Where Are The Dead?

Introduction. (Job 14:1-14). In this text we note two questions: “If a man dies, shall he live again?” (vs. 14) and “He breathes his last and where is he?” (vs. 9). These are the great questions of humanity. Is there life after death? Is this life all that there is? When death takes place -- where do the dead go? This morning we will consider this second question considering what the Bible tells us about where the dead go after death.

I. The Bible Teaches that Death is not the End of Life.

  1. Human Beings Have an Eternal Spirit (Ecclesiastes 12:6-7).
    1. “God of the Living” (Exodus 3:6; Mark 12:18-27).
    2. “Gathered to their fathers” (Judges 2:10; II Samuel 12:23).
  2. This Spirit survives the Death of the Body
    1. Body “without” spirit (James 2:26).
    2. “Gave up” spirit (John 19:28-30).

II. The Departed Spirit Goes...

  1. To Sheol (OT).
    1. Place of the dead (Job 17:11-16).
    2. Death & Sheol (Isaiah 38:15-18).
    3. “Did not leave my soul in Sheol” (Psalm 16:9-10).
  2. Or Hades (NT).
    1. Jesus went there (Acts 2:26-32).
    2. The thief went there (Lk 23:43).
    3. Lazarus went there (Luke 16:19-31; II Peter 2:4).

III. Yet, Hades is Not The End.

  1. There will be a resurrection.
    1. All will rise (Dan 12:2; Jn 5:28-29).
    2. Hades will give up her dead (Revelation 20:11-13).
  2. Death & Hades are cast into the “lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15).