What Happens After Death?

Christian views on resurrection center on the belief that Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead after his crucifixion. Christians believe that the resurrection of Jesus is a guarantee of their own future resurrection, as they will be raised to new life, either at the Second Coming of Christ or after their death.

If I died tonight, where would I go?

 Christianity beliefs generally believe in an afterlife where souls are judged based on their actions and faith during life. Righteous individuals are believed to go to a paradise like Heaven, while those who are judged unfavorably may face punishment or separation from God, potentially in Hell.

 Ecclesiastes 12:7 states, “and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”

• This verse describes the end of human life, with the body returning to dust and the spirit returning to God. It emphasizes the temporary nature of physical existence and the eternal nature of the soul.

Modern secularism sees death as the end. But Scripture reveals that death is not termination—it is separation:

For Believers in Christ:

• “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 5:8
• “He said to the thief on the cross, today you will be with Me in paradise.” – Luke 23:43
• When a believer dies, their soul immediately enters into the presence of God.
• Righteous Judgement Is based on works (2 Corinthians 5:10)
• Eternal joy guaranteed (Romans 8:1)

 Heaven Characteristics:

• Streets of gold, gates of pearl (Revelation 21:21)
• No more pain, death, sorrow, or tears (Revelation 21:4)
• The presence of God and the Lamb (Revelation 22:3–4)
• Worship, rest, fellowship, and eternal purpose

 For the Unbeliever:

Luke 16:23 ESV – and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

Revelation 20:15 – “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

• The soul of the unsaved goes immediately into a place of conscious torment. The biblical term “Sheol” or “Hades” is often used for the temporary place of the dead before final judgment.

 Hell Characteristics:

• “The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever.” Revelation 14:11
• Conscious torment
• Eternal separation from God
• Outer darkness, fire, and weeping
• Hell is a place of impenetrable darkness, eternal punishment, misery, unrelenting pain and infinite torture far beyond what the finite human mind can comprehend. The torture and torment of hell is forever. How much are you willing to pay for temporary pleasure? (Brian Monzon – LinkedIn)

 Heaven or hell is not about how good you are. It’s about whether you have trusted Jesus as Savior.

“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” – 1 John 5:12

 Believers who have had near death experience.

Colton Burpo – Heaven is for Real, Don Piper – 90 Minutes in Heaven, Jeff Sears, Erica McKenzie, Bryan Jordan and Anastasia Wesselink Moellering.

 Others who have had near death experience about Hell.

Bill Wiese – 23 Minutes in Hell, Howard Storm – Former Atheist

 Judgement

• Romans 14:12: So, then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
• Luke 16:22-24: The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
• Hebrews 9:27-28: And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
• Hades is like a county jail (a temporary prison), until the sentence is determined. The Lake of Fire (Gehenna) is like a state penitentiary, a permanent place of punishment. While “Hades” is not the final destiny of the wicked, it is a place of conscious suffering and of despair place of torment.

 We must choose how to live our life as a believer or non-believer.

 Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

Colossians 3:1-14 NIV

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Patrick Brown was born at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ on February 25th, 1949. He became a Christian Believer when he stepped off the plane in Vietnam in 1971. Since that time, he has devoted his life to the Lord through ministering as a Sunday School teacher in various churches in Mississippi. He is a graduate of Exploding Evangelism (EE) and certified as a Gospel Evangelist Trainer. Patrick is a member on staff at Christian Grandfather Magazine in charge of Daily Devotionals. He and his wife, Sherrilyn, enjoy retirement in Ridgeland, MS. They have two Daughters, five Grandsons and two Great Grandsons.

Image by DEEPAI