Articles
What Hapens After Death
What Happens After We Die?
By Derek Long
Many people have questions about what happens when
we die. For those who are still alive, we have no experiential
knowledge of what takes place after death. Since people are
not rising from the dead today, we do not have any modern
eyewitnesses we can interview and find out what happens after
we die. Perhaps our lack of information leads us to have
differing views and fears about what takes place after death.
The Bible reveals to us information about death and events
after death so we do not have to remain ignorant or in fear of
death (2 Timothy 1:10).
The Bible gives us a description about what takes place
when a person dies. When a person dies physically, their spirit
leaves their body (James 2:26). The physical body will
eventually return to the dust out of which it was made and the
spirit will return to God (Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 12:7).
Death does not mean the end of our existence because we are
created in the image of God with a spirit which will exist
throughout eternity. Death is something all who do not remain
alive until the Lord returns will have to face.
One of the most insightful passages regarding what
takes place after we die is found in Luke 16:19-31. In this
passage, Jesus gives us an account of a rich man and a beggar,
named Lazarus, who both end up dying and what occurs after
their deaths. We will look at these verses to help us understand
some things which happen after we die.
After we die, we go to one of two different places. In
we die. For those who are still alive, we have no experiential
knowledge of what takes place after death. Since people are
not rising from the dead today, we do not have any modern
eyewitnesses we can interview and find out what happens after
we die. Perhaps our lack of information leads us to have
differing views and fears about what takes place after death.
The Bible reveals to us information about death and events
after death so we do not have to remain ignorant or in fear of
death (2 Timothy 1:10).
The Bible gives us a description about what takes place
when a person dies. When a person dies physically, their spirit
leaves their body (James 2:26). The physical body will
eventually return to the dust out of which it was made and the
spirit will return to God (Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 12:7).
Death does not mean the end of our existence because we are
created in the image of God with a spirit which will exist
throughout eternity. Death is something all who do not remain
alive until the Lord returns will have to face.
One of the most insightful passages regarding what
takes place after we die is found in Luke 16:19-31. In this
passage, Jesus gives us an account of a rich man and a beggar,
named Lazarus, who both end up dying and what occurs after
their deaths. We will look at these verses to help us understand
some things which happen after we die.
After we die, we go to one of two different places. In
the account of the rich man and Lazarus, these places are
referred to as Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22) and torments in
hades (Luke 16:23). Abraham’s bosom is a place of comfort
for the righteous after they die (Luke 16:25). Torments, as the
name suggests, is a place of torment with fire (Luke 16:23-25,
28). All the dead are in one of these two places and one cannot
go from one place to the other following their death (Luke
16:26). It is clear there are no second-chances after we die to
get our lives right with God. There is no such place as
purgatory spoken of in the Bible where people spend some time
to pay off their sins and then are released to enjoy comfort.
After we die, we remain conscious and are still capable
of feeling pain. The rich man in Luke 16 is obviously still
conscious and suffering pain (Luke 16:24-25). Death does not
bring about an annihilation of the soul and neither does it result
in a soul sleep in which we are unconscious or incapable of
feeling pain. The wicked are suffering torment from the time
of their death and after the judgment will experience eternal
punishment in hell (Matthew 25:46).
After we die, we continue to have the ability to
remember things about this life. The rich man is capable of
remembering he has five brothers who are heading toward
torment if they do not repent (Luke 16:27-28, 30). The account
of the rich man and Lazarus reminds us we continue to
remember things after we die. After death we remember things
about our life on earth but we no longer share in things done
under the sun (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6). We are not looking down
upon loved ones to see what they are doing, etc. as some would
teach. We are cut off from activities which are taking place on
the earth. In addition to being able to remember things about
this life there appears to be some form of recognition of people
referred to as Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22) and torments in
hades (Luke 16:23). Abraham’s bosom is a place of comfort
for the righteous after they die (Luke 16:25). Torments, as the
name suggests, is a place of torment with fire (Luke 16:23-25,
28). All the dead are in one of these two places and one cannot
go from one place to the other following their death (Luke
16:26). It is clear there are no second-chances after we die to
get our lives right with God. There is no such place as
purgatory spoken of in the Bible where people spend some time
to pay off their sins and then are released to enjoy comfort.
After we die, we remain conscious and are still capable
of feeling pain. The rich man in Luke 16 is obviously still
conscious and suffering pain (Luke 16:24-25). Death does not
bring about an annihilation of the soul and neither does it result
in a soul sleep in which we are unconscious or incapable of
feeling pain. The wicked are suffering torment from the time
of their death and after the judgment will experience eternal
punishment in hell (Matthew 25:46).
After we die, we continue to have the ability to
remember things about this life. The rich man is capable of
remembering he has five brothers who are heading toward
torment if they do not repent (Luke 16:27-28, 30). The account
of the rich man and Lazarus reminds us we continue to
remember things after we die. After death we remember things
about our life on earth but we no longer share in things done
under the sun (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6). We are not looking down
upon loved ones to see what they are doing, etc. as some would
teach. We are cut off from activities which are taking place on
the earth. In addition to being able to remember things about
this life there appears to be some form of recognition of people
after we die. The rich man knows who Lazarus and Abraham
are (Luke 16:23).
After we die, we do not immediately go to heaven or
hell. When Jesus speaks to the thief on the cross who was
about to die, He promises the thief will be with Him in Paradise
(Luke 23:43). Paradise appears to be another term to describe
Abraham’s bosom. On the day of judgment, death and hades
will be emptied out and done away with (Revelation 20:13-14).
The righteous and wicked will be in their eternal place of
punishment or reward after the judgment. It has been compared
at times to a criminal who is found guilty of a crime and thus
remains in prison until sentencing. The wicked are guilty and
are in a place of punishment awaiting the day of judgment.
After we die, we will have to face the judgment of God
(Hebrews 9:27). We only get the chance to live our life once
and then we die and must face God in judgment. All men will
have to stand before God in judgment (Romans 14:12; 2
Corinthians 5:10). If we do not know God and have not obeyed
the gospel, we will be punished eternally with fire (2
Thessalonians 1:7-9). Are we ready to die and meet God in
judgment?
are (Luke 16:23).
After we die, we do not immediately go to heaven or
hell. When Jesus speaks to the thief on the cross who was
about to die, He promises the thief will be with Him in Paradise
(Luke 23:43). Paradise appears to be another term to describe
Abraham’s bosom. On the day of judgment, death and hades
will be emptied out and done away with (Revelation 20:13-14).
The righteous and wicked will be in their eternal place of
punishment or reward after the judgment. It has been compared
at times to a criminal who is found guilty of a crime and thus
remains in prison until sentencing. The wicked are guilty and
are in a place of punishment awaiting the day of judgment.
After we die, we will have to face the judgment of God
(Hebrews 9:27). We only get the chance to live our life once
and then we die and must face God in judgment. All men will
have to stand before God in judgment (Romans 14:12; 2
Corinthians 5:10). If we do not know God and have not obeyed
the gospel, we will be punished eternally with fire (2
Thessalonians 1:7-9). Are we ready to die and meet God in
judgment?
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