Today, many people do not know where their souls came from, why they are living on this earth, and where they will go after they die. Through the words of God, the Creator of the soul, we can find answers to these questions that have not been solved for a long time. The Bible tells us that the soul surely exists and that its home is the Kingdom of Heaven.
1. The Soul Exists Independently From the Body
Most Christians and other religious people believe that the soul exists even after the body dies. If that is the case, when did the soul originally exist?
If the soul was created when the body was born, this means that the soul must disappear when the body dies. If the soul comes into existence when the body is born, it means that the soul is subordinate to the body; however, the Bible says that even after the body disappears, the soul still exists.
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Rev 6:9–10
“The souls of those who had been slain” means that their bodies already faced death. Their souls, however, are still alive and speaking with God; therefore, the soul exists independently of the death of the body and it must exist before the body is born.
2. The Soul Already Existed Before the Birth of the Body
We can confirm that the human soul existed even before the birth of the body through Jesus Christ. Jesus was born in the same way as ordinary people. The people around Jesus could not tell the difference between Jesus and themselves. The Nazarenes, who had known Jesus from His early age, also did not believe that He was the Savior.
Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. Mt 13:54–57
When we look at Jesus’ physical life, we can see that it was not different from typical human life. When it comes to our spiritual life, we must also understand that aside from ranking, there are no differences between Jesus and us. If we were different from Him, we could not have hope for the resurrection and enter the Kingdom of Heaven; therefore, our spiritual state is the same as Jesus Christ.
As the resurrection of Jesus awakens believers to the resurrection they will receive later (1 Co 15:12–22), the previous life of Jesus proves the previous life of mankind. If we understand where Jesus was before He came to this earth in the flesh, we will know the where our souls came from.
The Bible says that Jesus’ soul existed in Heaven before He was born in the flesh (Jn 1:1, 14; 6:38). This means that human souls already existed in Heaven before they were born on this earth in the flesh.
3. Heaven Is Home of Our Souls
Our souls were originally in Heaven before we came to this earth. This means that Heaven is the home of our souls. The forefathers of faith also testified to the same thing.
Pharaoh asked him, “How old are you?” And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.” Ge 47:8–9
When asked how old he was, Jacob said that the years of his pilgrimage were a hundred and thirty which did not equal those of his fathers. He compared his and his ancestors’ years on this earth as a pilgrimage.
By faith Abel . . . By faith Noah . . . By faith Abraham . . . All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Heb 11:4–9, 13–16
The writer of Hebrews wrote that the forefathers of faith, such as Abel, Noah, and Abraham, lived as aliens and strangers on earth. Furthermore, they said that they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. This shows that all people are living on the earth as aliens and strangers, and that the home of the soul is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4. Mankind Was Born on This Earth Due to Their Sins
Why does mankind live on this earth and not their spiritual home in Heaven? The clue is found in the case of the king of Tyre recorded in the book of Ezekiel.
The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “ ‘You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz . . . beryl. . . . You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.’ ” Eze 28:11–14
The king of Tyre was full of wisdom and perfect in beauty, adorned with every precious stone. He also walked among the fiery stones as a guardian cherub. In other words, he was an angel who was with God in Heaven before he came to this earth. Unfortunately, he could not stay in Heaven because he was expelled to this earth.
“You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.” Eze 28:15–16
The king of Tyre sinned in Heaven and was expelled to the earth. This shows the previous life of all mankind living in the flesh just like the king of Tyre. All people sinned in Heaven and were driven out, and are now living as aliens and strangers on the earth. Jesus, who came to save mankind, referred to the people of the world as “the lost” or “sinners” (Lk 19:10; Mt 9:13). Due to their sins, all mankind is the lost from Heaven.
5. The Way to Return to the Kingdom of Heaven Is Through the New Covenant Passover
Aliens and strangers refer to people who leave their home country to live in a different one. Mankind, who is living as aliens and strangers on earth, will have the opportunity to return to their spiritual home after death (Ecc 12:7). Many people believe that if they lead a virtuous life, they will go to the Kingdom of Heaven; however, no one can return to Heaven without receiving the forgiveness of sins. In order for us to receive the forgiveness of sins, Jesus came to this earth. He opened the way for us to receive the forgiveness of sins through His blood.
In him [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. Eph 1:7
Some people believe they will receive the forgiveness of their sins as long as they believe in the sacrifice of Jesus who shed His blood on the cross; however, Jesus established the truth for the forgiveness of sins through the Passover of the New Covenant.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, . . . So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. . . . While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Mt 26:17–19, 26–28
While celebrating the Passover with His disciples, Jesus said that the Passoverwine was His blood that was shed for the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, in order to receive the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus, we must not only think of His sacrifice on the cross but also keep the Passover of the New Covenant. The Passover of the New Covenant is the precious truth that leads us to the Kingdom of Heaven, the home of our souls.