Beyond Death What does the Bible teach us about what is expected beyond this life?

There are many stories and cases of people’s experiences after death portrayed in the media today. Movies and books have explored this theme.

What really happens when a person dies? Where do they go? What is there after death?

At creation, God made man out of dust and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.

1. What did God say would happen to man if he sinned? (Genesis 2:17)

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it; for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die.

Death is the consequence of sin (Romans 6:23), and the Bible assures us that all those souls that sin will indeed die (Ezekiel 18:20), and when sin came into the world, death passed unto all man (Romans 5:12).

2. Who has immortality? (1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16)

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

The Bible presents death as a sleep (John 11:11-14), and when a person dies, the breath of life returns to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

3. What is the state of a person who is dead? (Ecclesiastes 9:6-10)

Also their love, their hatred, and their envy has perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun. Go your way--eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works. Let your garments be always white, and don’t let your head lack oil. Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity: for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.

This happens to all. It happens to the righteous, to the wicked, and to the animals (Ecclesiastes 3:19-21).

4. What did Jesus say about the state of the dead? (John 5:28, 29)

Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice, and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.

5. When will the resurrection of the saints take place? (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.

6. When will the wicked be resurrected? (Revelation 20:5)

The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

After this, the great controversy will end and sin will be no more! The universe will be forever free from the power of evil (Revelation 22:3). No more death, no more suffering, no more pain, no more sin. Are you willing to be there?