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What Happens After Death?
Contents 3 Introduction
Life is precious to us. We don’t want to die. But what really happens to us after death? Scientists, philosophers and even theologians don’t agree. Where can we go for answers? Shouldn’t we seek them from the Creator of life?
4 The Wondrous Gift of Life
To understand death, we must first consider life. Where did life come from? Why are we here? What is our purpose? Are human beings any different from other living things? The answers are crucial if we are to grasp the big picture.
7 The Mystery of Death
Death is one of life’s greatest mysteries. Do we really die, or do we have a soul that lives on apart from the body? Many are confused about this, and this has led to great misunderstandings about death. Does the Bible provide answers?
18 The Promise of Life After Death
God’s Word provides assurance of life after death—though not in a heavenly afterlife as thought by so many! God promises that life will return through a resurrection of the dead. This is how mankind can receive His gift of eternal life.
28 How Eternal Life Will Ultimately Be Offered to All
What happens to those who, simply because of when and where they were born, never had an opportunity to hear of Jesus Christ and God’s Word? Are they doomed to eternal torment? What exactly does the Bible teach about hell?
46 Steps in Dealing With Grief
We all have to cope with the loss caused by death. How can we deal with our grief and help others who are grieving? Understanding what the Bible reveals about death and His promise of the resurrection provides great encouragement.
52 Everlasting Life Conquers Death
Through a resurrection of the dead, God promises to reunite us with loved ones and offer eternal life to all. Eventually God’s plan will lead to death itself being destroyed in an awesome future almost beyond our comprehension!
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Introduction
Introduction
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drunken driver loses control of his car and careens headfirst into a van, killing a family. A mother dies of breast cancer, leaving confused children and a grieving husband. An infant boy succumbs to a fatal birth defect. A gentle, elderly lady dies quietly in her sleep. A desperate, depressed teenager commits suicide. Maybe death would be different if it were predictable or consistent. But death can be so capricious. It hardly seems fair. To us life is precious. But death is everywhere! We don’t want to die. We don’t want to see our loved ones die. Self-preservation is a powerful instinct. We design special diets and exercise programs to keep us young and fit. Through medical science we seek to isolate the gene that causes aging, hoping somehow to eliminate death. A few have even arranged for their bodies to be preserved cryogenically in the hope that they can be brought back to life when the cure for what killed them is finally discovered. Yet for all our efforts, hopes and wishes, death is the one thing in life that remains certain. Whether through old age, illness, accident or violence, whether we are rich, poor, male or female, no matter if we’re good or bad, all of us—regardless of race or creed—eventually face death. Scientists cannot tell us what happens after death. Too many aspects of life itself are intangible—too elusive to measure and record. Philosophers disagree on death and the afterlife. Religions also disagree. Traditional Christian denominations generally teach that the souls of the dead live on in a place or condition of heaven or hell. Many non-Christians believe in the transmigration or reincarnation of souls at death. Still others believe the dead will never live again—that this life is all there is. What really happens at death? Why do we even have to die? Can we actually know whether there is life beyond the grave? Where can we go for meaningful, believable answers? Only the Creator of life can reveal its purpose and the state of the dead. By looking into the Word of God for answers to our questions, we can learn a great deal about both life and death. Let’s now take a look at what God, our Creator, says about life and death in His inspired Word, the Bible. You may be both surprised and challenged as you discover the truth about what happens after death!