The Bible teaches that when a person dies, their spirit leaves their body and goes to one of two places based on whether they had faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. For believers in Christ, the afterlife begins with their spirit going to heaven to be with God. For those who rejected Christ, their spirit goes to a place of torment called hell. Let’s take a closer look at what the Bible says about each of these destinations.
Heaven
Heaven is the dwelling place of God and the final eternal home for all Christians (John 14:2-3). When a believer dies, their spirit immediately enters into the presence of Christ in heaven (Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23). The apostle Paul said to be absent from the body as a believer is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Once in heaven, there is no more death, pain, sorrow or tears (Revelation 21:4). Heaven is a place of perfect peace, rest, and unmatched joy in the presence of God.
Christians will one day receive new resurrected bodies that are imperishable and immortal (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 50-55). We will no longer struggle with sin and our new bodies will be perfectly suited for life in heaven. Believers will worship God, serve Him, and reign with Him forever (Revelation 22:3-5). There will no longer be any curse from the Fall of mankind. AllFormer things will pass away and God will make all things new (Revelation 21:1-5).
Heaven is also described in the Bible as paradise (Luke 23:43), the Father’s house with many rooms (John 14:2), the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2), and the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1). Regardless of the description, heaven will be a place of breathtaking beauty and eternal blessings beyond imagination (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Hell
Hell is described in Scripture as the final destiny for those who reject Christ as Savior. Jesus spoke about hell more than any other person in the Bible. He repeatedly warned people about the eternal consequences for refusing to follow Him (Matthew 13:42; 25:46). Hell is a literal place of judgment where unbelievers will spend eternity separated from God.
Hell is described as a place of outer darkness, fire, torment, weeping, and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12; 22:13). The pain and suffering there will last forever; there is no escape. The apostle John called it a lake of fire and brimstone where the wicked are tormented day and night forever (Revelation 20:10). Simply put, hell is a place of eternal punishment with no relief or hope.
God does not send people to hell; they choose it for themselves by rejecting Christ (John 3:18). The gospel message is clear that faith in Jesus is the only way to heaven. Those who deny this free gift of salvation choose to remain under condemnation and the wrath of God (John 3:36). The souls in hell are there because they refused God’s provision for their sin through His Son.
Purgatory
The concept of purgatory is prominent in the Catholic tradition but finds no biblical support. Purgatory is thought to be a place where people’s souls go after death until they are sufficiently purified from sin to enter heaven. While the Bible speaks clearly about heaven and hell, purgatory is never mentioned in Scripture.
The idea of purgatory denies the sufficiency of Christ’s atoning work on the cross. Jesus made purification for sins once and for all, completely and perfectly (Hebrews 1:3; 10:10-14). There is no need for further purification after death. The blood of Jesus cleanses all who trust in Him from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7-9).
Soul Sleep
Another unbiblical idea related to the afterlife is soul sleep. This view claims that after death, a person’s soul goes into an unconscious sleep until the day of resurrection and final judgment. However, this directly contradicts what Jesus and the apostles taught about the intermediate state between death and resurrection.
After death, the soul lives on in a conscious state, not in unconscious sleep. The apostle Paul spoke of the desire “to depart and be with Christ” after death (Philippians 1:23). He taught being apart from the body meant being home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). The martyrs in Revelation directly petition God from beyond the grave, disproving soul sleep (Revelation 6:9-11). Jesus also promised the thief on the cross they would be together immediately after death (Luke 23:43). These passages rule out any notion of soul sleep.
Ghosts and Spiritism
Another common question relates to ghosts. Some claim ghosts provide proof of life after death, or that deceased loved ones linger on earth instead of entering the afterlife. However, the Bible nowhere supports the idea of deceased people remaining on earth as spirits. In fact, Scripture condemns attempts to contact the dead or interact with the spirit world.
Passages like Luke 16 and Revelation 6 reveal a conscious afterlife awaiting all people immediately after death. Hebrews 9:27 says it is appointed for people to die once and then face judgment. There are no second chances or remaining on earth. Those who try to contact the dead are actually mingling with deceitful spirits (1 Timothy 4:1). The Bible forbids spiritism, sorcery, witchcraft, and other occult practices as dangerous demonic deceptions (Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Galatians 5:19-21).
