Where Are They Now - 11

Going to not increase in point, we can't admission when someone closely passes away. It's natural to wonder what happens after this, Jeremiah turns to a parable and glimpse of the answer is negative introduce his message where they now think of a joint weekend edition Jeremiah were talking about heaven. Quite often people will say to me something like this. Dr. Jeremiah you say that when we die we go to heaven. Then I go to a funeral and there the person is who I have lost in there in a casket in heaven or are they here where are they now in the answer to that question is the subject of our discussion on this weekend edition. Alexander stood, said things most people want to know about their deceased loved one number one day, 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.

Where are they now live 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 that I wasn't talking about them falling asleep like you fell asleep at night, falling asleep softened term believers that is used often in the Scriptures to describe a Christian dies.

For instance, you remember, Lazarus was raised from the grave. Jesus said about Lazarus in John 1111 these things he said 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 the book of acts is after he had served his own generation by the will of God asleep and was buried with his fathers and saw corruption's Olympus body goes to sleep and goes in the grave. What happens to the real person like problems that we have if we just study the Bible, we can find out the word of God can lend authoritative teaching. I want to talk with you about two people two places and two principles in the last 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 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.

We can watch them in their life 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 the 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 sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus 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 sumptuously means flamboyantly brilliantly outwardly wealthy. The beggar in contrast, was very unimpressive. Lazarus is said to be both sick and hungry. His source 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 begged for some food. We don't have a hard time understanding that we see something like that.

Honest. Every week, no matter where we live only for a few columns 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 faring sumptuously the program Lazarus desiring to be fed with the crumbs. The rich man with many servants.

Lazarus 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 seems from reading the story that Lazarus died first, and the rich man died second, there's no records 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 was a beggar died, they would either put them in the potter's field for 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 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.

No, 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 the stuff he had amassed he could buy one extra day of life to men in death. 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 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 the parables that Jesus told he never ever used the personal name of an individual in the story he calls one of the people by the name Lazarus was not Lazarus that he raised from the dead was another man by that name, but 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 service 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. Abraham's bosom. We are told is called Paradise.

It is the place where the righteous go according to the 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 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 did go the rich man who was so flamboyant in his life, went to this place and it is a representation of who failed to place their trust in Christ 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. What is the meaning of that term, 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.

Lazarus dies, his body probably what the potter's field Gehenna, but that 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 and Hades 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 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. But I flamed. Here's a picture of it right here in this intermediate place.

This man is in torment and he is in flames rich man I watch is not lost because he was rich anymore than the poor man is say because he is poor on settlement 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 men of time has become an eternity life deny that a crime from his table is now for one drop of water in his life sumptuously every day would now be happy with just one drop of water to cool stone place of misery. Notice secondly's in the place of memory. This is something that's new to a lot of folks. Luke 1625 Abraham said, son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus 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 sees Lazarus and his conscious of what he is missed one of the tortures of Hades is to look across the fixed golf and the 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 you will remember services where he heard the gospel message and the testimony of the Holy Spirit was strong in his heart away from it and rejected it and throughout eternity.

It would be an instant replay over and over and over again in his mind that he had a chance we could have accepted that he did not is a place of misery in the place of memory but notice that it's a place of morning Luke 1627 to 31 says that he said I think, 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 and 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 bed, they will repent. 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, the representative of the lost who now and Hades is this rich man he was alive. He was conscious, he was in full exercise of his faculties is memory and is in torment or two people not want to notice places.

This notice what happens and let me take you through the progression of work. They are now. First of all, and intermediate Hell, a place that is not ultimately held but it is hell in an 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. The judgment of the great white throne.

Hades gives them a and Bill are judged and passed into the lake of fire. You say where is that well on what you read with me Revelation chapter 20 verses 13 and 14 and the sea gave up the dead who were in it and breath 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 is what happens when a person dies today and they don't know Jesus, the 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 is about having 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 replaced. As 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, 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 the boat 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. I happen to believe the Bible and what 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.

Amen. And so if it's something I can't fathom in his wall. I say okay let's find out. It'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 when Jesus died on the cross was buried, and rose again on the day of his ascension, something changed and I want you to launch 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 ascended to the lower parts of the earth. He also descended is the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might things. The Bible says. When Jesus ascended after his death.

He went into the earth, and he led captivity captive into Paradise and he took all the people in paradise and 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, estimate, 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 you know Jesus went to paradise. I'm glad you asked me to remember what he said to the thief on the cross when he died when he say class today. 2343 today you will be with me where in paradise. How do you know paradise is not still where it is. Well I'm glad you asked me that question two.

Let's go back and remember in second Corinthians 12 verses two and four. Remember what Paul said about his vision.

I know man in Christ who 14 years ago, whether in the body I do not know whether out of the body I do not know God knows such a one was caught up to the third heaven was the third heaven closets in the north. It's where God is right, I and I know such a man, whether in the body or out of the body I do not know God knows how was caught up in the paradise risk paradise.

It's in the third heaven. How did it get there. When Jesus ascended and paradise. He took it up to the third heaven.

So now where are they when a believer dies his body goes in the grave and goes to sleep. Soul doesn't go to sleep. There's no such thing as several sleep tell you something friend with you a Christian or non-Christian. You're going to be alive somewhere forever and ever. So does not sleep body sleeps in the soul and spirit goes to paradise, which is in the third heaven ran a believer dies in his body goes in the grave, and he goes to be with Jesus. He doesn't have a body because his body is in the grave and the resurrection doesn't happen until Jesus comes back to the earth's natural soul is body goes in the grave, soul and spirit goes to paradise. The resurrection of all believers doesn't happen until the rapture.

