The Great Questions of Life
 

What Happens After Death?  

 

What Happens After Death?

 

Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies...'
(Bible, John 11:25)

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
(Bible, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17)

 

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After Death . . . What?

The Initial, Temporary Condition

What happens when you die? Your spirit will leave your physical body. Your body will remain here, since it was made to fit into 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.

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.

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.

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad
(Bible, 2 Corinthians 5:9, 10)

 

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
(Bible, Revelation 20:11, 12, 15)

'Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.'
(Bible, Matthew 25:46)

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.

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 have insisted on following Satan instead of God will have to go to the place of punishment prepared for the devil.

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.

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. Everything good comes from God. With Him are light, life, beauty, and joy. Separated from Him, there is darkness, suffering, sorrow, and death. Let's think about what kind of neighbors we will have when we choose our home for eternity.

 

Some Thoughts for You

Thank God for sending Jesus to save you. Pray for any of your family or friends who are on their way to hell. Ask God to help you warn them and lead them to the Savior

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