What Happens When We Die?
When someone dies, the Bible compares it to falling asleep. They’re not aware of anything until Jesus comes back and wakes them up through the resurrection. Nobody is in heaven or anywhere else yet, waiting.
Frequently asked questions
Do we go straight to heaven or hell?
Not right away. The Bible ties any reward or consequence to Jesus' return and the resurrection, not to the moment someone dies.
Bible references
Ecclesiastes 9:5Show verseHide verse
5For the living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten.
Read it on Bible Gateway1 Thessalonians 4:16Show verseHide verse
16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first,
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World English Bible (public domain)