarus simply says that he died more than likely, his body wasn't buried because in those days when a poor person who was a beggar. I they would either put them in the potter's field, or more than likely they would throw him in a place called Gehenna which was the name for the outside of the city so more than likely Lazarus body was disposed of.

But the Bible says Lazarus. Real self was carried to Abraham's bosom and the death of the rich man in verse 22 at the end of the verse is very, very shortly describe. And the rich man also died and was buried. It's not hard to imagine the lavish funeral of the rich man is many eulogies, but with all of the things he had done in his life and all of the stuff he had amassed he could buy one extra day of life to men in death. Note the contrast lot is cast away as the garbage of the earth and the others lifted up and audited a magnificent ceremony and the curtain closes on act to stay with me. I now we are able to see something in these next verses that you will never see again in the Bible, and you could not see except through the eyes of the Lord Jesus, who is telling the story, please hear me this is not a parable. This is a real story and all of the parables that Jesus told he never ever used the personal name for an individual in the story he calls one of the people by their name Lazarus was not Lazarus that he raise from the dead was another man by that name. Apparently, a man that Jesus knew personally, for he told the story as an eyewitness, seeing not only their life and their death. Now he's going to show us what happened to them after their death.

The stories about the lay foundation for us to understand what happens when our loved ones die.

The Bible teaches that before the ascension of Jesus Christ.

There was an immediate place where the souls of men and women went death. This place is composed of three compartments, Abraham's bosom, the great gulf fixed and Hades the place of torment. Now Abraham's bosom. We are told is called Paradise. It is the place where the righteous dead go according to this story.

It is a place of comfort in verse 25 says that Lazarus is comforted in this place. When Lazarus dies, his body goes in the grave, and he goes to Paradise.

The Bible says it's a place of comfort. It is also a place of love and companionship is Lazarus is pictured in the bosom of Abraham, the Angels took Lazarus to Paradise immediately after his death.

When Lazarus died, his body when in the grave or wherever they put his body and his soul and spirit went to paradise. The other compartment is a place of torment.

It is also called Hades and into this place. The souls of the wicked dead go the rich man who was so flamboyant in his life, went to this place and it is a representation of all who fail to place their trust in Christ, he is a picture of what happens to those who die without Christ and in between paradise and Hades. We are told in the Scripture that there is a great golf fixed according to Jesus, there is a chasm between these two places that cannot be crossed under any circumstances, but let's take notice of what is happening to these two men, one of whom died and went to Paradise and one of whom died and went to Hades. Come back to the Bible now and notice Lazarus in eternity. In verse 22. In Luke 1622 so it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. First of all, please notice that when the beggar died, God sent his Angels to take him to paradise. I would love to preach a message just on that. I remember when I first started doing funerals is young pastor sometimes older people come up and they pat me on the shoulder and they say all pastor you just know the Angels took her to heaven and I thought you were in a room that you ever hear that. Then I read my Bible and I found out it was in the Bible. The Angels take us to heaven.

Did you know that in all kinds of reasons I could suggest you as to why but it's a beautiful picture is what a believer dies, God sends his angels to take the believer to paradise.

And here's the evidence of it right here in the story well. Jesus says that when the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom and what is the meaning of that term will Abraham's bosom. Just another term for paradise. The place where the soul and spirit of the Old Testament believers went when they die, understand, this is still an Old Testament story because the cross hasn't happened yet. Try to get too technical, but I want you to stay with me in this logic. So you see we were going. Lazarus dies, his body probably what the potter's field Gehenna but not in effect is solely angels came and took his soul and spirit took him to Abraham's bosom paradise.

I now let's look in on our rich man who died the rich man in eternity and notice what the Bible says about him. First of all, he's in the place of misery. Luke 1623 and 24 and being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and he saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus in his bosom and he cried and he 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 displaying something similar in the Bible does it say that when you die if you go to hell. There are flames. Well here's a picture of it right here in this intermediate place.

This man is in torment and he is in flames, the rich man now watch is not lost because he is rich anymore than the poor man is saved because he is poor. So in the story that the rich man did not believe in Jesus Christ. While Lazarus did. And because of their faith, their destiny is fixed now in many respects, the rich man and Lazarus have changed places. Watch what happened.

The proud man of time has become beggar in eternity one when life denied the poor man across from his table is now waiting for one drop of water in his life sumptuously every day would now be happy with just one drop of water to cool stone.

He's in a place of misery. Notice secondly's in the place of memory. This is something that's new to a lot of folks. Luke 1625 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. Verse 25 indicates that Hades is a place of memory. He lifts up his eyes and he sees Lazarus and his conscious of what he was missed one of the archers of Hades is to look across the fixed golf and pubic comforts and blessings of those who have accepted Christ.

I believe that throughout eternity. The unbeliever will be constantly reminded of what he missed because he rejected God. I believe he will remember services where he heard the gospel message and more the testimony of the Holy Spirit was strong in his heart away from it and rejected it and throughout eternity. It will be an instant replay over and over and over again in his mind that he had a chance that he could have accepted that he did not. It is a place of misery in the place of memory but notice thoroughly. It's a place of morning Luke 1627 to 31 says. Then he said I beg therefore father that she would send him Lazarus 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 Bible, let them hear them. And he said no father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead will repent and Abraham said to him, if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if somebody came back from the grave. Listen to the power of the word of God is more powerful than someone coming back from the dead, according to Jesus, not a representative of the lost, who were now in Hades is this rich man he was alive. He was conscious, he was in full exercise of his visas, memory, and is in torment. Now I know you didn't come to hear me talk about that but I have to tell you that so you understand the rest of the story to people not want you to notice two places this notice what happens and let me take you through the progression were they are now. First of all, and intermediate Hell, a place that is not ultimately held but it is hell and intermediate way. Watch this so far as the unsaved are concerned, they continue in this place called Hades the intermediate hell until a particular time in the future at the judgment of the great white throne. Hades gives them up and they are judged and passed into the lake of fire. You say where is that while I'm at you to read with me Revelation chapter 20 verses 13 and 14 and the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them and they were judged, each one according to his works, and death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death is what happens when a person dies today and they don't know Jesus there body goes in the grave in their soul and spirit goes to Hades. One day after the judgment, Hades according to the Scripture will be cast into the lake of fire which is the permanent hell where there is mourning and weeping and wailing forever and ever.

Do I believe in a permanent hell, let me say to you if there is no permanent hell. There cannot be a permanent heaven because the Bible says far more about hell in the New Testament than it does about heaven. There is such a place and it is a place that no one wants to go. You can say I don't believe that is by not believing you could make it untrue. My friend, if you believe it or you don't believe it is still true and it's going to be a place where you can see from this rich man and would never want to go and you would never want anyone you love to go awry. Intermediate hell. Now notice. Secondly, the intermediate heaven paradise. Now you have to really think carefully here every believer who died before the ascension of Christ went to paradise.

There was no change in their abode until Jesus ascended to the father hear something that happens so dramatic here that is often skipped over by the teachers of the word of God simply because they cannot fathom the truth of it while I happen to believe the Bible and when I see something I can't fathom. I just get more excited because this is a supernatural book about a supernatural life about a supernatural God was a supernatural plan for his supernatural Saints.

A man and so if it's something I can't fathom in his high say okay let's find out what's going on here and so watch what happens now when a believer dies in the Old Testament. His body went in the grave, and his soul and spirit went to the place called Paradise. But when Jesus died on the cross was buried and he rose again on the day of his ascension, something changed and I want you to watch Ephesians chapter 4 verses eight through 10. Therefore, he says when he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. Now this he ascended, what does it mean that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth. He also descended is the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might do all things. Here's what the Bible says. When Jesus ascended after his death.

He went into the earth, and he led captivity captive. He went into paradise and he took all the people in paradise and he took him up to the third heaven paradise is no longer an intermediate place paradise is with God in heaven. Jesus took all those who are in paradise. The Old Testament saints died and he believed in God before the ascension when Jesus died on the cross after his death. He went into paradise. You say how do you know Jesus went to paradise. I'm glad you asked me remember what he said to the thief on the cross when he died what he said class today. Luke 2343 today you will be with me where in paradise and will have to break for the weekend before we fully answer the question that we post where is paradise. What does it mean to go to paradise in is that the final stop is that the ultimate heaven have to wait until Monday to find out because we'll talk about that when we get together after the weekend bear message today from Shadow Mountain Community Church and senior pastor Jeremiah please write military guards using Turning Point in her life right through us. It PO Box 3838, San Diego, CA 92163 visit our website at David Jeremiah thought/radio revealing the mysteries of heaven better informed about your amazing gift of any amount you can also search his Jeremiah study Bible and the English standard and new international version in standard or lodgment in the new King James helpfulness and articles by Dr. Jeremiah visit Jeremiah adult/radio on Gary hopefully join us Monday as we continue the series revealing the mysteries of heaven that's here I'm Turning Point taking time to listen to the frenzies in Christian