What Happens After Death?

What Happens After Death?

What really happens at death? Where can we go for trustworthy answers? Only the Creator of life can reveal life’s purpose and the state of the dead. By looking into the Bible for answers, we can learn about both life and death.

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Look at what God says about life and death in His inspired Word, the Bible. You may be both surprised and challenged as you discover the truth about what happens after death!

This guide explores:

  • Real answers to questions like: Is death the end of human existence and consciousness? Do we go to a place of everlasting reward or eternal torment? Are we destined to be reincarnated? Will we ever see deceased loved ones again?
  • See what the Bible says will happen to those who have done right (will they go to heaven?) and wrong (or be tormented in an ever-burning hell?). 
  • Discover the fate of the billions of people who have never known God or His way of life.

Understanding the meaning of life, death and what follows this physical life can give priceless comfort and hope in the face of death. Read the guide to get a detailed look at what the Scriptures really say.

Table of Contents

A gravestone and flowers.

Introduction: What Happens After Death?

3 minutes
Life is precious to us. We don’t want to die. But what really happens to us after death? Scientists, philosophers and even theologians don’t agree...
An open Bible.

The Wondrous Gift of Life

5 minutes
To understand death, we must first consider life. Where did life come from? Why are we here? What is our purpose? Are human beings any different from...
A woman sleeping in a bed.

The Mystery of Death

14 minutes
Death is one of life’s greatest mysteries. Do we really die, or do we have a soul that lives on apart from the body? Many are confused about this, and...
An open Bible on a metal stool.

Do Some Bible Verses Teach That We Have an Immortal Soul?

4 minutes
Some believe that various scriptures support belief in an immortal soul. Let's consider some of these passages and understand what they really say.
Plato (428-348 B.C.), the Greek philosopher and student of Socrates.

The History of the Immortal-Soul Teaching

2 minutes
Despite widespread use of the phrase immortal soul, this terminology is found nowhere in the Bible. Where did the idea of an immortal soul originate?
A woman's sad face.

Words of Encouragement

2 minutes
Adjusting to the loss and loneliness caused by death takes time, we need to remember that even this most extreme experience does not separate us or...
Photo illustration of a crown of thorns, old nails, hammer and wood beam.

God's Plan of Redemption

3 minutes
The temporary existence that ends in death is not God's original purpose for mankind.
Photo illustration of bright light above the earth.

The Promise of Life After Death

12 minutes
God’s Word provides assurance of life after death—though not in a heavenly afterlife as thought by so many! God promises that life will return through...
The Egyptian god Osiris statue.

Ancient Pagan Belief in Heaven

3 minutes
The idea that souls go to heaven at death originated in pagan religion, not the Bible.
A Bible opened to the book of Philippians

Did Paul Expect to Be Conscious in Heaven Right After Dying?

4 minutes
Many have assumed from Paul's words here that he believed that at the moment of his death his consciousness would leave his body to join Christ in...
Bible open to the book of Revelation,

Are There Saved Human Beings in Heaven?

3 minutes
Have any human beings ever ascended to heaven?
A young child laying in bed with a mother and doctor in the background.

How Eternal Life Will Ultimately Be Offered to All

26 minutes
What happens to those who, simply because of when and where they were born, never had an opportunity to hear of Jesus Christ and God's Word? Are they...
A Bible laying on a table.

The Biblical View of 'Hell'

5 minutes
Is eternity in an ever-burning inferno the fate of the wicked? Many assume that it is, but is that what the Bible says?
An open Bible on a table.

Will the Torment of the Wicked Last Forever?

3 minutes
Rather than describing eternal torment of people in hell, from the context we see that this passage is actually describing specific events to take...
A woman holding an opened Bible.

Are the Wicked Punished in an Ever-Burning Hell?

2 minutes
Did Jesus here warn of unending suffering in hellfire?
A fire flame.

Are Some Tortured Forever in a Lake of Fire?

2 minutes
Any human being thrown into the lake of fire will be destroyed and will not be tormented for eternity.
A Bible laying on a table.

Lazarus and the Rich Man: Proof of Heaven and Hell?

6 minutes
Many interpret one of Jesus' parables to mean that people have immortal souls that go to heaven or hell immediately at death. But does this parable...
A woman hugging a grieving woman.

Steps in Dealing With Grief

10 minutes
We all have to cope with the loss caused by death. How can we deal with our grief and help others who are grieving? Understanding what the Bible...
Two women sitting together on a couch crying.

How Can We Help Those Who Are Grieving?

2 minutes
Here are a few practical ways we can help friends and loved ones who are grieving.
A man sitting looking at the stars.

Everlasting Life Conquers Death

8 minutes
Through a resurrection of the dead, God promises to reunite us with loved ones and offer eternal life to all. Eventually God’s plan will lead to death...

What About Reported Life-After-Death Experiences?

2 minutes
Are life-after-death experiences possible?