A common question that has risen in mankind from generation to generation is, “WHAT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE AFTER DEATH?” Many people have had so called death experiences and have come back to life and told of their experiences. Philosophers and religious leaders have offered countless opinions on the subject as well. The ideas have ranged from reincarnation to simply ceasing to exist at all.
The Bible has a lot to say concerning life after death and what happens to the soul. Jesus spoke a great deal about this subject and declared that He Himself had come down from Heaven and that after His death He would go there to prepare a place for those who would follow Him.
John 3:13—“No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from Heaven—the Son of Man.”
John 14:2—“In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”
Jesus also spoke a great deal about a second place that had been prepared for the Devil and his followers.
Matthew 25:41—“Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
What is Heaven?
Heaven is a term in the Bible which describes three different spheres of existence. The word “Heaven” sometimes refers to the atmosphere surrounding the earth. Other times it refers to outer space where the other planets are. Lastly, Heaven is the dwelling place of God and the elect angels. It is the everlasting home of the redeemed of all mankind. This is the Heaven we will be looking at in this article. It is the place where those who are not destined for Hell will live after death. In the New Testament it is clearly described as an actual place, and not a state of mind or being.
John 14:2—“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”
Hebrews 11:16—“Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
Revelation 14:13—”Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
2 Corinthians 12:3-4 —“And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things that man is not permitted to tell.”
Luke 13:29 —“People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in kingdom of God.”
The term “Kingdom of God” represents the here and now as well as the eternal domain. In fact most references concerning the Kingdom of God refer to the here and the now. The truth is that we must enter into the Kingdom of God now if we want to be a part of it in the eternal.
The Reality of Life After Death
The Bible teaches that life continues after the physical death of the body. God created man with a natural, temporal body and an eternal soul. The soul of man consists of who we really are. It is the center of our mind, will and emotions. The Bible teaches that life is eternal.
1 John 2:24-24—“See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life.”
2 Corinthians 5:1—”Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”
It is a Place of No More Thirst, Hunger, Sorrow, Pain or Death
Revelation 21:4—“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 7:16-17—“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
What is Needed to Enter Into The Gates of Heaven?
No one in Heaven will deserve to be there as a result of any merit of his own. Because of this fact, there will not be anyone boasting that he or she had earned the right to live in Heaven. The people who will live in Heaven will be full of gratitude to God for being allowed to live in His presence eternally. There is clearly only one way that is available to go into Heaven.
John 3:3— In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
John 14:6— Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
To choose Heaven means choosing to follow Jesus Christ faithfully. At the end of your mortal life we want to use our brother Paul’s words:
2 Timothy 4:7-8—“I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH. NOW THERE IS IN STORE FOR ME THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, WILL AWARD TO ME ON THAT DAY—AND NOT ONLY TO ME, BUT ALSO TO ALL WHO HAVE LONGED FOR HIS APPEARING.”
Life is short, then we get to go to Heaven,
Love, your brother in Christ,
Chris Chloupek
