INTRODUCTION: Georgia Baptist pastor and evangelist Abraham Marshall, late in life, sent this message to his friends: “Tell them that I am yet in the land of the dying, but am bound to the land of the living.” When asked to explain, he replied, “There is no death there, while all things are dying here.”

We who are saved by the blood know we are on our way to heaven, but we have questions about what heaven will be like. We wonder about our loved ones who have gone to heaven before us. Though we see as but through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
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1. WHAT IS DEATH?
1. Death is the departure of the soul and spirit from the body
2. Rachel – “And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died)…”
3. Giving up the Ghost (Genesis 25:8Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
   See All..., 17; Acts 5:10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
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4. Jesus (Luke 23:46And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
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2. WHAT IS IT TO SLEEP IN JESUS?
1. Refers to the Death of the Believer (1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 [13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
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2. Refers to the Temporary Nature of Death for the Believer – Lazarus
1. Asleep (John 11:11These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
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2. Dead (John 11:14Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
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3. Not unto death (John 11:4When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
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3. Refers to the State of the Body Only
1. Those asleep in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
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2. Will God bring with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
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3. WHAT PART OF US IS WITH CHRIST?
1. Our Spirit and Soul go to be With the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
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2. We will be Present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
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3. We will be in a Far Better State (Philippians 1:20-23
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4. ARE WE THE SAME PERSON?
1. Moses and Elijah Maintain their Identities (Luke 9:28-31 [28] And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. [29] And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. [30] And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: [31] Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
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2. Abraham and Lazarus Maintain their Identities (Luke 16:19-23 [19] There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: [20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, [21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
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3. We will Certainly Maintain our Identities
4. But We will also be Like Christ (1 John 3:1-2 [1] Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. [2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
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5. WHAT DO WE KNOW?
1. We will Evidently Know Each Other
1. The comfort of meeting together (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 [17] 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. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
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2. The comfort of David concerning his child (2 Samuel 12:23But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
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2. We Know Perfectly what we Know (1 Corinthians 13:12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
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3. We Evidently have Limited Knowledge of Earthly Events (Luke 15:10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
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6. WHAT OCCURS AT THE RESURRECTION?
1. Jesus Returns with Us (1 Thessalonians 4:14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
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2. Our Bodies will be Resurrected and Glorified (1 Corinthians 15:49-54 [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] 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. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] 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.
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7. WHO IS IN HEAVEN?
1. In this Age, Only those who have Turned from their Sins and Trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour (John 3:16-18 [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
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2. Even Those in Hell Want you to be Saved (Luke 16:27-31 [27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: [28] For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. [29] Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. [30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. [31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
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CONCLUSION: English evangelist Rowland Hill (1744-1833) died in his 89th year. Shortly before his death, he was heard singing the following hymn as he passed through the chapel: