What happens after death? Do we immediately arrive at our eternal destinations? - Podcast Episode 87

Is there life after death? What does the Bible say happens to us after we die? Is there some sort of intermediate state? What about soul sleep? Are we immediately sent to heaven or hell after death?
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Disclaimer: The views expressed by guests on our podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of Got Questions Ministries. Us having a guest on our podcast should not be interpreted as an endorsement of everything the individual says on the show or has ever said elsewhere. Please use biblically-informed discernment in evaluating what is said on our podcast.

[@PhillyGirlLivefromthe215]

JESUS is the way, the truth and the life! There is no other way, but through JESUS 🙏🏾 thank you JESUS!

[@herryblackstudio]

🙏🙏❤️💐🙏🙏

[@goattygoat9489]

Hallelujah!!!

[@rosannadalbarry1508]

@@herryblackstudio a! Nhi vet cat zee

[@caroltiller5116]

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Nothing to worry about. God is in control.

[@Over-for-now]

I WILL be with Jesus at death because of the Wonderful FINISHED work of our Lord Jesus Christ

[@janejude]

Jesus, the Key - to life! Amen. It is not receiving Heaven or the place of bliss, it is receiving Christ in His fullness! He IS Heaven. God Himself. Amen

[@ryanhart3159]

Amen 🙏🙏🙏

[@antoninocannizzo4905]

Amen!!!

[@danielb.1567]

One thing to add to clear up any confusion. The other side of Sheol formerly known as Abraham's Bosom has been vacant since Jesus Christ led the saints within it to heaven after His resurrection. The Bible says it is better to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Well, the Lord is not in Sheol. He is sitting at the Right hand of the Father in Heaven. And there, my friends, is where we will be also after death until Christ returns and makes everything new.

[@croppedndocked146]

Yes, you got it.

[@TheProf777]

Exactly!!

[@eLLBdotmusic]

Great point! Jesus is not in the bosom of Abraham aka Sheol.

[@davidhorton7099]

God gives us a Spirit when we are Born, and that Spirit Returns to God when we Die, If we accept, and Believe in Christ. At Death believers are Face to Face with Christ.

[@zommellemmoz3999]

I listened a lot to Russ Dizdar who unfortunately passed away. One of his favourite quotes was "absent from the body present with the Lord"". Thanks for the work Got Questions do - it has helped me plenty. God bless.

[@andreareynolds909]

Just lost my fiancé/child's father suddenly 4-3-22. He was getting into the Bible more in the last year.

[@danielb.1567]

I am so sorry to hear that Andrea. I trust that he made a confession of faith sometime before his untimely death. I also pray that the Lord lifts you up and those around you, along with the presence of the Lord comforts you. Please use this time to get close to God by reading the Scriptures and attending a Christ-centered, Bible-believing church. God bless you

[@FDCLDN]

Did he get the vaccine?

[@jwright6341]

@Íssãç K Jesus will be your strength my brother. God bless

[@FDCLDN]

@@MidnightHero64 I did not ask you.

[@keendeesjarlais3636]

@@FDCLDN read about what Martin Luther said about medicines to fight pandemics

[@tasospapanastasiou4240]

Jesus is the light for all humanity! For only through Jesus can we be saved! I love you Jesus with all my heart and soul! Nothing will take me away from Jesus my lord! Have no fear of death for our destiny is to be with Jesus! God is watching and knows all things! Blessed are those who truly believe in Jesus our lord and saviour! God bless you guys for believing! Amen

[@waynechristopher3478]

Lord blessings to all

[@JesusAlleineRettet]

Sometimes I get anxiety thinking about the grave, the casket being down in the ground entombed even as a reborn Christian. I know it’s a fear coming from the flesh. I mostly get this anxiety at night.

[@timi8704]

Awh. I sympathise with you. Take it to the LORD in prayer. You are absolutely correct: the scriptures says that there is no fear in love so this isn’t from the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. What are you scared off exactly? Perhaps your fear could be a red herring that’s masquerading another issue? For example, could it be a faith issue?

[@ernestojr.cmartinez3578]

We will live again

[@25ayda]

I want to know if it’s written in the Bible that as soon as we died are we going straight to heaven to be with the Lord Jesus, or to hell or wait till Jesus judgement .

