Do we have an Immortal Soul?

By C & L Brooks | October 1, 2016

You often hear after someone dies, that his “soul” is at peace with “The Lord” in Heaven. And that someone’s “soul” is looking down at us from Heaven. Of course the dead who are liked are always in Heaven. But those dead who are not liked are said to be in hell. This doctrine that the “soul” is “immortal” and will either go to Heaven or hell when we die is a fundamental doctrine of Christianity.

This brings ups several questions. How do the Scriptures define “soul”? Is the “soul” immortal? Or does the “soul” die (i.e. is not immortal)? Do believer’s “immortal souls” go directly to Heaven when they die? Or is the “soul” not immortal and deceased believers’ “souls” are currently in the grave and will not be immortalized until they are resurrected at Messiah’s Second Coming? And what about those who die as unbelievers? Will their “immortal souls” go directly to hell where they will be tortured day and night forever and ever? Or just like believers who die in this age, are their “souls” not immortal and currently in the grave?

How do the Scriptures define “soul”? Does one have a “soul” or IS one a “soul”? And if you have a “soul”, when and how did that “soul” get into your body? Was it imparted to you at the moment of conception? Did it come into your body at some time during your fetal development? Were you given an “immortal soul” at the moment you took your first breath, shortly after birth?

Lastly, if one has a “soul” as opposed to being a “soul”, is it that part of you that houses all your thoughts, intellect, will, and emotions and will survive after your body dies?

Let us start answering these questions by looking at the Scriptural account of the creation of man.

Genesis 1:26 And Elohim said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So Elohim created man in his own image, in the image of Elohim created he him; male and female created he them.

The first thing we see in the above Scriptures is that Yahweh made man in His own image. Although Yahweh made man in His own image, Yahweh made man from the elements of the earth. Man was an inert, physical mass of organic matter, until Yahweh breathed into him the breath of life.

Genesis 2:7 And Yahweh Elohim formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (5315 – nephesh).

Although man was made in Yahweh’s image, man is not composed of the same substance as the Almighty. Yahweh is spirit, while man is flesh and blood made from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7).

John 4:24 Yahweh is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

We see in Genesis 2:7 above that mankind became a living “soul”. So right from the beginning of Yahweh’s Word, believers must question the concept of the “soul” being a separate part of man. The word “soul” is from the Hebrew word “nephesh”, and is defined in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible this way:

5315 (753X) nephesh {neh’-fesh} • from 5314; prop. a breathing creature, i.e. animal or (abstr.) vitality; used very widely in a lit., accommodated or fig. sense (bodily or mental):- any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, dead (-ly), desire, [dis-] contented, fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart (-y), (hath, jeopardy of) life (in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortality, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they, thing, ( she) will, would have it.

Among the wide variety of applications of this Hebrew word we find that “nephesh” is also rendered mortality, dead, and deadly, none of which indicate immortality! So not only is the “soul” not a separate part of us, the “soul” is not immortal. In fact “nephesh” is used as an expression for “the dead” in the following passages.

Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead (5315 – nephesh), nor print any marks upon you: I am Yahweh.

Leviticus 21:1 And Yahweh said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead (5315 – nephesh) among his people:

Numbers 6:11 And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead (5315 – nephesh) and shall hallow his head that same day.

Also, did you notice the definition of “nephesh” shows no indication of something separate from the body that houses our thoughts, intellect, will, and emotions? Therefore, based on all that has been covered, man IS a “soul”.

And not only is man a “soul”, every indication in the Old Testament is that man (i.e. “soul”) is a mortal creature subject to decay and death. This is what Yahweh told Adam after he had sinned as we will read in the following passage in Genesis, “for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return”. Remember not only has Adam sinned but we have all sinned: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of Yahweh;

Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;……..

