(inhislove76;11900)
So here is a question, that maybe can be cleared up with scripture. Many people pastors/believers/non-believers, believe that when we die, and are buried, that our souls/spirits, are automatically determined destiny. Heaven or Hell.However, the more scripture I read, it appears that our souls/spirits would go to a waiting place until the return of our Lord. How can this be answered and cleared up for understanding?And if answered, then is there such a thing as reincarnation?
Man is made of two separate components. The dust of the earth and the breath of God.Genesis 2:7 - And the LORD God formed man of (1) the dust of the ground, and (2) breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and (3) man became a living soul.Taking the obvious from this verse we see that dust (1) plus the breath of God (2) equals man becoming a "living soul." Notice it does not say man was "given" a living soul, but rather man "became" something. Also, it is critical to note that the word "became" here is translated in the Strong's Concordance to mean "exist." #1961 - hayah - to exist.The verse in Ecclesiastes 12:7 that was used to support the notion that the "soul" returns to God is actually factually correct. However, the word "spirit" as translated in the Strong's Concordance does not mean "soul" but rather it means specifically "breath." (See Strong's #7307 - ruwach, a wind, by resemblance a breath). The word soul is completely different and has a different meaning altogether.So when one dies, the "breath" which was given by God does indeed go back to God who gave it.Clearly then, we know that in Genesis 2:7 that God "breathed" into Adam the "breath of life."Genesis 2:7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. The word "breath" means just that, a breath. (Strong's # 5397 - neshamah - a puff, i.e. an angry or vital breath)In understanding that it is God who gives the "breath of life" to all living creatures, not just man, it is easy to see that when one dies the "breath of life" goes back to the one who gave it God the Father! By allowing scripture to speak for itself we can clearly see that when one dies, they go to the grave to await resurrection.