What Happens Immediately After The Death Of A Christian

Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Luke 23:39-43

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Two Sundays ago we looked at the Resurrection of the Dead which will take place on the day of the Rapture of the church. This is when the dead in Christ will rise first, and then those who are believers of Jesus who are still living at the time, will be caught up in the air to be with him.
It will happen in a flash, at the “twinkling of an eye.” It will be at the last trumpet.
When this happens, we who are believers in Christ will have imperishable bodies (KJV – incorruptible). In other words, we will have bodies that will never age, never wear out!
When this happens, we who are believers in Christ will have glorious bodies. Our bodies will be identifiable. We will know each other immediately! I like that.
When this happens, we who are believers in Christ will have bodies that are raised in power. They will be incredible bodies.
When this happens, we who are believers in Christ will have bodies that are spiritual.

This morning I have great news! We are going to take a dive into what happens immediately after the death of a Christian. This will excite you in your faith and I hope it will make you search the scriptures.

I don’t know exactly what a heavenly body looks like, but I know, because we will have it in heaven, it will be glorious!
4. Now, there are some who believe that after death, everyone sleeps, called “Soul Sleep,” until the Resurrection of the Dead or the Rapture of the Church (Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventist).
3. Some believe that when people die, they are instantly judged and sent to their eternal destination.
2. Still, others believe that the soul/spirit is sent to a “temporary” heaven or hell to await the final resurrection, the final judgment, and the finality of their eternal destination.
1. The Roman Catholics believe that everyone enters a place called “Purgatory.” Here they are punished to atone for the sins not covered by the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. Once their sins have been adequately or sufficiently punished, because they are faithful, will enter into Paradise.
Let’s take a look at what the Bible says, because, regardless of what we hope, wish, or think, the Bible is the final authority.

“So, after death, for the believer,  the Bible tells us that their soul/spirit is taken to heaven because their sins were forgiven when they received Christ as Savior (John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  18, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” 36, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” ).

For believers, death means being “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6–8; Philippians 1:23).

When we die, what goes to heaven?
What goes to heaven is the soul.
It is the soul of those who have called upon the name of the Lord.
It is those who have trusted in God for their salvation.
It is those who have died before they ever reached the age of accountability for their sins.
They will have some type of definitive form.
They will be recognizable, just as the rich man recognized Lazarus and Abraham.
They will be recognizable just as Peter, John, and James recognized Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration.

When you die, I believe, based on scripture, you will know your loved ones and friends.

The End