19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Psalm 104:29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

Job 34:15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

Again, there is no reference to something separate from the body, a conscious “immortal soul” going to heaven or hell when the body returns to the dust. Rather, the indication is that when the body returns to the dust, the conscious man, the “living soul”, “nephesh”, ceases to exist. Death is the absence of life, not a continuation of life somewhere else.

“Nephesh” is listed 753 times in the Old Testament and is translated in many different ways. One of the ways it is translated is “beast” and “living creature”. We see this translation for “living creature” in Genesis 1:21 where it refers to sea animals and again in verse 24 where it refers to land animals. In verse 30, this same Hebrew expression is used to describe all living things on the earth.

What a large list of meanings for “nephesh”! This word does not speak to something that is immortal but is used to describe the life and death of flesh and blood creatures!

Not convinced the “soul” can die? Let us look at the prophet Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul (5315 – nephesh) that sinneth, it shall die.

18:20 The soul (5315 – nephesh) that sinneth, it shall die.

Ezekiel is clear. The “soul” dies! And if you believe your “soul” is that immortal part of you that has all your thoughts, intellect, will, and emotions, how can you explain the following Scriptures? It is clear that when we take our last breath all our thoughts perish.

Psalm 146:2 While I live will I praise Yahweh: I will sing praises unto my Elohim while I have any being. 3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

The fact that the “soul” is not immortal applies to both believers and unbelievers in this age. When believers or unbelievers die, their thoughts perish. And not only do their thoughts perish, their intellect, will, and emotions also perish.

Ecclesiastes 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. 3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

This makes perfect sense as death is the absence of life. There are no more thoughts when we die. So if there are no more thoughts when we die, why should we believe that one’s “soul” goes directly to Heaven to worship the Almighty!

Psalm 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

Psalm 115:17 The dead praise not Yahweh, neither any that go down into silence.

Psalm 30:9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

Psalm 38:18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

The above Scriptures demonstrate that the dead cannot worship Yahweh.

Human beings are mortal like every other creature made by Yahweh. Remember the Hebrew word “nephesh” is also translated “beast”.

Ecclesiastes 3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

Psalm 49:12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. 13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. 14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

Death is like sleeping without the dreams. There are no thoughts. In fact there are Scriptures describing death as sleeping.

Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

John 11:11 These 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.

Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Messiah shall give thee light.

Think about this: We die and we no longer remember anything until we are resurrected. Therefore for believers, we take our last breath and then the next thing we consciously know is we are resurrected with our Savior at His Second Coming. More on this later!

The Greek word “psuche”, the virtual equivalent to the Hebrew word “nephesh”, is the only word that is translated “soul” in the New Testament. You will find the word 105 times in the New Testament. It is translated “soul” only 58 times. The word has also been translated as “life” (40 times), “mind” (3 times) and others. There is no indication that “psuche” continues in a conscious state following death. Rather, the evidence shows that “psuche”, just like “nephesh”, refers to a living mortal being which can die.

Let us look at parallel Scriptures in the New Testament and Old Testament that show the Greek word “psuche” being equivalent to the Hebrew word “nephesh”. Consider the following verses.

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life (5590 – psuche) a ransom for many.

5590 psuche {psoo-khay’} • from 5594 – soul (58x) life (40x), mind (3x), heart (1x), heartily + 1537 (1x), not tr (2x); (105x) • 1) breath 1a) the breath of life, that vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing (1a1) of animals (1a2) of men (1b) life (1c) that in which there is life, a living being, a living soul (2) the soul (2a) the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (2b) the (human) soul in so far as it is constituted that by the right use of the aids offered it by Yahweh it can attain its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life (2c) the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body)

Isaiah 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul (5315 – nephesh) unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Clearly Yah’shua’s “nephesh” or “psuche” was given up and ceased to exist. It was not merely separated from His body.

