What happens to us the minute we die. Where do we go?

If you are not a true Christian, then the instant you die, you go into the equivalent of a dreamless sleep.

The penalty for sin that was given to Father Adam was death. Genesis 2:17 “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Please remember that a day with the LORD is as a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8).  Adam died at 930 years of age (Genesis 5:5) which is within a day (according to the LORD).

We are under the same death penalty as Adam. So does the Bible tell us death is like? Yes! A description of the death condition is found in 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.”

This describes a dreamless sleep. There is no thought or conscience when you are dead as further described in Ecclesiastes 9:5“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing…”

Even Jesus described death as sleep. His disciples were confused when Jesus told them that Lazarus was just resting. John 11:11-14, “…Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.”

These scriptures describe the death condition as a sleep condition. All mankind who experience death will eventually be awaken from this death/sleep condition in the future resurrection. (John 5:28, 29)

However, the instant a faithful Christian dies, he is instantly changed into a divine, heavenly being. 1 Corinthians 15:52-53, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we (Christians) shall all be changed, 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.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (See also 1 John 3:2)

What is the book of Obadiah about?

Edom was the name given to Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, after he sold his birthright.  (Genesis 25:30-34)  The name was applied both to the people descended from him and to the country in which they settled.  (Genesis 36:1; Numbers 20:18-21; Jeremiah 49:17)  

The name “Edom” is frequently used by the prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) and by the Revelator as a symbol of “professed” Christians, “Christendom” (the so-called Christian World), and of “Babylon” (Revelation 14:8; 18:2, 3). These are Christians in name only. They have similarly sold their birthright as Esau did for something as trifling as the bowl of stew. These have preferred present earthly advantages above all the blessings of communion and fellowship with their Lord Jesus. True Christians faithfully follow in Jesus’ footsteps of sacrifice as Jesus taught: “If any man will come after me, let him denyhimself, and take up his cross, and follow me,” Matthew 16:24. (1 Peter 2:21; Philippians 3:8-10; Romans 12:1, 2)  Only a few Christians have made proper use of being blessed with the Word of God. These by their godly examples have been “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14) showing men the way back to God and righteousness.  

While all the land of Edom symbolized all of Christendom, so its capital city Bozrah represented “ecclesiasticism”, the chief fortress of Christendom.  Both the ecclesiastical powers of Christendom and the earth (the social organization under church and state influence – “the Mount of Esau”) are reserved unto “fire” (symbolizing trouble, judgment).  The book of Obadiah is a prophecy regarding the retributive justice upon all of Christendom. The “Christian” nations shall reap the Lord’s anger for persecuting faithful Christians and Jews (still the people of promise).  (Obadiah 1:8, 9; Ezekiel 25:13, 14)  

The Prophet represents the Lord as a victorious warrior who makes a great slaughter in Edom, especially in Bozrah.  (Isaiah 34:6, 8)  The reply to the Prophet's inquiry—“Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?” is, “I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”  (Isaiah 63:1-4)  This is the same mighty one described in the book of Revelation, the “King of kings and Lord of lords,” Jehovah's Anointed, our highly exalted Redeemer and Lord, Jesus.  (Revelation 19:11-16; Philippians 2:9-11)

Christendom (“Edom”), after being thoroughly destroyed, will be replaced by "a new heavens”—a new spiritual government made up of Jesus and his faithful Church (Ephesians1:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 12:12), and “a new earth”—human society reorganized under God's Kingdom arrangements. Christ will reign on a basis of justice, love, obedience, and righteousness instead of selfishness. (Isaiah 26:9; Revelation 21:1-4)