Where are the Dead?

[Eli G]

As you said in post#121:

You're more than entitled to your personal beliefs. To be honest, I don't give a damn whether you believe that there are earthbound human spirits or not.

Have a beutiful day, you too.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

.....I also believe that spirits are still alive (in a sense) after their bodies die and have choices about how they will spend their afterlife.

King Solomon, who was known for his God-given wisdom, wrote at Ecclesiastes 12:7 B that one's spirit is a neuter "it" .
No afterlife ( being more alive after death than before death ) for a genderless spirit (it).
Any future life for the dead now lies in God's safe hands via a future resurrection - Acts 24:15; John 6:40,44

 

[URAVIP2ME]

1 Corinthians 15 New Living Translation is the Scriptures.
Why can't you address what those verses say?
Could it be that you don't want to believe them since you are hoping to have your physical body rise from the grave after you die and are buried under the ground?

I find that chapter 15 is addressed to Jesus' brothers - see also 1st Cor. 1:1 - who are the saints of Daniel 7:18.
1st Cor. 15:1 informs us that Jesus' brothers (Matt. 25:40) are the ones who have that first or earlier resurrection - 1st Cor. 15:23; Rev. 20:6; 5:9-10
So, in short there are both heavenly bodies and earthly ( physical ) bodies - 1st Cor. 15:36-41
Remember: also No one who died before Jesus was offered a heavenly resurrection hope - John 3:13; Acts 2:34; Hebrews 11:13,39
Heaven is for people like the ones mentioned at Luke 22:28-30. They make up Jesus' little flock' of followers. - Luke 12:32
The majority of mankind can be part of Jesus' 'other sheep ' - John 10:16
These 'other sheep' are the ones who can inherit (Not Heaven) but inherit the Earth as Jesus promised at Matt.5:5 from Psalms 37:9-11; 22:26

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

King Solomon, who was known for his God-given wisdom, wrote at Ecclesiastes 12:7 B that one's spirit is a neuter "it" .
No afterlife ( being more alive after death than before death ) for a genderless spirit (it).
Any future life for the dead now lies in God's safe hands via a future resurrection - Acts 24:15; John 6:40,44

I find that chapter 15 is addressed to Jesus' brothers - see also 1st Cor. 1:1 - who are the saints of Daniel 7:18.
1st Cor. 15:1 informs us that Jesus' brothers (Matt. 25:40) are the ones who have that first or earlier resurrection - 1st Cor. 15:23; Rev. 20:6; 5:9-10
So, in short there are both heavenly bodies and earthly ( physical ) bodies - 1st Cor. 15:36-41
Remember: also No one who died before Jesus was offered a heavenly resurrection hope - John 3:13; Acts 2:34; Hebrews 11:13,39
Heaven is for people like the ones mentioned at Luke 22:28-30. They make up Jesus' little flock' of followers. - Luke 12:32
The majority of mankind can be part of Jesus' 'other sheep ' - John 10:16
These 'other sheep' are the ones who can inherit (Not Heaven) but inherit the Earth as Jesus promised at Matt.5:5 from Psalms 37:9-11; 22:26

Obviously, I don't share your personal views on the afterlife or agree with how you interpret the Bible, and I highly doubt that @Trailblazer does either.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

................ I, on the other hand, could be considered an enemy of the Bible since I believe that it has multiple contradictions, contains several plagiarized myths that were copied and applied to Jesus from Greek mythology and a few other ancient pagan religions, and that no one should ever derive their concept of morality, let alone love and justice, from the Bible (as I explained in an older post here). I believe that is a valid assessment.

I appreciate your frank comment above.
Please keep in mind that when unfaithful Jews began mixing with the Greeks (Greek philosophies) non-Jews used such philosophical ideas.
Remember that mankind's religious roots can be peppered and traced back to ancient Babylon.
As the people migrated away from ancient Babylon (Babel) they took with them their non-biblical ideas and practices and spread them world wide into a greater religious Babylon or Babylon the Great.
This is why we see so many similar or overlapping religious ideas spread throughout today's religious world.
None of this makes the teachings of Jesus as wrong but just the wrong worldly ideas attached to Jesus as wrong.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Obviously, I don't share your personal views on the afterlife or agree with how you interpret the Bible, ........................................

