Deeds:  What role do they play in Salvation?
   The Book of Revelation places a great deal of emphasis upon our "deeds" and our need to "overcome".  Our deeds are very important of course, as they are the measure of a person's character, and the outward evidence of their love for God.  Jesus put it in metaphor this way:
You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?
So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  - Matthew 7:16-17

Body, Spirit & Soul
   The Bible speaks about humanity in three ways:  Body, Spirit and Soul.  We need to look at these terms in order to understand what happens to us after we die.  This clarity is helpful in order to further understand the meanings and nuances, and so the timing of the many descriptions of End Time Events in the book of Revelation.

*  Just how these three aspects of human life are interrelated was actually explained for us by God, and very clearly, right from the beginning:
Genesis 2:7  Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground [BODY], and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [SPIRIT]; and the man became a living person ["nephesh"; SOUL].

   The Body is made alive by the infusion of God's Breath, or Power, or Life Force - the Spirit - and this union of Body and Spirit is called a living person - a Soul.  The clarity of this biblical description should be hard to miss, but with a history of appeasement and compromise towards would-be (tithing) converts, the early Roman Catholic church was prone to the inclusion of many pagan rituals and beliefs, including innate human immortality in the form of Spirit or Soul; the two terms have become almost interchangable.  This original corruption has led to a number of false beliefs which are still held in Protestant churches today; and we need to get back to what the Bible has to say on this subject and others.
Who Gave Us The Belief That The Soul Is Immortal?
   The false claim that man could become immortal apart from God originated with Satan, right from the start.  He told this lie to Eve who then passed it on to her husband Adam.  It has been Satan's fundamental deception from the beginning of time.

   With sweet tasting words in the Garden of Eden, Satan told Eve she would not die if she ate the forbidden fruit; and that it was God who was lying to her.  She didn't have to follow God's rules and she could live forever anyway. (Gen 3:1-7)  Empty promises from the father of lies.

   Upon making this choice and defying God, Adam and Eve were immediately cut off from the Tree of Life, and Death has ruled over humanity ever since.
    In our current condition we are mortal.  When this body dies we are alive only in God's promise to re-create us.  That's what the scriptures tell us.  Adding more to it is treading on dangerous ground.
WHAT  IS  SALVATION?
AND  OTHER  IMPORTANT  QUESTIONS
NOTE:  For the purposes of this project I'm not asking anyone to change their beliefs on these subjects.  I only want you to bear the following thoughts in mind as you later consider how a cohesive understanding of the Revelation can be achieved.  For example:  The understanding that the Righteous who have died are now resting / sleeping until they are resurrected (and not already in Heaven), is a great help in this regard.   And the goal certainly must be to find the truth.  This is why we're here.


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Source for this article


Bible Ask


Where does the soul go when a person dies?

   The concept of an undying, immortal soul goes against the Bible, which teaches that souls are subject to death (Ezekiel 18:20).  Man is mortal (Job 4:17).  Only God is immortal (1 Timothy 6:15, 16).  In the Bible, except in allegorical usage, the soul does not go in and out of the body; neither does it have an independent existence outside of the body.  The soul is the conscious life which resulted when God added the breath of life (the divine spark of life) to the body.

   A soul is a living being.  At Creation, two things combine to make a soul, dust and the breath of life.  Until these two things combine, a soul does not exist.  "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7).  The term "breath of life" is also used for animals as seen in Genesis 7:21,22).

   At death, these two components separate.  The body returns to dust, and the breath returns to God.  The soul goes nowhere it simply ceases to exist.  "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7).  The spirit that returns to God at death is the breath of life.
    According to the Bible, the words "spirit" and "breath" are the same: "All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils" (Job 27:3).  The spirit is found in the nostrils where the breath is.  So, the spirit that returns to God when a person dies is the breath of life, not a disembodied soul.  Nowhere in the Scriptures does the "spirit" have any life, wisdom, or feeling after a person dies. It is the "breath of life" and nothing more.

