What Happens When A Believer Dies? Have you ever had to explain to others, believers or non-believers, the Biblical teaching of what happens when a Christian believer dies? Some Christians do not share my belief in a PreTribulation Rapture of the church, the worldwide body of Christian believers. Other folks will argue that the believer goes to a temporary place, i.e., the Roman Catholic purgatory. And some will argue that believers stay in the grave until Christ resurrects us just before taking all believers into eternity. Then, in some legalistic churches and in most cult churches they teach annihilation, i.e., that we just die, return to dust, and that is it - no more existence. The latter is really sad, to believe that this brief mortal life is it, nothing more?
Surprisingly, even among Christian believers - there is great disagreement about this very important issue: What happens when the believer dies?
In 2010, on the TimesDaily Religion Forum, a Friend told us that she is a New Age/Christian/Wiccan. So, it is not surprising that she is confused. The New Age and Wiccan world religions are polar opposites of Christianity. A person who accepts the teachings of those world religions - most likely will not be mature in Biblical knowledge. Otherwise, he/she could not be lured into those false religions.
However, her question gave me an opportunity to explain Biblically what happens at death. And the difference between a believer dying now and a believer who lives to see the Rapture occur.
In that 2010 discussion titled "VPLee123....Thank you!" I wrote, "We believe, from the Bible, that when a believer dies - that person goes immediately into the presence of Jesus Christ and God the Father."
And, myNew Age/Christian/Wiccan Friend asked me, "I thought you had to wait for the Rapture, Bill. So heaven - immediately or not?"
Good question! Glad you asked. It is true that all Christian believers, upon death, at the next moment are alive in the presence of Jesus Christ. A few years ago, Anita, the wife of a Friend, Pastor Yeo, became ill and died suddenly. After her Memorial Service, we all went to a restaurant for fellowship and to remember Anita. As we were taking turns sharing our thoughts, one lady said, ". . . when Anita was alive." And, I added, "Anita is more alive today than ever. Before she was alive in this fallen mortal world. But now she is alive in the presence of Jesus Christ." And, Pastor Yeo agreed with me.
Our mortal bodies will be in the grave. But the spirit of the Christian believer, the true essence of all people - will experience a great "Home Coming" celebration. And all our Christ-believing loved ones and friends who have gone on before - will be standing at the door of heaven with Jesus Christ to greet us and to welcome us home!
Yes, Jesus Christ is coming one day, a day no one knows. This is why we call it "Imminent" - for it could happen at any moment. Or it might not happen for many years. We just have to be ready (Luke 12:40). His coming will be in the air, in the clouds, and He will call all Christian believers, His church, His Bride, to join Him in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). That event is called the Rapture.
All believers who have died in Christ, i.e, died believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior - their mortal bodies will be in the grave. But their spirits are with the Lord. For the non-believers, their mortal bodies are in the grave - but their spirits are in the Torment side of Hades (Luke 16:19-31). They will stay in Hades/Torment until they are resurrected to stand before Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment, a judgment of punishment, after His 1000 year Millennial Reign on earth.
At the Rapture when Jesus Christ comes for His church, the Christian believers whose bodies are in the grave will rise, be resurrected, first. Then, a split second later, we believers who are still alive will join them in the air to meet our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. At that time, we all will receive our immortal bodies and will be like Him - not divine nor deity - but in our immortal bodies (1 John 3:2).
This is the point where many people, believers and non-believers, will ask, "Bill, that works for those who died and were buried. But, what about people who were cremated? What about people who were eaten by animals, by sharks, etc. - their bodies no longer exist. Their bodies are ashes or part of animal or fish waste. How can they be raised from the grave to be Raptured?"
That is a very valid question. Yet, we are told in Luke 12:6-7, "Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."
God created us ~ God knows every hair on our head (for some, just a memory) ~ God knows every cell which makes up our bodies. For He created those cells, those bodies. So, I have no doubt that, in His omniscience, in His omnipotence - He will have no trouble bringing together all required elements to create our new immortals bodies.