Let us look at another example of the parallel meaning of “nephesh” and “psuche”. Peter is quoting Psalm 16:

Acts 2:24 Whom Yahweh hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw Yahweh always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul (5590 – psuche) in hell (86 – hades, should be translated grave), neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psalm 16:8 I have set Yahweh always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul (5315 – nephesh) in hell (7585 – sheol, should be translated grave); neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Again, Yah’shua’s “nephesh” or “psuche” was in the grave. Yah’shua’s “soul” was not something that was separate from His body that went to heaven after He died. In fact Yah’shua was in the grave 3 days and 3 nights before His resurrection from the dead and did not ascend to heaven until 40 days after His resurrection.

As a side note, although the Greek word “hades” has been translated “hell”, it is clear that this passage is referring to the grave. The following Scripture is a correct translation of the Greek word “hades”.

1 Corinthians 15:51 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. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave (86 – hades), where is thy victory?

There is ample evidence that this Greek word “hades” is equivalent to the Hebrew word “sheol”. In the four New Testament verses that quote Old Testament passages containing the Hebrew word “sheol”, “hades” is used. We just read one of these examples in Acts 2:27 and Psalm 16:10.

It is interesting to note, of the sixty five times “sheol” is used in the Old Testament, thirty one times it is translated “grave” and three times “pit”. Such righteous men of faith in the Old Testament as Jacob, Job, David, and Hezekiah knew that they were going to “shoel” or the grave at death. These men of Yahweh wouldn’t have been going to an ever-burning place of torment. Clearly “sheol” and its Greek equivalent “hades” mean the grave, not an everlasting place of torment for the wicked.

Genesis 37:34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave (7585-sheol) unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

Job 14:13 O that thou wouldest hide me (Job) in the grave (7585-sheol), that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Psalm 88:3 For my (David’s) soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave (7585-sheol).

Isaiah 38:9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness: 10 I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave (7585 – shoel) : I am deprived of the residue of my years.

Getting back to the Hebrew word “nephesh” and the Greek word “psuche”, we also have another tie. Both refer to lower life forms. We already reviewed how the Hebrew word “nephesh” in Genesis was used for lower life forms. We see “psuche” also being used to describe lower life forms.

Revelation 16:3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul (5590 – psuche) died in the sea.

Here is one more New Testament proof that the word “soul” means a living thing that can die. In this case, it is used to describe various forms of life…of which there are many in the sea. The Greek word “psuche” is also translated “mind”, “you”, “heart” and “heartily”. The point I am trying to make is the Greek word “psuche” is capable of nearly as many applications as the Hebrew word “nephesh”. None of these imply immortality nor that there is a “soul” separate from the body.

So far it clear that our “soul” is not immortal, separate from our body, nor goes directly to heaven (or hell) when we die. But let us dig deeper in the Scriptures. Are there any Scriptures telling us who has ascended to heaven already? The only person to ascend to heaven so far is Messiah!

John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Messiah states that no one other than Himself has ever gone to heaven….not Abraham, not Moses, not David, and not any of the prophets. Therefore the concept of an “immortal soul” going directly to heaven after a believer dies is false!

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore Yahweh is not ashamed to be called their Elohim: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Acts 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day……..34 For David is not ascended into the heavens:

Messiah also said that the “soul” can be destroyed. It is very clear that if the “soul” can be destroyed, then the “soul” cannot be immortal. This confirms what we already reviewed in Ezekiel, who plainly stated that “the soul that sins shall die”.

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul (5590 – psuche) and body in hell (Greek gehenna or better know as the lake of fire).

The lake of fire destroys the wicked “souls” who become ashes. Have you ever wondered why the lake of fire is called the second death? It is clear that the lake of fire is not referring to continued life in an eternal torturous place!

Malachi 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith Yahweh of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith Yahweh of hosts.

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Let us look at another angle. Are there any Scriptures that show who currently has immortality?

