Scripture references are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless stated otherwise. All the main religions of this world, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and traditional Christianity, believe in the survival of a conscious spirit or soul immediately after death. They say that the soul is the real person dwelling in a person's temporary physical body in this life. The main religions including traditional Christianity believe that when the body dies, the soul of the person continues to live consciously with the person’s identity intact. Traditional Christianity believes that when a person dies, his conscious soul or spirit is judged immediately to go to either heaven or hell. The Bible says that Satan deceives the whole world. (Revelation 12:9) In the Garden of Eden, our first parents, Adam and Eve, were deceived and believed the first lie of Satan, which was "You will not surely die", before they ate the forbidden fruit. Genesis 3:4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die". This is similar to saying, “You have an immortal soul”. The same lie has been universally believed throughout the history of humanity. It is believed that when a person dies, his soul continues to live on and he remains conscious in the same way as before his physical death. This is illogical and confusing as it raises the question ‘How can a person be conscious without a physical or spiritual body?’ There is not a single reference in the Old Testament, which can be remotely understood to support the doctrine of the immortal soul. In fact, the Bible says quite the opposite that the soul that sins shall die. Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die. The key question is “Are dead people conscious or not?”. Let us consider what the Bible has to say in answer to this question. Psalm 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks? Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. Isaiah 38:18 For Sheol (grave) cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth. Psalm 115:17 The dead do not praise the LORD, Nor any who go down into silence. Why do Christians not believe these clear biblical verses, along with many others, which categorically disprove the doctrine of the immortal soul? Notice that the Bible says that when a person dies, his memory ceases, he cannot praise God, and he has no knowledge or wisdom. In other words, the soul of a person without a body is not conscious. The concept of the immortality of the soul, which entered the Roman Catholic Church and subsequently the Protestant Church, was the result of pagan ideas filtered in through ancient Greek poets and philosophers. The Greek philosopher Plato fully developed the concept of the immortal soul. The Bible teaches resurrection, which is a rising from the dead. This is in direct opposition to the pagan Greek idea of an immortal soul. Resurrection is the glorious central truth of the Bible. The Bible says that everyone will be resurrected because Jesus Christ was resurrected, and that Jesus Christ earned resurrection for every person through His death on the cross. 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. This proves that the dead will live again in a conscious state when they are resurrected in their immortal spiritual bodies and not a second before that. Death is an enemy, which Jesus Christ destroyed through His death and resurrection. The victory, which Christ has won for Adam and Eve and all of their descendants, is the resurrected life, which God will give to everyone in the future; first to the Bride of Christ in the First Resurrection, and then to the rest of humanity in the Second Resurrection. The false teaching of the ‘immortal soul’ undermines the gospel of Jesus Christ. It makes redundant the need for the resurrection, and makes redundant the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. If a dead person remains conscious after his death and he is judged to go to heaven or hell, then why would there be a need for God to resurrect him or a reason for the Great White Throne Judgement? Let us now go on to understand what the Bible means by the term ‘living soul’. Genesis 2:7 (KJV) And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Notice that Adam became a living soul, and not that Adam had a soul. A living soul simply means a living being as translated in other versions like the NKJV: Adam became a living soul after God breathed the breath of life into his body. The breath of life is the spirit in man, or the human spirit, which the apostle Paul says all human beings possess. 1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? A person becomes a living soul when he is conceived. It is when his human spirit unites with his body. The Bible says that an animal is also a living soul. The Hebrew word in Genesis 2:7 for the 'living soul' of human beings is nephesh. This same Hebrew word is also used for animals and translated as 'living creatures', for example, in Genesis 1:21. People and animals are all living souls. A person becomes a living soul when his human spirit unites with his human body. Similarly, an animal becomes a living soul or a living creature, when its animal spirit unites with its animal body. So, both men and animals are living souls comprising spirit and body. It is the human spirit, which makes us human beings, giving us our unique individual characteristics and personalities. Similarly, it is the animal spirit, which makes animals unique to their species with their individual characteristics and behaviours. When a person dies, his human fleshly body goes back to the dust, but his human spirit with all his individual characteristics and personality intact, returns to God for His safe keeping until the resurrection. Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. The human spirit is not conscious without the human body, and it will only become conscious again when it is reunited with a body, but this time to a new spiritual body at the resurrection. Once again, the person will become a conscious living soul, but this time in an immortal body that will never die. Unlike animals, God has created man in His own image and all people are destined to be resurrected. There is no indication in the Bible that a dead animal will be resurrected, and so it appears that an animal ceases to exist at death. However, a human being does not cease to exist at death, but simply remains unconscious or 'sleeps', with his spirit in God's safe keeping, until his resurrection. There is a great difference between a believer’s spirit and an unbeliever’s spirit. A believer’s spirit has been regenerated, 'born again' by the Holy Spirit through repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. This is why only God's Elect, the Bride of Christ, will be resurrected at the First Resurrection for a special salvation. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 that a believer’s whole spirit and soul and body is preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The whole of the Bible consistently teaches that when a person dies he ‘sleeps with his fathers’. The phrase ‘slept with his fathers’ occurs 36 times in the Old Testament as in 1 Kings 2:10. 1 Kings 2:10 (KJV) So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. A person who is ‘sleeping’ in the grave is not conscious of his surroundings, and he has not ascended into heaven or entered 'hell'. John 3:13 (KJV) And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. Acts 2:34 For David did not ascend into the heavens. Can we believe what these clear biblical verses say? They say that no man has ascended to heaven and that the dead patriarchs like David have not gone to heaven. Our Christian hope and focus must be on the resurrection, and not on the unbiblical pagan belief of the immortal soul. This is very important. We must get rid of this erroneous thinking of the Satanic lie of the immortal soul. Job believed in the resurrection from the dead, and not in the immortality of the soul. Job 14:13-15 13 Oh, that You would hide me in the grave, That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past, That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes. 15 You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands. Job, who died long ago, is ‘sleeping’ in his grave waiting to receive his change into his immortal resurrected spiritual body. For Job, and all true believers, this change will occur at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The risen Christ is the First of the Firstfruits of all the billions of human beings who have ever lived who will be resurrected ‘from their sleep’. Resurrection from the dead is described as the victory over death, which Christ has earned and won for Adam and Eve and all of their descendants. 1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." Apostle Paul powerfully preached resurrection and not the false doctrine of the immortal soul. Notice, we shall put on immortality at the resurrection and not a second before that. The false teaching of the immortal soul nullifies the victory of the cross, which Jesus Christ won for everyone. Why does traditional Christianity, against all the clear verses given in the Bible, still believe in the survival of a conscious self after death? It interprets this as an ‘intermediate state’. What biblical support does it use to justify the belief in the immortality of the soul? Let us examine some of the key texts falsely used to support this belief. Matthew 22:31-32 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. In this scripture, Jesus Christ speaks about the future resurrection of the dead, which will include Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jesus says absolutely nothing about these patriarchs being alive with Him now. Yet surprisingly, the proponents of the immortality of the soul use this scripture to support their unbiblical doctrine. They reason that since the scripture above says that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, it must mean that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are at present conscious and living in heaven. They ignore the clear biblical teaching that no man has ascended to heaven, only Jesus. As the Bible refers to those who are dead as ‘sleeping’ and not permanently dead, it should not be a problem for anyone to understand that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Furthermore, one must understand God’s perspective towards those who are dead. Romans 4:17 ...God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did. Notice first that life must be given to the dead as the dead have no inherent life in or of themselves. How will God give life back to the dead? The answer, is of course, through the resurrection. However, notice God’s perspective. God refers to the dead, which do not exist as though they did. Here, again, is the same inspired truth that the dead do not yet consciously exist. The dead will only consciously exist again when they are resurrected. Revelation 6:9-10 9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” This verse cannot be used to support the doctrine of the immortal soul as we have shown that the Bible says very clearly, in several places, that the dead cannot speak, or have any thought or memories. The Holy Spirit, who is the real Author of the Bible, cannot contradict Himself. The correct way to understand this scripture is to understand Romans 4:17, which we have quoted above. God is simply speaking out on behalf of the dead martyrs as if they are already resurrected and alive. Perhaps the most quoted scriptures used to support the belief in the immortal soul are those written by Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians and Philippians. So let us examine these in detail. 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. Philippians 1:21-23 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. In these verses, Paul says that when he is absent from the body or when he departs, he will be with the Lord. Apostle Paul believed and taught resurrection from the dead and not the doctrine of the immortal soul. At Paul’s death, his regenerated spirit would immediately go to God for His keeping until the resurrection. Paul does not say that immediately on his death he will be consciously present with the Lord. As far as Paul is concerned, he like all believers, will be with the Lord when he becomes conscious at the First Resurrection. A person who ‘sleeps’ is not aware of any time gap between when he falls asleep and when he wakes up from his sleep. So, for Paul, his first conscious waking moment after death will be rising from his grave in his new spiritual immortal body to meet Jesus Christ in the air in the First Resurrection, at Christ's Second Coming. Notice Paul says that all believers will be presented to God as a group together with Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. This scripture clearly states that Paul's presence with the Lord will not precede any believers and that all believers will be presented together with Jesus to God. Of course this will happen at the First Resurrection when Jesus returns and not before then. Throughout his writings, Paul consistently emphasises resurrection and has nothing to say about the immortality of the soul. Notice again what Paul has to say in 2 Timothy 4:6-8. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. When will Paul and all believers receive their crowns of Righteousness? They will receive them on the Day of Christ’s appearing, which is the same Day as the First Resurrection at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. What about the thief on the cross - is he in Paradise? Let us now look at the scripture, which talks about the thief who was saved on the cross. Did he go to Paradise immediately after his death? Luke 23:42-43 42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom". 43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." We know from scripture that Jesus did not go to Paradise immediately after His death. The body of Jesus was in His tomb for three days and three nights until His resurrection. So the scripture above cannot be saying that the thief went to Paradise on the same day that Jesus was crucified. This scripture makes a lot more sense if the punctuation mark of a comma after the second 'you' is altered to read: Luke 23:42-43 (SLT) 42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom". 43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise". Please note that there were no verses, paragraphs, commas or chapter breaks in the ancient Hebrew or Greek manuscripts from which the Bibles have been translated. These were added at a later date, and do not form part of the inspired writing. Sometimes the verses, commas and chapter breaks are placed inappropriately as in this case. The thief is dead and in a state of 'sleep' at this present time. His next conscious waking moment will be when he rises in his new immortal spiritual body to meet Jesus Christ in the air at His Second Coming. This will be when the thief will enter Paradise, Christ’s Millennial Kingdom on this earth, and then the Eternal Kingdom of God. What about Elijah and Enoch - are they in heaven? God did not take Elijah and Enoch to heaven, the dwelling place of God, where God's throne is presently located somewhere in universe. Let us remind ourselves that there are three distinct meanings of heaven/heavens in the Bible as follows: Firstly, heaven means the visible sky, or earth's atmosphere. Secondly, heavens means the Universe. Thirdly, heaven means the dwelling place of God, where God's throne is presently located somewhere in the Universe. The Bible is clear that no man has ascended to heaven, the dwelling place of God. (John 3:13) Elijah and Enoch were lifted up, by God, from the earth into heaven (earth’s atmosphere) and placed at another location on the earth where they died a natural death. The Bible says that all men of faith referred to in the Bible, including Elijah and Enoch, died in faith. (Hebrews 11:13) Like all men of faith who have died, Elijah and Enoch are sleeping, awaiting the promise of the resurrection from the dead, at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Our Christian hope is firmly based on the resurrection of the dead and not on the pagan teaching of the immortal soul. The Bible does not support any teaching of an intermediate conscious state between death and resurrection. It cannot be over emphasised that the teaching of the immortal soul undermines the central truth of resurrection in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it is a deception from Satan. If a disembodied soul can see, think, speak, and enjoy the joys of heaven or suffer the anguish, pain and punishment of 'hell', then please, tell us why there is a need for resurrection, and why there is a need for the Great White Throne Judgement? We challenge any proponent of the immortal soul doctrine to answer these questions adequately. The Bible says that Satan deceives the whole world. Revelation 12:9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world: he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Belief in the immortality of the soul is universally held by most religions. Satan is the enemy of the cross and he has deceived the whole world into believing that we are born with an immortal soul. He does not want people to understand that our immortality comes only through resurrection because of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. Unfortunately, traditional Christianity is also deceived into believing this lie of Satan that “you will not surely die”. The plain teaching of the Bible is that all people will receive immortality when they are resurrected from the dead, either in the First or the Second Resurrection. Resurrection is the victory over death, which Jesus Christ won through His sacrifice on the cross for all people. Let us stop believing the lie of Satan. We are sure that God inspired us to write God’s Plan for All, and we ourselves are amazed to read its contents. There are many wonderful, powerful and eye-opening truths revealed in this book. Truths, clearly explained with plain biblical texts. There has been no such book written in the history of Christianity. Click here to order your free paperback hard copy of God’s Plan for All. Please contact us if you have any comments to make or any questions to ask.     Copyright © 2005 All rights reserved GOD'S PLAN FOR ALL