Jesus, when He ascended into heaven, was in His immortal body with the nail scars and the spear scar still evident. After His resurrection, but before His ascension - he was in His immortal body which closely resembled His earlier mortal body. This is why He could eat with His apostles after His resurrection (John 21:12-15). We believers will also have an immortal body at the Rapture (1 John 3:2).
So, to clarify: For believers who have already died, their bodies are in the grave - but, their essence, their spirit, is in heaven. When Christ returns to Rapture His church - their bodies will rise from the grave, or wherever, and will become immortal bodies. Those bodies will once again be reunited with their essence, their spirit - to create their immortal bodies.
Then, a brief moment later, a blink of the eye - we believers who are still alive when Christ returns in the air to Rapture His church will rise. We will not taste death. But we will go to meet Him in the air and gain our immortal bodies.
Is this described in the Bible? Yes, in 1 Corinthians 15:49-54 we learn that we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye (pretty quick) from mortal to immortal, i.e., our glorified, immortal bodies. We we be in our glorified bodies just like Jesus Christ.
And, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, we are told that we believers who are still alive, will be CAUGHT UP to meet Christ in the air. In the Greek language, the English phrase "will be caught up" is the word "harpazō" meaning: "to snatch out or away."
In 382 AD, Pope Damasus I commissioned Jerome to translate the Bible into Latin, the language favored by the Roman Catholic church. In that translation the Greek word "harpazō" became the Latin word "rapiemur" - from which we get the English transliteration, Rapture. So, yes, the word Rapture - the prophecy of the Rapture - and the description of the Rapture - are all in the Bible.
Yes, we have Jesus Christ's promise of eternal life for ALL who believe (Matthew 19:29, John 3:15, John 3:16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 6:40, John 6:47, John 6:54, John 10:28).
And, the apostle John writes to us in John 20:30-31, "Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."
So, yes, eternal life in Christ is assured, by Jesus Christ Himself, for ALL who, by grace, through faith, believe in Him and receive His "free gift" of eternal life. Based upon His promises, we have eternal security in Him - and whether we die before He comes to Rapture His church, or whether we are still alive - ALL believers will be Raptured to be with Him forever.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Surprisingly, even among Christian believers - there is great disagreement about this very important issue: What happens when the believer dies?
In 2010, on the TimesDaily Religion Forum, a Friend told us that she is a New Age/Christian/Wiccan. So, it is not surprising that she is confused. The New Age and Wiccan world religions are polar opposites of Christianity. A person who accepts the teachings of those world religions - most likely will not be mature in Biblical knowledge. Otherwise, he/she could not be lured into those false religions.
However, her question gave me an opportunity to explain Biblically what happens at death. And the difference between a believer dying now and a believer who lives to see the Rapture occur.
In that 2010 discussion titled "VPLee123....Thank you!" I wrote, "We believe, from the Bible, that when a believer dies - that person goes immediately into the presence of Jesus Christ and God the Father."
And, myNew Age/Christian/Wiccan Friend asked me, "I thought you had to wait for the Rapture, Bill. So heaven - immediately or not?"
Good question! Glad you asked. It is true that all Christian believers, upon death, at the next moment are alive in the presence of Jesus Christ. A few years ago, Anita, the wife of a Friend, Pastor Yeo, became ill and died suddenly. After her Memorial Service, we all went to a restaurant for fellowship and to remember Anita. As we were taking turns sharing our thoughts, one lady said, ". . . when Anita was alive." And, I added, "Anita is more alive today than ever. Before she was alive in this fallen mortal world. But now she is alive in the presence of Jesus Christ." And, Pastor Yeo agreed with me.
Our mortal bodies will be in the grave. But the spirit of the Christian believer, the true essence of all people - will experience a great "Home Coming" celebration. And all our Christ-believing loved ones and friends who have gone on before - will be standing at the door of heaven with Jesus Christ to greet us and to welcome us home!
