What Happens When Death Occurs?

What Happens When Death Occurs?

Dear Bro. Waddey:
I am a Christian and am curious about what will happen to us when death occurs. Can you help me?
- Wally

Dear Wally:
James says, "the body apart from the spirit is dead (James 2:26). Solomon wrote that, "the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The meaning of these verses is demonstrated in Jesus' story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31).

Righteous Lazarus died and "was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom." " The rich man also died, and was buried, and in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." When Lazarus died, his body was placed in a tomb in Palestine, but his spirit was wafted away by the angels to a wonderful place of rest. It is described as being in Abraham's bosom, the place where all Jews hope to go when death came to them. (Other verses call this place Paradise. See Luke 23:43. Abraham told the unfortunate rich man, "here he (Lazarus) is comforted."

When we Christians die, the angels will usher our spirits into that wonderful place of rest and comfort. There we will wait until Christ comes and resurrects both the righteous and the wicked. At that moment, "all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil to the resurrection of judgment" (John 5:28-29). Jesus will reunite our spirits with our new, resurrected bodies and take us with him to our eternal home in the presence of God (I Thessalonians 4:14).

As we daily draw nearer to the hour of our departure, this lesson is most comforting to our souls. Believe it, trust the Lord who made the promise and be faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10).

If you would like to know more about how you can prepare for death and the life to come, contact us. We will glad to correspond with you.

Back -- or go -- Home