Expert: Dr. Billy Kryger - 5/9/2010

Question
The belief stated by one of the other pastors on this web site about the state of the dead is that we are not asleep, but rather up in heaven with God after death.  How can the soul be alive?

Genesis 2:7 states that we do not have a living soul but rather we become a living soul, only after the union of the body made from the dust and the breath of life given by God.

Ecclesiastes 9: 4-6 also tells us that the dead know not any thing, nor 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.

!!! if the righteous were in heaven after death, would they not have their reward and much love? and if the wicked are in hell, wouldn't they have hatred and much agony?

II Corinthians 15:51-56 tells us that at Christ second coming the dead in Christ is raised incorruptible and this mortal will put on immortality.  If the righteous were in heaven wouldn't they already have received immortality?

Also if the wicked are burning in hell forever and ever that would be giving them eternal life.  I believe that is the gift of God and not the wages of sin.
-For the wages of sin is Death, but the gift of God is everlasting life.-

There are many points to make... but this teaching does not match up with what the bible says about death at all.  Please show me why you believe this

Answer
The belief stated by one of the other pastors on this web site about the state of the dead is that we are not asleep, but rather up in heaven with God after death.  How can the soul be alive?  

2 Corinthians 5:1-8  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  2  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:  3  If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.  4  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.  5  Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.  6  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:  7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)  8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.


Genesis 2:7 states that we do not have a living soul but rather we become a living soul, only after the union of the body made from the dust and the breath of life given by God.

This verse speaks of the creation of man


Ecclesiastes 9:4-6 also tells us that the dead know not any thing, nor 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.  !!! if the righteous were in heaven after death, would they not have their reward and much love? and if the wicked are in hell, wouldn't they have hatred and much agony?

These verses, in context, are speaking of spiritual life and death, not physical.


II Corinthians 15:51-56 tells us that at Christ second coming the dead in Christ is raised incorruptible and this mortal will put on immortality.  If the righteous were in heaven wouldn't they already have received immortality?

This, in contrast to the above passage, is speaking of the physical state, not the spiritual.


Also if the wicked are burning in hell forever and ever that would be giving them eternal life.  I believe that is the gift of God and not the wages of sin.
-For the wages of sin is Death, but the gift of God is everlasting life.-

Everyone experiences eternal life--the believer in Heaven and the unbeliever-those who rejected Christ as Saviour-in hell.  The verse you cited speaks of eternal life for the believer, but there is also scripture that proclaims eternal life for the unbeliever:  Mark 9:42-48  And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.  43  And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:  44  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  45  And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:  46  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  47  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:  48  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Revelation 20:10-15  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

There are many points to make... but this teaching does not match up with what the bible says about death at all.  Please show me why you believe this