1 Timothy 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of Yahweh, who quickeneth all things, and before Messiah YahwehShua, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Sovereign YahwehShua Messiah: 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Sovereign of sovereigns; 16 Who only hath immortality (110), dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

110 athanasia {ath-an-as-ee’-ah} • from a compound of 1 (as a negative particle) and 2288; TDNT – 3:22,312; n f • AV – immortality 3; 3 • 1) undying, immortality, everlasting

Clearly YahwehShua our Savior is the only one currently who has immortality. Therefore we are not immortal right now. But the Good News is that some time in the future “this mortal will put on immortality”.

1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality (110). 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality (110), then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of Yahweh, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Immortality is a free gift from Yahweh through His son YahwehShua. And this free gift will be given in the future. We do not have immortality at this time!

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of Yahweh is eternal life through YahwehShua Messiah our Sovereign.

1 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour YahwehShua Messiah, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the evangel:

1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to Yahweh, which giveth us the victory through our Sovereign YahwehShua Messiah.

Lastly, Paul tells us to seek immortality. If there was something inherently immortal about us, why would Paul tell us to seek it? Selah (i.e. think about it).

Romans 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of Yahweh; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

We looked at a lot Scriptures that clearly indicate that the “soul” is not immortal. Nowhere in the Scriptures are the words “immortal soul”. So where do we get the idea that the “soul” is immortal? Belief in an “immortal soul” in some form or another comes from the heathen nations long before Messiah emptied himself of His glory and came down to earth as a man. The pagan Greek (Socrates, Plato and Aristotle) and Roman philosophers speculated about something separate from their physical body that housed their thoughts, intellect, will, and emotions (i.e. “soul”), as did the ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, Persians, and Chinese. And like many Christian beliefs today, pagan practices and concepts (i.e. “immortal soul”) were mixed in with Yahweh’s truth.

So why do we care about whether or not the “soul” is mortal or immortal? One of the reasons the concept of an “immortal soul” is so dangerous is as follows: If man has an “immortal soul” then we do not need a savior because some part of our essence is already immortal. Selah (i.e. think about it). This simple idea that there is something immortal in each one of us draws many away from thinking he or she needs a savior. And not needing a savior, the only question a person has to ask is where will this “immortal soul” spend eternity after death? Many people will think, my “soul” is immortal and I am basically a good person (or at least better then the other guy), so my “soul” must be going to Heaven!

It is clear that Satan, the great deceiver (Revelation 12:9), has deceived mankind into thinking he or she has an “immortal soul”.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which Yahweh Elohim had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath Elohim said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, Elohim hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For Elohim doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as mighty ones, knowing good and evil.

So we have clearly seen in Scriptures that the “soul” is not immortal and separate from the body. And whether or not that person is a believer, the “soul” goes to the grave after he or she dies. So what happens after we die? Job asked the same question.

Job 14:10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the spirit, and where is he? 11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

Job understood that death was not the end of everything but rather an interim state before our resurrection, when Yahweh would redeem mankind from the grave.

Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

So when do believers in this age receive the promise to become glorified to immortality? It is clear that this promise will occur at the Second Coming of YahwehShua when He returns to earth for all to see with power and glory! HalleluYah!!!!

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Messiah risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Messiah shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Messiah the firstfruits; afterward they that are Messiah’s at his coming.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 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 Yah’shua died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in YahwehShua will Elohim bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of Yahweh, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of YahwehShua shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For YahwehShua himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of Yahweh: and the dead in Messiah shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet YahwehShua in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Sovereign. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Psalm 50:3 Our Elohim shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. 4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. 5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

Matthew 24:29 (also Mark 13:24-27) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in Elohim, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

We conclude that man is mortal and is in need of a Savior to resurrect him from the dead and to give him immortality. There is no part of man that is immortal that houses his thoughts, intellect, will, and emotions. And being mortal our thoughts, intellect, will, and emotions perish when we die. We came from the dust and we will return to the dust when we take our last breath.

