Board index ‹ Heaven and Hell

[The Hat Lady]

That's my question: Do people go to heaven or hell right after they die?

[The Charlie Factory]

For believers to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ, which Paul considered gain (Phil. 1:23 and 21).

Christ taught on the reality of hell. He told a parable speaking of the unbelieving dead being tormented in hell immediately upon death (Luke 16:19-31).

Therefore, believer are in the presence of Christ and unbelievers are in hell immediately after death.

However, at the final resurrection both those with Christ and the unbeliever who is in hell will be given new bodies before the final judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). The unbeliever will be judged according to his/her works and cast into the Lake of Fire where there will be torment day and night forever and ever (Rev. 20:10). The believer will find his/her name written in the book of life and enter into the new heavens and new earth (Rev 21).

[jimwalton]

There is no indication ever in Scripture that there is any delay between physical death and eternal fate. Even if hell is later cast into the Lake of Fire, and if "Abraham's bosom" is merged with heaven, the point is the same: it is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment. To be absent from the body is to be experiencing eternity, and there are only two choices there: with God, or separated from Him.