[@elijahdelossantos7853]

@@25aydaHebrews 9:27

[@dolladebruin]

Amen. Agree on all discussed. Thank you for the lay out and talking about it. Love in Christ From Pretoria South Africa Naomi de Bruin

[@Angie-AFB]

I am so thankful for these podcasts! You three are doing a great job, thank you for the edification and understanding, regularly watching.

[@waynechristopher3478]

Lots of scripture but he will let us know what we need to know. We need to concentrate on him until the day we pass.

[@Angelalex242]

There is more to it then simply believing or calling on the name of Jesus. Grace alone, faith alone. However, those who are born again will show it with their lives. Also, those good things you do matter at the judgment seat of Christ, where he fashions your eternal reward out of whatever you did to serve his kingdom.

[@Edward-yc5nc]

You don't say a whole heck of a lot. This is wisdom

[@Bibleprophecy192]

We have to study God's Word to Avoid Deception in this Last Days

[@AdrianReyes-jy9fc]

To be absent with body is too be present with the Lord

[@61Insane]

Hebrews 9:27 MKJV And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment, Also Luke 16:19-31 confirms this: This tells us that the moment of death we are either in bliss or torment, there is no soul sleep or time lapse. But when you see this, some people take it out of context: 1 Corinthians 15:51 MKJV Behold, I speak a mystery to you; we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed; BUT if you continue to verse 52: in a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet. For a trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed...... Here it tells us that the change will take place at the last trumpet. So when we die physical death our soul goes to "heaven or hell" as most think of it, but only until the last trumpet when: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 MKJV For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord......... Here it tells us that first the dead in Christ will rise = this means our souls will be reunited with the physical body from the grave but changed and incorruptible. And those that do not "sleep" will be changed in the moment, and all of us meet Christ in a changed body to dwell on earth again. New earth. This is AFTER the 1000 year reign = Revelation 20:10-15 MKJV And the Devil who deceived them was cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet were . And he will be tormented day and night forever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and Him sitting on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And a place was not found for them. And I saw the dead, the small and the great, stand before God. And books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead in it. And death and hell delivered up the dead in them. And each one of them was judged according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire.....To me this is cut and dry = at death you will know where eternity will be spent. There is no wait or second chance, this is final. The rest are details but nothing will change for your outcome. My wife died over a year ago holding my hand when she took her last breath from cancer. I knew before she parted that this moment was judgement. No one escapes physical death, exceptions another story, and the moment you go you appear in your eternity situation. I hope this helps someone as well. Find Christ now. End Times are coming but you know not when YOUR end time will be. Proverbs 27:1 ERV Never brag about what you will do in the future; you have no idea what tomorrow will bring.

[@rachellay3922]

Amen

[@leonoraalcoy5718]

Amen.

[@parler8698]

Thank God

[@chukwukaigboaka4619]

The book of Daniel in the old testament is helpful

[@georgeforyan113]

There are some questions I would like answers for that many do not say. That is....Why does the Rich Man call Abraham father and Abraham calls the Rich Man son? Why does the Rich man ask Abraham for Lazarus to do favors for him (dip the finger in water, go tell my brothers)? Why the significants of 5 brothers ( why not 3, 8, or 10)? As the Rich Man and Abraham carry on conversations, why doesn't Lazarus say anything? When the Rich Man dies, he is conscious in torment, but Lazarus is taken by angels body, soul and spirit to a place of comfort. Do sick and deseased homeless people on the street of today just disappear from view becausee angels have taken them body, soul and spirit? Does that really happen? What does Abrahams bosom really mean? Is it Paradise, heaven or something else? What are your answers to these?

[@bevkern3858]

Yes they are

[@joymahiko]

"To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord". Jesus told the man being crucified alongside him:"TODAY you shall be with Me in paradise". Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus, that both died, and "Lazarus was in the bosom of Abraham, while the rich man awoke in flames" without any indication of a waiting period. Paul stated "To depart and to be with Christ is far better". Just before Stephen died from nartyrdom he said, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit".