Although we return to the dust when we die, the good news is that we have a free gift of Yahweh through YahwehShua who promises to resurrect us from the dead! For those who are believers in this age, our resurrection from the dead to immortality occurs at the Second Coming of Messiah. What a glorious time that will be!!!! (1)

HalleluYah

(8/13a)

(1) For more information on when the rest of mankind receives immortality in the New Heavens and Earth, please read “The Last Great Day” and “Yahweh’s Supreme Love”.

Addendum: Does man have an “immortal spirit”?

We have already concluded that man does not have an “immortal soul”. But does man have an “immortal spirit”? To answer this question, let us look at the Scriptures, which tell us that there is a spirit in man.

Zechariah 12:1 The burden of the word of Yahweh for Israel, saith Yahweh, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit (7307-ruwach) of man within him.

Job 32:8 But there is a spirit (7307-ruwach) in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Yes, there is a spirit in man, but how do the Scriptures define it? Is that “spirit” in man “immortal” and separate from the body? And for believers will their spirit survive after the body dies and then go directly to “heaven” to worship the Almighty, again, as many Christians believe? Let us look at the Hebrew and Greek words that are translated “spirit”.

7307 ruwach {roo’-akh} • from 07306; TWOT – 2131a; n f • AV – Spirit or spirit 232, wind 92, breath 27, side 6, mind 5, blast 4, vain 2, air 1, anger 1, cool 1, courage 1, misc 6; 378 •

4151 pneuma {pnyoo’-mah} • from 4154; TDNT – 6:332,876; n n • AV – Spirit 111, Holy Ghost 89, Spirit (of Yahweh) 13, Spirit (of the Lord) 5, (My) Spirit 3, Spirit (of truth) 3, Spirit (of Christ) 2, human (spirit) 49, (evil) spirit 47, spirit (general) 26, spirit 8, (Yah’shua’ own) spirit 6, (Yah’shua’ own) ghost 2, misc 21; 385 • 1) a movement of air (a gentle blast 1a) of the wind, hence the wind itself 1b) breath of nostrils or mouth 2) the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated 2a) the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides…..etc.

Just like the definitions for the Hebrew and Greek words translated “soul”, there is nothing in the above definitions that clearly indicates that man’s “spirit” is “immortal”. These words for “spirit” may also be translated “breath”, “wind”, and “human” which, again, in no way indicates an “immortal spirit”.

So we know through Scriptures that there is a “spirit” in man and that the definitions of the Hebrew and Greek words for “spirit” do not clearly conclude that man’s “spirit” is “immortal”. Let us continue to look at Yahweh’s Word, which tells us that the spirit of man returns to Yahweh after he dies.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit (7307-ruwach) shall return unto Elohim who gave it.

Psalm 31:5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit (7307-ruwach): thou hast redeemed me, O Yahweh Elohim of truth.

Luke 23:46 And when Yah’shua had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit (4151-pneuma): and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon Yahweh, and saying, Sovereign YahwehShua, receive my spirit (4151-pneuma).

So what returns to Yahweh after we die? Is it our “immortal spirit” that houses our thoughts, intellect, will and emotions as many Christians believe? Or could it be Yahweh’s source of power that imparts life-giving “breath” and our ability to reason and has nothing to do with something immortal about us? Let us continue to look at Yahweh’s Word to see if this is true.

Does the “spirit” that returns to Yahweh (Ecclesiastes 12:7) mean that something literally travels through space to Yahweh’s presence in “heaven”? Not at all! The way the Scriptures use the word “return” does not require an actual movement from one place to another. For instance, unfaithful Israelites were told: “Return to me, and I will return to you”

Malachi 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith Yahweh of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

Jeremiah 3:1 They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith Yahweh.

Let us consider, for example, what Scriptures say about Yah’shua’s death. We have already read Luke’s account of Yah’shua’s death: “And when Yah’shua had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit (4151-pneuma)”. As Yah’shua spirit went out of him He was not literally on His way to “heaven”. Yah’shua was not resurrected from the dead until three days and three nights had passed (Matthew 22:40). And it was forty days before He ascended to “heaven” (Acts 1:3, 9-11). At the time of His death, however, Yah’shua confidently surrendered His “spirit”, the breath of life that was from the Almighty, into His Father’s hands. Yah’shua was fully trusting in Yahweh’s ability to bring Him back to life. Yes, Yahweh is the only person who can both give and take away life!