What happens to the believer between death and the resurrection. What form do we take when we die and the resurrection hasn't happened yet. Are we just rolled up our bodies and launched into eternity. Make a person dies. The body goes into great soul and spirit goes to paradise. But how do they exist in paradise body has to be part of our existence. Because the human spirit craves to be close. Now here's the passage of Scripture that I want you to look at with second Corinthians 5 verses one through five. For we know that if our earthly house.

This tent is that our body is destroyed, we have a building from God house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens very endlessly grown, earnestly desiring to be clothed with cohabitation which is from heaven. If you need having been closed. We shall not be found naked for when you're in this body. In this tent grown being burden not because we want to be close, but further closed that mortality might be swallowed up by life. Now he has prepared us for this very thing is God who also has given us the spirit is a guarantee. Paul says that the human spirit earnestly desires not to be" that means not to be with God not to be disembodied human spirit desperately desires not to be without a body to this in the body from heaven awaits believer when he dies.

Did you notice you got your current body resurrected body with the Scripture says you got an between body is an interesting. The Bible says that when we die as Christians. And I think this probably neutral to some people. When we dies, Christians are bodies go in the grave, waiting for the resurrection our soul and spirit goes to paradise to be with Jesus but God Almighty gives phosphate clothing on intermediate body. It's not our resurrected body. Because the resurrection hasn't happened yet and there's no such thing as one of the time. Resurrection's resurrection happens all at once.

And so in between our death and the resurrection. When we get our new resurrection final body. Almighty God calls us with the spirit body. Don't ask me what it's like. Except it's a manifestation of the spirit in bodily form so that even in paradise now we can recognize each other.

We can know each other. We can fellowship with each other and ultimately one day when Jesus comes back in the resurrection happens we will get bodies by Jesus when an Old Testament person died facilitating the body when in the grave at the great white throne judgment.

Hades is cast into the lake of fire and forever and ever.

There is no hope. When a believer dies, his body was in the grave he goes to paradise of soul and spirit. But God gives him an intermediate body so that he is not unclothed between now and the day of resurrection on the resurrection. His body comes out of the grave and it is in a moment transformed into his permanent heavenly body and together we shall be with the Lord, we give you two principles that are really exciting to me. I love theology as you can probably tell, and that I have something that I need to find an answer to I study and study and study so I find it and you know what I discovered I never had a question that I really research that I can find the answer to the Scripture. I know now for a fact what happens to a person when they die where they go, how they exist, what's going on right now all of that is wonderful as it is, is not the most important thing we tell you what I discovered. I don't know if I can tell you this without emotion after immersing myself in all these passages about the temporary and eternal believer. One truth jumps out of the Scripture into my heart paradise in heaven and the new Jerusalem, and whatever name you may use to describe that place is secondary to mass. Heaven is where Jesus is heaven being with Jesus and truth. You need to write a manner because it is hammered into our hearts, over and over but you haven't seen it as many times as it's there because it kind of sneaks in the end, passages but let me show you what the Scripture says and then you will understand. I don't know if I completely comprehend think that Jeremiah said today about immediate happen in the permanent one thing I do understand is when I got to be with Jesus and watch this.

This John 1430 and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, why that where I am, there you may be also the place. It's about the person. When Jesus gave assurance to the thief on the cross, would he say to. He said today would be with me and Curtis paradise is secondary. Paul explained Japanese terms, he said, we are confident yes well. Please read it to be absent from the body not present in heaven.

Absent from the body present with when Paul is writing to the Philippians about his own death he wrote I am hard pressed between the two having a desire to depart and go where heaven will be with Christ seeing that it's not about heaven, so much as it is about Jesus you agree with me as if he's there okay because he's the one new life beyond what I deserve and all you want to say is you're going to be with Jesus is all right just to be with Jesus. A man I need to know the things it's important for more important is this after going to great lengths to explain the details of the rapture, the same apostle summarizes all these words he said and we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

And thus we will always be with the Lord, the priority of the presence of Jesus, and one last thing that I must tell you, that's the permanence of personal decisions. 1626 story of the two men says. But besides all this, between us there is a great golf fixed men and women whatever decisions we make about eternity will be made in this life story is not about purgatory. There is no such thing. I hate to hurt your feelings. If you believe that all of your life. Purgatory teaches that you go someplace into a holding space and that there's a possibility that you can come out of that place and your destiny be changed. That is not true.

The Bible's teaches that when we die. It is appointed unto men once to die, and after that the judgment whatever decisions we make about eternity will be made in the here and now there is no second chance after death, and so if you haven't made your decision to trust in Jesus Christ.

If you haven't made your reservation for heaven about doing it now because you don't get another chance after you die I don't care who told you that you did. The Bible says you don't and you have to decide who you believe Jesus has made it very clear that we can know him and spend eternity with him forever.

But whatever we do, we better do it now because this is the day of opportunity today is the day of salvation. Know what I learn. I learned that the gospel can change a person in a moment, but you have to be willing to hear it an acceptable God plan for my life. I want to get in on it and finally heaven someday includes today as well. We have you enjoyed today's Turning Point, weekend edition with Dr. David Jeremiah. You can hear this and other programs and get more information about their ministry by downloading the free Turning Point Bible app, smart phone or tablet or by visiting our website David Jeremiah.04/radio Jeremiah.org/radio. You can also view Turning Point television on Frito-Lay channel 17 Sunday mornings at night and on I CCTV Sundays at 6:30 AM and Friday afternoons at one. We invite you to join us again next weekend is Dr. David Jeremiah. She is another powerful message from God's word right here on Turning Point, weekend edition thanks for taking time to listen to string these increased in size and