Apart from the Bible we can know absolutely nothing about what happens to a Christian (or anyone) after death. It is all speculation. But God has not left us to guesswork! "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us..." (Deuteronomy 29:29) In His Word God has given us much information about a Christian's departure and journey to be with Christ.

If you are a Christian, your name was written in the Book Of Life "before the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8). Jesus promised that He would build you a "dwelling place" in His Father's House. Therefore, you already have a home reserved for you in Heaven, awaiting your arrival. It may be that one of the great joys of being in Heaven happens when those relatives already there see the homes awaiting the arrival of loved ones still alive on the earth.

Daniel 12:13 gives a summary overview of the process of departing this life for the next life.

"But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age." Daniel 12:13

In summary, Daniel is told that at his death (the end) he will enter heaven in "rest." His spirit will one day be reunited with his resurrected body. At that time he will be rewarded for his faithful service. In outline form, this verse gives the step-by-step major events for a Christian who dies and goes to heaven.

Jesus Is Our Assurance Of Life Beyond The Grave!

Christ... put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit...(1 Peter 3:18). This passage is typical of many in the Bible showing the distinction between the body and the spirit for all believers. When we die, the non-material part of our person- the spirit/soul- leaves our body.

Here is one of the most significant statements in the Bible about life after death.

"But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." Matthew 22:31-32

God pins his very identity on the fact that Christians are destined to live with Him forever. The people mentioned in this passage-Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-are affirmed to be living with God in heaven nearly 2000 years after their deaths! God uses that fact to assure us that our bodies will be resurrected one day.

Jesus' own conquest of death is our guarantee of living eternally after we die as Christians.

Do not be afraid... I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Revelation 1:17-18

The ultimate proof of life after death is found in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep [dead in Christ]." (1 Cor. 15:20)

10 Truths The Bible Teaches About "When A Christian Dies"

1. Departure The Apostles of Christ always spoke of the death of a Christian-not as "death"-but as a "departure." When you die, you are departing to go somewhere!

And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you may be able to call these things to mind. 2 Peter 1:15

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 2 Timothy 4:6

2. Valley of Shadow of Death You will enter the Valley of the Shadow of Death because "it is appointed for men to die once" (Hebrews 9:27). But for Christians, their "departure" begins a process of ushering them into the loving realm of God. Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones. Psalm 116:15

3. No Separation The promise of the Bible is that you are not left alone as you pass from this life to the next. As your spirit rises you are aware of Christ's presence! The proof of this is that the Scripture teaches that Christ is forever present with you from the moment of your salvation. His Holy Spirit is actually in you forever.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever... John 14:16
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life... shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38

4. Body Without Spirit You are in your spirit as you rise from your dead body. Here's what Luke 8:52-55 says: Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her; but He said, "Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep...He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Child, arise!" And her spirit returned, and she rose immediately

In that passage we see that at the very moment Christ raises the young girl from death to life, her "spirit" (verse 55) returns and her body rises. Where was she before Christ raised her? On the bed, or above in her spirit? The Bible gives much evidence that the whole person, apart from the body, remains intact in the spirit-mind, memory, emotion, awareness!

5. Guardian Angel As your family & friends mourn over your body, your spirit is carried heaven-ward by your "guardian angels." Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom...Luke 16:22

6. Whole Person Alive When your spirit rises to heaven, your whole personal being-minus your material body- is present in your spirit. I saw...the souls of those who had been slain ...saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Revelation 6:9-10

This verse shows that in your spirit your whole personality is present...your rational, emotional, & volitional Self! The departed soul in this passage is reasoning, with emotional pleas, fully aware of what happened to him on earth & why he is in heaven.

7. "Today" With Christ You will go immediately at death to be with Jesus Christ. There is no period of blackout or "soul-sleep"- only unsurpassable joy at being in the presence of the Lord and loved ones who are already in heaven.

• I [have]...the desire to depart and be with Christ.... Philippians 1:23
  I... prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.... 2 Cor. 5:8
  Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise... Luke 23:43
  
  8. Recognition We have both memories and recognition of not only those we are reunited with in heaven, but also of those left behind.
  
  Awareness of a repenting person on the earth- ...there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10
  
  Cheering for those who are running the "race" of the Christian life on the earth- Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, ...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us... Hebrews 12:1
  
  A great family reunion with loved ones in heave (here we see a father, son, and grandson reunited)- And I say to you, that many shall come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven... Matthew 8:11

9. Rest You will enter rest, but not from being active, for "His bondservants shall serve Him" (Revelation 22:3). Rather, you will be extremely active and energetic in your new eternal home! But you will rest from the curse of death, mourning, crying, & the all other problems related to earthly life, for the Bible says "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord ...that they may rest from their labors..." Revelation 14:13
...and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." Revelation 21:4

10. Resurrection Finally, there is the great and wonderful truth that you will return in your spirit with Jesus when He comes in the air at the Resurrection & Rapture of the Church (all true believers who have died and those still living).

God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.... and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them...1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

When you die, your body is buried, but your spirit goes to be with the Lord. Your body decays in the grave, awaiting the Resurrection. At the Resurrection your spirit comes with Christ, when He descends from Heaven, & reenters your body. Your body then is brought to life, and raised to meet Christ in the clouds. (Or, if you have not yet died when Christ returns, you will be caught up (the Rapture) alive to meet Christ & loved ones in the clouds!)

And thus you will be with Jesus forever, wherever He is or goes! The Bible says of the wonder of heaven-"Things which eye has not seen and ear has hot heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Meanwhile, back in heaven, you will be a privileged guest at the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb." Paul, who was caught up to heaven for a glimpse, said that he "heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak." (2 Corinthians 12:4) What a glorious and indescribable future!

At the end of the Great Tribulation you will return with Christ in His glorious 2nd Coming! You can read about this scene in Revelation 19:14, where it says that "the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him." Those clothed in "fine linen, bright and clean," are the saints. (compare verses 8 & 14)

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