Going Deeper Into What Christianity Says About Life After Death
The Bible teaches that God has set eternity in the hearts of humans . This is one reason why death makes us sad we were not made to end. There are many passages in the Bible that make it clear we do not cease to exist when our earthly bodies die.
Daniel 12:2 says, Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.
Jesus said, I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life .
When people die, their souls continue to live on. Where their souls go is based on whether or not they accept Jesus sacrifice on their behalf.
What Happens Immediately After Death
After death, we either go to heaven or hell. We see this in the story of Lazarus and the rich man. Lazarus went to Abrahams bosom , and the rich man went to hell. The rich man wanted Lazarus to go and inform his living relatives about the importance of living a righteous life so they would not end up in hell. It was too late for that as neither he nor Lazarus could go back to the living. You can read the story in Luke 16:19-31. This is a story that Jesus gave, and it shows that immediately we leave this earth, we have a destination awaiting us. In the gospel, the destination is determined by whether we believe Jesus is the Messiah.
What Happens When We Die
When we die, our spirit and body separate. Even though our body dies, our spiritwhich is the essence of who we arelives on. Our spirit goes to the spirit world. The spirit world is a waiting period until we receive the gift of resurrection, when our spirits will reunite with our bodies. Our future resurrected body cannot die and will be perfectfree from pain, sickness, and imperfections. It is because of the infinite love of Jesus Christ that everyone will be resurrected.
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Is There Life After Death In The Holy Bible
Our lives do not end when we die physically, they continue to eternity. Life after death is the life one lives after they die and are buried. Physical death transitions us into a life where our souls live on. The Bible has verses to prove there is life after death. Ecclesiastes 12:7 says that our bodies return to the earth, and our spirits return to God. Our bodies were made from the dust of the earth, and that is where they go after we die. Our spirits live on after death.
Cremation In Modern Times
Cremation is becoming an increasingly popular choice for the final disposition of the body at death.
Funeral arrangements for a cremated body are not that different from other options. The body may still be viewed prior to the service, and a service may be held with the deceased present in most cases. There are a number of options available as to the disposition of the cremated remains, including burial and scattering.
Be considerate in contemplating cremation and the other choices available, Christians will want to give thoughtful consideration to all who may be affected by the decision, such as loved ones who may have strong feelings on the subject of cremation. One certainly would not like to bring unnecessary distress to anyone.
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What Happens When You Die
Benjamin Franklin said, In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. His words, though slightly humorous, remind us of a very real truth: One of the things we all have in common is that everyone dies.
At one time or another, most people wonder what will happen when they die. Death feels frightening and mysterious, and perspectives on what happens and what it means vary significantly.
To help you find some answers to this question, lets explore some different views on this topic, including what the Bible has to say about it.
If you already know what youre looking for, you can use these links to go straight to the topics that are most relevant for you:
Other Views Within Christianity
Though most Christians agree on the basic beliefs about the afterlife described above, there are some differing views on aspects of life after death.
Catholicism. The Catholic church teaches the doctrine of Purgatory, that Protestant Christians do not usually accept. According to the official teachings of the Catholic church, called The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Purgatory is a final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.
Pope John Paul II said Purgatory does not indicate a place, but a condition of existence.
Catholicism teaches that those who have a relationship with God but are not fully purified will have eternal salvation but still need further purification after death. After purification in Purgatory, they achieve the perfect holiness required to be in the presence of a perfectly Holy God.
The Catholic Church partially bases the doctrine of Purgatory on Scripture passages referring to a cleansing fire. It also draws this concept from a passage where Jesus said that those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this age or the age to come. The Catechism of the Catholic Church further states, From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.
Most Protestants believe that Jesus sacrifice fully paid for all of our sins and fully purified all who believe in Him, so there is no need for further purification after death.
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An Appointment With Death
Every one of us has an appointment we must keep, even after birth, were on our way to death, but the problem is, we dont always know when that appointment is. I am speaking about Hebrews 9:27 which says that just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.We know that we have a day appointed to us for the day of our death, and we also know that judgment comes after death, but in a sense, if we have repented and trusted in Christ, our judgment has already occurred, and thats in Christ Jesus Who took the wrath of God that we deserved. When we trust in Christ, we instantly receive eternal life. Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this ? Solomon understood how things work, writing, there is a time to be born, and a time to die a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted, so the fact that there is a time for us to be born but also a time for us to die is Scriptural. What we dont know is when that day will be, but we know it is coming, or if Christ returns before we pass from this earth, we wont have to worry about death anymore , however, we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Where Can You Go From Here
- Do you want to choose to spend eternity with God? You can begin a relationship with God right now and know for certain where you will go when you die.
- Read a more detailed explanation of how to start a relationship with God, including a prayer you can use to express your decision.
- If you have committed your life to Christ and want help getting established as a Christian, sign up for our Spiritual Starter Kit.
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Do Christians Go To Heaven When They Die
No, the Bible likens death to sleep for all people. That means that even Christians do not go anywhere upon death. Scripture does, however, reveal that Gods people will be resurrected at the return of Jesus Christ and will reign with Him on the earth.
This article will discuss the following topics:
What happens when we die? Nearly all Christian denominations teach a heaven or hell afterlife. Essentially, they believe that every human being has an immortal soul that will go straight to heaven or hell after the physical body dies.
There are many ideas about what heaven and hell are like, and about who will go to heaven and who will go to hell. But do the popular ideas about heaven and hell come from the Bible?