[@denisethomson7685]

Yes I am

[@leonoraalcoy5718]

True. Jesus come to save Us. 1John 5:11-13 and this is the Testimony God has given us eternal Life and this Life is in the Son. he who has the Son of God has Life, he who does not the Son of GOD does not have Life. I write this things to you that you May know that you have eternal Life. Amen.🙏 Thank you JESUS for saving-grace. Amen.

[@alanparr4217]

Brian from family guy has the answer: well nothing, that's it: LIGHTS OUT!

[@chriscross2866]

I met someone who didn’t believe in going to church. He thought that you could praise god anywhere. I’m assuming he believed but he wasn’t saved. He passed away recently and I’m not perfect but I wonder if he is suffering or if he is heaven.? Can someone help me answer this?

[@shilohmjh7628]

After the death of Christ, He led those in Abraham’s Bosom to Heaven.

[@davidslone9776]

When you are put to sleep for surgery, what do you experience? You are unconscious for an extended period of time. Time passes, yet you are unware of it. You are put to sleep, and hours later you come out of it. Yet, to you, and from your perspective, no time has passed at all. For those, awake in the waiting room, however, hours have simply dragged by. But to you, no time has elapsed at all. The point is, if one is unconscious, physical time passes, and you are unaware of it. At our death, and in the next few seconds (from your perspective), you are rising in the first resurrection, at Messiah Jesus' command. This is not what most of the main stream churches, or seminaries, teach, and most of you won't believe it, because you have not studied this for yourself, but have taken that belief, as being true, ever since you were a child. The question of where you go, after death, or what you believe to be correct, has no bearing on how to be saved. If you have accepted Messiah Jesus as Lord and Savior, then what happens to you, after you die, is nothing to be concerned about, and you will be taken care of. What will happen, will happen, whether we believe a certain way or not. Salvation is the important thing, and how, and what to do, and believe, and accept, to accomplish that. Any other topic is just for argument's sake, and means little. We might as well discuss if Adam and Eve had a navel. It doesn't really matter. Belief in, and on, and obedience to, Messiah Jesus, is the only important thing we need. The rest will take care if itself, including what happens after we die.

[@richardleetbluesharmonicac7192]

I was put into a coma, and was in heaven and hell. You do not die you wake right back up in your same life, but much better because there are endless versions of your life running concurrently right now.

[@wernorse]

If the “spirit” is sent to Hades (paradise or separation from God) immediately after death … what would be the point to the day of judgement? It appears judgement has already been handed out in a sense.

[@ChrissyGotTheCoils]

The Lord's Day of judgement is the second death. You can further study this in Revelation.

[@davejordan1458]

Soul sleep is the correct biblical understanding. The resurrection makes no sense if the dead are not really unconscious in the common grave of mankind. Shame on all 3 of you with your comments.

[@Methus150]

There's no soul sleep. This isn't biblical and your soul is Nephesh your physical body your Ruach is your spirit.

[@JLethal-oe8lj]

10:25 you said there NO purgatory, but you just described what purgatory is!!!! Catholic Faith is the True Religion!

[@yeshuagl6282]

Based on the New Testament - collection of books with unknown authors, that are copies of copies of copies documents that no longer exist. Wow, what a source of claims about supernaturals!

[@andrewstidham7950]

I go to prepare a place for you and if I go I will come again that where I am there you may be also... Jesus has the keys of death hell and the grave. Oh death where is thy sting oh grave is thy victory. Of course there is life after death only in God's son for he is LIFE! but without him is only death separated from God in the darkness of hell that Is the reason he was sent to save us from that. hell is just that HELL it was prepared for the devil and his angels never intended for us. But that's what Adam and Eve did to ALL humanity in the garden being deceived by the serpent the DEVIL! which is his soul purpose the ruin of ALL he can ruin. Cause he hates us and our creator. So get the Lord in your heart and be ready to meet him. Cause we WILL meet him at our end or at thee END!

[@theIAMwithin]

Only pure evil would torture is creation (child) eternaly.

