I have spoken about this in a couple of my blogs before; I even have another blog about this subject. I have talked about that blog in a couple of my other blogs, Dead Men Tell No Tales, if you would like to go check it out. That blog I just posted quotes from one book of the Spirit of Prophecy and this blog I would like to put it in my own words, give more quotes both from the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. This is a very important topic and every person needs to be made aware of the danger of the false teachings out there.
First, I would like to go into the history of the misconception first and then get into what the truth is and what the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy has to say about it.
So, when did the idea first manifest itself that there was life after death? Some of you may be surprised by this answer and some of you may have already guessed what it is. Most people don’t realize this but it all started in the Garden of Eden when Satan talked through the serpent. It was one of the very first lies ever told and one of the first deceptions that Satan used to persuade Eve to eat the forbidden fruit.
Genesis 3: 1-5 – Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Satan was appealing to her, telling her that she wouldn’t die but she would be immortal like the Lord, when in fact immortality can only be given by the Lord. If Eve had never eaten from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, she would have never died. Sin brings death, maybe not right away but eventually all who have sinned and not confessed their sins will die the second death where there is no resurrection. More on that later…
From that deception, it was easy for the father of lies to spin it further and further from the truth until people believe all sorts of things about what happens to you after you die. There is only one right truth, all other paths are leading to destruction.
Although it doesn’t mention this in the Bible, I am sure many of you know that the Egyptian’s believed in the afterlife. That is why they built such elaborate graves, they believed that everything you put in the grave would be with you in the afterlife, which is why when a Pharaoh died, they would often kill his most loyal servants to go with him into the afterlife and serve him there. They would put in gold, food, and other things so that they would be comfortable in the afterlife. Not realizing that it was all for nothing.
That wasn’t the only religion that would kill people so that they could be with them in the afterlife. In some countries they would kill the wife after the husband died, or throw her on the fire while she was still alive, gruesome and awful I know. Luckily it was banned and it is no longer the law to do that in those countries, and as far as I know, they still don’t do that anymore. They believed that the couple would be together in the afterlife, not knowing that there was no life after death.
Then, of course, there are the Spiritualist’s, they have been around since almost the beginning of sin in the world. Some of you may know the history of that religion and how scary it is; I’m not going to go into it deep. Needless to say, they have always believed in life after death, they know and make a conscious choice to serve Satan. Making sacrifices to the dead and a lot of religions worship their dead loved ones or dead spiritual leaders. They make them into idols and bow down before them (see the blog on Idols).
At one point in time, a lot of the world did not have such a fascination with the Spiritualist as they do now. In the 1800s, everyone was blown away by the story the Fox sisters told about the mysterious knocking at their house. It sent chills through people’s bones to hear the stories. It made people question if there really was an afterlife if the dead really could hear from beyond the grave. Then it spread and there were more and more people telling their own chilling stories of mysterious things happening in their homes.
Until now, in this day and age, people not only accept the fact but love the stories and make movies about it and go sit and participate in a seance. They play with a Ouija board not realizing the dangers they are putting themselves in. I have been told by people who actually played with that wicked game the results of what happened and it was nothing but pure evil.
All of those Satanic rituals are not anything we as Christians should be involved with. You should not even watch videos that have it in, you are inviting evil spirits into your homes. That is what all those mysterious happenings were, it was Satan and his evil angels, all in order to convince people that there is life after death.
Satan and his evil angels can also give people knowledge of another life from the past and give exact details of that person’s life because they were there and they saw all of history take place. It should come as no surprise that in order for Satan to keep people from the truth he will do whatever is necessary to get them to believe in a lie. When you hear people talking about the previous lives they had and give the exact history of that person without ever knowing about them, know that it isn’t because reincarnation is possible it is because Satan has a hold on that person’s life and is giving them that information.
John 8:44 – Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Now you may say that you don’t believe in all that or do any of those things but you do believe that once your relatives die, they go to heaven or to hell depending on whether or not that person was good or bad. This philosophy is just as dangerous as the other, and it was born from the same place as the other beliefs.
