Christian Data Resources

A reader asked:  I would like to know where in the Bible that talks about the state of soul after the soul leaves the body?  Like the Catholics believing in purgatory, what do Christians believe in? 

Thank you for your question about the state of the soul after death.  I believe that our definitive passage on this is the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31.  When the rich man died, he went to a place called “Hades” (verse 23), which was a place of torments.  When Lazarus died, he went to a place called “Abraham’s bosom,” which Bible scholars have associated with the word “paradise.”

When people died in Old Testament times (including the times referenced in the Gospels), their bodies went into a grave, but apparently there was a temporary holding place for their souls. The Bible uses a term called hell, such as in Matthew 5:22, but the terminology is slightly different than what we normally use. Hell is the lake of fire where all unbelievers will spend eternity (Revelation 20:14-15). Apparently, however, the temporary holding place (sometimes called Sheol, or Purgatory) had a compartment for separate compartments for believers and unbelievers. (This is where the Catholics (mistakenly) built their doctrine of purgatory.) Unbelievers spent this period in the part called torments (Luke 16:23), while believers spent this time in a place called paradise (Luke 23:43).

However, with the resurrection of Jesus (the first resurrection), these Old Testament believers were transferred from paradise to Heaven. This is apparently what was going on in Matthew 7:53, which is a very difficult passage.

Now, for us, it’s completely different. Since the resurrection of Christ has already occurred, and He has ascended to Heaven, when believers die today, our bodies go to a grave, and our spirits go straight to Heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1-8) to be with Christ.

The Biblical timeline presented here provides an accurate chronology of the events of the Bible.  These charts were derived almost exclusively from the chronological information available in the Bible.  Little attempt was made here to correlate these events with archaeological evidences or non-Biblical sources.  Therefore, it isn’t expected that these charts will agree with traditional chronologies.  The purpose here is to provide a true Biblical (and only Biblical) chronology of mankind.  The following paragraphs substantiate the defense of and the confidence level in these charts.

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The term “salvation” is used by Christians for the blessings received when a person believes in Jesus Christ.  It implies “salvation” from eternity in hell, but there’s much more to it than that.  Here’s what it’s all about:

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A reader asked:  Much has been written as to what occurs upon the death of a Christian.  The information varies from one going to a Paradise such as Abraham’s bosom to one entering the sleep of time until the judgement day or even the beginning of tribulation.  Can you help me find scripture which speaks to this issue?  Within six months my wife and I experienced the loss of both our mothers.  We are middle aged and these deaths are a part of life.  We do however often find what appears to be disparity in the next phase. 

Thank you for your question.  I know that this is a very personal issue for you.  I too am middle-aged, and I have lost both parents and a sister.  As a result, I have probably had many of the same questions that you have.  In searching the Scriptures for exactly what happens when a believer dies, I see distinct differences in the Old and New Testaments as a result of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I believe that when the Old Testament saints encountered death, their souls were not taken directly to heaven, as is now the case with New Testament believers.  Instead, the Old Testament believers were taken to a place called paradise (Luke 233:43,  Corinthians 12:3-4, Revelation 2:3-7), or  Abraham’s bosom(Luke 16:3-23).  Then, upon the event of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, these Old Testament saints were resurrected (Matthew 27:3-52).  Today, now that Christ’ resurrection has already occurred, when Christians die, we are taken directly to heaven.  The strongest argument I find for this is 2 Corinthians 5:3-8, which says, “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”  This seems to say that for us believers of this age, being in this current body is mutually exclusive from being in the presence of God in heaven.  So, at the point of death, we’re no longer in the body, but with the Lord.

Incidentally, in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, Luke 16:3-23 refers to a place called Hades, which is where the rich man was.  This seems to be the opposite of the place of paradise where Lazarus was.  This would imply that, in Old Testament times, those who died were taken to one of these temporary chambers, awaiting their transaction either from paradise to heaven or from Hades to Hell.  This probably also explains the origination of the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, which would equate to Hades in this case.

You may also be interested in my article at https://christiandataresources.com/matthew2752.htm.  It is also related to your question in that it examines the mystery in Matthew 27:52-53 where saints arose from their graves and appeared to many in the holy city.

As a side note, I remember having another question when I lost loved ones.  I wondered whether or not they could look down upon me from heaven.  I found my own personal resolution for this in Revelation 21:3-4, which says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.  Although this is specifically referring to the New Jerusalem on the new earth, I believe that this lack of mourning and crying is now what heaven is like as well, since the new earth has not yet come.”  As a result, I believe that our loved ones in heaven do not look down upon us in this life because they could not look from their vantage point upon their loved ones in a sinful world without shedding tears.

Jim Thorpe was arguably the greatest athlete of all time.  While playing Major League Baseball from 1913 to 1919, he met with Pope Pius X and King Abbas of Egypt, and
and played before 20,000 people in London including King George V.  He played professional football from 1913 to 1928 including playing for championship teams and early NFL teams.  He also played professional basketball from 1926 to 1928.

At the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, he won gold medals in the pentathlon and the decathlon.  Traditionally, the title of “World’s Greatest Athlete” has been given to the person who wins the Olympic decathlon. This began when King Gustav V of Sweden told Jim Thorpe, “You, sir, are the greatest athlete in the world”, to which Thorpe replied, “Thanks, King”.

After President Trump’s inauguration, Madonna said:

“It took this horrific moment of darkness to wake us the f*** up.”

“To our detractors that insist that this march will never add up to anything, ‘F*** you.  F*** you.'”

“Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House.”

“I choose love.”

I don’t know how she reconciles her love with her threat to blow up the White House.  Anyway, I guess that’s the liberal / progressive way to react when your candidate loses.

In 2008, I voted for John McCain, and I was upset when he lost to President Obama.  Nevertheless, I offered up this prayer for the new president:  Presidential Prayer, and I offer the same prayer now for President Trump as well.

January 24th, 2017 marks my 40th anniversary as a software engineer.  This article documents the highlights of my career, so far.  (It’s quite lengthy, but you can just skip the boring parts.)

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I saw a young girl (probably six or eight years old) whose grandfather took her to the presidential inauguration.  When asked about it by a reporter, she said that she would have preferred Hillary over Trump.  When asked why, she said, “I just think it would have been cool to have a woman president.”

Sadly, I believe that’s the best argument that most Hillary supporters had–with the same immaturity as that young girl.  They didn’t know her position on the issues, and they probably didn’t even know their own positions.  They just thought it would be cool for a woman to be president.  A similar mentality sent Obama to the White House just because he was an African-American.  How did that work out for us?

For all the Congressmen who are boycotting Trump’s inauguration:  You could do us all a favor and also boycott Congress for the next two years.  While you’re at it, boycott the press by not talking to them.  Boycotting seems to be what you do best.