What Happens When We Die?

Some believe that salvation is universal, that it is for everyone. It is available for everyone, but the Bible teaches that a majority of mankind reject it.

Matthew 7:13-14: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Some believe that people will be resurrected after death and have a second chance to become believers. The Bible teaches that we must become believers before we die. There is a moment in the life of every unbeliever*s life when his rejection of Christ becomes total and final. Only God knows when that moment occurs. It definitely occurs before the death of that individual. When it happens, God gives them up forever.

Hebrews 9:27: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

2 Chronicles 36:16: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

Proverbs 6:15: Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

Proverbs 29:1: He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Romans 1:24: Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Romans 1:26: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Romans 1:28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Before Jesus* death and resurrection people went to a place called hell. (Sheol in the Old Testament and Hades in the New Testament) There were two compartments in the place, one was a place of torments where unbelievers went and the other was called the bosom of Abraham where believers went.

Luke 16:19-26: There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man*s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham*s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

After His death and resurrection I believe Jesus emptied out the bosom of Abraham and took the souls of those believers to the presence of God in heaven. (There is a school of thought that the Jewish believers saved before Jesus death and resurrection are resurrected and taken to heaven at a later time. We*ll not look into that in this study.)

Ephesians 4:8: Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Since the death and resurrection of Jesus, when believers die their souls go into the presence of God in heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:8: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

When Jesus returns to earth after the Great Tribulation, the believers that are already in heaven will return to earth and reign with Christ on earth for a thousand years. (We*ll not discuss the Great Tribulation here.) Those in the place of torments will remain there until after the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth. They will then be resurrected, judged and cast into the lake of fire. Believers won*t experience that second death.

Revelation 20:5-6: But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Satan shall be bound for that thousand years.

Revelation 20:2: And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

Revelation 20:7: And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

Revelation 20:10: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

The judgment of unbelievers:

Revelation 20:11-12: And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

The punishment of unbelievers:

Revelation 20:15: And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The punishment of Satan, his demons and unbelievers in the horrible lake of fire shall be forever. And the paradise of heaven shall also be forever.

Matthew 13:41: The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:41: Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Matthew 25:46: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

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