The Bible teaches that when a person dies, their soul separates from the body and immediately enters a conscious state of either blessing or torment, depending on their relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Paul wrote with confidence:
“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)
This applies to believers. At death, the spirit of a Christian goes directly into the presence of Christ. There is no soul sleep, purgatory, or delay. Jesus confirmed this to the repentant thief on the cross:
“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
For the unbeliever, death brings immediate separation from God. In the account of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus described the rich man in torment right after death:
“And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” (Luke 16:23)
This conscious torment precedes the final judgment. The body decays, but the soul continues. Eventually, both believers and unbelievers will be resurrected:
“There will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” (Acts 24:15)
Believers will receive glorified bodies:
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven… and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
“We shall be changed… for this corruptible must put on incorruption.” (1 Corinthians 15:51–53)
Unbelievers will also be resurrected, but to judgment:
“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God… And they were judged, each one according to his works.” (Revelation 20:12)
“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)
Heaven is the eternal home of the redeemed, a place of joy, worship, and fellowship with God:
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes… There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.” (Revelation 21:4)
Hell is the eternal punishment for those who reject Christ:
“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)
What happens at death is determined by whether one has trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation. Eternal destinies are fixed at death. There are no second chances beyond the grave:
“It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)
