What Happens to Us When We Die

What Happens to Us When We Die?

by Harley Pinon

Almost anywhere you turn, you'll find the answer. Turn on the news, and someone is being interviewed about a tragic accident. Usually you won't have to listen long until you find out that one who was killed was a wonderful Christian, and is now "Looking down on all of us, and smiling that so many loved him," or whatever is going on that is exciting to the one who has passed on.

It's all somewhat consoling, and it's an idea that is almost universally accepted, but the question is, is it true? Again, there are multitudes who would immediately say, "Oh course, it's true!" Asked where the Bible gives them such an idea, and they may site "The rich man and Lazarus." That sounds like a convincing argument until you take a closer look. My understanding is that the story of "Abraham's bosom" was a common expression among the the Jewish people of Jesus' day. I sometimes wish that Jesus had not used the story because of the confusion it has caused, but what was the point of the story. "But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'" (Luke 16:31 NKJV) It sounds incredible, but it was true. When Jesus rose from the dead, what did the Jewish leaders do? Did they believe? Of course not! Instead, "When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, {13} saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.'" (Mat 28:12-13 NKJV) Just as Jesus said, they were not convinced though one rose from the dead. I don't believe Jesus told this story with the intent of teaching what happens to us when we die.

A very common expression for death in the New Testament is to fall asleep. In John 11:11, Jesus said, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." The disciples were confused and said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." (John 11:12 NKJV) "However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep." (John 11:13 NKJV) So very clearly He used the expression we would use to speak of sleeping, but he used it as a reference to dying.

When Stephen was stoned, 'Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.' (Acts 7:60 NKJV) We all know he was stoned to death.

In Acts 13, Paul said, "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; (Acts 13:36 NKJV)

In the great resurrection chapter, Paul says, "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1 Cor 15:20 NKJV)

Paul has more to say in 1 Th 4:15-16, "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. {16} 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." Those who are asleep are clearly the dead in Christ.

Here Paul is talking about the great resurrection when Christ returns. If we let the Bible speak, then this is the picture that I see.

When we die, we, in effect, fall asleep. We are no longer conscious of what is going on.
We will be resurrected, and
The judgment will follow.

Notice what Jesus said in John 5:28-29, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice [they will be awakened] {29} "and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." -- That's the judgment.

In Eccl 9:5, Solomon says, "For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten." Solomon is speaking of things "under the sun," or on this earth and is not referring to the final judgment of God.

Is This an Encouraging Doctrine?

Some may prefer the doctrine that we won't really die, but remember, that is Gen 3:4, "Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die.'" But just remember whose words those are. God said, "for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Gen 2:17 NKJV) We will die, but Christ is our resurrection.

Those who teach (and they are in the vast majority) that we immediately are alive with God, have a teaching that is popular to many. We don't want to wait for anything. We want our reward immediately. What is the point of the resurrection day? How does the judgment day have any special meaning if we have already been assigned to our eternal reward.

On March 4, 1998, I was put to sleep to repair my dissected aorta. The first thing I remember after that was asking when they were going to do my surgery. It was all over! I had no idea, nor do I know to this day how much time passed. I know it was many hours because surgery was over and tubes had been removed from my throat so I could talk. Thanks to God, and those caring for me, I had felt nothing, and I was totally unaware of the passing of time. Being "asleep in Jesus" is not being cheated. It means we will all be waiting for the great day of the resurrection and, of course, the judgment. Will we all be ready!

Do People have "eternal life" in hell? Or, will they be tortured forever? See my article

Does the Punishment of Hell Last Forever?

Edward Fudge says, "No." People do not experience eternal life in hell. For more information, he has a website:

Edward Fudge's Webpage

For an interesting debate on the subject of eternal punishment, consider the following debate between Al Maxey and Thomas Thrasher

Maxey/Thrasher Debate on Eternal Punishment

What about the Rich man and Lazarus?

Conditional Immortality by Miles Grant (1895)

More on What Happens When We Die from Another Site

Immortality and Our Need to Obtain It

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