Ministry Resources

What Happens After Death?

In This Lesson You Will Study

  • After Death—What?
  • What Are Heaven And Hell Like?
  • How Important Is Your Choice?
  • How Can You Go to Heaven?

After Death – What?

The Initial, Temporary Condition

What happens when you die? Your spirit leaves your physical body. Your body will remain here, since it was made to be in this world. However, you will always be fully conscious.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ, you will go to be with Him at once. But if you have refused God’s offer of eternal life, you will go away from Him to the place which is called Hades or Hell. Hell was prepared for Satan and all those who follow him.

Luke 16:22, 23. The poor man died and was carried by the angels . . . to the feast in heaven. The rich man died . . . and in Hades . . . was in great pain.

The bodies we now have are not suited to heaven. They are temporary “houses” that are given to us for our life on earth. When we die, we leave them behind. God has prepared a new kind of body or home for us, one that will fit into His new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:1. For we know that when this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself made, which will last forever.

The Resurrection Jesus is coming back again, possibly very soon, for those who belong to Him. At that time, those who have accepted him will be changed. We will be given new bodies like His. Like a lily from its bulb, your soul will rise with a new body.

John 11:25. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies.”

1 Corinthians 15:42, 43. When the body is buried, it is mortal; when raised, it will be immortal. When buried, it is ugly and weak; when raised, it will be beautiful and strong.

Philippians 3:20, 21. We eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. He will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like his own glorious body.

 

The Judgment Seat of Christ

As children of God we will be judged according to what we have done on earth and why we did it. Rewards will be given for faithful service. God will assign us certain responsibilities and privileges in His eternal Kingdom.

2 Corinthians 5:9, 10. More than anything else, however, we want to please him…. For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him. Each one will receive what he deserves, according to everything he has done, good or bad, in his bodily life.

The Millennium

After this first judgment, Jesus will come back to earth with His followers. The devil will be imprisoned for a thousand years.

Jesus will set up His kingdom and rule over all the earth for a thousand wonderful years of peace and prosperity. This period of time is called the Millennium. Even the wild animals will live at peace with one another and with man.

Revelation 20:4. They lived and ruled as kings with Christ for a thousand years.

Isaiah 11:6. Wolves and sheep will live together in peace, and leopards will lie down with young goats . . . and little children will take care of them.

Isaiah 35:1, 5-6, 9-10. The desert will rejoice, and flowers will bloom in the wastelands. The blind will be able to see, and the deaf will hear. The lame will leap and dance, . . . . Those whom the Lord has rescued . . . will be happy forever, forever free from sorrow and grief.

The Resurrection and Judgment of the Unsaved

After the Millennium and a final conflict between Christ and Satan, the devil will be thrown into the lake of fire. Then the dead who did not accept God’s plan of salvation will come to life again and be judged. All those who insisted on following Satan instead of God will have to go to the place of punishment prepared for the devil.

Revelation 20:11, 12, 15. I saw a great white throne and the one who sits on it. . . . I saw the dead, great and small alike, standing before the throne. Books were opened, . . . The dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. Whoever did not have his name written in the book of the living was thrown into the lake of fire.

The Eternal State

The righteous (those who are right with God and who are His children) will enjoy forever all that God has prepared for them. Those who have refused His salvation will be separated forever from God.

Matthew 25:46. These, then, will be sent off to eternal punishment; the righteous will go to eternal life.

What Are Heaven and Hell Like?

One of two places will be your eternal home: heaven or hell. The word hell refers both to Hades and to the lake of fire.

Hell

Separation From God

Matthew 25:41 – Away from me, you who are under God’s curse!

Heaven

At Home With God

John 14:2 – There are many rooms in my Father’s house, and I am going to prepare a place for you.

Revelation 21:3 – Now God’s home is with mankind! He will live with them, and they shall be his people.

Everything good comes from God. With Him are light, life, beauty, and joy. Separated from Him, there are darkness, suffering, sorrow, and death.

Hell

Suffering

Luke 16:23, 24. In Hades, where he was in great pain, . . . he called out, “. . . I am in great pain in this fire!”

Matthew 25:30. Throw him outside in the darkness; there he will cry and gnash his teeth.

Revelation 20:10. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Heaven

Perfect Happiness Forever

Revelation 21:10, 11, 16, 18. The Holy City . . . shining with the glory of God . . . was fifteen hundred miles long and was as wide and as high as it was long. . . . The city itself was made of pure gold.

Revelation 22:5. There shall be no more night, . . . The Lord God will be their light, and they will rule as kings forever and ever.

Revelation 21:3, 4. God himself . . . will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain.

Let’s think about what kind of neighbors we will have when we choose our home for eternity.

Hell

Matthew 25:41. Away to the eternal fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels!

Revelation 21:8. But cowards, traitors, perverts, murderers, the immoral, those who practice magic, those who worship idols, and all liars—the place for them is the lake burning with fire and sulfur.

Heaven

John 14:1, 3. Jesus told them, . . . “I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am.”

Hebrews 12:22, 23. You have come to… the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, with its thousands of angels. You have come to the joyful gathering of God’s first-born sons …. You have come to God…and to the spirits of good people made perfect.

How Important is Your Choice?

Don’t blame God for sending anyone to hell. He wants to save everybody, but each person must choose between heaven and hell.

Deuteronomy 30:19, 20. I am now giving you the choice between life and death, . . . Choose life. Love the Lord your God, obey him and be faithful to him.

Whether you choose heaven or hell, others will follow you there. Think of your family and friends. Where do you want to lead them?

How Can You Go To Heaven?

If you want to lead others to heaven, first be certain that you, yourself, have taken these steps. Then help your friends to take them.

Get off the Wrong Road

We have all been traveling the road of SIN away from God and toward hell. We turn away from our sin, determined to obey God and go His way. We ask His forgiveness for our disobedience. This is repentance, the first step toward heaven.

We must acknowledge the wrong we have done to others and do what we can to straighten it out. We must forgive our enemies, ask forgiveness of those we have wronged, and return what we have stolen. As we confess all our sins to God, He will forgive us and help us in whatever we have to do.

Recognize the Right Road

God has given you a road map, the Bible. It says that Jesus Christ is the Way. Follow it.

Choose the Right Road

This means to accept Jesus Christ the Son of God as your personal Savior and Lord of your life. Believe that He accepts you too, and trust in Him.

Follow the Right Road to the End

Follow Jesus the rest of your life. He will guide and help you as you read the Bible and pray.

1 Peter 2:25 – You were like sheep that had lost their way, but now you have been brought back to follow the Shepherd and Keeper of your souls.