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What The Bible Says About Eternal Life
What Does the Bible Say About Eternal Life?
What Happens
to Believers When They Die?
by Mary Fairchild
One reader,
while working with children was presented with the question, "What
happens when you die?"
He didn't quite
know how to answer the child, so he submitted the question to me, with further
inquiry: "If we are professed believers, do we ascend to heaven upon
our physical death, or do we 'sleep' until our Savior’s return?"
What Does the Bible Say About
Death, Eternal Life and Heaven?
Most Christians have spent some
time wondering what happens to us after we die.
Recently, we looked at the account of
Lazarus, who was raised from the
dead by Jesus. He spent four days in the afterlife, yet the Bible
tells us nothing about what he saw.
Of course, Lazarus' family and
friends must have learned something about his journey to heaven and back.
And many of us today are familiar
with the testimonies of people who have had near-death
experiences. But each of these accounts are unique, and can only
give us a glimpse into heaven.
In fact, the Bible reveals very
few concrete details about heaven, the afterlife and what happens when we die.
God must have a good reason for
keeping us wondering about the mysteries of heaven. Perhaps our finite minds
could never comprehend the realities of eternity. For now, we can only imagine.
Yet the Bible does reveal several truths about the afterlife.
This study will take a comprehensive look at what the Bible says about death,
eternal life and heaven.
Believers Can Face Death
Without Fear
Psalm 23:4
- Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort
me. (NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 - Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that
will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)
Believers Enter the Lord's
Presence at Death
In essence, the moment we die,
our spirit and soul go to be with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:8 - Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from
these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. (NLT)
Philippians 1:22-23 - But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really
don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be
with Christ, which would be far better for me. (NLT)
Believers Will Dwell with God
Forever
Psalm 23:6 - Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (NIV)
Jesus Prepares a Special Place
for Believers in Heaven
John 14:1-3 - "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also
in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have
told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare
a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may
be where I am." (NIV)
Heaven Will Be Far Better Than
Earth for Believers
Philippians 1:21 - "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (NIV)
Revelation 14:13 - "And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down:
Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they
are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good
deeds follow them!” (NLT)
The Death of a Believer Is
Precious to God
Psalm 116:15 - "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his
saints." (NIV)
Believers Belong to the Lord In
Heaven
Romans 14:8 - "If we live, we live to the
Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong
to the Lord." (NIV)
Believers Are Citizens of
Heaven
Philippians 3:20-21 - "But our citizenship is in
heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus
Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under
his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his
glorious body." (NIV)
After Their Physical Death,
Believers Gain Eternal Life
John 11:25-26 - "Jesus said to her, "I am
the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he
dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe
this?" (NIV)
Believers Receive An Eternal
Inheritance in Heaven
1 Peter 1:3-5 - "Praise be to the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he
has given us new birth into
a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into
an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who
through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation
that is ready to be revealed in the last time." (NIV)
Believers Receive a Crown In
Heaven
2 Timothy 4:7-8 - "I have fought the good fight, I
have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the
crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me
on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his
appearing." (NIV)
Eventually, God Will Put An End
to Death
Revelation 21:1-4 - "Then I saw a new heaven and a
new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away ... I saw
the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God ... And I
heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is
with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself
will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of
things has passed away." (NIV)
Why Are Believers Said to Be 'Asleep'
or 'Fallen Asleep' After Death?
The Bible uses the term "asleep"
or "sleeping" when referring to the physical body of the believer at death.
It is important to note that the
term is used solely for believers. The dead body appears to be asleep when it
is separated at death from the spirit and soul of the believer.
The spirit and soul, which are
eternal, are united with Christ at the moment of the believer's death (2 Corinthians 5:8).
The body of the believer, which
is mortal flesh, perishes, or "sleeps" until the day it is
transformed and reunited to the believer at the final resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:43; Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians
15:51)
1 Corinthians 15:50-53 - "I declare to you, brothers,
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable
inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep,
but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and
we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the
imperishable, and the mortal with immortality." (NIV)
Mary Fairchild
Introduction
Christian minister since 1988
with General Biblical Studies and Missions degrees
Full-time writer and editor
specializing in Christianity, Bible study, and Christian living since 2005
Author and general editor of
"Stories of Calvary"
Experience
Mary Fairchild has worked full
time in Christian ministry since 1988. While in Bible School, she worked for a
major city church as the assistant to the dean of Christian education. Next,
Mary served on the foreign mission field in Brazil from 1990-1994. Upon
returning to the States, Mary became a pastoral assistant and office manager
for a large intercity church.
Mary worked as the general
editor on several Christian books and booklets for Calvary Chapel St.
Petersburg from 2006 until 2017. Recently, Mary joined the team of writers for
GotQuestions.org, where she provides responses to questions related to the
nature of God, the Scriptures, salvation, and other spiritual topics.
Education
Mary received a General
Biblical Studies degree from an Interdenominational Christian Training Center
in Central Florida. She also holds a Missions degree from Youth With A Mission
Discipleship Training School.
Publications
"Stories of Calvary"
(2008, Winepress Publishing)
"Exposing
Samson" (General Editor, 2009, Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg)
A Message from Mary Fairchild
As a writer, my greatest
passion is to study and expound on the Word of God. I’ve made it my goal
to offer practical, applicable resources for living the Christian faith with
authenticity in today's world. Inspired by the words of the Apostle Paul
in 1 Corinthians 1:12, I’ve adopted this purpose: "Follow my example, as I
follow the example of Christ."
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