Death is one of life’s greatest mysteries. Many people wonder what happens the moment we take our last breath. Do we simply cease to exist? Do we enter some waiting period? Will we recognize each other in the afterlife?
The good news is that we don’t have to guess—the Bible gives us answers.
This article will walk through what happens after death, where believers and non-believers go, what the Second Coming of Christ means for us, and how time in eternity might function differently from what we experience on Earth.
What Happens the Moment You Die?
The Bible makes it clear that when we die, we do not just stop existing. However, what happens next depends on what we believed while we were alive.
For Believers (Those Who Follow Jesus)
When a believer dies, their body remains on Earth, but their soul immediately goes to be with God.
Paul states in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” This means that the moment a follower of Christ takes their last breath on Earth, they are instantly in God’s presence.
While they are fully conscious, aware, and still have their identity, they do not yet have their glorified body. The final resurrection, where believers receive their new bodies, happens at the Second Coming of Christ.
What Do Believers Have Instead of a Glorified Body?
The Bible gives some insight:
A Spiritual Form – In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells a parable about a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. After death, both men recognize each other, recall their earthly lives, and even express emotions. This suggests that believers will have some kind of temporary spiritual form where they are fully conscious.
A Place of Peace – Jesus told the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.” This implies that believers immediately experience peace and joy in God’s presence.
A Waiting Period Before the Final Resurrection – Although believers are with God, they are awaiting the Second Coming, when they will receive their perfected, resurrected bodies.
For Non-Believers (Those Who Reject Christ)
Jesus’ parable in Luke 16:19-31 also gives insight into what happens to those who do not follow God.
The rich man in the story dies and immediately finds himself in torment, while Lazarus is in a place of comfort. The rich man is fully aware, remembers his past life, and even desires to warn his family—but it is too late.
This suggests that before the final judgment, those who reject God experience separation from Him and are fully aware of their condition.
Where Exactly Are These Places?
The Bible describes two destinations after death:
Believers go to be with God in paradise—a place of peace while awaiting their glorified bodies.
Non-believers go to a place of suffering, separated from God, awaiting final judgment.
This confirms that both believers and non-believers continue to exist after death, but in two very different states.
What Happens at the Second Coming?
At some point in the future, Jesus will return to Earth. This is known as the Second Coming—the moment when He will fully establish His kingdom, judge the world, and bring His followers into eternity.
Two major events will take place:
1. Believers Who Died Will Rise First
According to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, those who died in Christ will be resurrected with glorified bodies.
These new bodies will be:
Incorruptible—they will not age or die (1 Corinthians 15:52-53).
Like Jesus’ resurrected body—physical yet transformed.
Post-resurrection Jesus provides an example of what a glorified body looks like:
He could be touched (John 20:27).
He could eat (Luke 24:42-43).
He could appear and disappear (Luke 24:31).
2. Believers Who Are Alive Will Be Caught Up
If a person is still alive when Jesus returns, they will not experience death but will be transformed instantly and meet Christ in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
After this, Jesus will establish His Kingdom—a New Heaven and New Earth—where pain, suffering, and death no longer exist (Revelation 21:1-4). And yes, we will roam this New Heaven and New Earth in our glorified bodies! Whew!
Time in Eternity: A Mind-Blowing Perspective
One of the most fascinating aspects of eternity is how time functions differently from what we experience on Earth.
How Does God View Time?
The Bible states in 2 Peter 3:8, “With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”
This suggests that God exists outside of time as we know it. He sees the past, present, and future all at once.
What If That Means...
When we die, we may wake up at the Second Coming, instantly stepping into eternity.
Instead of waiting centuries for Jesus’ return, we may experience eternity outside of earthly time.
Could Our Loved Ones Already Be in Eternity?
If time functions differently in eternity, it is possible that:
Our believing loved ones who passed away may have already experienced the Second Coming.
If we live our lives right, accepting Christ, we could instantly join them—because eternity is not measured in earthly time.
This means that while we are still living in a timeline where Jesus' return is yet to happen, our loved ones in eternity may already be in the New Heaven and New Earth (AND WE COULD BE WITH THEM existing in what to us (on Earth) is the FUTURE).
The Importance of Salvation
This understanding of eternity underscores the importance of salvation.
Eternity is real. And according to the Bible, those who belong to Christ will live forever with Him, while those who reject Him will be separated from Him forever.
This is why faith in Jesus Christ is not just about religion—it is about securing your eternal future.
Final Thought
At the end of the day, this life is temporary—but eternity is forever.
The most important question to ask is: Where do you stand with Jesus?
And honestly, I would rather believe and it not be true, than to not believe… and it is true.
When I was a little girl, I used to be terribly afraid of death. It would keep me up at night, often too afraid to fall asleep because I feared I wouldn't wake up. But as I got older, that fear began to fade, and when I gave my life to Christ, it disappeared completely. A few months ago, I experienced the hardest loss of my life, my mother passed away. The weight of that grief has been unlike anything I’ve ever known, but it has also led me to reflect more deeply on what happens after we leave this earth. Though I miss her every single day, I find so much comfort in knowing that she now rests in…