What Happens After Death?

Robert Meredith

What happens after death?  This is a subject in which most everyone is interested.  There are many questions that God does not answer concerning the after life, but He tells us all we need to know.  We know death will come, and afterwards we are going to be judged according to the deeds done in our body (Hebrews 9:27; 2 Corinthians 5:10).  In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus reveals for us the account of the Rich man and Lazarus.  This account teaches us much concerning what happens after death.  There is a minor dispute concerning whether this is a true account or a parable.  It really does not matter because a parable teaches truth.  If this is a parable, it is still teaching the lessons that we will notice.  Very likely, this is a true account of an event which took place in the hadean realm.

  Jesus reveals for us that the righteous are comforted and the wicked tormented (Luke 16:22-23).  For faithful Christians there is great comfort in this account; the righteous do not die alone.  Our Lord revealed, “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s

bosom” (v. 22).  Angels are there to accompany the righteous to Paradise.  Jesus also informs us that the wicked will be punished (v. 23).  Furthermore, one can learn from this account that our memories go with us to the after life.  Abraham, Lazarus and the Rich man knew who they were, could communicate, remembered their lives on earth, and their families.

  Another lessons one needs to consider is that one’s personality remains the same.  While on earth the Rich man “was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day” (v. 19).  No doubt he was used to people serving him and receiving special treatment.  He still wanted the same treatment!  Not only did he want Lazarus to come serve him, but he also wanted special treatment for his family.  He said, “I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest sent him to my father’s house.  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment” (v. 27-28).  Abraham told him that the word of God was sufficient to save them and that if they would not believe it, they would not obey even if one rose from the dead to tell them.  Sadly many are just like the Rich man in that they are not satisfied with the power of the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12).

  Jesus also reveals to us that death seals our eternal destiny.  In this account one can read, “And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot: neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (v. 26).  The Bible knows nothing of the doctrine of purgatory.  It is impossible to pass from one compartment to another.

  At death, the spirit leaves the body (James 2:26) and returns to God via the hadean realm (Ecc. 12:7; Lk. 16:19-31).  The body begins to decay and will be raised again at the Last Great Day (Ecc. 12:7; John 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:35-55).  For the faithful child of God, death is a great reward (Phil. 1:23; Rev. 14:13), and therefore nothing to fear.  Remember, a Christian does not die alone (Luke 15:22a).