What happens to our body when we die?

When my brother passed away suddenly last year, another brother asked, "Ok. Where does a body go when they die?"

Great question. In fact, a question that a lot of Christians struggle with - except to say - "They are in heaven now with 'fill-in-the-blank' (spouse, mom, dad, child).

Is that true? Sort of, but mainly not true. The Scriptures, when studied, clarify those who pass away before the return of Jesus.

TERMS

Let's star with some terms that apply to the question: What happens to our body when we die?

Believer (or Saved) - From an evangelical Christian perspective, to be saved or to be a believer means that a person has entered into a right relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ alone, resulting in forgiveness of sins, new spiritual life, and the assurance of eternal life with Him.

Unbeliever (or Unsaved) - From an evangelical Christian perspective, an unsaved person or an unbeliever is someone who has not yet repented of their sin and placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, and therefore remains spiritually separated from God, still under the penalty of sin, and without the assurance of eternal life in Heaven.

Hades (or Sheol) - In the Bible, Hades is a Greek term that refers to the realm of the dead — the unseen place where the souls of the departed go after death. Its meaning is tied to context, and it does not always mean the same thing as “Hell” in the eternal sense.

Paradise (or Intermediate Heaven) - From a biblical perspective, Paradise — sometimes called the Intermediate Heaven — refers to the temporary dwelling place of the righteous dead between physical death and the final resurrection, where they are consciously present with God, enjoying peace, comfort, and fellowship while awaiting the full restoration of all things in the New Heavens and New Earth.

White Throne Judgment - From an evangelical perspective, the Great White Throne Judgment is the final judgment of all the unsaved dead that takes place after the 1,000-year Millennial Kingdom and just before the creation of the New Heavens and New Earth, as described in Revelation 20:11–15.

1,000-Year Millennial Kingdom - From an evangelical perspective, the Millennial Kingdom is the future, literal 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ on earth following His Second Coming, as described in Revelation 20:1–6.

During this time:

• Christ will rule from Jerusalem in perfect justice and peace.

• Satan will be bound and unable to deceive the nations.

• The resurrected saints will reign with Christ.

• God’s promises to Israel will be fulfilled, and the earth will experience unprecedented righteousness and prosperity.

It is seen as a transitional period between the present age and the eternal state (New Heavens and New Earth), culminating in the final judgment.

Good so far?

Awesome.

Now. Let's break down what happens after death for the two categories describes above (And, yes, there are only two categories).

UNBELIEVER

The unbeliever says 'no' to Jesus during their lifetime, refusing to believe that Jesus was Savior (read Romans 10:9-10).

Therefore their body at the time of death stays where it is placed (i.e. - cremated or casket burial), and their soul goes to Hades. The best way to truly understand this concept is by reading Luke, Chapter 16 - the story of the Rich man and Lazarus.

The body remains where it was laid until the White Throne Judgment at the end of the 1,000-Year Millennial reign of Jesus here on earth.

Sadly, at that time, the body will be reunited with the soul an the unbeliever will stand before the White Throne and be judged to eternal damnation (also called Hell or The Lake of Fire).

See the diagram at the top of the post.

BELIEVER

The believer says 'yes' to Jesus during their lifetime, believing that Jesus is Savior (read Romans 10:9-10).

Therefore their body at the time of death stays where it is placed (i.e. - cremated or casket burial), and their soul goes to Paradise. The best way to truly understand this concept is by reading Luke, Chapter 23 the story of the two thieves on the cross beside Jesus.

The body remains where it until the rapture (catching up), having been summoned by Jesus to meet in the clouds. This is evidenced by 1 Thessalonians 4 - Paul's instructions about believers who have died.

Joyfully, at that time, the body will be reunited with the soul , being awarded with a new resurrected body. Believers will reside with Jesus all through the 7-Year Tribulation Period, the 1,000-Year Millennial reign of Jesus here on earth, and straight into eternity!

See the diagram at the top of the post.

I chose to list the post under the Category of Revelation - because the question of what happens after we pass from this death is a quintessential cornerstone to understanding the Book of Revelation.

Answering this question, also provides an urgency for sharing the Gospel of Jesus. None of us want our family members, friends, neighbors, or co-workers to experience what happens after they die if they don't believe in Jesus.