A question for Christians?

Question

According to Christianity, what happenes to our souls in the period between our death and Judgment Day?

Serious responses please. Thanks in advance :)

The reason I'm asking is because many people seem to believe that their loved ones are already in Heaven, and that's not possible if one beleives in Judgment Day, right?

Answer 1

The question of what happens after death can be confusing. The Bible is not explicitly clear on when a person will reach their final eternal destiny. The Bible tells us that after the moment of death, a person is taken to Heaven or Hell based on whether he or she had received Christ as his or her Savior. For believers, after death is to be "away from the body and at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). For unbelievers, after death means everlasting punishment in Hell (Luke 16:22-23).



This is where it can get confusing as to what happens after death. Revelation 20:11-15 describes all those in Hell being cast into the lake of fire. Revelation chapters 21-22 describe a New Heaven and New Earth. Therefore, it seems that until the final resurrection, after death a person resides in a “temporary” Heaven and Hell. A person's eternal destiny will not change, but the precise "location" of a person's eternal destiny will change. At some point after death, believers will be sent to the New Heavens and New Earth (Revelation 21:1). At some point after death, unbelievers will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). These are the final, eternal destinations of all people - based entirely on whether a person had trusted Jesus Christ alone for the salvation of their sins.

Recommended Resource: What the Bible Says about Heaven & Eternity by Ice & Demy.

Answer 2

Here's what really happens when you die:

You go to The Holy City, The New Jerusalem. But you go to a time period that exists some time in the future. In that time period Jesus Christ has already returned to Earth and lives on Holy Mount Zion in the City.

Judgement day itself is really not just one calendar day. A day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day to God. God did not invent the calendar.

When you die, you actually don't experience "death" per se. What happens is that you just fly right in to the hospital where you wake up at some point in the future. To you it's like nothing really ever happened. Kind of like falling asleep and then waking up not remembering when or how you fell asleep.

So the bodies that are put into the grave actually are dead. But the people themselves do not die. They advance to some point in the future where Jesus Christ is on Earth and enter an alternate reality in which they have a new body.

As for the actual "Judgement", for those who have believed in Jesus Christ it only lasts a moment. They just go, meet "the man in the red t-shirt" and then move on from there.

Answer 3

Yes it is possible.

Think for a moment. When someone robs a bank. and are arrested, are they free to run around until they go to court? (OK in human situations they may be given bail) but my point is that they are often in jail awaiting trial...awaiting judgment day. It is after that they are sent to prison.

God already knows the outcome of our judgment and the judgment is only so we have our day in court.

There are also two judgments too. The White Throne Judgment where all those who stand before that judgment will be convicted and sentenced to eternal separation from God and those who have an advocate..Jesus Christ the LORD as we are told about in 1 John 2:1 as He will have moved the venue from the White Throne to the Judgment Seat of Christ where we are judge according to our works...NOT for salvation but for rewards

One thing that is certain is that we need a redeemer and that there is no second chance after death. (Hebrews 9:27)

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PS....Paul said that to die would be gain. If he were to be in a grave awaiting the judgement, this would not be gain to him. He also said to be absent from the body was to be present with the LORD. Stephen as he was being murdered said he say Jesus waiting to receiving him into heaven right away. The rich man died and immediately he was in torments and Jesus told the thief ...TODAY you will be with me in paradise

Answer 4

I think many followers of the Christian faith take the words of the Bible and cast them in stone. What's even more troubling is that the vast majority misinterpret their meanings.

In my perception, the Bible is much like a guide book, not a mandate in order to experience Heaven.

I read the word Limbo in a very non literal context. As in a state of having little awareness. I read Hell in the context of possessing a cluttered mind, a mind full of desire and aversion and ultimately deep in misery. I read Heaven as nothing more then total awareness which in-turn causes liberation from the mind/matter cycle.

It's interesting. After studying Buddhism, I can now look at the Bible's scriptures (as well as other faiths) and their meanings become so much more clearer then when I was a practicing Christian. It's actually very simple, it's amazing how people have turned it 360.

People are overthinking this and not experiencing themselves and others to the highest benefit of their beings. When one realizes this and takes action to populate the world with loving and compassionate action, (as Jesus did)one can transcend in the fullest context.

With this mind, re read the Bible and see for yourself. Never ever take anyone's word for anything. What's the purpose of inhabiting a unique body with a unique personality with unique perceptions and experiences if we are all to fall into conforming a single line? Even to a simpleton, this would not gel.

We have forgotten the "God" that lives in us and in each other and have shifted that weight, power and even responsibility to just one being. Look deep inside, there is no margin between you and Jesus. You are already "home", you just simply have to realize it. -there are countless proverbs relating this in various different ways and flavours.

Answer 5

I will answer form the Bible and not from Religious dogma

Man is a soul - Genesis 2:7 , 1Corinthians 15:45
Animals are also called souls - Leviticus 24:18

Hence since we are souls, Men and animals are equal in that respect.

In ecclesiastes it says the soul that is sinning it itself will die, so if a soul dies how can it be immortal since we are all sinful and need to plead to god for forgiveness.

Now Judgement day is a future time when all souls are examined and determined if they are to recieve everlasting life or everlasting death.

Its that simple and all variations of this theme is religious dogma and simply not the truth.

Answer 6

In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus shared the story of Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man had everything while he was alive, but Lazarus was a begger.

A day came when both died, while Lazarus was carried off by angels to be in Abraham's bosom while the rich man was sent to hell. A great chasm stood between the two of them which neither could cross.

I provide this parable to share that when we die until our bodies are resurrected for judgement, our spirits go to either heaven with Jesus or hell.

When judgement day comes, our spirits and bodies will be reunited. Those who are claim Jesus as Lord will stand before Him in our new, glorified bodies to receive rewards based on their work here on earth....those who deny Him as messiah will be tossed into the fiery pit.

I pray that all will hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

Answer 7

SOME ROAM THE WORLD,SOME GO TO HEAVEN,SOME
TO HELL,IN THEIR WAITING AREA.UNTIL JUDGMENT DAY.
Rapture
1Th:4:13: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th:4:14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th:4:15: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th:4:16: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th:4:17: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th:4:18: Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Answer 8

Paul taught that ...to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8)... which I think implies that you'd go to heaven immediately when you died. The resurrection is for the body not the soul.

Answer 9

I've read all the answers and think there is one point missing. Christ said to the criminal on the cross next to him. He said something to the effect that "you will be with God today. I don't remember word for word though. no boy really knows. the better question is why care? if some one wants to believe there loved one is in heaven now what does it hurt

Answer 10

"To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" If you die and you are saved, you will instantly be in the present of God. Judgement day is just for the rest of the Earth that hasn't perished yet. So you don't go into a temporary holding place until everyone dies and goes to heaven. No, you will go to heaven immediately.