Life After Death, Part One
Throughout generations people repeat certain questions. Today, I would like to address one that I have been faced with multiple times. What happens to us when we die? I believe that one of the reasons, that this specific question gets asked repeatedly, stems from man’s great fear of death. As a believer in Christ, death is really not that scary, because a believer will not experience the second death. As a Christian you only die once, a physical death. However, we will continue to live forever with the Lord. Life after death entails so much more than most people realize. Looking at scripture, we as believers will experience three different places.
1.Heaven
2.1000 year reign on earth
3.New Heaven and Earth
Firstly, as a Christian, if you had to die right now, heaven is where you will be going when you breathe your last breath. Secondly, when Jesus comes back to the earth everyone that had been in heaven until His second coming, will come back to earth with Him for 1000 years. Thirdly and ultimately, God will create a new heaven and a new earth and all Christians will be part of all of this. This is all so incredibly exciting. On the flip side of the coin, the reality of the second death, which will happen to all of those that don’t believe in Jesus, is something that is truly horrifying and will be discussed a little more, in the second part of this article.
For many believers, even the perception of what heaven will be like, often is seemingly very disappointing for many. A lot of people have this crazy idea that we will be in the clouds floating around and playing on a harp living a boring mundane life. There are others that believe we will be in a place, where all we will do is worship God all day long (not that that is bad thing). Off course we will be worshiping in heaven, but there is also evidence in the bible to suggest that we will do a lot more than just that.
Let’s take a look at the biblical evidence, and talk about what will happen to us now, if we die and we are a true believer in Jesus. It is evident from the scriptures that we will be with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8). Paul the Apostle, even wrote that he is torn between staying here to do what the Lord wants, but also has a great desire to go to be with the Lord. (Phil 1:23) There are even promises to believers who take the gift of salvation, and use the gift on earth for God’s glory. If you read Revelation 6:9-11 a lot of questions are answered about heaven. Let me give you a few examples, in the scripture below you can clearly see what is taking place in heaven, in the end times.
Revelation 6:9–11 (NKJV)
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they
should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Now let me point out a few things about heaven that you may not be aware of.
1. When they die, they go to heaven. Verse 9: I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain
2. They are remembered for their lives on earth. Verse 9 “I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.”
3. They are able to express themselves in heaven. Verse 10: “And they cried with a loud voice”
4. They have emotion, they have memories and they are aware of what is going on down on the earth Verse 10: “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?””
From this passage we can clearly see that when you get to heaven, you will still have emotions, memories, awareness and so much more. In my next article, we will dig deeper in to what actually takes place in heaven. We will look at the 1000 years on earth and then we will look at the new heavens and the new earth. Be blessed in Jesus name. “Rev 22 12a Behold I am coming quickly”
