Dead Men’s Secrets

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, without sin, unto salvation.”  Hebrews 9:27-28

 

“This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all. Yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.”  Ecclesiastes 9:3

 

There are a ton of different theories out there regarding where one goes after they die, what happens to someone when they join the ranks of the dead.  In nearly every city of any size in the United States, there are so-called churches who have set out their doctrine to what they believe in.  The Christian Scientist believe that they will be reincarnated.

 

Years ago I used to have a good friend who was a Christian Scientist.  We would go back and forth, while biking the streets and countryside of Petoskey, Michigan, debating on some of his viewpoints.  He stuck with the fact that he believed when he died he would be reincarnated and when he finally lived a good life then he would go to Heaven.  Years later this buddy would attend Bible studies at our home, as the focus would be on what the Bible actually taught, not some man’s theory.  Afterwards he eventually left the Christian Science church and started attending a church that according to him, ‘sounded a lot like what we used to talk about’.  Unfortunately over the years and living thousands of miles apart, we have lost touch.

 

If you were to go to a Mormon church, that goes underneath the deceitful name of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, you would be taught that by adheeding their doctrine you might be able to rule a planet.  Both types of churches are cults, their doctrine is not of the Holy Scriptures, yet they stand out for having clear teaching regarding what happens to mankind after they die.  Do not think that the regular types of churches on the street corners are necessarily any better regarding doctrine.

 

There is a lot of debate amongst churches throughout the United States, under numerous different denominations, regarding Hell and the Judgment of God.  This despite the fact that the Bible is quite clear regarding both of these doctrines.

 

“And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away. And there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. And books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, out of the things which were written in the books.  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one, according to their works.  And Death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15

 

Amongst the world there is a lot of controversy regarding what happens when one dies, where one goes, what is out there.  We could probably dwell hours and hours into different ideology’s regarding these things.  Yet these are dead men’s secrets.

 

Those who have passed from this world, those who have died, they know the secrets.  While the world debates exactly how to get into Heaven, whether there really is a Hell, where one goes or what one does after they die, it would be wise to adheed some wisdom from the Bible.

 

For many, what they believe -seems- right.

 

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end of it is the ways of death.”  Proverbs 14:12

 

“The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the spirits of the dead.”  Proverbs 21:16

When the time comes, when modern medical can no longer intervene, when death finally arrives, each individual is powerless over it.  They could not prevent it when they crossed over.

 

“No one has power over the spirit to restrain the spirit; nor power in the day of death; and there is no discharge from that war; nor shall wickedness deliver its owners.”  Ecclesiastes 8:8

 

As Believers, God has told us some of the secrets of dead men.  While we might not have all of the details, we certainly know enough that is more than suffice to be confident in our beliefs.  These beliefs should be according to the Bible, according to the Word of God, nothing else.  What are some of the things that we can be certain about?

 

Our deaths, as Believers, are precious to God.

 

“Precious in the sight of Jehovah is the death of His saints.”  Psalms 116:15

 

After our death, what happens?

 

“We are confident, yes, preferring rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”  2nd Corinthians 5:8

 

Mansions are being prepared.

 

“In MyFather’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”  John 14:2-3

 

There are rewards in Heaven.

 

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”  Jacob (James) 1:12

 

“Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven, for in this manner they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Matthew 5:12

 

There is the Judgment Seat of Christ, that we as Believers will be Judged.  We will not be Judged at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15).

 

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”  2nd Corinthians 5:10

 

“If anyone’s work is consumed, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”  1st Corinthians 3:15

 

There is indeed a Heaven and some details are clearly given.

 

“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.  And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.  And the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it; and the Lamb is its light.  And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.  And its gates shall not be shut at all by day, because there shall be no night there.”  Revelation 21:21-25

 

“The sun shall no more be your light by day; nor the brightness of the moon give light to you; but Jehovah will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory.  Your sun shall not go down any more, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for Jehovah will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended.”  Isaiah 60:19-20

 

Believers will be Raptured before the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7).  This has been discussed in more detail in prior articles, so just touching on it this time.

 

“For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shouted command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together at the same time with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”  1st Thessalonians 4:15-17

 

The Bible has clearly stated the secrets of dead men.  Certainly those who have died are now aware of the Truth of God’s Word.  For those who had repented and believed the Gospel, by faith, they know God’s Word is true.  For those who refused to repent and by faith believe into Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, likewise they also know God’s Word is true.  Even though they might have been deceived when they were in the land of the living, the reality is God provided the free gift of Salvation to whomever would accept it.

 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  The one believing into Him is not judged; but the one not believing is judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But the one doing the truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been worked in God.”  John 3:16-21

 

“The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is longsuffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”  2nd Peter 3:9

 

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men that is required for us to be saved.”  Acts 4:12

 

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has established a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has appointed. He has given assurance of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”  Acts 17:30-31

 

 

“Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be immersed in the name of Jesus Christ to the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 2:38

 

“Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  John 14:6

 

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:  Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but gave Himself over to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.  For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”  1st Peter 2:21-25

 

“For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not of works, that no one should boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9

 

Do not be deceived, for the world is full of deception and Satan would like nothing more than for you to die in your sins, for you to believe lies, for you to be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:15).

 

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who leads the whole world astray; he was cast out onto the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”  Revelation 12:9

 

So in the end, when those great ones see the Devil, those who are aroused in Hell, what will they think?

 

“Your arrogance is brought down to Sheol, and the noise of your lutes. The maggot is spread under you, and the worms cover you.  How you are fallen from the heavens, O shining one, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!  For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into the heavens, I will exalt my throne above the stars of the Mighty God; I will also sit on the mount of the appointed assembly, in the recesses of the north.  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.  Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the recesses of the Pit.  Those who see you shall stare at you and consider diligently, saying, Is this the man who made the earth to tremble; who shook kingdoms; who made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed its cities; who did not open the house for his prisoners?”  Isaiah 14:11-17

 

The secrets of dead men are known to those who have died.  One last example will suffice of one who has harsh remorse for having been deceived and even though they were dead from underneath the sun and knew the secrets, they longed for wanting their family to not make the same mistake. 

 

“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  So it happened that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  Then he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.  But Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, nor can those from there pass to us.  Then he said, I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house,  for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, that they not also come to this place of torment.  Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.  And he said, No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.  But he said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one should rise from the dead.”  Luke 16:19-31

 

Do not be deceived, do not be taken in with false doctrine that goes against what the Bible teaches.  Clearly there is a right and a wrong, God’s Word has stated to us these things, so that they should not be a mystery.  Do not be like the rich man, do not be lead astray, believe God.

 

“The Mighty God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should be sorry. Has He said, and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good?”  Numbers 23:19

 

“Let it not be! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: That You may be found just in Your words, and may win the case when You are judged.”  Romans 3:4

 

Amen!