When a man dies, whether saved or unsaved, he does NOT then go to His final abode; that is, either Heaven of Hell. But, as the Bible CLEARLY teaches; after death man's soul or spirit goes to the "unseen" realm or "Hades". Yes, Solomon wrote that "the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" Eccl. 12:7. But, God places that soul/spirit in the dual-compartmented region of "Hades". David spoke of the death of Christ what the apostle Peter later confirm - "thou wilt not leave my soul in Hades, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption" Psa. 16:10/Acts 2:31. Speaking of the time the Lord's body was in the grave, the inspired writer said that His soul was in "Hades", which is often translated "Hell". But, this is not the final dwelling of the soul as some would have it. Rather, it is the realm where souls go to await final judgment. Compare our Lord's death with that of "the Rich Man" of Lk. 16:20-31, whom the Lord said had died "and in Hades lift up his eyes" vs. 23. Further notice that he and Lazarus were in the same region, but kept in separate compartments; as if in a building looking from one room into another from across the hall. Yet, the rich man was in torment, while Lazarus was "comforted" vs. 25.
This leads us to our second point, which is that neither Jesus, Lazarus nor "the thief" of Lk.23:43 went to Heaven at death. Notice what Jesus told Mary on the day He resurrected; "I am not yet ascended to My Father" Jn. 20:17, meaning He had not yet ascended to Heaven. Jesus also said that Lazarus, when he died "was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom" Lk. 16:22 (a Hebrew idiom for rest for the faithful and favored). Compare this to what the Lord told that penitent "thief on the cross"; "Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise" (another idiom for a place of peaceful rest, tranquility and comfort). So, it cannot be the case that men go to either Heaven or Hell (their final places of abode) at the point of death. The apostle Peter affirmed, on the birthday of the Lord's church, that David was both dead and entombed within his sepulcher at that time Acts 2:29. And, he further declared that David, at that time "is not ascended into the heavens" vs. 34. So, if David, having been deceased for centuries, had not then ascended into Heaven; then where had David been? Friends, I humble but firmly submit that David along with everyone else who has left this world through death, is housed with the "Hadean" realm, awaiting final judgment, which as the Lord made abundantly clear, will occur at His return; "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." Jn. 5:28-29
~kevin_wright1@hotmail.com
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