PR. DENIS KALUNGI KIREKA CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Facts about what will happen after death. 

Some Christians hold that after death, everyone “sleeps” until the final judgment, after which everyone will be sent to heaven or hell. Others believe that at the moment of death, people are instantly judged and sent to their eternal destinations!!!!! 

Still, others claim that when people die, their souls/spirits are sent to “temporary” heaven or hell, to await the final resurrection, the final judgment, and then the finality of their eternal destination. So, what exactly does the Bible say happens after death?

Believer’s in Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that after death believers’ souls/spirits are taken to heaven, because their sins are forgiven by having received Christ as Savior see herein {John 3:16}, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” {John 3:36}. For believers, death is to be “away from the body and at home with the Lord” {2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23} "This reminds me John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

Now, this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit in-corruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruptible, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on in-corruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” {1 Corinthians 15:50-54} “This shows that believers will be resurrected and given glorified bodies” 

Let me clarify on this corruptible or Cowardly body that is susceptible to sin will put on the incorruptible body or Principled body that is not susceptible to sin, the mortal or the Vanishing body will put on immortality body which can not experience death. 

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus { 1 Corinthians 15:18}.

For this, we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 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. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord {1 Thessalonians 4:13-17}

If believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, what is the purpose of this resurrection? It seems that while the souls/spirits of believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, the physical body remains in the grave “sleeping.” At the resurrection of believers, the physical body is resurrected, glorified, and then reunited with the soul/spirit. This reunited and glorified body-soul-spirit will be the possession of believers for eternity in the new heavens and new earth {Revelation 21-22}.

For those who do not receive Jesus Christ as Savior, death means everlasting punishment. However, similar to the destiny of believers, unbelievers also seem to be sent immediately to a temporary holding place, to await their final resurrection, judgment, and eternal destiny {Luke 16:22-23} describes a rich man being tormented immediately after death. 

So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hell delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire see herein {Revelation 20:11-15}

In the view above all the unbelieving dead being resurrected, judged at the great white throne, and then being cast into the lake of fire. Unbelievers, then, are not sent to hell (the lake of fire) immediately after death, but rather are in a temporary realm of judgment and condemnation. However, even though unbelievers are not instantly sent to the lake of fire, their immediate fate after death is not a pleasant one. The rich man cried out, “I am in agony in this fire” see herein {Luke 16:24}.

Therefore, after death, a person resides in “temporary” heaven or hell. After this temporary realm, at the final resurrection, a person’s eternal destiny will not change. The precise “location” of that eternal destiny is what changes. Believers will ultimately be granted entrance into the new heavens and new earth

 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea see herein {Revelation 21:1}. Unbelievers will ultimately be sent to the lake of fire. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. 

And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire see herein {Revelation 20:11-15}.

These are the final, eternal destinations of all people—based entirely on whether or not they had trusted Jesus Christ alone for salvation see herein {Matthew 25:46}. And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” It’s our call as pastor or as shepherds to let you know,  He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him see herein {John 3:36}.

All in all, allow me to conclude with revelation 14:13

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” it's better to die in the Lord because in him we rest.