You may try and remind me of the Bible story of Samuel, you know the one, where Saul went to the witch of Endor and asked for Samuel to be called forth. You may say that the Bible contradicts itself since it says in other places that there is no life after death and then we have this story that appears to be contrary to that.
A couple of things that I would like to point out about this story. We can prove that it was not actually Samuel that came to Saul, but Satan or one of his evil angels that appeared like Samuel. The first thing I would like to point out is that Saul had previously removed all the witches, warlocks, and other Spiritualistic people from the city. When he went to visit this witch, he went in the cover of darkness and wore a cloak to cover his face because he knew what he was doing was wrong. Saul knew the truth at the beginning of his reign as king, which just shows how far gone he was and how much Satan was now controlling his life.
Saul would have never have gone to that witch at the beginning of his reign, which is obvious because he threw them all out, know that what they were doing was wrong. So even when he went to visit her, he knew what he was doing and he knew that it wasn’t of the Lord.
Another thing is that we are told in the Bible that Satan and his angels can transform into angels of light and other things as well, refer back to the serpent in the garden of Eden and Satan speaking through the snake. Satan and his angels can appear as dead relatives, loved ones, or anyone that is in the grave.
The Bible says that Saul perceived him to be Samuel, because of the description that the witch gave, Satan knew how Samuel looked, dressed, the sound of his voice and how he worded things and any other little detail that would convince Saul that it really was Samuel. That is how Saul perceived him as that is why Saul was convinced that it was Samuel when it actually was a demon in disguise.
Now you may want to point out the fact that the demon told Saul what was going to happen to him, that he predicted his death. This doesn’t mean that it was Samuel just because the demon told what would take place. It also doesn’t mean that demons can tell the future, although we don’t know how it came to be that the demon knew that information it doesn’t take much of a leap of faith to believe that the Lord allowed the demon to tell Saul what was to come.
If you would like to read this story in the Bible you can find it in 1 Samuel chapter 28. When we take the Bible and we study and dig deep we can see the truth shining through. We can know that it was a demon because the Bible does not lie or contradict itself. That is why we must be seekers of truth.
2 Corinthians 11:14 – And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Another story people take out of context is the parable that Jesus told about Lazarus and the rich man that died. You can find it in Luke 16: 19-26; and I would just say it is not talking about life after death. It is a PARABLE which means it is a story that is supposed to represent something else, it is a story that was told that has a deeper meaning. It was meant to tell us that how we act here on this earth does matter and we can’t change our character when we finally reach heaven. We must be kind, loving, and like Christ now, we can’t wait till we are in heaven to act that way. Our characters must be changed now.
Matthew 25:45 – Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
People also like to point out the thief on the cross and how Jesus told him this:
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
They like to say that because Jesus said that, it means the thief must be in heaven after he died because Jesus said, “today you will be with me in paradise.” This is caused by a simple grammatical error, the scholars put the comma in the wrong area, the comma should have been placed after today instead of before like it is.
This may not be enough evidence for you, in that case, think about this, was Jesus himself in heaven that day? The answer is a resounding NO! Jesus was in the grave until Sunday morning as we all know, with that being the case how would have been possible for the thief to have been Jesus in paradise that day if Jesus Himself wasn’t even there?
Therefore, the belief that most Christians have is wrong! All the evidence is against the fact that there is life after death. There will come a day when Jesus does return for His followers and have a resurrection and those that follow Him will be granted eternal life in heaven. Until then they are not in heaven waiting or in hell suffering. Hell is not yet existing, it is something that will take place, not taking place right now.
Another question to think about, if there is life after death and the good people are in heaven at the moment, why would it be necessary for Jesus to have a resurrection of the people? If they are already in heaven wouldn’t they just come down with Him, or wait there while He comes to get the living? The answer is once again simple, it wouldn’t be necessary, so then why is almost every religion out there preaching that your dead loved ones are in heaven watching over you?
