What Happens When We Die?
What Happens When We Die? A Biblical Understanding of the Afterlife
Eschatology, the study of the end times, includes key questions about what happens when we die and where we go after death. Many people wonder: Do we go straight to heaven or hell? What is paradise? What is Sheol? What about the final judgment? To answer these questions, we must look at Scripture to understand the Biblical framework of the afterlife.
Paradise vs. Heaven: What Did Jesus Mean?
One of the most well-known passages about the afterlife comes from Jesus' words to the thief on the cross: "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43, ESV). What is paradise? Is it different from heaven?
In the Bible, paradise is a place of blessedness for the righteous. The Apostle Paul describes being "caught up to the third heaven" and calls it paradise (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). Before Jesus’ resurrection, paradise was understood as the resting place for the righteous dead. After Jesus’ resurrection, believers now enter directly into God’s presence in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8).
Understanding Sheol and Hades: The Temporary Realm of the Dead
Before Christ's resurrection, the Bible describes the afterlife in terms of Sheol (Old Testament) and Hades (New Testament). These terms refer to the temporary realm where the dead awaited their final judgment.
Sheol: A Hebrew term used in the Old Testament for the realm of the dead, both righteous and unrighteous (Psalm 16:10, Ecclesiastes 9:10).
Hades: The Greek equivalent of Sheol in the New Testament, a temporary holding place for souls before final judgment (Luke 16:22-23, Acts 2:27).
In Luke 16:22-23, Jesus gives a vivid picture of this realm in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus, the righteous man, is taken to Abraham’s bosom—a place of comfort—while the rich man is in torment in Hades. This suggests a separation of the righteous and unrighteous even before final judgment.
Abraham’s Bosom: The Place of Rest for the Righteous
Abraham’s bosom was a term used in Jewish thought to describe the resting place of the righteous dead before Christ’s resurrection. It is mentioned only in Luke 16:22-23, where Lazarus is comforted in Abraham’s presence while the rich man is in torment.
Many scholars believe that after Jesus' death and resurrection, the righteous were brought into God's direct presence in heaven (Ephesians 4:8-10). This means that believers now go immediately to heaven rather than to a temporary resting place.
Gehenna: The Final Judgment for the Wicked
While Hades is a temporary place of the dead, Gehenna refers to the final place of judgment. Jesus uses Gehenna to describe the eternal punishment of the wicked (Matthew 10:28, Mark 9:43-48). In Revelation 20:14-15, this final state is called the lake of fire—the ultimate destiny of Satan, demons, and all who reject Christ.
Tartarus: The Place for Fallen Angels
Tartarus is a specific term used in 2 Peter 2:4 to describe a place where certain fallen angels are held in chains. This may be another part of Hades, a deeper part, or may not be the same as Hades or Gehenna but rather a separate place of confinement for disobedient angels.
What Happens When a Believer Dies?
For those who have placed their faith in Christ, death is not the end. The Bible is clear that believers immediately enter God’s presence upon death:
"We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8)
"My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better." (Philippians 1:23)
While our souls go to be with Christ, our bodies remain on earth until the resurrection at Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
What Happens to the Unbeliever?
The Bible teaches that unbelievers go to Hades, a place of conscious torment, awaiting the final judgment (Luke 16:23). At the Great White Throne Judgment, they will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
The Resurrection and the Rapture
At the return of Christ, the dead in Christ will be resurrected, and those who are alive will be caught up (raptured) to meet Him:
"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And 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, and so we will always be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
This event marks the beginning of believers' eternal glorified state, where they will reign with Christ.
The New Heaven and New Earth
After the final judgment, God will create a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1-4). This will be the eternal dwelling place of God’s people, free from sin, pain, and death. The redeemed will live in perfect fellowship with God forever.
Final Thoughts: Where Do We Go When We Die?
The Bible lays out a clear and hopeful picture of the afterlife:
Before Christ’s resurrection, the righteous went to Abraham’s bosom (paradise), and the unrighteous to Hades.
Now, believers go directly to heaven to be with Christ, while unbelievers remain in Hades until judgment.
At Christ’s return, believers will be resurrected, and unbelievers will face final judgment in the lake of fire.
Ultimately, God will establish a new heaven and a new earth, where the redeemed will dwell with Him eternally.
For those in Christ, the afterlife is a promise of eternal joy in God’s presence. For those who have not yet trusted in Christ, now is the time to repent and believe in the gospel (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10). Where we spend eternity depends on our response to Christ today.