What happens after death? | Part B

The King James Version (KJV) is mostly used in these lessons. Click here to access the KJV online.

The definition of a soul

The creation of Adam reveals what constitutes a soul. “And Yahuwah Elohim formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (See Genesis 2:7.) In the flood account, a slightly different word is used, but with the same concept. Yahuwah told Noah to take into the ark, “two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.” (See Genesis 7:15.) The word here translated “breath” is the same word that appears elsewhere in Scripture as “spirit.” It is the combination of a corporeal body with Yah’s life-giving breath that produces a conscious, living soul.

In beautifully poetic language, Solomon exhorted people to serve Yahuwah while life still lingered: “Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to Elohim who gave it.” (See Ecclesiastes 12:6-7.)

Without Yah’s breath (spirit) of life, there is no consciousness.

Life without end … someday

Believers who have died trusting in the merits of Yahushua’s blood will be resurrected when he returns to set up Yahuwah’s everlasting kingdom on earth. The gift of eternal life is not given until then. Even when Job longed for death, he did not expect to go immediately to Heaven. In fact, he states quite explicitly that his body will decay in the grave.

I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see Yah: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. (See Job 19:25-27.)

Job trusted that Yahuwah would one day resurrect him to live once again on the earth. In fact, all who have died trusting in the merits of Yahushua’s blood, will be resurrected to live and reign with him for a thousand years in the earth made new. At the end of the millennium, those who persisted in rebelling with Satan, will be resurrected briefly to face the final judgment. John wrote:

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away … And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before Yah, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 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 his works. Then 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, NKJV)

Eternal life is the reward given the overcomers. Romans 6:23 states unequivocally that “the wages of sin is death.” Death, not eternal life in torment, is the reward of all who reject Yah’s mercy. Yahuwah does the only thing a merciful Father can do: He allows those who would be miserable in the Kingdom of Love to cease to exist.

Reject Satan’s lies that only bring pain. In every act of Yahuwah, His eternal love for sinners is revealed. Accept salvation. Let Him embrace you in His arms of infinite love and you can spend eternity with Yahuwah, the Saviour and the redeemed of all ages.