The Bible teaches very clearly that all human beings die: And as it is appointed for men to die once . Since death awaits us all, what happens after death is one of the most important questions we can askand answer!
What Does The Bible Say About The Resurrection
Physical death is described as follows:
The time has come. The Son of Man must be handed over to sinners. .
It doesnt occur until after Jesus death on the cross, but it represents an important step in his death and resurrection process which will lead him to eternal life with God. He tells his disciples about death after they asked him when he would be revealed to them.
He says death is necessary for the Son of Man in order not only to die but also to receive power which means that Jesus has to experience death and rise again, this will happen later on Easter Sunday during his resurrection.
The Bible describes death as a passage from one state to another, death is part of the cycle of life. It also shows death as a sleep where people are not aware that they are dead which could happen after an accident or if someone falls into a coma.
Death can be described as follows:
The soul who sins will die. .
This death in the bible is death from a spiritual point of view, it means that people who commit sins will be separated from God.
In some cases, death can also mean dying as a Christian where death represents an opportunity for Christians to get closer to God and live with him after death. In this sense, death is not something negative but rather positive because you get closer to God.
The death of a person in the Bible is described as follows:
For to me, living means living for Christ and dying is even better.
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The New Heaven And New Earth
Revelation 21:1-8 describes the ultimate destination of those who accept Jesus sacrifice and have eternal life with God:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, Look, Gods home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.And the one sitting on the throne said, Look, I am making everything new! And then He said to me, Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true. And He also said, It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be My children.
One of the most amazing things about the new creation is that people will get to spend eternity in Gods presence. In the new creation, Gods people will live in a beautiful place free of pain and suffering and experience the joy of a perfect relationship with a perfectly loving God.
What Happens After We Die According To The Bible
How good is it that we can thank the Lord every day for what His Word tells us about death? We thank the Lord Jesus for dying in our place for our sins. Death is not the end!
- David SanfordCrosswalk.com Contributing Writer
- 20203 Nov
My wife, Renee, has a big court case coming up so Im doing the weekly shopping. After two minutes of scanning every bag in the flour section, I turn to the wise older woman on my left. Ive found everything except what Im looking for. Do you have any idea where the almond flour is? Just then I spot it.
The older woman laughs. Happens to me all the time at my age.
You mean our age, I joke.
What? Im 83.
So? Im older than you: Ive died twice.
What?
Ive died twice, so Im older than you. It was hard to resuscitate me both times.
The woman looks down. All of my friends have died. I dont say anything, so she continues. And now my husband is in the hospital. After that, she is lost in thought.
How good is it that we can thank the Lord every day for what His Word tells us about death? Its not all pleasant, but its certainly hope-filled. Death is not the end!
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Where Do People Spend Eternity
Heaven and Hell. The Bible teaches that there are two alternatives: eternity with God and eternity separated from God, often referred to as heaven and hell. From an eternal standpoint, to be present in one is to be absent from the other.
Eternity with God is safe, peaceful and void of all evil. Hell is the terrible alternative where God and all the good things that come from God are completely absent.
When You Face The Greatest Challenges Of Life
When you come to the hardest things of life it is so wonderful to know that God is your Father. Jesus invokes the name, Father when he has to face two of the most difficult challenges a man or a woman has to face in this worldforgiving and dying. Father, forgive them. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. When you face these storms, your main strength will lie in knowing that you are a child of God.
How can I know God as my Father? The Bible tells us, To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God . You can come to Jesus today and say, Make me a son who does the will of the Father. You are Gods Son by nature, make me an adopted son, an adopted daughter in the family of God by grace. Jesus says, Whoever comes to me, I will never turn away.
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What The Bible Says About After Life For A Christian
What happens to Christians after death? Generally, death is an opportunity for hope and peace. No matter how old you are or what your situation may be, death gives all people the same chance at a fresh start in The Fathers house. Death does not discriminate between rich and poor nor young and old everyone has one life which God created for them to live. All Men Die, Jesus Died but then resurrected and went Back Up to the Father.
When death comes for you, it is not the end of your life but rather an opportunity to discover a new one in Jesus Christs kingdom. For Christians, death means eternal life with God and His Son Jesus Christ where they will enjoy their heavenly Father forevermore! This is what makes Christianity unique from other religions because death does not have to be the end.
What happens when death comes? Well, according to the Bible death is not the endDeath does not discriminate between rich and poor nor young and old everyone has one life which God created for them to live.
What Happens At The Moment Of Death
Now we come to the central question: What happens at the very moment of death? I have already given the general answer: What happens when you die depends on what happens before you die. The Bible classifies the whole human race into two broad categoriesthe saved and the lost. The saved are those who have trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The lost are those who havent. What happens to the saved is radically different from what happens to the lost.
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Is There Life After Death
Though we may die, Jesus says, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live . We will receive immortality when Jesus comes again . The Bible says that all those who have diedboth righteous and wickedwill be raised to life in one of two resurrections. The righteous will be raised to life at Jesus second coming. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first . According to this verse, the righteous do not go to heaven when they die. They remain asleep in the grave until Jesus returns and raises them to immortal life .
The wicked are raised to life in a separate resurrectionthe resurrection of condemnation. Jesus said, Do not marvel at this for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forththose who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation .
When He returns, our loved ones asleep in Christ will awake from their tombs. No matter how long the time has passed, be it long or short, will seem but a moment to them. By the voice of Jesus, they are called forth from their deep slumber they will begin to think just where they ceased, awakening to a glorious immortality.
Death is swallowed up in victory .
O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? .