Even though we live in a death-denying culture, many are still curious. Many are curious about what it feels like to die. Will it be like what we see in the movies? Will it be like what we read in “Heaven is for Real” and “90 Minutes in Heaven?” What does the Scripture reveal about the afterlife?

We will die!

  • Before the global flood, people were living for hundreds of years. And yet, they still died (Genesis 5:5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 27).
  • The Bible reveals the deaths are many of God’s servants (Genesis 25:8; 35:39; 50:12-26)
  • It is promised that we will die and experience the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
  • Our lives are all relatively short (James 4:14; Job 7:7).
  • We meet the same fate as animals (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20).
  • Moses appeals to God to “teach us to number our days” (Psalm 90:12).

What will happen when we die?

  • We will continue to exist. The rich man and Lazarus both retained identity and consciousness after death (Luke 16:19-23). Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did as well (Matthew 22:31-33). Jesus promised the thief that he would continue in “Paradise” (Luke 23:43). While the physical body dies and decays, the soul within dwells in eternity (Matthew 10:28).
  • We experience separation. Death is a separation of body and soul (James 2:26). Death also brings about a separation of the righteous from the wicked (Matthew 7:13-14; 25:46). The rich man and Lazarus were separated in hades (Luke 16:23-28). Lazarus was taken to a place for comfort, while the rich man was put in a position of torment.
  • Our eternal fates are sealed. There are no second chances to serve God after death! The rich man understood this (Luke 16:27-28). Jesus describes the afterlife as “eternal” (Matthew 25:26). Those who end up in heaven or hell will be there forever.

How will we respond?

  • Will we deny the inevitable? Or, will we begin making preparations for it?
  • Will we live by faith in Christ?
  • Will we view death as a blessing for the Christian (Revelation 14:13)?
  • Will we understand that death as a faithful disciple provides an avenue to be with the Lord (Philippians 1:21-23)?

Conclusion:

Those who live for the One who defeated death do not have to be afraid to die.