What Happens After You Die?

As we previously discussed, there are many beliefs of the afterlife in cultures around the world and some sound familiar while others seem to be made up out of whole cloth. Whatever one believes about what happens the moment they die, there is a universal question about if there is anything once we shed this mortal coil. Science struggles to solve the mystery, but the Bible doesn’t have any issues about the question. The only issue with the Bible is about proper translations of what happens. According to the Scriptures, the eternal dwelling places are clearly defined. It’s just a matter of how the assignments are made.

Who Created Hell?

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (Col 1:16, NKJV)

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:3, NKJV)

This one is actually pretty easy as attested to by the above verses. We don’t need to do a deep search of the original language to understand that “all” means exactly that. So regardless of what some think about the reasons for God allowing anyone to spend eternity in a place of torment, Hell was created by Him. But this is where we do need to get into translations because Hell or Hades are words used for where people go when they die generically and for some reason those who translated the place people go to when they die are really all over the map. And also, unfortunately, such poor renderings have led to some serious misunderstandings.

Sheol In The Old Testament

Reading from author and pastor Erwin W. Lutzer from his book One Minute After You Die we find a little out about the different words used for life after death:

The most important word in the Old Testament that speaks of the afterlife is the Hebrew word sheol, which occurs sixty-five times in the Old Testament. In the King James Version of the Bible it is translated “hell” thirty-one times, “grave” thirty-one times, and “pit” three times. This inconsistency in translation has caused some to be confused regarding what sheol really means.

He goes on to say that sheol is clearly distinguished from hell in the Bible and just because it is also translated as “grave” doesn’t always mean it is a literal grave. Lutzer also mentions that there is a Hebrew word that can only be translated as “grave” and it is never used by Old Testament writers to describe the conscious dwelling of those who die. In short, the word “sheol” doesn’t mean a physical grave. Lutzer states that some translations just let the Hebrew word sheol stand for itself, which in my mind, is the right thing to do.

Where Is Sheol?

This gets a little tricky, mostly because while many verses in the Bible talk about sheol as being beneath the surface of the earth there are many who make the jump to it literally being in the center of the planet because it is believed to full of molten lava which is hot and fiery and they think it describes what Revelation calls the lake of fire. Physically we aren’t clearly told exactly where sheol is other than it seems to be beneath us as mentioned in Isaiah 14:9:

Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come… (ESV)

And then there is this verse from Ezekiel 26:20:

…then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit (sheol), to the people of old, and I will make you remain in the lower parts of the earth, like the ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, so that you will not be inhabited; but I will put glory in the land of the living. (NASB)

While many believe and really hope that once they die they will go to a better place as they hear from those offering comfort when they have lost a loved one, the truth is that it is not that bright for the unprepared. In fact, it is quite dark and quite hot:

For a fire has flared in My anger, And it burns to the lowest part of Sheol, And devours the earth with its yield, And sets on fire the foundations of the mountains. (Deut 32:22, NASB)

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matt 25:41, ESV)

…while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt 8:12, ESV)

Which brings us to another point about sheol: It has two places.

Different Treatments

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. (Dan 12:2, NIV)

Some people in sheol are content and others are without peace at all. While there are hints at the distinction in the Old Testament, the New Testament is very clear and it is no clearer than the story of poor Lazarus and the rich man found in Luke 16:19–31 where we see one go to a place of comfort while the other to a place of calamity. Some label it as a parable, but Jesus didn’t say He was telling them a story as He usually did. No, there is every indication that this was an accurate account of what happens when righteous and unrighteous people die. And it is a graphic depiction of how sheol or hades is divided.

