1st March 2004

Dear Brethren and friends

This month I would like to approach a subject that is not pleasant, but the time is right for us to speak about it because there are still many people who are not clear about: Death!

They think that once they are dead everything finishes, but this is not what the bible tells us.

What is there after death ?

Whether you want to believe or not,, Jesus affirms that there is life beyond death! But, we are going to suppose that the Bible is wrong! You, who do not believe in life after death, will not loose nor gain anything! But.. if the Bible is right?
What sadness and misfortune, for those who did not believe, to come across the two distinct worlds that you will be presented with after your death!

The Bible teaches that man is an immortal spirit. The true person, that part of a man which thinks, feels, dreams, aspires, the "ego", the personality, never will die. Two deaths exist: physical death and eternal death.
Eternal death is eternal separation from God. (Revelation 20:14&15)

Jesus advised mankind to prepare itself for inevitable death. Do not be worried, said Jesus, about the death of the body, but about the death of the spirit; and Jesus informed us that eternal death should be feared most by mankind. After death only two places exist : heaven and hell.
Luke 16:19-26 – Jesus spoke about two men who died. One went to Hades and the other went to Heaven. There was a gulf that separated the two places. One man suffered torment in the flames and the other enjoyed well-being and peace. The way of life that they had led on this earth determined how they lived in eternity (see verses 24 to 31).

HELL
To speak of hell is not very pleasant, and is even controversial. There are various interpretations! Some think that God is good and will not order anybody to hell, before all are saved. Others think that those who not to believe in God, will be destroyed, will cease to exist, or even, after death will still have the chance to be saved.
None of these theories are correct! The Bible teaches that only while we live on earth, we have the chance to gain or to lose heaven. (II Corinthians 6:2)

Hell is a prison, prepared by God to place all those that do not want to obey His laws, those that voluntary and conscientiously reject Christ as their Lord and Savior. Because God loves humanity, he created this eternal prison. Just imagine what it would be like to live eternally with murderers, thieves, sexual perverts, violators, etc.?

Just as police and prisons exist to protect the good from the bad, in the same way God has prepared a way of eternally protecting those that want to follow the road of the good from those who don't want to. This prison is called Hades. It is a word Greek which means an invisible state, and is associated with judgment, tragedy and suffering.
In Revelation 20:14&15 and 21:8 we read:
- «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.»
- «But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death».

HEAVEN
Heaven is a place of beauty, a glorious city, where Jesus is.
And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve Him. (Revelation 22:3).

Jesus said: «… I go to prepare a place for you… that where I am, there you may be also» (John 14:2). On another occasion, the Apostle Paul so certain of heaven, affirmed: «We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord» (II Corinthians 5:8).

My friend, if you are not certain where you are going when you die, right now is the time to prepare yourself! Choose the path of life, peace! Choose heaven, choose Jesus!
The Bible says that for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16). It is also affirmed that he who has the Son has life (I John 5:12).

Therefore choose life, so that when you leave this physical world you are able to live in the kingdom of God, full of peace, love and joy, where there is no crying, tears or any suffering.

An embrace
Apostle Jorge Tadeu