GENESIS 2:7 "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into its nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul."

ECCLESIASTES 11:7 "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return unto God Who gave it."

Since the beginning of time for man there has been an ongoing debate concerning what happens at the death of this temporary life of flesh and blood. I have been asked many, many times to advise my opinion on the subject. I believe with faith what the Bible in God's Word has shown me. There are two outstanding beliefs on the subject, and to be fair to those who believe either of them; I will try to give equal thoughts why scriptures caused them to believe as they do. You will probably wonder why I started this discussion with a scripture showing how God created man. It is fact that no person can ever understand all about death unless they know exactly what God created man to be. When God breathed the breath of life into the nostrils of man and he became a living soul; God actually gave man an eternal part of Himself. It was God's will that man should be eternal and above all the other He had created. So the correct status of man is that he is an eternal living Soul with a God given Spirit, and lives in a temporary body of flesh. Thus when a man dies that Spirit God gave does not die, but returns unto God. That is why the second scripture in ECCLESIASTES is given and must be considered. The bible clearly shows flesh and blood cannot enter heaven and will return to earth. That belief will pose a question that no man can answer without Biblical teaching.

We know there was a thief dying with Jesus on the cross, and Jesus said unto him: "this day shalt thou be with Me in paradise." We know Jesus knew the future of both. They would both die and be in paradise that very day. 　

Then many people believe in what is often called soul sleep. There is scripture that causes this belief also. They sincerely believe the soul and spirit of man remains in the grave with the body until the believed resurrection. But today the bodies of many dead are cremated, and never put in a grave. The cemeteries are all too full to permit burial and cremation becomes the only possibility. I have discussed this subject with many friends and am will to try to help any who ask. It would require book length to do this subject justice. I can only hope this short trial will help some who might fear death. I wish to add, death can be man's greatest blessing. This flesh body will never be permitted to enter heaven. Thus death gives our eternal God given Spirit the victory to be eternally with Jesus in Heaven.

Please read REVELATIONS 20:4.