Well if someone has studied the scriptures and has concluded that they believe what is in them is accurate and inspired of God the answer to this main questions could be answered. There are some questions to answer though.
1)
What is the condition of the dead?
The Bible says: “The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all.” (
Ecclesiastes 9:5; Psalm 146:4) Therefore, when we die, we cease to exist. The dead can’t think, act, or feel anything.
God explained what happens when we die when he spoke to the first man, Adam. Because Adam was disobedient, God said to him: “Dust you are and to dust you will return.” (
Genesis 3:19) Before God created Adam “out of dust from the ground,” Adam did not exist. (
Genesis 2:7) Likewise, when Adam died, he returned to dust and ceased to exist.
The same thing happens to those who die now. Speaking of both humans and animals, the Bible says: “They have all come to be from the dust, and they are all returning to the dust.”—
Ecclesiastes 3:19, 20.
Death is not necessarily the end of everything
The Bible often compares death to sleep. (
Psalm 13:3; John 11:11-14; Acts 7:60) A person who is fast asleep is unaware of what is happening around him. Likewise, the dead are not conscious of anything. Yet, the Bible teaches that God can awaken the dead as if from sleep and give them life again. (
Job 14:13-15) For those whom God resurrects, death is not the end of everything.
1. What is the good news about the dead?
When Jesus arrived at Bethany near Jerusalem, his friend Lazarus had been dead for four days. Jesus went to the burial place with Martha and Mary, sisters of the deceased man. Soon, a crowd gathered. Can you imagine the joy of Martha and Mary when Jesus raised Lazarus back to life?—
Read John 11:21-24, 38-44.
Martha was already aware of the good news about the dead. She knew that God will resurrect the dead to live on earth again.—
Read Job 14:14, 15.
2. What is the condition of the dead?
Humans are made from dust. (
Genesis 2:7; 3:19) We are not spirits living in a body of flesh. We are physical creatures, so no part of us survives death. When we die, our brain dies too, and our thoughts perish. Thus, Lazarus said nothing about his experience of death because the dead are unconscious.—
Read Psalm 146:4; Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10.
Does God torment people with fire after death? Since the Bible shows that the dead are unconscious, hellfire is clearly a false teaching that slanders God. The very idea of tormenting people with fire disgusts him.—
Read Jeremiah 7:31.
3. Can the dead speak to us?
The dead can neither speak nor hear. (
Psalm 115:17) But some angels are wicked, and they may speak to people and pretend to be dead humans. (
2 Peter 2:4) Jehovah forbids trying to inquire of the dead.—
Read Deuteronomy 18:10, 11.
4. Who will return to life?
Many millions of people who are dead in the grave will return to life on earth. Even some who did not know God and who practiced bad things will be resurrected.—
Read Luke 23:43; Acts 24:15.
Resurrected ones will be able to learn the truth about God and to exercise faith in Jesus by obeying him. (
Revelation 20:11-13) Those who return to life and do good things will be able to enjoy life forever on earth.—
Read John 5:28, 29.
5. What does the resurrection tell us about God?
God made hope for the dead possible by sending his Son to die for us. So the resurrection tells us about Jehovah’s love and undeserved kindness. When the dead return to life, whom do you especially want to see?—
Read John 3:16; Romans 6:23.