Questions tagged [afterlife]
Questions about the existence and place of the soul (or body) after one's physical death on earth.
57 questions
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Where did Samuel come from when he was summoned by the Medium of En-dor?
Appropriate to today, I was thinking about the time when Saul visited the Medium of En-dor in 1 Samuel 28:8-14 (ESV):
So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men ...
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Did Job believe in an afterlife where wrongs could be righted?
At the end of his life, Job seems to have been content with his lot despite his time of suffering recorded in the rest of the book. Some have suggested that the reason he had for contentment is that ...
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What is Job saying he believes about death and what follows in Job 14?
Job makes several interesting statements in chapter 14 about death.
10 But a man dies and is laid low;
man breathes his last, and where is he?
11 As waters fail from a lake
and a river ...
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Are the souls of Revelation 6:9-11 awake and, yet, still awaiting the resurrection?
Revelation 6:9-11 (NASB):
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they ...
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Is there a contradiction between Ecclesiastes 9:5 & Luke 16:19-31?
Ecclesiastes 9:5 (KJV)
5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Luke 16:19-31 (KJV)
...
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Luke 16:19-31 Lazarus and the rich man - literal, allegorical or a mixture of both?
Is this merely a parable or does it present a theological concept of the after life? It suggests that Jesus was saying people only get one chance. It further suggests that once a person dies, they ...
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What is hell? sheol/hades/prison/lake of fire/outer darkness
This question looks at 5 contexts which refer to hell, how the word is used, and what it means.
1.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption. ...
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Psalm 16:10: hell vs Sheol vs realm of the dead
Psalm 16:10
King James Bible
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
New King James Version
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor ...
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Ecclesiastes 12:7 implications for animals?
Where Ecclesiastes 12:7 says that when a human being dies with God, his soul returns to God, and the physical body returns to dust--does this also happen with animals?
Then shall the dust return to ...
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What does Ecclesiastes 12:7 exactly mean by "the spirit returns to God"?
Ecclesiastes 12:7 (ESV):
7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
What does Ecclesiastes 12:7 exactly mean by "the spirit returns to God"? ...
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Did Paul believe in a place called 'the abyss' that houses the spirits/souls of the dead? Romans 10:7
Romans 10:5-7 (ESV):
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “...
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Is Peter's use of Tartarus adoptive of Hellenistic language or ideas?
We see here in 2 Peter 2:4 reference to what in most English translations is "hell", but in the Greek is "Tartarus" (as usually noted in the footnotes):
For if God did not spare ...
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Does "asleep" in 1 Corinthians 15 mean that the dead are unconscious prior to the resurrection?
Inspired by discussion from this question
The New Testament regularly refers to the dead as "asleep". This occurs several times in 1 Corinthians 15, such as:
20 But now is Christ risen ...
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What did Stephen mean when he said "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" in Acts 7:59?
Acts 7:54-60 (NASB):
54 Now when they heard this, they were infuriated, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the ...
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Does 1 Thessalonians 5:10 rule out annihilism?
An annihilist would affirm that "those who sleep" equals "those who die" and that those who die are both dead physically and non-existent as to consciousness. As I understand the ...
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Why does Jesus respond to a request about his Kingdom at Luke 23:42 by talking about Paradise in Luke 23:43?
At Luke 23:42, one of the criminals says to Jesus
"Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!" (Berean Study
Bible)
Jesus then responds
"Truly I tell you, today you will be ...
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Does Lk 24;39 hint at the existence of ghosts on the earth?
We read in Lk 24:37-39(NIV)the narrative of Jesus' post- Resurrection appearance to the disciples:
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you ...
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Did David and Saul have different afterlife theologies?
On the one hand, one could arguably say that David seemed to have believed that the dead were unconscious, based on what he said in Psalm 146:4 (YLT):
His spirit goeth forth, he returneth to his ...
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Is there room for interpreting "paradise" in Luke 23:43 as a reference to "Abraham's Bosom" (Luke 16:19-31)?
When Jesus mentioned paradise in Luke 23:43,
43 and Jesus said to him, `Verily I say to thee, To-day with me thou shalt be in the paradise.' (YLT)
is it possible that he meant Abraham's bosom, as ...
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Didn't David and Isaiah believe they would go to a paradise, in the presence of God, where they would worship Him, as soon as they died?
I admit one can get this impression from the following passages, which are commonly cited to make this point:
17 The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence.
[Psalm 115:17 ...
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Does it follow from Matthew 10:28 that the soul remains alive (i.e. conscious) after physical death?
Matthew 10:28:
28 `And be not afraid of those killing the body, and are not able to kill the soul, but fear rather Him who is able both soul and body to destroy in gehenna. [YLT]
28 And fear not them ...
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Does Psalm 146:3-4 affirm that the dead are unconscious?
In my opinion, one of the passages that most clearly support the belief that the dead are unconscious is Psalm 146:3-4:
3 Trust not in princes -- in a son of man, For he hath no deliverance. 4 His ...
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Does it follow from 1 Timothy 6:13-16 that the souls of human beings are not inherently immortal?
1 Timothy 6:13-16 (YLT):
13 I charge thee, before God, who is making all things alive, and of Christ Jesus, who did testify before Pontius Pilate the right profession,
14 that thou keep the command ...
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Did Paul believe that he would immediately be with Jesus as soon as he died?
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both ...