   After death a soul: returns to dust (Psalms 104:29), knows nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5), possesses no mental powers (Psalms 146:4), has nothing to do with anything on earth (Ecclesiastes 9:6), does not live (2 Kings 20:1), waits in the grave (Job 17:13), and continues not (Job 14:1, 2).  There is no reference in all of the scriptures that the "spirit" have any life, wisdom, or feeling after a person dies.  The dead sleep unconsciously in their graves (John 11:11-14) till the Lord raise them up at the Resurrection Day at the end of time (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

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   In order to understand the Revelation, and with the goal of fully deciphering the Prophecy in an accurate and meaningful way, the theological foundation that a person is working from and building upon must be sound. 
   Revelation speaks in symbolism and metaphor regarding eschatalogical matters, but it doesn't do so in a vacuum.  Any attempt to understand its symbology will meet with success only to the degree that the interpreter's underlying belief system matches that of the Book's writer.  And we are talking about Scripture here.
   To put it another way, as a would-be interpreter of the work my first responsibility must be to build a foundational belief system based solely upon the teachings of the Bible.  Even though they may be cherished, I must re-examine my personal beliefs and, in scrutinizing them, I must value, at least for our purposes here, only that which is upheld within Scripture.
   To pose an extreme example for the purpose of clarity:  If I was to hold the belief (which I don't) that Revelation's End Time can only commence after Israel becomes a Christian nation; this would be very limiting to my ability to understand the Book.  And all the hope and prayers to God for understanding will be of no value until I have a willingness to, at least for the time-being, look outside of my own currently held belief system.

   Can you accept that challenge?  It seems that many cannot, and unfortunately that could cost them some much needed clarity as we appear to be quickly approaching the Last Days of the Bible, and the great deception that is coming.  A deception so convincing that it could "mislead, if possible, even the elect." (Mattew 24:24)
  Source For This Article 
 
 
Got Questions
 
 
How can I be saved?

This simple, yet profound, question is the most important question that can be asked.  "How can I be saved?" deals with where we will spend eternity after our lives in this world are over.  There is no more important issue than our eternal destiny.  Thankfully, the Bible is abundantly clear on how a person can be saved.  The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30).  Paul and Silas responded, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31).
How can I be saved?  Why do I need to be saved?

We are all infected with sin (Romans 3:23).  We are born with sin (Psalm 51:5), and we all personally choose to sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8).  Sin is what makes us unsaved.  Sin is what separates us from God.  Sin is what has us on the path to eternal destruction.
How can I be saved?  Saved from what?

Because of our sin, we all deserve death (Romans 6:23).  While the physical consequence of sin is physical death, that is not the only kind of death that results from sin.  All sin is ultimately committed against an eternal and infinite God (Psalm 51:4).  Because of that, the just penalty for our sin is also eternal and infinite.  What we need to be saved from is eternal destruction (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15).
How can I be saved?  How did God provide salvation?

Because the just penalty for sin is infinite and eternal, only God could pay the penalty, because only He is infinite and eternal.  But God, in His divine nature, could not die.  So God became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ.  God took on human flesh, lived among us, and taught us.  When the people rejected Him and His message, and sought to kill Him, He willingly sacrificed Himself for us, allowing Himself to be crucified (John 10:15).  Because Jesus Christ was human, He could die; and because Jesus Christ was God, His death had an eternal and infinite value.  Jesus' death on the cross was the perfect and complete payment for our sin (1 John 2:2).  He took the consequences we deserved.  Jesus' resurrection from the dead demonstrated that His death was indeed the perfectly sufficient sacrifice for sin.
How can I be saved?  What do I need to do?

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31).  God has already done all of the work.  All you must do is receive, in faith, the salvation God offers (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Fully trust in Jesus alone as the payment for your sins.  Believe in Him, and you will not perish (John 3:16).  God is offering you salvation as a gift.  All you have to do is accept it.  Jesus is the way of salvation (John 14:6).

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Source for this article
 
 
Got Questions
 
 
What is repentance and is it necessary for salvation?

