Consciousness And Death: What It Is
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Life begins at conception and the formation of consciousness. God has given us in his design an ability to grow mentally so as we understand and know some things about our beginning, and right from wrong without formal education as we develop. We have a greater moral capacity than other creatures. Consciousness is a part of life going forward.

Death, on the other hand, is something that may be perceived physically as something ending and but yet spiritually still going forward. A dead body no longer speaks or has life in as it did when it was living. Continuation and living life with others ceases. The deceased and natural form of the body is no longer conscious of others. The Apostle Paul related to death as a temporary sleep (Thessalonians 4:14). As to physics and theology, it seems it is a form of unconsciousness before an awakening to eternity, before the judgment of God and the realization of the transformation of reality.

Death is like a bridge that must be crossed to reach the other side, from the present to eternity.

It is very important that you are prepared to meet your maker before you cross that bridge. God will not justify a person who ignores the salvation through Jesus Christ. Realize in this world what a great sacrifice and act of love God has done for you.

Christian absence from the body and presence with the Lord

People can take comfort in the death of a believer in Jesus Christ. They can know that the person will be with the saints for eternity. 2 Cor., chapter 5:

⁸ We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. ⁹ Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. ¹¹ Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. ¹

After death and before the judgment day facing accountability to God, the soul continues, it does not expire

As the unconscious corporeal entity returns to dust, the soul that lived in it continues. Note, according to Luke 16:19-31, the existence of the soul (conscious and knowledgeable) of Abraham and Lazarus was in comfort, and the rich man was suffering torment. He was able to sense the uncomfortable temperature of the environment and realize its eternal separation from the dwelling of the righteous. Verse 23 states that the former rich man was in Hades as he was speaking, impliedly at the time his brothers were still living. He was in a flame (v. 24). In reply to him concerning his brothers, Abraham said let them hear from Moses and the prophets (v. 29) – a time during the Old Testament. According to the narrative, Abraham had knowledge of those living after him (Moses and the prophets) and the future – manifesting a growth in time and knowledge of consciousness. Also, an uncanonical book, The Book of Enoch, has some interesting thoughts about the subject of post-death: Hades and suffering before judgment day.

We find even the wicked and Saul, an erring leader of Israel who formerly prophesied, through divination have realized (I Samuel 28:11-19) the continuation of a righteous man who died and passed away in his corporeal entity (but came up in the sight of the woman of divination wrapped with a robe – Grk. diploida – double robe?, Heb. meil – vv. 13, 14).

God has the ability to make the deteriorated and decomposed corpse (skeleton) come to life with the soul and live again

Evidently, Isaiah thought that God had the ability to raise the corpse unto life. (Isaiah 26:19) After listening to God, so did Ezekiel (ch. 37). Later, after the return from Babylon, some of the righteous among the Maccabees suffered torment from the wicked adversary expecting body restoration and more through resurrection unto life. (2 Maccabbees 7:14) Jesus Christ raised a man named Lazarus from the dead after four days (John 11:1-44); Peter after kneeling down and praying, and then looking at her body, told Tabitha, also known as Dorcas, to arise. She did and he presented her alive. (Acts 9:36-41); Paul embraced Eutychus and his life was in him (Acts 20:9-10). Resurrection is a New Testament teaching as well as the Old Testament.

Beyond

The future continues. Everyone is accountable for the way he lives. There is penalty especially for not believing on the Son of God, and for other disobedience. Jesus Christ himself warned (Mark 9:43-48) of disobedience and the judgment. From the book of Revelation, chapter 20:

¹⁴And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. ¹⁵And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. ²

Consciousness and life

When a person awakens to the truth and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, there is a change in his life, mind and soul. His consciousness goes to a a higher level. Jesus will not turn away anyone who calls upon him (Acts 2:):

²¹ And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.³

If you have not done so, pray this prayer: “Father in heaven, I believe from my heart in your son, Jesus Christ, that he died for me and paid for my sins. I believe you raised him up and that you will raise your believers up unto everlasting life. Amen.” See Romans 10:

⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ⁴

There is reward for faith and obedience; it gives life. Eternal life is for the Christian, for anyone who puts his faith in the Son of God, who paid for all our sins: past, present and future. If a person calls upon God in this faith before they pass away, they can rest that they have a wonderful life with him forever. Christians can know (2 Cor. 5:1, 5) from God and the written Word now in their earthly stay that they have assurance as to eternal life (I John 5:9-15) in the future. The Lord lives within the Christian and it is noticeable. Christians can acknowledge God living in them and giving them fruit (Galatians 5:22, 23), revelation and a greater insight.

⁹If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son. ¹⁰He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son. ¹¹And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹²He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life. ¹³These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God. ¹⁴And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: ¹⁵and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.⁵

Baptism is a conscious act

Be baptized. It is a physical and open Christian confession to God and mankind.

Links:

Why Faith Is Necessary

Condolence

Helping People Prepare For Death

Visit the Christian Recovery Center

Death by Suicide

Child Death