Reincarnation and Heaven
Reincarnation is the belief that the soul lives on in a succession of different bodies after death. It claims people are reborn continually into new earthly lives to work off karmic debt until they reach a state of perfection. Some advocate reincarnation as an alternative to heaven and hell.
However, reincarnation directly contradicts what the Bible says about the afterlife. Hebrews 9:27 declares people only die once before facing judgment. There are no second chances or return trips. Jesus debunked reincarnation by saying no one has ascended to heaven except the One who descended from heaven (John 3:13). Elijah could not have been a reincarnation of John the Baptist, as some claimed (Matthew 11:13-14). Scripture allows no place for reincarnation.
Near-Death Experiences
Some people claim to have glimpsed heaven during near-death experiences. They describe experiences of peace, light, and seeing departed loved ones. Advocates portray these as valid experiences of the afterlife. However, Scripture alone provides authoritative revelations about heaven, hell and the afterlife. Near-death experiences do not override or expand upon biblical teachings.
Near-death experiences are highly subjective and inconsistent. Not everyone reports blissful or positive experiences. Any insights gained from near-death experiences must be carefully analyzed in light of Scripture. The apostle Paul noted a man (likely himself) who was caught up to the third heaven and paradise, but could not tell if it was a bodily vision or out-of-body experience (2 Corinthians 12:1-3). Near-death experiences may provide limited insights but the Bible remains our only safe, perfect guide to the afterlife.
The Destinations are Eternal
One clear theme throughout the Bible is that the destinations after death are eternal. Jesus declared the wicked will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life (Matthew 25:46). Daniel spoke of some arising to everlasting life while others endure everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2). Scripture allows no opportunity to change locations or receive a temporary visit. The choices made in this life determine our eternal destination.
For believers, heaven awaits as an eternal inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade (1 Peter 1:4). For unbelievers, hell signifies eternal separation from God’s presence but also his mercy. The decisions in this life echo in eternity. This makes one’s beliefs about the afterlife tremendously significant. No resource can match Scripture for providing reliable insights into the reality awaiting on the other side of death.
The Resurrection of the Dead
The Bible teaches that in addition to the souls/spirits of people living on, there will also be a future physical resurrection of the dead when Christ returns. According to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, at the Second Coming, the souls of believers who have died will be reunited with their resurrected bodies. There will be a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells and God reigns (2 Peter 3:13).
For believers, this resurrection to new life completes the redemption of the whole person. Paul described this future resurrection as a victory over sin and death when the perishable becomes imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:51-58). However, unbelievers will also be resurrected to face judgment before being cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). Eternal joy or condemnation awaits all people in the bodily resurrection that Scripture promises.
The Intermediate Heaven
Based on the full biblical witness, there appears to be an intermediate heaven where believer’s souls dwell after death, followed by a final eternal state of the new heaven and new earth once Christ returns. Both of these represent the ongoing place of blessing for Christians.
Some key insights about heaven help provide assurance for believers facing death. Heaven will mean the end of all suffering, pain, tears, and death (Revelation 21:4). Believers will have glorious resurrection bodies free from the curse of sin (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). And God’s people will enjoy eternal fellowship with Him, unhindered by the effects of the Fall (Revelation 22:3-5). What a glorious eternal home awaits all who have been reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ!
The Urgency of the Gospel
The reality of eternal destinies after death urgently motivates Christians to share the gospel while there is still time. Evangelism and missions should flow out of godly love for those who face eternal condemnation. The doctrine of heaven and hell provides a wake-up call to reach the lost before it is too late.
Believers can have full assurance of eternal life with God in heaven, solely by trusting in Jesus Christ’s atoning work as Savior (John 3:16; 6:40; 10:27-28). This glorious biblical truth provides strong comfort and courage to face death. Eternal life in heaven awaits all who respond in repentance and faith to the gospel. There is no greater hope or security than what Christ provides.