Many understand the term repentance to mean "a turning from sin."  Regretting sin and turning from it is related to repentance, but it is not the precise meaning of the word.  In the Bible, the word repent means "to change one's mind."  The Bible also tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions (Luke 3:8-14; Acts 3:19).  In summarizing his ministry, Paul declares, "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds" (Acts 26:20).  The full biblical definition of repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of action.
What, then, is the connection between repentance and salvation?  The book of Acts especially focuses on repentance in regard to salvation (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20).  To repent, in relation to salvation, is to change your mind regarding sin and Jesus Christ.  In Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2), he concludes with a call for the people to repent (Acts 2:38).  Repent from what?  Peter is calling the people who rejected Jesus (Acts 2:36) to change their minds about that sin and to change their minds about Christ Himself, recognizing that He is indeed "Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).  Peter is calling the people to change their minds, to abhor their past rejection of Christ, and to embrace faith in Him as both Messiah and Savior.
Repentance involves recognizing that you have thought wrongly in the past and determining to think rightly in the future.  The repentant person has "second thoughts" about the mindset he formerly embraced.  There is a change of disposition and a new way of thinking about God, about sin, about holiness, and about doing God's will.  True repentance is prompted by "godly sorrow," and it "leads to salvation" (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Repentance and faith can be understood as two sides of the same coin.  It is impossible to place your faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior without first changing your mind about your sin and about who Jesus is and what He has done.  Whether it is repentance from willful rejection or repentance from ignorance or disinterest, it is a change of mind.  Biblical repentance, in relation to salvation, is changing your mind from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ.
Repentance is not a work we do to earn salvation.  No one can repent and come to God unless God pulls that person to Himself (John 6:44).  Repentance is something God gives-it is only possible because of His grace (Acts 5:31; 11:18).  No one can repent unless God grants repentance.  All of salvation, including repentance and faith, is a result of God drawing us, opening our eyes, and changing our hearts.  God's longsuffering leads us to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), as does His kindness (Romans 2:4).
While repentance is not a work that earns salvation, repentance unto salvation does result in works.  It is impossible to truly change your mind without that causing a change in action.  In the Bible, repentance results in a change in behavior.  That is why John the Baptist called people to "produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:8).  A person who has truly repented of his sin and exercised faith in Christ will give evidence of a changed life
(2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:19-23; James 2:14-26).
To see what repentance looks like in real life, all we need to do is turn to the story of Zacchaeus.  Here was a man who cheated and stole and lived lavishly on his ill-gotten gains - until he met Jesus.  At that point he had a radical change of mind: "Look, Lord!" said Zacchaeus.  "Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount" (Luke 19:8).  Jesus happily proclaimed that salvation had come to Zacchaeus's house, and that even the tax collector was now "a son of Abraham" (verse 9)-a reference to Zacchaeus's faith.  The cheat became a philanthropist; the thief made restitution.  That's repentance, coupled with faith in Christ.
Repentance, properly defined, is necessary for salvation.  Biblical repentance is changing your mind about your sin-no longer is sin something to toy with; it is something to be forsaken as we "flee from the coming wrath" (Matthew 3:7).  It is also changing your mind about Jesus Christ-no longer is He to be mocked, discounted, or ignored; He is the Savior to be clung to; He is the Lord to be worshiped and adored.

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   Notice that it is the good or bad "tree" (the person) which bears the good or bad "fruit" (deeds).  It is not that good deeds or bad deeds create a good or a bad person.  The quality of our deeds cannot change who we are on the inside, and cannot ever be good enough to save us.  God's standard is perfection and, as we read above, it is only our acceptance of Jesus' perfection in place of our imperfection which makes us "good" enough to be "worthy" of God's Amazing Grace.

   Revelation's focus on "deeds" is a reflection of the Book's emphasis on End Time events, and the Judgment that awaits us all.  Every person is imperfect; and every person will be judged by "deeds".  The difference for the believer is that the deeds we are judged by are Jesus' deeds.  Only He, as a perfect Man, could have lived the perfect life which is required by God for salvation; and only He, as our infinite God, has the standing required to cover the infinite gulf of sin between God and all of mankind.

   The follower of Christ - the Christian - understands this.  The Christian in John's day understood it as well, and he knew what was intentioned by the deed-centric view John was communicating:  Every person will be judged by deeds and those who are judged by their own deeds will fall short.
Salvation in the Old Covenant

   The way the Bible deals with God's Plan of Salvation under the Old Covenant is quite different from its New Covenant treatment.  The role Jesus would play in this intricate plan is not clearly laid out although it is alluded to from time to time, beginning with a veiled reference in Genesis to the coming Messiah, immediately after sin had entered and marred God's perfect creation:

             Then the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all the livestock, And more than any animal of the field; On your belly
             you shall go, And dust you shall eat All the days of your life; 15 And I will make enemies Of you and the woman, And of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall
             bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise Him on the heel."  - Genesis 3:14-15
   Jesus' role in this plan was never explicitly revealed to Old Covenant Israel.  The Prophets probably learned it, but certainly not the masses.  If it had been clearly stated, and embraced, Israel would have been awaiting a Spiritual Savior and not a Military One.  Jesus would have been received with open arms as Israel's Most High Spiritual Redeemer and His necessary sacrifice for the sin of the world would have fallen into jeopardy, as well as the spiritual awakening which the world required, beginning with His disciples and continuing now through two millennia.  At His First Advent, of coarse Jesus could have revealed Himself in such a way that all would have seen and understood that HE.  IS.  GOD!  He didn't.  To have been accepted by the masses in that way would have defeated His mission, and our salvation was hanging in the balance.  So He allowed the masses to believe that He was less than He was, and to continue to watch for a Military Messiah ... to watch for a Messiah of war, vengeance and judgment ... to watch for Second Advent Messiah Jesus Savior.  This is what enabled Him to then  be "convicted" by the people, and to complete His mission - Dying For Us All.

   For Old Covenant Israel the only Plan of Salvation which the masses were aware of was one of deeds; good works; Law-Keeping.  The atoning Sacrifice and the Blood of the Redeemeer is never clearly described or discussed in the Old Testament, while the deed-centric position of law-keeping is repeated innumerably.  Here are just a few examples:
Salvation in the New Covenant

   In the New Covenant, God's Plan of Salvation is fully explained.  It is a free gift of God.  It cannot be earned in any way by imperfect human beings, and the only way for a God of great mercy to save mankind was for Him to become incarnate and pay the ultimate penalty of sin on our behalf.  It is then incumbent upon each person to accept that gift and to honor it through repentance.  The Old Covenant Law was given as an object lesson for us to learn how impossible it is for us to be "good enough" for God to save us.  Under the New Covenant our Law is now Jesus Himself and all that He teaches us.
- Exodus 20:6  ... love Me and keep My commandments.
- Leviticus 22:31  So you shall keep My commandments, and do them; I am the Lord. ... 26:3 If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments ....
- Deuteronomy 5:10  but showing favor to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. ... 29 ... fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it would go well with them and with their sons forever!
- 1 Kings 3:14  And if you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.
- 1 Kings 6:12  "As for this house which you are building, if you will walk in My statutes and execute My ordinances and keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will fulfill My word with you which I spoke to David your father.
- 1 Kings 9:6  "But if you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have placed before you, but you go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut Israel off from the land which I have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will expel from My sight. So Israel will become a saying and an object of derision among all peoples.
- 1 Kings 11:38  Then it shall be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by keeping My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.
- Psalm 119:174  I long for Your salvation, Lord, And Your Law is my delight.
- Proverbs 7:2  Keep my commandments and live, And my teaching as the apple of your eye.
- Daniel 9:4  I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed, and said, "Oh, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and faithfulness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,
- Isaiah 33:22  For the Lord is our judge, The Lord is our lawgiver, The Lord is our king; He will save us-
- Ecclesiastes 12:13  The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
*  The True role of the Law in Salvation can now be seen in the New Covenant:
Romans 3:21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, [Righteousness does not come from the Law] being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned [EVERYONE IS IMPERFECT] and fall short of the glory of God, [the glory of God - PERFECTION - is the standard required to be Redeemed] 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God's merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; [God knew that people couldn't gain Salvation from the Law because they couldn't perfectly keep the Law; so He didn't eternally punish them for what they couldn't do] 26 for the demonstration, [the Law was given as a demonstration for us to realize we cannot be good enough] that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
        27 Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? [The Law was given to the Jews, not the Gentiles.  If Salvation is through the Law, then Gentiles are excluded.] Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised [Jews] by faith and the uncircumcised [Gentiles] through faith is one.
        31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? Far from it! On the contrary, we establish the Law.  [The True role of the Law is now clear.]
. . .
7:4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death in regard to the Law [the Law holds NO BEARING over the Christian] through the body of Christ, so that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were brought to light by the Law, [THE ROLE OF THE LAW IS TO EXPOSE SIN] were at work in the parts of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, [again, the Christian is NOT RESPONSIBLE to the Law] having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.
7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Far from it! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "You shall not covet." 8 But sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it, killed me. 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
13 Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? Far from it! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by bringing about my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.
. . .
10:8 ... the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;  [Please thoughtfully read the Book of Romans to truly gain understanding on this topic.]
*  The role of the Law is to teach us that there is a better way:
Galatians 3:22  But the Scripture has confined everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. [not revealed in the Old Covenant]  24 Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. [the Christian has learned what he needed to know]  26 For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.  [Please thoughtfully read the Book of Galatians to truly gain understanding on this topic.]
*  Confirmation:
Ephesians 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

