What happens to non-believers immediately upon death?
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Asked July 05 2017
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Dottie Slattery
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Tim Maas
Hebrews 9:27 indicates that judgment occurs after death (with no indication of any type of "second chance"). Luke 16:19-31 and Luke 23:43 indicate that this judgment (whether one of salvation or condemnation) occurs in some form (intermediate or final) immediately following death, even prior to the resurrection of the dead at close of the age. Acts 4:12 says that there is no name other than Jesus given among men by which we must be saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 says that salvation occurs through faith apart from works. Therefore, I would say that people who die in a state of unbelief (without having had Christ's perfect righteousness imputed to them by God through faith) are judged immediately upon death, and find themselves in a state of separation from God and condemnation/punishment from which there will be no escape, either temporally or at the close of the age in eternity (Luke 16:23; Matthew 25:46).
Aurel Gheorghe
The short answer is that the non-believers immediately upon death go into an unconscious sleep until judgment day (Daniel 12:2; 2 Cor 5:10; Eccl 12:14). God formed man out of the dust, breathed the breath of life into his lungs, and the man became a living soul (Gen 2:7). God din not gave man a soul, but rather, the man became a living soul: body + breath of life = a soul. At death, regardless if that person is a believer or not, the creation process is reversed (Eccl 12:7).The spirit that returns to God at death is the breath of life given by God and nothing else (Job 27:3). When we die, the body returns to dust, the breath of life returns to God, and the human soul ceases to exist – that’s what the Bible explicitly teaches. Nobody is burning in hellfire today and, with only few exceptions, deceased people are not in heaven praising the Lord (Ps 115:17; 146:4; Eccl 9:5, 6). Every person upon death, righteous or not, sleep in the ground (Ps 13:3; Job 14:12) awaiting Christ’s return (Rev 22:12) - everyone gets his/her reward when Jesus returns. “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;” [the first resurrection] “and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” [the second resurrection, at the end of the thousand years] (John 5:28, 29).
Jay Saunders
The bible clearly states: [ To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.] Read 2 Corinthians chapter 5:1-21 These scriptures explain the reconciliation. Christ paid for our sins so that we could become the righteousness of God in Christ but if you habitually practice sin, this reconciliation is in vain. Grace is never a license to sin but true repeantance always receives mercy becuse our God's mercy endures for ever. Psalms 136 Christ is our propitiation (1 John 2:2) which is always avalible at the mercy seat represented now symbolically by the cross. Christ stated those that love me obey me. (John 14:23) When you obey your parents it is a sign of respect and love. Our heavenly Father deserves this same respect and sign of respect which is obediance. Maranatha
Ron Maurizio
Rev 20 :6 says born again Christians will take part in the first resurrection and everyone else will have to wait 1000 years. Problem is time does not exist in the spirit realm so the dead will not sense time.
Kevin Honeycutt
Hope this helps, Hebrews 9:27 27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Matthew 22:13-14 13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14For many are called, but few are chosen. 2 Thessalonians 1:8 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our LORD Jesus Christ: John 3:18 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
RICK PORTER
Luke 16:19-31 is what Scripture tells us about both Believers, Lazarus and a Non-Believer the Rich Man, as Jesus explained about entering into the Kingdom of God and what happens to those who do not. Jesus was talking about the Law and The Prophets to his disciples when He then brought into the examples the Pharisees and their love of money. From there He said the Law and Prophets were until John the Baptizer then the Good News or Gospel began and many try to force their way into the Kingdom of God. Then Jesus related the events of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man died and opened his eyes in Torment, Lazarus died and was carried by angels into the place of Abraham's Bosom. In the event, it is told the rich man he can't leave his place and Lazarus can't leave his place, also apparently the rich man's brothers didn't believe the Scriptures for they were said to have them and even wouldn't believe if someone from the dead came to warn them. Well, someone from the dead has warned us all. The Good News is Jesus was supernaturally raised from the Dead and is alive and if we put our Trust in Him and what He did we will see the Kingdom of God when we die and if we don"t we will immediately see the place of Torment, the Scripture calls Hell.
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