What happens to people after they die?

Prior to the death of Christ, no one could go to heaven because the price of redemption had not yet been paid. Therefore, God's people who died went to a place called "Abraham's bosom." (See Luke 16:19-31) It was a place of comfort.

When Christ paid the price of redemption with his own blood, He redeemed all of God's people in the past, as well as those who live today. Hebrews 9:15 says, "For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance."

Another scripture which teaches this is Romans 3:24-26: " ...Christ Jesus; whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance; to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus."

God's servants who die now go directly to be with Christ. For example, the Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 1:21-23, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose. But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better."

In contrast to this, those who do not obey Christ will, at their death, join the unforgiven sinners from all ages in a place called Hades (the unseen place of the dead), a place of torment. (See Luke 16:22-23). Hades is the place to which the Apostle Peter referred when he wrote, "...the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment..." (2 Peter 2:9)

The souls of all who have died are held for judgment. (Hebrews 9:27) When Christ returns to this earth, all of the dead will be raised to life and given new bodies. Then the judgment will take place. The righteous will live forever with God and Christ in heaven. The unrighteous will be separated from God forever in hell. (See John 5:28, 1 Corinthians 15:50-55, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Revelation 20:11-15)