John 3:16  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, [at His 1st Advent] but so that the world might be saved through Him. 18 The one who believes in Him is not judged; [the Believer is not judged by their own works] the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. 21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds will be revealed as having been performed in God." [the DEEDS of the believer, though imperfect, will reflect his belief]

James 1:21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, [our New Covenant Law which Jesus gave us, John 13:34] and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.
      26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Roles of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant In Salvation

   In my experience, the topic of Covenants requires much depth of thought, and it is not well understood by most Christians.  God took me on nearly a decade long journey in order for me to find clarity on the roles the two covenants play in God's plan to save us.  The following is my attempt to explain what I found on that journey.  It is a study for which one should be prepared to devote a sizeable length of time.  As I said, my path to clarity took almost ten years.

Leave Here and Go To The Study

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The State of the Redeemed Who Have Died
   The subject of where a person goes and what state they are in after they die, brings with it varied understandings.  I wasn't going to include this topic here, but then it became clear to me that a true understanding of this topic is very helpful towards good discernment and a coherent understanding of the Timeline Events of Revelation.
Body -
   We understand that, just as God said and as science also explains, the body is made up of water plus the various elements to be found in the Earth.  It is obvious that the Body can be either alive or dead, and that when it is dead it returns to the ground from which it came.  This is straight forward and easy to comprehend; it should be self-evident.
Spirit -  Hebrew, ruach: "spirit, wind";  Greek, pneuma: "spirit"
   The confusion that many have begins here.  The Bible never presents the human Spirit as a living entity.  Rather, the Spirit is God's vitalizing force which, when infused into the Body makes it alive; a living person - a Soul.  It is a concept similar to electricity within a lightbulb:  Without its "life force" a lightbulb is still a lightbulb, but it is a "dead" lightbulb.  When the lightbulb's "life force" is infused within it, it comes "alive" - a glowing lightbulb.  This is what the Bible has to say about "spirit":
*  God's gift of spirit - Life Force - is withdrawn when a person dies:
Genesis 6:3  Then the Lord said, "My Spirit will not remain with man forever, because he is also flesh; nevertheless his days shall be 120 years."
Job 34:14  If He were to gather His spirit and His breath to Himself, 15 Humanity would perish together, And mankind would return to dust.
*  God's sustaining life force, His breath - His gift of spirit - is given to both animals and humans alike:
Genesis 7:21  So all creatures that moved on the earth perished: birds, livestock, animals, and every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind; 22 of all that was on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died.
Ecclesiastes 3:19  [Solomon, whose faith was being tested, laments that, as far as our life on Earth goes . . .] For the fate of the sons of mankind and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath, and there is no advantage for mankind over animals, for all is futility. 20 All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust. 21 Who knows that the spirit of the sons of mankind ascends upward [to be returned with Jesus for the Resurrection] and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth?
*  The breath of God is the power of life as represented by the ability to breathe:
Job 17:3  For as long as life is in me, And the breath [spirit - KJV] of God is in my nostrils,
Job 33:4  The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
 *  Death returns us to dust; nothing more:
Psalm 104:29  You [God] take away their breath, they perish And return to their dust.
*  Ecclesiastes 12:7  then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

*  The scriptures never say that the spirit lives on:
James 2:26  For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Soul - Hebrew, nephesh: "animal soul";  Greek, psuche: "animal soul" - (Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible)
*  The word "soul" as it is used hundreds of times in the Bible, is not describing something unique to mankind, but refers to both people and animals:
Genesis 46:18:  These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah; and she bore to Jacob these sixteen persons.
Exodus 16:16:  This is what the Lord has commanded: 'Everyone gather as much as he will eat; ... according to the number of people each of you has in his tent.'
Acts 27:37:  We were 276 people on the ship in all.
Romans 13:1:  Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities.
1 Peter 3:20:  ... God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.
 Genesis 1:21:  And God created ... every living creature that moves ... 24 Then God said, "Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kind
[see also Gen 9:10,15,16; Lev 11:46]
*  Again:  A Soul is a living person; a living Body - a Body infused with God's life force; a Body with Spirit:
Genesis 2:7:  Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground [BODY], and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [SPIRIT]; and the man became a living person [SOUL].
 *  When we are alive we are Soul:
Acts 20:10:  But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, "Do not be troubled, for he is still alive."
 *  When the Body is killed the Soul is destroyed:
Joshua 11:11:  They struck every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was no one left who breathed.