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Does Isaiah 66:24 in Hebrew showcase the reality of the bodies of the Resurrected Unsaved?
Let’s lay out the Context of the future New Heavens & Earth:
“For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall
remain before Me,” says the Lord, “So shall your descendants and ...
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Why is the practice of consulting the dead detestable to God?
Deuteronomy 18:9-12 (NASB):
9 “When you enter the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among ...
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Is Jesus using multiple definitions of "life" in Matthew 10:39?
Matthew 10:39 (ESV)
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
How can someone find their life and then lose it, or lose their life and then find it?
...
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Does Ecclesiastes 9:10 affirm that the dead are unconscious?
In my opinion, one of the passages that most clearly support the belief that the dead are unconscious is Ecclesiastes 9:10:
10 All that thy hand findeth to do, with thy power do, for there is no work,...
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Did Jesus believe in ghosts / disembodied spirits?
Luke 24:36-39 (NASB):
36 Now while they were telling these things, Jesus Himself suddenly stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened, and ...
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Should "Abraham's bosom" be interpreted as a physical destination or is as a metaphor for embracing relationship?
Luke 16:22 KJV - And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was
carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died,
and was buried;
YLT - And it came to pass, that the poor man ...
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Were Jesus (Luke 23:43) & Paul (2 Corinthians 12:1-4) referring to the same 'paradise'?
Luke 23:43 (YLT):
43 and Jesus said to him, `Verily I say to thee, To-day with me thou shalt be in the paradise.'
2 Corinthians 12:1-4 (YLT):
To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will ...
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Is there a contradiction between Ecclesiastes 9:5-10 & 1 Samuel 28?
The Passages
Ecclesiastes 9:5-10 (ESV):
5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Their love and their ...
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Are the spirits of the dead conscious according to Isaiah 14:9-11?
Isaiah 14:9-11 (KJV):
9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones ...
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Is there a contradiction between Isaiah 38:17-19 & Luke 23:43?
Isaiah 38:17-19 (ESV):
17 Behold, it was for my welfare
that I had great bitterness;
but in love you have delivered my life
from the pit of destruction,
for you have cast all my sins
behind your back....
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Does it follow from John 17:3 that the wicked will cease to exist (since they won't have eternal life)?
John 17:3 (ESV):
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
The wicked who will experience the second death do not and will not truly ...
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What does going "alive into Sheol" mean in Numbers 16?
Parshat Korach contains a curious phrase in Moses's admonition to Korach and the resulting consequences:
וְאִם־בְּרִיאָה יִבְרָא יְהֹוָה וּפָצְתָה הָאֲדָמָה אֶת־פִּיהָ וּבָלְעָה אֹתָם וְאֶת־כׇּל־...
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Do Proverbs 15:24 and Ecclesiastes 3:21 suggest that the righteous ascend (up) and the wicked descend (down, to Sheol/Abaddon) at death?
Proverbs 15 (ESV):
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him who pursues righteousness.
10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
whoever hates reproof ...
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The dead forget OR the dead will be forgotten? Ecclesiastes 9:5
Ecclesiastes 9:5 has been used to suggest that the dead have no memory or the suggest that the dead are forgotten by others, and a variety of interpretations in between. A sampling of translations ...
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According to Ecclesiastes, what part of man goes to Sheol?
Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 (ESV):
18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. 19 For what happens to the ...
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Does Luke 16:19-23 illustrate an immediate transition into either fellowship & joy (Abraham 's bosom) or eternal torment (Hades) after death?
Luke 16:19-31 (KJV)
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at ...
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What is the more accurate rendering of 2 Thessalonians 1:9 “ruin” or “destruction”?
We read two different translations:
“These will pay the penalty of eternal ruin, separated from the
presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power,” 2
Thessalonians 1:9 (NABRE)
Vs
“...
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Which translation of Isaiah 38:17-18 is more accurate, and what does this tell us about Isaiah's view of Sheol, death and the afterlife?
Isaiah 38:17-18:
17 Behold, for my own welfare I had great bitterness; But You have kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, For You have hurled all my sins behind Your back. 18 For Sheol cannot ...
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Is the "cutting off" in Leviticus 20:3 evidence of the afterlife?
Leviticus 20:1-4
Say to the Israelites: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in
Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to
death. The members of the community are to stone ...
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Where was Samuel? [duplicate]
1 Samuel 28:19 says (my paraphrase) tomorrow you and your sons will die and "be with me". Samuel had been summoned from after death. Samuel was godly. I expected that he would have been ...
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Implications of Romans 8:33-39 regarding the afterlife?
Romans 8:33-39 (ESV):
33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the ...
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Does Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 suggest that the spirits of animals and humans go to different places in the spiritual realm upon death?
Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 (ESV):
18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. 19 For what happens to the ...
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Is Ezekiel talking about eternal life and death in Chapter 18?
ESV Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be ...
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Could 1 Peter 4:6 referencing the nekrois be connected in some way with the tradition narrated in the Pastor of Hermas III.9.16?
1 Peter 4:6 ESV
For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
The section ...
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Did Hezekiah believe in an afterlife?
Isaiah 38:18 NASB
For Sheol cannot thank You,
Death cannot praise You;
Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.
Did Hezekiah not believe in an afterlife, even after claiming ...
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What does it mean that Jesus is "Lord both of the dead and of the living" (Romans 14:9)?
Romans 14:7-9 (ESV):
7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether ...
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