[@casualgamer542]

Job 14:12: So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. Scripture tells us that in death there is no remembrance (Ps 6:5), that we go into silence (Ps 115:17), our thoughts perish (Ps 146:4), the dead know nothing (Eccl 9:5), and that there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave (Eccl 9:10). The dead are in the grave awaiting resurrection (1 Thess 4:15-16), waiting for our blessed hope (Titus 2:13), what we will be has not yet appeared (1 John 3:2), and when Christ appears then we will appear with him in glory (Col 3:3-4). No man has ascended up to heaven but Christ (John 3:13), not even David who is still in his grave (Acts 2:29, 2:34). He has gone to prepare a place for us and when he comes again he will take us to himself (John 14:3). No eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor the heart of man imagined what God has prepared (1 Cor 2:9). Instead, those who die are metaphorically asleep (dead) in the grave awaiting resurrection (1 Thess 4:15-16). The majority of clear teaching on death is one of unconscious metaphorical "sleep". Since the Bible doesn’t contradict itself we must ask how to harmonize and understand scripture as a whole. Jesus even said that his friend Lazarus and the girl he brought back to life were both asleep even though they were dead. Jesus was consistent with the teachings from the Old Testament. The dead are all in their graves awaiting Christ’s second coming! Titus 2:13: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

[@GroguSlayer69]

Basing the argument on parabole of Jesus that was meanted to teach a moral lesson, not to teach what happen after death. Time and time its described that after death we sleep, that's it, no heaven no hell until judgement my friends.

[@raffaelegibellini667]

Absent from the body present with the Lord does not say Absent from the body and we sleep. Read the Bible

[@WatchfulWolf]

@@raffaelegibellini667 you will be asleep and unconscious as your next conscious thought is judgement. God will hold onto your soul until then, this is biblical. The parable from Jesus about Lazarus was only a metaphorical moral lesson for the people he was speaking to

[@raffaelegibellini667]

@@WatchfulWolf keep reading the Bible

[@WatchfulWolf]

@@raffaelegibellini667 I always do, and I think you need to better learn this topic

[@ernestsylvester5659]

@@WatchfulWolf you're right

[@ExtremePacifist]

I agree with you the body , at death, stays here, and the soul goes away from the body, but since Heaven as described in Revelation is not happening yet, only The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Angels are in that place. When John saw those things in Heaven, he was taken into the future, so all references to Heaven and what is happening there, have not taken place yet, so the Bible is silent on what is happening in Heaven right now. Jesus told the thief on the cross: today you will be with me in Paradise, the same place Lazarus was in Abraham’s bosom, and the rich man was in hell. So Paradise is not the same place as Heaven described in Revelation, nor is hell the same place called the Lake of Fire. The timing of the two judgments: the Bema Seat judgment of Christ either at the time of one’s death or after the Rapture, is before the Millennial Reign and the Great White Throne judgment is after the Thousand years have past at the end of the Millennial Reign, but in Revelation and In Daniel these events are mentioned together as it is mentioned in other places in the Bible. This issue is not a salvation issue so we should be free to discuss it without dividing the body of Christ or letting it take away from our fellowship together or distract us from growing in our faith and fulfilling the Great commission: sharing the gospel of Christ Jesus. Here are some verses that connect the dots. I welcome your thoughts and interpretations of God’s Word and Will. Peace and blessings to you, in the name of Christ Jesus we pray: Amen. Luke 16:22-23 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Matthew 10:28 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Revelation 20:11-15 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Daniel 7:9-14 9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. 13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Daniel 12:1-2 12 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

[@johndixonkingdom]

Answer: JESUS CHRIST 🥳🥳🥳

[@ExtremePacifist]

Most Christian teachers support and promote the concept that when we die we go to heaven in the presence of our Heavenly Father and our Lord Christ Jesus, based on the one verse: "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord", and they critically dismiss the concept of "soul sleep". Jesus is called the first of the resurrected, and we will all be resurrected at the rapture when we go to the judgment Seat of Christ or Bema Seat Judgment, then we go to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, then we return with Jesus to Earth for the Millennium reign. If every true believer in Christ Jesus is instantly with Him in heaven at the time of their death, where do they stand sit or kneel, and do they have bodies with eyes to see and ears to hear and a brain to think and a mind to be conscious? What does that look like? Can you give any scriptures to support your interpretation and concepts? Thank you and be blessed and stay strong in the faith. Peace and Maranatha.

