Throughout Scripture, we see that the afterlife plays a huge role in our theology. Where we go when we die isn’t left up to every person’s individual imagination or even interpretation, the Bible sets out a clear description of what happens when we die. So, then what or where was the man Paul speaks about being caught up to paradise go? What is paradise exactly? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture for the answer to these questions and more in her video, Where is Paradise?
Luke 23:40-43 Matthew 12:39-40 Psalms 16:9-10 Ephesians 4:8-10 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 Luke 16 Matthew 11:12 John 10:7-30 Revelation 2:7 Genesis 3:22-24 Ezekiel 31:15-17 Genesis 3:19 Psalms 139:7-8
Where is Paradise?
42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And He said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:42-43
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
2 Corinthians 12:2-4
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
We all often wonder what happens when we die. It’s common for people to wonder about the afterlife. Eternity is a difficult concept to grasp. Do we all spend eternity in Heaven with God? Do we spend eternity somewhere else? Do we become ghosts? Do we roam the Earth if we have unfinished business? Does everyone go to a better place? Does the Bible actually give us an explanation? Join ArieRashelle as she searches the Bible for the answers to these questions in her video What Happens When You Die?
22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
Luke 16:22-32
What Happens When You Die?: Eternity
Eternity With God
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:1-4
Eternity In Hell
5 And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Revelation 21:5-8
What about the rest for those who won’t die, but are raptured?
Those who go up in the rapture receive their rest during the Millennial Reign of Christ.
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
Revelation 20:4-5
Now how can we be so sure? Keep in mind, the rapture and pre-first resurrection has already happened, this is the first official resurrection referring to the rest given to those who go through Tribulation and do not take the mark nor worship the beast or its image.
As explained in the video above, rest refers to a time of peace without temptation or suffering. This would be that time for those who went through the Great Tribulation because the Devil or Satan is chained up for the full thousand years.
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be released for a little while.
Revelation 20:1-3
So the Millennial Reign of Christ is the rest for those who went through The Great Tribulation, which would include those who were raptured up. For more on the rapture and when it occurs, check out our Rapture video. Until next time, God Bless.
For more on the Millennial Reign of Christ, click our Creation Story pic below!
We’ve often heard that the dead go to a special place, but what exactly is that place? When Jesus died and went into the belly of the Earth, was that place Hell? What is the difference between Hell and this Old Testament term, Sheol? Is there even a difference? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through both Old Testament and New Testament to find the answers, in her video Sheol.
Acts 17:11 Matthew 5:22 Genesis 37:35 2 Corinthians 5:8 Luke 16:22-23 Luke 16:25-28 Mark 9:43-48 Revelation 19:20 Revelation 20:14 Matthew 12:40 Revelation 20:11-15 Ephesians 4:8 Revelation 6:9-11 2 Corinthians 5:8 Matthew 16:25 John 14:1-4
Sheol
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
Psalms 139:8
39 But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.”
Matthew 12:39-41
22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s [bosom]. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
Luke 16:22-24
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
