After death everyone will face judgement: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2nd Corinthians 5:10). (See also: Romans 14:12; 2nd Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 9:27.)
In 1st Thessalonians we are told that those who have died—believers who are “asleep” in Christ—will rise first, then “…we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (read carefully 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18).
These verses of Scripture teach us that believers who have died will be raised at Christ’s return—they are considered to be asleep until that moment. All who are dead will hear His voice. They will be resurrected from sleep (death) to be with Christ for ever. They will be changed.
Those who have trusted in Christ will rise again, even though their bodies have decayed in the grave, or have been utterly destroyed in various ways. Martha’s comment to Jesus reflects this belief: “I know that he [Martha’s brother] will rise again in the resurrection on the last day” (John 11:24).
What are we aware of after we die and before Christ returns? Should we look to Old Testament texts for insight? “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10); “When his spirit leaves him, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts and plans perish” (Psalm 146:4, Amplified Bible).
It seems that most true believers interpret the text at 2nd Corinthians 5:8 and Philippians 1:23 to mean that immediately after death we will leave our bodies and be with Christ: “…absent from the body and… at home with the Lord”; “having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.”
In 1st Corinthians 15:35 the question is asked: “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” In reply Paul explains: “So… is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body” (vs. 42-44; also consider Philippians 3:20, 21). After the resurrection of the dead our bodies will be imperishable and spiritual. They will be dramatically transformed to be like Christ’s body of glory.
In 2nd Corinthians 12:2-4 we read a unique account where Paul was caught up to the “third heaven”—”Paradise”. Paul writes: “…whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows.” Some may suggest this was a near-death experience.
A singular context for an after-death experience is found in 1st Samuel 28:7-20 where Saul uses a medium to draw Samuel up “out of the earth”. “Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?'”
There are other contexts in Scripture where individuals did not die but were taken directly into God’s presence. In Genesis 5:24 we read: “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him”; “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God” (Hebrews 11:5).
In 2nd Kings 2:11 we learn that “Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” Elijah appeared with Moses to Peter, James and John when Christ led them up a high mountain and was transfigured before them (see Matthew 17:1-13).
In Luke 23:43, despite His dreadful suffering, Jesus told the criminal being crucified, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Although their bodies existed after their death, the crucified criminal was taken that very day to be with Christ in Paradise. He didn’t “sleep” awaiting the resurrection. Christ’s body was “raised up on the third day” (Luke 9:22).
If in death we are unaware of anything—we “sleep”—our appearing before Christ in our spiritual bodies will seem instant. But whatever our views may be, we agree that after death those who abide in Him are forever secure:
(Scripture: NASB.)
“Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life [i.e., those who trusted in Christ and serve Him, see John 5:24], those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28, 29); “…there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked” (Acts 24:15); “I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36, 37, NET Bible).
In 1st Thessalonians we are told that those who have died—believers who are “asleep” in Christ—will rise first, then “…we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (read carefully 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18).
These verses of Scripture teach us that believers who have died will be raised at Christ’s return—they are considered to be asleep until that moment. All who are dead will hear His voice. They will be resurrected from sleep (death) to be with Christ for ever. They will be changed.
Those who have trusted in Christ will rise again, even though their bodies have decayed in the grave, or have been utterly destroyed in various ways. Martha’s comment to Jesus reflects this belief: “I know that he [Martha’s brother] will rise again in the resurrection on the last day” (John 11:24).
What are we aware of after we die and before Christ returns? Should we look to Old Testament texts for insight? “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10); “When his spirit leaves him, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts and plans perish” (Psalm 146:4, Amplified Bible).
It seems that most true believers interpret the text at 2nd Corinthians 5:8 and Philippians 1:23 to mean that immediately after death we will leave our bodies and be with Christ: “…absent from the body and… at home with the Lord”; “having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.”
In 1st Corinthians 15:35 the question is asked: “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” In reply Paul explains: “So… is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body” (vs. 42-44; also consider Philippians 3:20, 21). After the resurrection of the dead our bodies will be imperishable and spiritual. They will be dramatically transformed to be like Christ’s body of glory.
In 2nd Corinthians 12:2-4 we read a unique account where Paul was caught up to the “third heaven”—”Paradise”. Paul writes: “…whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows.” Some may suggest this was a near-death experience.
A singular context for an after-death experience is found in 1st Samuel 28:7-20 where Saul uses a medium to draw Samuel up “out of the earth”. “Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?'”
There are other contexts in Scripture where individuals did not die but were taken directly into God’s presence. In Genesis 5:24 we read: “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him”; “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God” (Hebrews 11:5).
In 2nd Kings 2:11 we learn that “Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” Elijah appeared with Moses to Peter, James and John when Christ led them up a high mountain and was transfigured before them (see Matthew 17:1-13).
In Luke 23:43, despite His dreadful suffering, Jesus told the criminal being crucified, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Although their bodies existed after their death, the crucified criminal was taken that very day to be with Christ in Paradise. He didn’t “sleep” awaiting the resurrection. Christ’s body was “raised up on the third day” (Luke 9:22).
If in death we are unaware of anything—we “sleep”—our appearing before Christ in our spiritual bodies will seem instant. But whatever our views may be, we agree that after death those who abide in Him are forever secure:
“Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will 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 imperishable, and we will be changed.
“For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1st Corinthians 15:50-58).
“I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 6:54
John 6:54
(Scripture: NASB.)