I have No view on the afterlife because 'aftelife' is Not a resurrection teaching - Acts 24:15
The Bible does Not teach ' after life ' ( more alive after death then before death ) but teaches a future resurrection - Acts 24:15
I did Not give a personal view but rather Jesus' view at John 11 that the dead are in a sleep-like state.
Jesus was well educated in the old Hebrew Scriptures which also teach sleep ( Not pain) in death.
Verses such as found at Psalm 6:5; Psalm 13:3; Psalm 115:17; Isaiah 38:18; Ecclesiastes 9:5 besides John 11:11-14
To me I find this is how Jesus interpreted Scripture from the old Hebrew Scriptures.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

As you said in post#121:

You're more than entitled to your personal beliefs. To be honest, I don't give a damn whether you believe that there are earthbound human spirits or not.

I appreciate that you recognize our individual rights to have our own opinions and personal beliefs. I don't think that many Christians acknowledge the fact that others do not have to share their preferred Christian beliefs or agree with their personal opinions. In my experience, some Christians seem to believe that their preferred beliefs about the afterlife and interpretation of the Bible are absolutely correct, so they state their beliefs as definitive facts.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

To be honest, I can sympathize with Christians because I recognize that they could become stuck and earthbound after death as a result of what they were taught and believed. In fact, some of the earthbound human spirits I interact with and have assisted in crossing over stated that they were Christians. They are so lost and confused. They have no idea what's happening to them, let alone what to do about it. It breaks my heart that these spirits are either afraid and uncertain about crossing over into the spirit realm, or they are so angry and feel betrayed that they refuse to cross over. I can't help them at that point.

What about the angels, are they afraid or uncertain about crossing over to ______________ ?
People do Not turn into angels, and angels do Not turn into anything other than angels.
Christian are taught that Jesus resurrected people back to live life on Earth. Jesus resurrected No one to Heaven.
Resurrection is Not any cross over but being restored back to life. - Acts 24:15
Jesus' 'brothers' (a ' little flock' - Luke 12:32) do have a heavenly resurrection. ( an earlier first resurrection - Rev. 20:6; 5:9-10 )
Jesus' ' other sheep ' (John 10:16) are the ones who will inherit the Earth as promised at Matt. 5:5 from Psalm 37:9-11; Psalm 22:26
They are also like the figurative ' sheep ' found at Matthew 25:31-34,37

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

I have No view on the afterlife because 'aftelife' is Not a resurrection teaching - Acts 24:15
The Bible does Not teach ' after life ' ( more alive after death then before death ) but teaches a future resurrection - Acts 24:15
I did Not give a personal view but rather Jesus' view at John 11 that the dead are in a sleep-like state.
Jesus was well educated in the old Hebrew Scriptures which also teach sleep ( Not pain) in death.
Verses such as found at Psalm 6:5; Psalm 13:3; Psalm 115:17; Isaiah 38:18; Ecclesiastes 9:5 besides John 11:11-14
To me I find this is how Jesus interpreted Scripture from the old Hebrew Scriptures.

What about the angels, are they afraid or uncertain about crossing over to ______________ ?
People do Not turn into angels, and angels do Not turn into anything other than angels.
Christian are taught that Jesus resurrected people back to live life on Earth. Jesus resurrected No one to Heaven.
Resurrection is Not any cross over but being restored back to life. - Acts 24:15
Jesus' 'brothers' (a ' little flock' - Luke 12:32) do have a heavenly resurrection. ( an earlier first resurrection - Rev. 20:6; 5:9-10 )
Jesus' ' other sheep ' (John 10:16) are the ones who will inherit the Earth as promised at Matt. 5:5 from Psalm 37:9-11; Psalm 22:26
They are also like the figurative ' sheep ' found at Matthew 25:31-34,37

Again, you are referring to your personal beliefs and preferred interpretation of the Bible. You appear to have difficulty accepting the fact that not everyone, including other Christians, shares your personal beliefs about the afterlife or agrees with your personal interpretation of the Bible.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Are the dead alive somewhere?
Can the dead interact with the living... or dead?
Is there any hope for the dead... can the dead live again?