Psalm 104:29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath (7307-ruwach), they die, and return to their dust. 30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit (7307-ruwach), they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

So it makes sense that the spirit of man pertains to the “breath” of life that was given to man to make him a “living soul” (Genesis 2:7) and allow man the ability to reason. Yahweh’s life giving “breath” is also illustrated by the resurrection of the dead in Ezekiel 37.

Ezekiel 37:5 Thus saith the Sovereign Yahweh unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath (7307-ruwach) to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath (7307-ruwach) in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am Yahweh. 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Sovereign Yahweh; Come from the four winds, O breath (7307-ruwach), and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath (7307-ruwach) came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

Luke 8:55 And her spirit (4151-pneuma) came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

Over and over in the Scriptures the Hebrew word “ruwach” is translated “breath”. It makes sense that this “breath” is Yahweh’s life-giving power or what we call His Holy Spirit.

Genesis 6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath (7307-ruwach) of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

Job 4:9 By the blast of Elohim they perish, and by the breath (7307-ruwach) of his nostrils are they consumed.

Palm 104:29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath (7307-ruwach), they die, and return to their dust.

And as we see in Ecclesiastes, humans have no preeminence (i.e. superiority) over the beasts of the field when it comes to death. When we die our “spirit” (i.e. translated “breath”) ceases and our thoughts perish.

Ecclesiastes 3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath (7307-ruwach); so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

Psalm 146:4 His breath (7307-ruwach) goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

If our thoughts perish when we die, how could there be an “immortal spirit” that goes directly to heaven to worship Yahweh? The answer through Scriptures is that we cannot worship Yahweh immediately when we die. Therefore there is no “immortal spirit”, separate from the body, which houses our thoughts, intellect, will, and emotions, that will survive after our bodies die and will go directly to heaven to worship the Almighty!

Psalm 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

Psalm 115:17 The dead praise not Yahweh, neither any that go down into silence.

Psalm 30:9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

Psalm 38:18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

The bible student must add to the definition of “ruwach” and “pneuma” that are translated “spirit” (also “nephesh” and “psuche” that are translated “soul”) to get to the idea that some part of us is “immortal”. Especially with clear Scriptures which indicate that we are mortal.

The Scriptures clearly tells us that YahwehShua our savior alone has immortality.

110 athanasia {ath-an-as-ee’-ah} • from a compound of 1 (as a negative particle) and 2288; TDNT – 3:22,312; n f • AV – immortality 3; 3 • 1) undying, immortality, everlasting

It is Yahweh who gives mortal man life and immortality through the resurrection of the dead. For saints in this age this occurs at his Second Coming. Scriptures must interpret Scriptures.

The definitions of the Hebrew and Greek words that are translated “spirit” do not clearly indicate that man’s spirit is immortal.
These words that are translated “spirit” can also be translated “breath”, “wind”, and “human”, which have nothing to do with immortality.
Scriptures are clear that man’s “spirit” is Yahweh’s life giving “breath”, His power to allow man to reason, not some part of us that is “immortal”.
Scriptures clearly indicate that when we die our thoughts perish and we cannot worship Yahweh. Our life giving “breath” or “spirit” returns to Yahweh.
Scriptures are clear that human beings are mortal and that in the future, we must put on immortality. Yahweh is the one that gives us immortality through the resurrection of the dead.
And lastly, Yahweh Mighty Ones are the only ones who currently have immortality.

We conclude that man does not have an “immortal spirit” or an “immortal soul”.

HalleluYah

(8/13a)

HalleluYah

(8/13a)

Posted in Correcting False Doctrine