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The answer is - no?

And yet, there is a thrilling scripture that seems to say otherwise!

If we belong to Jesus Christ when we die, does our life continue as an eternal life in heaven? Does the soul go on living after the body dies and in the grave? Or - does our soul "sleep" silently (similar to physical sleep} without consciousness until Jesus returns and raises our body from the grave then composed of "spirit" rather than flesh and bone, the period in between having been completely unknown to us until we are given a new life at the resurrection?

Many opinions and speculations have been offered in an honest attempt to come to a true conclusion. However, it appears that one verse in God's word would go a long way toward answering this question. It would seem rather unlikely that one verse could answer the question as clearly as it can be offered, but it seems as close to answering it until we experience the reality personally. But the answer then would be known only to those who have already experienced it.

The apparent answer is enclosed in only one verse among several other comments by the writer of the book of Hebrews. In only one short phrase encased in one verse it seems to indicate the answer. Some would quickly cry "proof texting"!" And so it seems in some ways. However, all proof texts are not invalid. As the saying goes, it depends... We shall look at one that also depends. The truth depends on whether what one considers it sufficient to be proof: Notice carefully:

"But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering, and to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect, and to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance]." - Hebrews 12:22-23 (AMP)

The next question would be, are the"spirits", having been made perfect, conscious within their surroundings, and able to be what we would call alive. Here we must stop surmising - except for another passage of scripture:

" When the Lamb broke open the fifth seal, I saw at the foot of the altar the souls of those whose lives had been sacrificed for [adhering to] the Word of God and for the testimony they had borne. They cried in a loud voice, O [Sovereign] Lord, holy and true, how long now before You will sit in judgment and avenge our blood upon those who dwell on the earth?Then they were each given a long and flowing and festive white robe and told to rest and wait patiently a little while longer, until the number should be complete of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed as they themselves had been." - Revelation 6:9-11 (AMP)

Apparently, at his point the "spirits" of the saints who had died as the result of persecution have spiritual bodies of form and shape that can be clad in flowing robes of righteousness and to wait a while longer until others had joined them.

Yes, this could be symbolism. But not the first scripture quoted from the book of Hebrews. These are very emphatic and direct in saying what (who) the spirits are. It seems logical to connect the two sections as referring to the same category of saints, since they are in the same or similar conditions.

The most thrilling and encouraging of these two sections of God's word, at least to this writer, is the first. To contemplate knowing that when we die, even though we as Christians are often plagued with faults, weaknesses, and flaws that burden us, and because of which we confess those flaws and sins which informs us that we need a spirit and body that will never sin or be imperfect again - this is thrilling and encouraging beyond measure...

Thank God for this promise, truth and hope!!

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

In His Glorious and Awesome Name Deut. 28:58