“Just as man is destined to die once and after that the judgment,” Hebrews 9:27
1. Ecclesiastes 12:7 give us the basic truth about what happens when we die. What happens to the body? To the spirit?
2. Luke 16:19-31 tells us what happened to believers and unbelievers in ages past.
a. What gives us a clue that the rich man, while he was alive, did not know God?
b. What happened to Lazarus when he died?
c. What happened to the rich man when he died?
d. What is hell (Hades) like?
e. Why couldn’t the rich man and Lazarus have contact with each other?
f. This story shows that the dead do not normally return to earth? Note these few instances when the dead came back to life.
their advantage or when God compels them. What happens when spiritists “bring back the dead”?
(1 Read 1 Samuel 28:3-25. There is disagreement as to whether God allowed Samuel to come back to life in this one instance or whether a demon impersonated Samuel. Demons do tell the truth when it is to (2 Who was raised from the dead? How did God raise them? Unlike Jesus, all these people eventually died. (1 Kings 17:7-24 2 Kings 4:8-37 Mark 5:21-43 Luke 8:40-56 John 11 Acts 9:36-43; 20:7-12)
(3 At what event were saints who had died raised to life? (Matthew 27:50-53)
3. Read 1 Corinthians 15:26; 54-56 Revelation 6:8; 20:13-14.
a. What is the last enemy to be destroyed? What is the sting of death and power of death?
b. What are death and Hades? What will their end be?
4. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” Psalm 116:15
a. What does Jesus hold? (Revelation 1:18) How should this comfort the believer?
b. What is the death of a believer called? Note the circumstances in John 11:11-13 and 1 Corinthians 15:18-20.
c. Where are the believing dead? (Luke 23:43 Corinthians 5:8 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)
d. Why do we have victory over death? (Isaiah 25:8 Hosea 13:14 1 Corinthians 15:50-57)?
e. What can our reaction be to death? (Psalm 116:15 Matthew 6:21 John 14:2-3 Philippians 1:20-23; 3:20-21 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)
5. How are people judged after death? Note your insights.
a. Matthew 12:36 Romans 2:16; 14:12 2 Corinthians 5:10 Revelation 21:12
b. Joel 2:32 Acts 2:21 Romans 10:8-13
c. John 3:16-21
d. Acts 13:38-39 Romans 8:1
e. Romans 1:16, 17 Ephesians 2:8-9
f Romans 3:20; 7:7
g. Romans 3:23; 6:23
h. 1 Corinthians 4:4; 11:32
i. Luke 18:29-30
j. Matthew 7:15-29 Luke 6:43-49 James 2:17, 26
k. John 15:14 1 John 1:6-7; 3:23
l. 2 Corinthians 6:9-10 Ephesians 5:5 Revelation 21:8; 22:15
m. 1 Corinthians 9:27 2 John 8
n. Hebrews 10:39-11:40
o. 1 Peter 1:17-21
6. The Greek used for “crown” was the usual term for the wreath placed on the head of a victorious athlete or military leader. It is a reward or token of public honor. What crowns can we receive? Are any conditional? (1 Corinthians 9:25 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 2 Timothy 2:4; 4:8 James 1:12 1 Peter 5:2-4 Revelation 2:10; 3:11; 4:10)
7. According to Revelation 19:20-20:4 how will the beast and the false prophet be judged? What happens to Satan at this time?
8. Read Revelation 20.
a. What the fate of the devil, those martyred for Jesus, the rest of the dead, the nations that were deceived by Satan and those that stand before the great white throne?
b. “Blessed and holy are those who have a part in the first resurrection.” Revelation 20:6 What is the first resurrection contrasted with and what are the contrasts?
9. Do little children that die go to heaven? How do these Scriptures help answer that question?
a. Deuteronomy 1:39 Isaiah 7:15-16
b. 2 Samuel 12:21-23
c. Matthew 18:3-6, 10, 14; 19:14
10. Will people who have never heard of Jesus go to heaven? Study these Scriptures:
a. Psalm 19:1-4 Proverbs 1:20-31 Romans 1:18-28
b. Jonah 4:11
c. Acts 17:30 Romans 2:12-16 3:22-26 1 Peter 1:14
d. John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 8:26-39; 10; 17:30-31 Romans 10:9-15 Ephesians 2:12
e. Revelation 20:15
11. What does the Bible say concerning the doctrine of purgatory? (Philippians 1:23 Hebrews 1:3; 9:27-28; 10:10-14)
12. Read Matthew 25:31-46.
a. When does this judgment occur?
b. Where is the Son of Man?
c. Who is gathered to Him and why?
d. On what basis will they be judged?
e. What is the fate of the sheep? The goats?
f. Consider this statement:
“The two most widely accepted interpretations of this judgment are:
1. It will occur at the beginning of an earthly millennial kingdom (v. 31,34). Its purpose will be to determine who will be allowed to enter the kingdom (v. 34). The criterion for judgment will be the kind of treatment shown the Jewish people (“these brothers of mine ”, v. 40) during the preceding great tribulation period (v. 35-30, 42-45). Ultimately, how a person treats the Jewish people reveals whether or not he is saved (v. 41, 46).
2. The judgment referred to occurs at the great white throne at the end of the age (Rev. 20:11-15). Its purpose will be to determine who will be allowed to enter the eternal kingdom of the saved and who will be consigned to eternal punishment in hell (v. 34, 46). The basis for judgment will be whether love is shown to God’s people (see 1 Jn 3:14-15)
Rewards for the kingdom of heaven are given to those who serve without thought of reward. There is no hint of merit here, for God gives out of grace, not debt.” NIV Study Bible
Another view: “The “sheep” are those Gentiles who accept the Lord Jesus Christ by faith during the Tribulation. The “goats” are those Gentiles who do not receive Christ as Savior. Many Gentiles will listen to the 144,000 witnesses and be saved. There are those who doubt that the Tribulation Period will be a time of salvation, but it is. If no one were saved, there would be no need of a judgment between the sheep and goats.” Charles F. Strong