*  When a person is dead - a Soul is dead:
Leviticus 21:11:  nor shall he approach any dead person, nor defile himself even for his father or his mother....
[see also Numbers 6:6; 19:13; Haggai 2:13]
*  So yes, since the "soul" is the "person", the soul can die:
Leviticus 21:1:  No one shall defile himself for a dead person among his people....
Psalm 89:48:  What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?
Proverbs 19:16:  One who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But one who is careless of conduct will die.
Ezekiel 18:4:  The soul who sins will die.

*  When we are dead there is no part of us that is conscious:
Psalm 115:17:  The dead do not praise the Lord, Nor do any who go down into silence.

*  David pleads with God to rescue his Soul, not his Body or his Spirit:
Psalm 6:4:  Return, Lord, rescue my soul; Save me because of Your mercy. 5 For there is no mention of You in death; In Sheol, ["the grave" KJV] who will praise You?
*  As with the Spirit, after death a person - a Soul - is in God's hands.  He will be re-created when he is Resurrected:
Revelation 20:6:  Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power
 Ezekiel 18:4:  Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die. ... 20 The person who sins will die.
Matthew 10:28:  And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ... 39 The one who has found his life will lose it, and the one who has lost his life on My account will find it.
James 5:20:  let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
But What About Eternal Damnation

   Yes, damnation of the unredeemed is eternal.  But what state are they in?  Are they in eternal torment?  What punishment does unforgiven sin bring?  These can be touchy questions and we will look at them more closely as we move forward, particularly when we look into Revelation's "torment" and "smoke" of the punished sinner.  For now:

   James 1:14:  But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters.
The Dead Are Asleep
   According to Scripture, when a redeemed person dies they do not immediately proceed to their reward in heaven, but rather they must wait / rest / sleep until their resurrection, at which time their reward is given.  A number of Bible passages confirm this:

*  Paul spoke of this many times, and we have his counsel on this subject exampled here:
*  Daniel clearly places the awakening of the dead (those who are sleeping) "at the end time", with their reward given to them only then:
Daniel 11:40 "And at the end time ...."  12:1 "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.  2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.  3 And those who have insight will shine [after their resurrection] like the glow of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

*  Eternal life comes not at death, but at the Resurrection on the last day.  The hope of those who have died is only ever described as being in their Resurrection on the last day:
John 6:39  And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last day.  40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."
*  Jesus repeatedly presented the state of death as one of sleep.  The young girl He raised from the dead was "asleep".  - Matt 9:24; Mark 5:39; Luke 8:52

*  When Lazarus "died" he "fell asleep".  Martha understood that he would rise from the dead; that is, he would no longer be dead only at "the last day."  Jesus did not suggest in any way that her belief was incorrect:
John 11:11  This He said, and after this He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going so that I may awaken him from sleep."  12 The disciples then said to Him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will come out of it."  13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about actual sleep.  14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, "Lazarus died ...." . . .
   21 Martha then said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.  22 Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."  23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise from the dead."  24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day."
*  When Stephen died "he fell asleep":
Acts 7:60:  Then he [Stephen] fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep.