On examining these scriptures, do you agree this is what we find?

Scriptures were written by people who needed to sell their ideas. What is written in scriptures does not correspond with what we see in the world.
The dead are dead, completely. They were, but no more.
The dead bodies cannot do anything other than disintegrate in their graves.
Sure, one can hope. But no evidence that the dead can live again.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Again, you are referring to your personal beliefs and preferred interpretation of the Bible. You appear to have difficulty accepting the fact that not everyone, including other Christians, shares your personal beliefs about the afterlife or agrees with your personal interpretation of the Bible.

Absolutely agree with you. After all Jesus said MANY who come in his name prove false - Matt. 7:21-23
Even John Lennon focused on Earth as Jesus promised that humble meek people will inherit the Earth - Matt.5:5

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

Even John Lennon focused on Earth as Jesus promised that humble meek people will inherit the Earth - Matt.5:5

Of course, I never met John, so I can only speculate about his spiritual beliefs based on his writings, such as his song Imagine, but that doesn't mean that his beliefs didn't change after he penned Imagine. For the record, you aren't the first person to mention John or the other Beatles in response to my post.

 

[F1fan]

Since Jesus physically resurrected the dead, loved ones were Not feeling greedy but filled with thankful grateful hearts.
The time given to Adam and Eve was to be time well spent (Gen 1:28) forever and ever on Earth.
Just as there is No 'stepping stone' to somewhere for the angels there is No stepping stone off Earth for the meek who will inherit the Earth.
( Exception are those of Luke 22:28-30 who will govern with Jesus - Rev. 20:6; 5:9-10 )
True, ' take the time you have and make that time will spent ' thus either you will be part of the resurrection of the righteous - Acts 24:15 -
or, be one of the figurative living 'sheep' alive on Earth at Jesus' coming glory time found at Matthew 25:31-34,37

None of this is factual.

 

[Trailblazer]

I have No view on the afterlife because 'aftelife' is Not a resurrection teaching - Acts 24:15

Acts 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

I believe that verse means there shall be a resurrection of the spiritually dead to spiritual life when Christ returns and I believe that process is unfolding right now.

 

[nPeace]

I don't see them either because I am not a psychic medium. I was talking to @Sgt. Pepper who does see them.
I think it means that the human spirit survives the death of the physical body.

Isn't it interesting that only the mediums see them, and talk to them?
That should be informative to even the least logical person. What is more, some mediums need information about the dead person, from the living.
I think it's something to give consideration to, as to whom really, are the mediums communicating with.

 

[nPeace]

Have you ever been taught that there are invisible intelligent beings that were created like that, as spirits, and that they do not die and have never been human, but they were created before humans? If NO, now you know.

Anyway: there are many of them who became evil and they are trying to deceive humans on believing they are dead persons, so they do not believe what the Bible says about the condition of dead (Ecl. 9:5,10). They are deceiving many with that lie, and they are also enslaving them to demonic practices that displease God. They make humans stray from the truth and do things that God condemns.

Don't you think that if the dead were still alive somewhere, their living relatives would no longer suffer and, in short, they would all have agreed to help humanity solve its problems? Obviously they haven't, because none of them really lives, and those who pretend they are, the only thing they do is deceive living humans.

 

[nPeace]

You speak with demons who fake being dead humans, not with dead humans.

Since we can know the truth about that matter just if God tells us, and he says in the Bible that: dead people cann't think, talk, or do anything else ... then: who is trying to make you believe the opposite is enemy of God.