The reason is that Satan is the father of lies and has deceived many, many people into believing these lies. There is no purgatory, there is no hell, and they are not in heaven looking down at us. I can’t imagine how they would be happy up in heaven seeing the suffering that you are going through because of their loss.
For example, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after four days of being in the grave he never once told about what heaven was like. Something to think about is that Jesus would have known that Lazarus was in heaven, why would Jesus pull Lazarus out of heaven where he would have been happy to bring him back down to this dark evil world? Surely Lazarus would have complained about it after he came out of the grave and would have pleaded to go back to paradise, I wouldn’t want to be back here after experiencing something like that, would you?
Instead, we know from history that after Lazarus was raised that the Jews tried to murder him. Lazarus was a living example of what Jesus could do and that they were wrong and they wanted to put that evidence back in the grave. We also find no record anywhere of Lazarus talking about what heaven was like.
When you hear people describing their experiences of what heaven was like, just remember Satan was once an angel who lived in heaven and can describe it. Satan gives these visions to people to bolster his deceptions. The Lord allows it to happen to shift the wheat from the tares. Remember the parable of the sower planting and then an enemy comes along and plants tares. Matthew 13: 24-30
With all that being said, what exactly does the Bible say about death? It is very clear what the Bible has to say and here is the truth about what death truly is like.
Ecclesiastes 9:5 – For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
1 Corinthians 15: 52-57 – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 5: 28, 29 – Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation
Acts 2:29; 34 – Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
You see it says that David is still in his grave, how could he still be in his grave if he is in heaven? He couldn’t be, David is waiting for the resurrection just like everyone who loved and followed the Lord.
Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6; 10 – For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Job 14:12; 21 – So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
Psalm 146:4 – His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
When you hear about the spirit returning to the Lord it isn’t the person they are talking about, it is his breath. What is the soul? It is body plus breath as we are told in Genesis 2:7 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; man became a living soul.
This is what returns to the Lord, the spirit {breath} that we have is returned to the Lord who gave it to us in the first place. If you love the Lord and serve Him then death is not the end, there is a place being prepared for us and very soon Jesus will come and take us home with Him.
1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18 – For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Spiritualism is a dangerous phase of infidelity, and we should not go into the assemblies of Spiritualists prompted by motives of curiosity. In so doing we are placing ourselves on Satan’s ground, and cannot expect help from God unless he has a work for us to do to speak some message to those who are ignorant and deceived, and immediately leave the assembly. “They are of the world; therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” The erroneous doctrine that the soul is immortal is almost universally received by the world, and the belief that the dead go immediately to heaven gives Spiritualism a deep hold upon the people. Believing this doctrine men have nothing with which to shield themselves from the errors of Spiritualism. Through evil spirits they receive communications, and accept them as messages from their lost loved ones. Satan and his agents personate their dead friends, and thus impart to them Satanic delusions. But God has given us a rule whereby to test what is truth. The prophet says: “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” “He that is of God heareth God’s word.” “We are of God; he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” {ST, September 3, 1894 par. 6}
As you can see the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy have much to say on this subject. I highly encourage you to do a study for yourself on this most important topic. You can read my other blog Dead Men Tell No Tales to see what else the Spirit of Prophecy says on this subject. In the end times, Satan is going to use this to deceive everyone he can, he will do his best to deceive the most spiritual people which the Spirit of Prophecy refers to as the very elect.
I pray that this has been a blessing and that you see the truth and understand why this is so important to know. Remember that you can repent, no matter how deep you may think you are in Satan’s net. The Lord is there waiting to cut you free and set you on the path of righteousness. We must be willing and take the necessary steps if we do our part, the Lord will do His. The Lord calls us to come out of Babylon, and Babylon is the wickedness and deceptions of Satan.
May the Lord continue to shine His light upon us and that we may shine that light to the world.
A Star Witness 