Question:   What happens to a person's body and soul when they die?

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Answer:
The bodies of men after death see decay and return to dust.1 The souls of men neither die nor sleep and at death immediately go to either heaven or hell.2  The souls of those with saving faith are made perfect in holiness, received in heaven, see the face of God in light and glory, and await the full redemption of their bodies.(3)(4)  The souls of those without saving faith are cast into hell to await the final judgment.(5)(6)  The Bible speaks of no other places for souls separated from their bodies.  God has appointed a day of judgment for Jesus Christ to judge all men that have ever lived.7   At this last day, those alive will not die, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up and united again with their souls forever8  At this time everyone that ever lived shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds.9    Those that are clothed in the righteousness of Christ shall go into everlasting life with the joy of being in the presence of the Lord.10  The wicked that know not God and have not obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be cast into everlasting torments and be eternally separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power.11

 

(1) Acts 13:36 (NIV)  “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.

(2) Luke 23:43 (NIV) Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

(3) 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NIV) We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

(4) Hebrews 12:23 (NIV) to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,

(5) Luke 16:23 (NIV) In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

      Luke 16:24 (NIV) So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

(6) Jude 1:6 (NIV) And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.

     Jude 1:7 (NIV) In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

(7) Acts 17:31 (NIV) For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

(8) 1 Corinthians 15:51 (NIV) Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—

     1 Corinthians 15:52 (NIV)

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.

(9) Romans 14:12 (NIV) So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

(10) Matthew 25:34 (NIV) “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

(11) 2 Thessalonians 1:8 (NIV) He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

         2 Thessalonians 1:9 (NIV) They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power