[@slyfoxxsr.941]

In case of starvation eat this video because it is full of Bologna

[@caroltiller5116]

I believe we are in some kind of sleep until the rapture and the dead in Christ will rise to meet Jesus in the air. Personally I’m not worried about how it happens.

[@Methus150]

There is no sleep this isn't biblical Carol. It's not about what you believe it's about what is truth.

[@jlmadd]

Tired of liars. Nobody knows

[@paulnavarro3822]

The Scriptures tell us that when we die, we "return to dust". Nowhere are we told that a so called "spirit" or "soul" or "ghost" leaves our body and "goes" somewhere. In other words, when we die we are dead and NOT ALIVE anywhere. (The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus is a Figure of Speech, a Teaching Parable, about Mercy and No Mercy and their final consequences, reward) All people whi died in scripture "returned to dust" and "knew nothing" or were NOT CONCIOUS NOR ALIVE in any way, shape, or form. They are ALL still quite DEAD, on Earth, and not in Heaven nor supposedly "alive" in some underground facility called Hell. The only one who is ALIVE after having been killed and buried for three days and three nights is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the ONKY Human alive after having been dead because God RAISED him from the dead, even unto immortality. We, believers in Christ, are promised Eternal Life, not when we die, but when the Lord RETURNS, even as the Apostle Paul tells us. If we die before he RETURNS we will remain in our Graves, returning to DUST until the Trump shall sound. The idea of having a transmigrating "soul" or "spirit" which NEVER DIES is an Ancient Egyptian Religious Superstition which was not held by the Ancient Hebrew People (unless they were idolaters). The Apostate "Catholic Church" adopted many Pagan concepts. The "immortal", "never dying", "eternal" soul is a Pagan concept. The Scriptures plainly teaches that when your "spirit" or "breath" DIES, you, a Soul, a Body, DIES. A Person is killed when his "breath" is REMOVED. The means of removal varies, but the result is always the same, i.e., Death. Yahweh God put BREATH into a Soul, i.e, Adam, and he became a "LIVING Soul". That BREATH did not make Adam immortal and that BREATH belonged to God and not to Adam. God can take away or "take back" Man's Breath anytime He so desires. So, no Caspar "ghost" resides in a man. Resurrection is the ONLY means by which the dead will regain their BREATH. For thise dead in Christ it will be unto immortality, for the unrighteous, at the end of the Milennial Age, it will be unto mortality and a second death.

[@cdp200442]

What’s always bothers me as a Christian is people suffering for eternity without a end to it. After a few million years suffering torture I believe God should just make a sinner’s soul just cease to exist. I’m not God and I can’t imagine doing that to anyone forever.. so how can the most intelligent being in time and space allow it. Anyone after severe torture should be just let go.. they should be sent back and allowed to do it right or until they become a good soul . Please explain where’s the justice in making any living creature suffer FOREVER? Thank you 🙏🏻

[@sunnyjohnson992]

God is love! (1John 4:8)The teaching of hellfire and eternal torment is NOT a correct Bible teaching! When Adam sinned, God told him his punishment: “Dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19) Romans 6:23 clearly states: “The wages sin pays is death.” Once you die, no further penalty is justified, because “the one who has died has been acquitted from his sin.” (Romans 6:7) Hell, Hades, Sheol is the common grave of mankind.

[@glaze4296]

Yes also in John 3:16 says if we believe we recieve eternal life if not we would PERISH perish is not eternal punishment but to ceased to exist if the lost is punished eternally then both save and lost have eternal life

[@ChrissyGotTheCoils]

Seek God with your questions and study His word. The entire New testament will help you out 💜

[@barbarasharp7288]

The only price we have to pay for entrance into heaven is accepting that no matter how “good” I try to be, it’s not enough. I must admit that I am a sinner, who cannot attain heaven by myself, and believe that Jesus paid the price for my entry with his blood and death on the cross, and repent, or I will not enter heaven without that acceptance. God didn’t make the decision to believe or not , he prepared hell for the fallen angels, and that’s where we will go, too, if we do not accept Jesus fully and repent. We make the decision.

[@blonde789]

There is only nothingness after we croak ….hit the dirt ….absolutely NOTHING

[@razony]

Listen to the near death and past life experiences. More truth in those experiences than anything explained in religion!

[@AnesuElijah]

Amen