Do these passages look like they point to life after death?I am talking from a jw point of view.So i want to hear from christians as well as jws on this one.
2 Timothy 4:18
Ephesians 3:14-15
Philippians 3:20
The Bible references you have mentioned were written by Apostle Paul.
And Paul did believe n the ultimate prize, the promised eternal life.
And his belief is reflected in his writings:
2 Timothy 4:7-8 New International Version (NIV)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me
the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
What is the crown of righteousness mentioned by Paul?
This is what the bible says:
James 1:12 New International Version (NIV)
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Paul said "Jesus will award to me on that day
so what is that day?
that awarding day?
which Paul and all who have longed for Jesus appearing?
That day is non other than Judgement Day.
2 Peter 2:9 New International Version (NIV)
if this is so, then
the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
MAN WILL NOT be judged right after he dies. The Lord God has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness:
“Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31, NKJV)
This is the Day of Judgment, also called the Day of the Lord:
“But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (II Peter 3:7,10, NKJV)
On that day, the heavens will pass away, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.The Day of Judgment is on the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ:
“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” (Jude 1:14-15 NKJV)
In the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, He will execute judgment on all.
Thus, the Day of Judgment will take place not right after man dies but in the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of this, what does the Bible say regarding the dead? This is what we could read in Psalms 88:5:
“Adrift among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom You remember no more, And who are cut off from Your hand.” (Psalms 88:5 NKJV)
The dead lies on his grave, and remember no more for the dead’s thoughts perish:
“His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (Psalms 146:4 KJV)
When a person dies, his breath cease, he return to earth, and his thoughts perish. Until when the dead will remain in the grave? When will the dead rise to receive judgment? Job 14:10-12 reads:
“But man dies and is laid away; Indeed he breathes his last And where is he? As water disappears from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dries up, So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, They will not awake Nor be roused from their sleep.” (Job 14:10-12 NKJV)
When man dies, according to the Bible, he “lies down and does not rise.” He will not rise to received judgment “Till the heavens are no more, They will not awake Nor roused from their sleep.” The “passing away of heaven” was on the Day of the Lord, the Day of Judgment, the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (
cf. II Peter 3:7, 10).
Thus, the dead will remain on their grave until the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the day He will execute judgment to all, so only on that day men will received judgment.