*  The dead of the New Testament are asleep, not in heaven:
1 Cor 11:30:  For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number are asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:12  Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
- The subject is Resurrection.
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised;
14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain.
15 Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised;
17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. [without resurrection there is no salvation]
- In fact, our Resurrection IS our Salvation.  The two are inseparable.
18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ [to die is to fall asleep] have perished. [without resurrection the dead are dead forever]
19 If we have hoped in Christ only in this life, [our next life begins at our Resurrection] we are of all people most to be pitied.
20 But the fact is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. [all who have died are asleep until their resurrection]
21 For since by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. ["this life" is followed by the next life which begins at the resurrection]
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
- Those who have died are Not Alive At The Present Time but will be made alive again . . . at the Resurrection.
23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, [Jesus was the 1st to be resurrected] after that those who are Christ's at His coming,
- Please re-read from v20.  The dead remain dead until the End Time when Jesus resurrects them "at His coming".  Could this be stated any more clearly?
. . .
42 It [the physical body] is sown a perishable body, it is raised [resurrected] an imperishable body;
- Those who have died receive their imperishable body . . . at the Resurrection.
43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;
44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
- The RESURRECTION is what raises a body that is imperishable, glorious, powerful, and SPIRITUAL.  There is no Spiritual Body prior to Resurrection.
- The physical body dies; the RESURRECTION is what raises it to an immortal spiritual body; there is nothing in between - except "sleep" (vv18-19; 51).
 . . .
50 Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
- Heaven is the home of immortal beings only, and we can only enter Heaven after our mortal bodies have been changed to immortal ones.
- Those who have died are NOT imperishable until the RESURRECTION (v42).  The Resurrected Immortal Body Is The Body Which Inherits The Kingdom Of God; there is no 'between body' that goes to heaven.  The Spirual Body is given when we are "raised" (v42) - Resurrected.
51 Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, [Death IS Sleep] but we will all be changed,
- Those who "sleep" will be "changed" . . . when they are Resurrected.
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
- Until those who have died are raised they are "the dead".  If we are in heaven (or anywhere else) in a conscious state, we cannot also be "the dead".
53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
- Those who are "dead" will be "raised" and become immortal . . . at the Resurrection.  Until then they are "dead", "perishable" and "mortal".
54 But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
- Death holds power over the dead until they become "immortal" . . . at the Resurrection.
Spirits of the Dead
*  Again, those who have died have "fallen asleep".  Their spirits - the Creator's lifeforce - returns to God to be brought back for their resurrection:
Ecclesiates 12:7:  Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

*  His lifeforce is what God brings back to earth, not those He is about to resurrect.  They are dead, asleep and in their tombs waiting to be awakened and brought back to life.  It is at this time when they will hear His voice:
John 5:28  Do not be amazed at this; for a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,  29 and will come out: those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the bad deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
1 Thessalonians 4:13  But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep....  14 ... God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.

*  Those who are alive are "awake".  Those who have died are "asleep".  If there is a third "between" state of being, why is it never mentioned:
1 Thessalonians 5:10:  [Jesus] died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.

*  How the Bible describes being dead or asleep:
Psalm 146:4:  His [man's, when he dies] spirit [God's lifeforce] departs, he returns to the earth;  On that very day his plans ["thoughts" - KJV] perish.
Ecclesiastes 9:5  For the living know that they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor do they have a reward [the reward of being alive] any longer. ...  10 ... there is no activity, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol ["the grave" - KJV] where you are going.

   These passages expressly confirm the fact that when we die we are buried.  We do not go anywhere in a conscious state, in spirit form or otherwise.  Such a belief is never uttered in the scriptures, and we are compelled to ask ourselves, Why?
   If when we die we carry on in a conscious state, why would the scriptures never delve into this extremely relevant and significant fact, even while many times speaking about the "sleeping" dead?
   Those who believe that the dead consciously continue on must say that "sleep" is referencing the physical body only.  But which is the more important aspect to be repeatedly explained:  the obvious fact that after death the physical body becomes unconscious; or, if it were true, a post-death conscious state-of-being in Paradise with God?
The Conscious-After-Death Viewpoint
The advocates of post-death consciousness do of course present certain scripture passages to uphold their case, and we'll spend some time on these now:

*  The first argument is fairly compelling and if there were no other scriptures addressing this topic, the point could reasonably be yielded.  Paul states his desire to "depart and be with Christ":

Philippians 1:21  For to me, [Paul] 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 directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better....

The counter-argument:  The fact is that there are many scriptures which negate this understanding, while not a single passage states that when the believer dies he departs to 'immediately' be with Christ.  Immediacy is certainly not explicit in this passage and, with numerous scriptures stating the opposite, we are not only justified but compelled to infer that this is not what Paul was saying.  The Philippian believers under Paul's instruction would have understood that:
 Another example of this argument:  We are either "at home" in the body or, after we die we are "at home" with the Lord:

2 Corinthians 5:6  Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord ... 8 but we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

The counter-argument:  Again, the implication of immediacy is not at all explicit in this passage; certainly not to any degree which justifies ignoring so many biblical descriptions of the "sleep" or "rest" of death.
   Then we have verse 10 which explains that the believer receives his reward only after God's Judgment, creating another problem for those who believe we go straight to Paradise.  The Book of Revelation is very clear that there is no Judgement which takes place at the end of life; only after the 7-Years End Time.  Paul's earlier description, to "be with Christ", would constitute the highest degree of his reward, and we know that he can only receive it after the Judgment.
*  The second argument is quite straight forward:  Jesus told the thief who was dying on the cross next to Him that later that day he would be together with Jesus in Paradise:

Luke 23:42  And he [the thief] was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!"  43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

The counter-argument consists of a few points to be made:
*  The third argument:  When Jesus returns to Earth He "will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus."  Since He brings these people with Him they must be with Him in Heaven beforehand:

1 Thessalonians 4:14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.

The counter-argument:  When a person dies, God receives back to Himself His Spirit; His Breath of Life; His Life Force; that which gives a person life in the body.  It is this Power to create / give life which Jesus will bring with Him to be used for Resurrection.  The Revelation Timeline will show us that Jesus returns to Earth twice in the End Time:
   I believe that the misunderstanding of some of the information discussed on this page is what has so far prevented a fuller, more complete understanding of the enigmatic prophecy of Revelation.  I think honest people, probably many, have tried to decipher the Book but can't see how it can be dealt with in a way that will account for certain of their dogmatically held beliefs.  But please believe me and . . .

Allow me to restate:  For the purposes of this project I'm not asking anyone to change their beliefs on these subjects.  I only want you to bear these thoughts in mind while you consider how a cohesive understanding of the Revelation can be achieved.  For example:  The understanding that the Righteous who have died are now resting / sleeping until they are resurrected (and not already in Heaven), is a great help in this regard.   And the goal certainly must be to find the truth.  This is why we're here.
   Having come this far, I'm sure you're now anxious to . . .
Romans 8:18  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
- The subject is the glory that is to be revealed to us: Our Eternal Reward.
19 For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God.
- Part of the glory to be revealed is the followers of God themselves, in their glorious new spiritual bodies.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
- Our glorified New State of Being will be the ultimate confirmation that the New Creation has been set free from corruption, including that of our current bodies:
     [So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: - also written by Paul; 1 Corinthians 15:42 - KJV]
22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
23 And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body.
- Our glorification will take place when our bodies are redeemed; unequivocally at the Resurrection.  Only then will we receive our reward of adoption as sons and daughters of God.  This makes no sense whatsoever if we have already received our spiritual bodies and heavenly reward when we died.
*  As recorded by John (the Revelator), Jesus Himself tells us:
John 3:13:  No one has ascended into heaven, except He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.

*  In death, David's state of being is one of sleep, and without reward:
Acts 2:29:  ... the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ... 34 For it was not David who ascended into heaven....
Acts 13:36:  For David, after he had served God's purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, and was buried among his fathers and underwent decay;
But what about Near Death Experiences?
There are a few different theories about near death experiences (NDEs).  One theory holds that it is a psychological/physiological phenomenon the brain experiences when under extreme duress.  Those with a Christian background tend to only consider and lend credence to accounts from Christian-oriented people, and of course the large majority of these accounts are supportive of what Christians believe.  However, people of different faiths actually experience NDEs differently in significant ways, which fact, in my opinion, exposes the phenomenon as not being real.  It is most likely an halucinogenic brain-response to the process of dying:
 The following is taken directly (grammar errors and all) from a blog comment written by an atheist.  In my opinion, (s)he hits the nail squarely on the head, making very good points, and as a Christian I agree that the variability of NDEs clearly exposes their origin as not being from the One True God:
 _______________
Significance of the Resurrection
 
*  Heaven is not the home of "the asleep", yet those who "die in Christ" have "fallen asleep".  Those who die before or after Jesus' First Advent go to "sleep", and will be alive again only when they are Resurrected:
Romans 8:18   For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19 For the eagerly awaiting creation [the New Earth] waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God.  [at the Resurrection (v23)]
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  [Our Glorified Bodies]
22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
23 And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body. [at the Resurrection]
- Re-read that, you need to get it.  We are being told that in the fullest sense, in the sense of completion, the Christian becomes the son or daughter of God, not when we die, but AT THE RESURRECTION.
24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
 
 
1 Peter 1:3-13:   [We have been] born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ... a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you greatly rejoice ... so that the proof of your faith ... may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ ... obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. [body + spirit = soul = resurrection] ... Set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
-  There is NO HOPE other than that which will be brought to us when Messiah Jesus returns.
 
 
Resurrection is always "of the dead", not "of the temporarily living in heaven".  In the Bible, everything that is relevant to our next life, when it is given context in time, occurs after the resurrection:
*  We can only be brought to heaven with our new spiritual bodies, and we only fully realize our new spiritual nature as the sons and daughters of God, at the Resurrection: