Death is a sad reality of life. Everyone understands this, whether they are religious or not. But what comes after death? Many wonder about this, but not everyone has an answer that satisfies their curiosity. However, if we look to the Bible, we can find the answer to this question.
What happens when we die? Let us notice four points.
Our Spirit Goes to “Hades”
This place will exist as long as death plagues mankind. It was revealed to John that Hades would not be destroyed until death is destroyed (Revelation 20:14). Hades is where the souls of all men (the righteous and the wicked) go to await the final judgment.
Jesus described this when He told of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). When Lazarus died, he “was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom” where he was “comforted” (Luke 16:22, 25). Elsewhere, Jesus referred to this part of Hades as “Paradise” (Luke 23:43). In contrast, the rich man found himself “in torment” with no relief from the “agony” he was experiencing (Luke 16:23-25). These two men were in the same “place,” but there was “a great chasm fixed” that prevented anyone who would cross from one side to the other. In other words, once we die and reach this place, our fate will be sealed.
There Is a Final Judgment for All Mankind
The Hebrew writer said, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Paul described this judgment scene in his second letter to the church in Corinth: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). We will each stand before Christ in judgment and give an account for what we have done in this life.
When this day of judgment comes, Jesus will separate the righteous from the wicked. He said, “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left” (Matthew 25:31-33). The standard that will determine whether we are counted among the righteous or the wicked will be His word. Jesus said, “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48). Therefore, we need to make sure we are faithfully following His word while we are here in this life.
The Righteous Will Be Taken to Heaven
After separating the righteous from the wicked (Matthew 25:31-33), Jesus said that “the righteous [will go] into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). Paul described this event in his first letter to the Thessalonians: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). This is a comforting thought to the faithful.
Jesus told His apostles, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). In order to be welcomed into the home He is preparing, we need to prepare for His return by doing what He has instructed us to do.
The Wicked Will Be Punished in Hell
After being separated from the righteous at the judgment, the wicked will go to “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46). Jesus described this as a place “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). Paul explained that this was a place of “eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Since God is the source of everything that is good (cf. James 1:17), the fact that it was away from God’s presence explains why it is such a terrible place.
Those who do not follow the Lord will be lost here: “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). No one should want to go here. Thankfully, the Lord offers each one the opportunity to avoid it if we will faithfully follow Him.
Conclusion
So what happens when we die? Our spirits go to Hades to await the final judgment. Our eternal fate will be determined by how we have lived our lives here. So let us prepare for that day of judgment by doing the Lord’s will.