Anyway: If you cannot verify who is speaking to you from invisibility, how will you be sure that what they want you to believe is true, even if it is contrary to what God himself tells you in his written Revelation?

Be careful: trying to involve other people in activities related to God's invisible enemies will not go unpunished.

Deut. 18:9 “When you have entered into the land that Jehovah your God is giving you, you must not learn to imitate the detestable practices of those nations. 10 There should not be found in you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, anyone who employs divination, anyone practicing magic, anyone who looks for omens, a sorcerer, 11 anyone binding others with a spell, anyone who consults a spirit medium or a fortune-teller, or anyone who inquires of the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is detestable to Jehovah, and on account of these detestable practices Jehovah your God is driving them away from before you. 13 You should prove yourself blameless before Jehovah your God.

 

[nPeace]

Scriptures are clear about the condition of the dead. They even compare "being dead" with "being sleeping" and that is without dreming, of course. "Sleeping dead" will be awaking in the resurrection:

John 5:
28 Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.

We have an example of what is coming on what Jesus did in the case of his friend Lazarus:

John 11:
11 After he said these things, he added: “Lazʹa·rus our friend has fallen asleep, but I am traveling there to awaken him.” 12 The disciples then said to him: “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get well.” 13 Jesus, however, had spoken about his death. But they imagined he was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly: “Lazʹa·rus has died, 15 and I rejoice for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples: “Let us also go, so that we may die with him.”
17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazʹa·rus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethʹa·ny was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary kept sitting at home. 21 Martha then said to Jesus: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 Yet even now I know that whatever you ask God for, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her: “Your brother will rise.” 24 Martha said to him: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life; 26 and everyone who is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him: “Yes, Lord, I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” 28 When she had said this, she went off and called Mary her sister, saying privately: “The Teacher is here and is calling you.” 29 On hearing this, she got up quickly and went to him.
30 Jesus had not yet come into the village, but he was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with Mary in the house consoling her saw her get up quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 When Mary arrived where Jesus was and caught sight of him, she fell at his feet and said to him: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he groaned within himself and became troubled. 34 He said: “Where have you laid him?” They said to him: “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus gave way to tears. 36 At that the Jews began to say: “See, what affection he had for him!” 37 But some of them said: “Could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind man prevent this one from dying?”
38 Then Jesus, after groaning again within himself, came to the tomb. It was, in fact, a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said: “Take the stone away.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to him: “Lord, by now he must smell, for it has been four days.” 40 Jesus said to her: “Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took the stone away. Then Jesus raised his eyes heavenward and said: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 True, I knew that you always hear me; but I spoke on account of the crowd standing around, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice: “Lazʹa·rus, come out!” 44 The man who had been dead came out with his feet and hands bound with wrappings, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them: “Free him and let him go.”

There are not concious spirits of the dead anywhere ... according to the Scriptures. Spiritualists and their acolytes believe something else that Scripture denies. Since this is a subforum on what the Bible teaches, now you know what it says about "where are the dead?" They are nowhere ... just in the memory of God, who will rise them again to life at some point that is still future.

Thank you for your contributions to the question in the OP.
They answer the question clearly. So that everyone can see.

 

[nPeace]

Well, some things the Bible says are not to be interpreted, but to be accepted:

Psal. 146:4 His spirit goes out, he returns to the ground; On that very day his thoughts perish.

Excellent! Simple, and to the point. Well done.

 

[nPeace]

Any logical person knows that all words have to be interpreted before they can be accepted, and words mean different things to different people, since not all humans think alike.

Psal. 146:4 His spirit goes out, he returns to the ground; On that very day his thoughts perish.

That is correct. The thoughts that are coming from his physical body perish because his physical body and brain are dead.

The physical body returns to dust but the spirit returns to the Kingdom of God in heaven.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Any logical person does not know that.
Actually, I would like to meet the person, who said to their dad, "I had to interpret what you meant, when you said, 'Go to bed.' Or 'Take out the garbage.'"