Two Fates

“There was a certain rich man,” Jesus said, “who was splendidly clothed and lived each day in mirth and luxury. 20 One day Lazarus, a diseased beggar, was laid at his door. 21 As he lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. 22 Finally the beggar died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham in the place of the righteous dead. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and his soul went into hell. (Luke 16:19-23, TLB)

The scene is set with two men and how their lives went while alive on earth. The rich man lived in the lap of luxury, joyful and affluent. Lazarus, on the other hand, was sickly and had to beg for whatever he could eat which amounted to leftovers from the rich man’s meals. The rich man had many friends, it is assumed, but Lazarus only had dogs with him who licked the sores on his body. Their existences couldn’t be starker, however that all changed when they died. The rich man now is the one in pain and in need of even one drop of cool refreshing water to quench his never-ending thirst. Lazarus is now in a place of comfort in a place that is only mentioned here, Abraham’s bosom.

Two Desires: Physical Comfort

There, in torment, he saw Lazarus in the far distance with Abraham.

24 “‘Father Abraham,’ he shouted, ‘have some pity! Send Lazarus over here if only to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in these flames.’ (Luke 16:23-24, TLB)

The rich man is experiencing torment and anguish and he can clearly see Lazarus is content and calm. More than that, it is now Lazarus who can meet his needs if only it would be allowed. The first of his desires is to be pitied, which is probably all he did when seeing Lazarus at his doorstep when they were both on earth. And his first request is a simple one and that is a moment of relief. Abraham then tells him what he wants can’t be done, but also points out that the tables have been turned in eternity:

But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us, and anyone wanting to come to you from here is stopped at its edge; and no one over there can cross to us. (Luke 16:25-26, TLB)

Two Desires: Mercy For The Living

“Then the rich man said, ‘O Father Abraham, then please send him to my father’s home— 28 for I have five brothers—to warn them about this place of torment lest they come here when they die.’ (Luke 16:27-28, TLB)

The rich man then is resigned to the fact that no one in the righteous part of sheol or hades can come to him and share their riches from eternity. He then turns to asking for mercy for his living brothers who he knows are living just like he did and will most likely join him in torment. He must have realized that he couldn’t send the message himself and Abraham tells him what he already knows and that is he too knew to avoid this place since as a Jew he was taught all about it. He simply ignored it or, most likely, enjoyed the high estate he had on earth more and put any thought of eternity off to the side. As we see, his request was rebuffed:

“But Abraham said, ‘The Scriptures have warned them again and again. Your brothers can read them any time they want to.’

30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham, they won’t bother to read them. But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will turn from their sins.’

31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even though someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:29-31, TLB)

What Do We Learn From This Account?

We touched on the division in sheol or hades, but there are other things to learn and one is that once you dies you are fully conscious of your surroundings. Here is how Lutzer explains it:

Memory, speaking, pain, and bliss – all of these were a part of his experience… In hades, an alcoholic will thirst for a drop of liquor, but none will be given him. The drug addict will crave a shot of heroin but will not receive it. the immoral man will burn with sexual desire, but never be satisfied…Perpetual burning lusts never subside, and the tortured conscience aches but is never sedated. There will be increased desire but deceased satisfaction. In Proverbs, we read of the insatiable desires of both the nether world and a man’s lists: “sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man” (Proverbs 27:20).

We also learn that the rich man didn’t complain about where he went. He realized it was exactly where he deserved to be. And he knew that his five brothers would deserve the same fate unless they got a wake up call. And lastly, we know that the rich man was not in the lake of fire just yet. So, he and others who are in torment and anguish now will one day be in a worse place as if that could happen. Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire as seen in this verse:

And Death and Hell were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the Second Death—the Lake of Fire. (Rev 20:14, TLB)

Where Are The Righteous Now?

After Christ’s resurrection, the righteous who have died go directly into Heaven which implies that Abraham’s Bosom no longer is right next to Hades anymore. Some believe that as such, those in one place can no longer see those in the other, but that is speculation. What we do know is that it is better to be in one than the other as for one, Heaven is a place for reunions. Just as one could be reunited with their ancestors in sheol (Abraham was promised to see those who had died before him in sheol. Isaac too was promised to gather with his “people” in sheol.) we should be able to converse and see our loved ones who died in Christ. The last takeaway should be the most obvious and that is to live now in a way that assures you to go to Heaven and then be like the rich man and be very missionary minded to make sure others go with you.