QUESTION: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE DIE?

 

What happens after we die?

Questions about the afterlife are common. Many religious beliefs hold that there is life after death, with concepts of heaven, hell, or reincarnation. The specifics vary widely among different faiths.

Importantly, however, there is only one religion that possesses living empirical evidence about what happens after death, and His Name is Jesus Christ. (Christ-from the Greek word “Christos,” meaning “anointed one,” and is equivalent to the Hebrew word “Messiah.” It refers specifically to Jesus, whom Christians believe to be the promised savior and king foretold in the Hebrew Bible).

It was witnessed by scores of people and is recorded in biblical historical accounts that Jesus was killed (crucified), died, buried, and rose again from the dead. The Bible says that by this act Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave, as stated in Revelation 1:18, where He declares, “I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

This is central to the Christian faith, affirming that through His resurrection, believers have hope and assurance of eternal life.

Jesus demonstrated for all who would believe in Him what happens after death. But He did not stop there.  He has explained what will happen to each repentant believer after death.

From Jesus’ own words, we learn that believers:

Truth	Jesus’ Teaching
They remain conscious after death	Luke 23; Luke 16
They are with Christ	Luke 23:43; John 14
They are comforted	Luke 16
They continue living after physical death	John 11:25–26
Their souls survive death	Matthew 10:28
They await bodily resurrection	John 5:28–29
They will never ultimately die	John 11:26; Luke 20:36
They inherit eternal life	Matthew 25:46; John 5:24
They will live forever in the Father’s presence	John 14:1–3

One notable feature of Jesus’ teaching is that He places the emphasis less on the place believers go after death than on the Person they will be with. His promises repeatedly center on Himself:

• “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
• “I will receive you to Myself.” (John 14:3)
• “Whoever believes in Me will live.” (John 11:25)
• “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)

For Jesus, the greatest hope of the believer after death is not simply entering heaven, but entering unbroken fellowship with Him. This aligns with His high-priestly prayer in John 17:24: “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am,” where Jesus expresses His desire that His followers share His presence and behold His glory.

The Intermediate State (between death and resurrection)

• The body remains in the grave.
• The soul is consciously with Christ.
• The believer experiences peace, joy, and fellowship with the Lord while awaiting the resurrection.

The Final State (after Christ returns)

When Jesus returns:

• The dead in Christ are raised.
• Their bodies are transformed into glorified, imperishable bodies.
• Body and soul are reunited.
• Believers live forever in the new heavens and new earth.

Paul summarizes this hope:

“And so we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17)

 

A Simple Timeline

Event	Body	Soul/Spirit
Physical death	Returns to dust; awaits resurrection	Enters Christ’s presence (“with Me in Paradise”)
Intermediate state	In the grave	Conscious fellowship with Christ
Christ’s return	Raised and glorified	Reunited with the glorified body
Eternal state	Glorified, immortal body	Lives forever with Christ in the new creation

This is only true for those who have given themselves to Jesus through faith. For it is by God’s grace through faith that we are saved. It is a gift of God-not earned by works (our deeds). Call on Him now, in faith, and you will not be disappointed. Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:11-13). Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Those who do not believe on the Name of Jesus are condemned to an eternity of darkness and fire by their unbelief. John 3:16-18.)