Death is an experience common to all human beings. But what is the significance of death in the Bible’s story of salvation? And what happens when a person dies?
Death
All organisms die. But human beings have the unique ability to be aware of their path toward death and to reflect upon it. While death is inescapable (Psalm 89:48), our personal existence does not end with death. In fact, the decisions people make in this life will govern their future condition eternally. This calls for care and diligence.
Death is an enemy (Hebrews 2:14-15). It was not part of God’s original good creation. Death first entered the world because of sin (Romans 5:12). But death has been overcome and made captive by God (2 Timothy 1:10) through the resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:21-22). Yet God’s final victory over death lies in the future (1 Corinthians 15:26; Revelation 20:14). Believers will still die, unless we are present when Christ returns (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). But death does not need to be feared. It can be faced with peace, knowing that it ushers us into the presence of Christ (Philippians 1:23).
The Intermediate State
Upon death, a person’s physical life ends, but his or her personal life persists in a conscious state until resurrection – when Christ returns (Philippians 1:20-24). When believers die, their souls are immediately present with Christ (Luke 23:42-43; Philippians 1:23). What happens to unbelievers after death and before the final judgment is more obscure. The book of Revelation envisions Hades (sometimes translated as “the grave”) as the waiting place for the dead (Revelation 1:8; Revelation 6:8). Most likely unbelievers are immediately separated from God at death until delivered up to their final judgment (Revelation 20:13-14). The Bible denies that there is any second chance to trust in Christ after death (Hebrews 9:27).
Glorification
The final stage in the process of salvation is glorification (Romans 8:29-31). Glory belongs to God. It refers to the greatness of his entire nature: his splendor (1 Timothy 6:15-16), magnificence (Psalm 104:1-2) and fame (Luke 2:13-14). Jesus reveals the glory (John 1:14) which he received from the Father (1 Peter 1:21). When he returns, his glory will be revealed to everyone (Titus 2:13). At that time, all believers will be glorified with Christ (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). We will receive a glory that is not native to us, but imparted to us by virtue of our union with him. This glory consists of three aspects.
- We will participate in heavenly glory that contrasts with the trials of this life (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17).
- Our souls will be glorified. Christ-followers will experience a moral and spiritual perfecting as sin is fully and finally removed. In other words, we will be made like Christ (1 John 3:2).
- Our bodies will be glorified. When Jesus returns, our limited, mortal bodies will be transformed to be like his (Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5) – from perishable to incorruptible, dishonorable to glorious, weak to powerful (1 Corinthians 15:38-50).
Heaven
After the final judgment, every human being will be resurrected into an immortal body (Acts 24:15) and consigned to one of two eternal fates (John 5:28-29), which we know as heaven and hell .
Heaven is the abode of God (Matthew 6:9) and the eternal dwelling place of all believers. Because this life is transitory (1 Peter 1:24), the Christian’s hope lies in the heavenly inheritance preserved for us (1 Peter 1:3-5; Colossians 1:5). Our challenge is to live our lives in this world in light of this eternal reality (Matthew 6:19-20; Matthew 25:14-30).
The most important feature of heaven is the presence of God (Revelation 21:3). The joy of heaven is not merely an amplification of the pleasures of this life. The believer’s primary joy will be the presence of the Lord.
Heaven is also marked by the renewal of creation (Revelation 21:1-2). Creation came under a curse due to human sin, but will be restored in eternity (Romans 8:19-21). Heaven will be established on this earth (Revelation 21:10-12), and will mirror the original creation in Eden (Revelation 22:2-3). In heaven, creation comes full circle and is fully restored.
In heaven, believers will have perfect knowledge, in particular, of God and Jesus (1 Corinthians 13:9-12). All things related to the world’s fallen order will pass away, including death, mourning and pain (Revelation 21:4). Sin, evil, and the devil will be absent (Revelation 21:27).
Heaven will be a place of great glory and beauty. The heavenly city is described in terms of pure gold and brilliant jewels (Revelation 21:18-21), metaphors of incredible splendor. There will be no need for the sun, since “the glory of God illuminates the city” (Revelation 21:23).
The Bible reveals very little about what life in heaven is like for the redeemed. We do know three things. First, it will include rest (Hebrews 4:9-11). The Christian’s pilgrimage will be complete. Our warfare against the world, the flesh and the devil will be over. Second, we will worship together with the angelic beings around God’s throne (Revelation 19:1-4). Third, since heaven restores the original creation, it may be that our activity in heaven will fulfill the original mandate given to humanity in Genesis 1:26. We will have eternity to fully subdue and draw forth the latent potential from God’s good creation.
Hell
The New Testament describes hell as a place of divine punishment, retribution and vengeance on sinners (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). Jesus himself speaks of eternal fire (Matthew 25:41), outer darkness (Matthew 8:12) and eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46). The Bible also speaks of unending torment (Revelation 14:10-11) in a bottomless abyss (Revelation 9:1-2) or fiery lake. Called the “second death” (Revelation 21:8), this is an experience of eternal destruction and final exclusion from God’s presence (2 Thessalonians 1:9). (When we speak of hell as separation from God, remember that God is omnipresent. God is present in hell, but only to punish and not to bless.)
If hell is parallel to heaven, it must be both a physical place and a condition. A physical place is required by the resurrected bodies of the condemned. But many of the biblical descriptions of hell – such as burning sulfur (Revelation 9:17-18) and undying maggots (Mark 9:48) – seem to be word pictures of torment for those under judgment for their sins. Even in a place of physical suffering, the greatest torment may be the awful loneliness of total and final separation from God’s grace.
Both heaven and hell contain varying degrees of reward (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; Matthew 16:27) and punishment (Matthew 10:15; Hebrews 10:29).
The reality of the future, eternal states of humanity gives us great hope when faced with adversity in this life, yet impels us to have deep compassion for people who do not know Christ.