Yes, Jesus Christ is coming one day, a day no one knows. This is why we call it "Imminent" - for it could happen at any moment. Or it might not happen for many years. We just have to be ready (Luke 12:40). His coming will be in the air, in the clouds, and He will call all Christian believers, His church, His Bride, to join Him in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). That event is called the Rapture.
All believers who have died in Christ, i.e, died believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior - their mortal bodies will be in the grave. But their spirits are with the Lord. For the non-believers, their mortal bodies are in the grave - but their spirits are in the Torment side of Hades (Luke 16:19-31). They will stay in Hades/Torment until they are resurrected to stand before Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment, a judgment of punishment, after His 1000 year Millennial Reign on earth.
At the Rapture when Jesus Christ comes for His church, the Christian believers whose bodies are in the grave will rise, be resurrected, first. Then, a split second later, we believers who are still alive will join them in the air to meet our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. At that time, we all will receive our immortal bodies and will be like Him - not divine nor deity - but in our immortal bodies (1 John 3:2).
This is the point where many people, believers and non-believers, will ask, "Bill, that works for those who died and were buried. But, what about people who were cremated? What about people who were eaten by animals, by sharks, etc. - their bodies no longer exist. Their bodies are ashes or part of animal or fish waste. How can they be raised from the grave to be Raptured?"
That is a very valid question. Yet, we are told in Luke 12:6-7, "Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."
God created us ~ God knows every hair on our head (for some, just a memory) ~ God knows every cell which makes up our bodies. For He created those cells, those bodies. So, I have no doubt that, in His omniscience, in His omnipotence - He will have no trouble bringing together all required elements to create our new immortals bodies.
Jesus, when He ascended into heaven, was in His immortal body with the nail scars and the spear scar still evident. After His resurrection, but before His ascension - he was in His immortal body which closely resembled His earlier mortal body. This is why He could eat with His apostles after His resurrection (John 21:12-15). We believers will also have an immortal body at the Rapture (1 John 3:2).
So, to clarify: For believers who have already died, their bodies are in the grave - but, their essence, their spirit, is in heaven. When Christ returns to Rapture His church - their bodies will rise from the grave, or wherever, and will become immortal bodies. Those bodies will once again be reunited with their essence, their spirit - to create their immortal bodies.
Then, a brief moment later, a blink of the eye - we believers who are still alive when Christ returns in the air to Rapture His church will rise. We will not taste death. But we will go to meet Him in the air and gain our immortal bodies.
Is this described in the Bible? Yes, in 1 Corinthians 15:49-54 we learn that we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye (pretty quick) from mortal to immortal, i.e., our glorified, immortal bodies. We we be in our glorified bodies just like Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:49-54, "Just as we have borne the image of the earthy (mortal), we will also bear the image of the heavenly (immortal). Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'"
And, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, we are told that we believers who are still alive, will be CAUGHT UP to meet Christ in the air. In the Greek language, the English phrase "will be caught up" is the word "harpazō" meaning: "to snatch out or away."
In 382 AD, Pope Damasus I commissioned Jerome to translate the Bible into Latin, the language favored by the Roman Catholic church. In that translation the Greek word "harpazō" became the Latin word "rapiemur" - from which we get the English transliteration, Rapture. So, yes, the word Rapture - the prophecy of the Rapture - and the description of the Rapture - are all in the Bible.
"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up (raptured) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Yes, we have Jesus Christ's promise of eternal life for ALL who believe (Matthew 19:29, John 3:15, John 3:16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 6:40, John 6:47, John 6:54, John 10:28).
And, the apostle John writes to us in John 20:30-31, "Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."
So, yes, eternal life in Christ is assured, by Jesus Christ Himself, for ALL who, by grace, through faith, believe in Him and receive His "free gift" of eternal life. Based upon His promises, we have eternal security in Him - and whether we die before He comes to Rapture His church, or whether we are still alive - ALL believers will be Raptured to be with Him forever.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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