Chapter 05: What the Bible Says About Life After Death

Have you ever stood at a loved one’s graveside and wondered what happens the moment after we take our last breath? Does everything simply fade to black, like turning off a television? Or does something within us—call it a soul, a spirit, or consciousness—continue on into another realm? These aren’t just philosophical questions reserved for late-night discussions or seminary classrooms. They strike at the very heart of what it means to be human and what awaits us beyond the veil of death.

Throughout history, humanity has wrestled with these profound questions. Some cultures imagined elaborate journeys through underworlds. Others pictured cycles of rebirth. Still others believed in a paradise of eternal pleasures. But for those of us who look to the Bible as our ultimate authority, we have something more solid than human speculation. We have God’s own revelation about what happens when we die.

If we’re going to evaluate Near-Death Experiences through a biblical lens—which is our goal in this book—we first need to understand exactly what Scripture teaches about the afterlife. Think of this chapter as laying down a measuring stick, what carpenters call a “plumb line,” against which we can measure the claims and experiences of those who say they’ve glimpsed the other side. Without this biblical foundation, we’d be like sailors trying to navigate without a compass, tossed about by every new testimony or experience that comes our way.

In this chapter, we’re going to examine four fundamental biblical truths about life after death. These aren’t obscure doctrines buried in difficult passages. They’re clear, repeated teachings found throughout both the Old and New Testaments. We’ll look at what the Bible says about conscious existence after death, the reality of two eternal destinies, the nature of humanity as both body and soul, and the certainty of divine judgment. Each of these doctrines will serve as a crucial checkpoint when we later examine specific NDE accounts.

The Great Debate: Do We Really Continue After Death?

Before we dive into the specifics of biblical teaching, we need to address a fundamental question that has divided religious groups for centuries: When we die, do we immediately experience conscious existence in another realm, or do we “sleep” unconsciously until the resurrection? This isn’t just a minor theological squabble. It has profound implications for how we understand death, comfort the grieving, and interpret experiences like NDEs.

Some religious groups, including Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses, teach what’s called “soul sleep”—the idea that when we die, we enter an unconscious state, like a dreamless sleep, until Jesus returns and resurrects everyone for the final judgment. According to this view, there’s no conscious experience between death and resurrection. It would be like going under anesthesia—one moment you’re counting backward from ten, the next moment you’re waking up, with no awareness of the time that passed between.

This teaching might sound comforting to some. After all, if death is just like sleeping, there’s nothing to fear, right? But as we’ll see, this view doesn’t square with what the Bible actually teaches. Scripture consistently presents death not as unconsciousness, but as a transition—a doorway through which the soul passes from one form of existence to another.

Part 1: Conscious Existence After Death—The Soul’s Immediate Journey

Let’s start with one of the most powerful pieces of evidence for conscious existence after death: Jesus’ own words to the thief on the cross. Picture the scene: Jesus is hanging between two criminals, suffering the agony of crucifixion. One criminal mocks Him, but the other recognizes who Jesus really is and says, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus’ response is absolutely crucial for our understanding of the afterlife: “Truly I say to you, TODAY you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Notice that word “today.” Jesus didn’t say, “Someday, after you’ve slept unconsciously for thousands of years, you’ll be with me.” He said TODAY. This very day. Before the sun sets. This promise makes no sense if soul sleep is true. How could the thief be with Jesus in Paradise that very day if he was going to be unconscious until the resurrection?

Some have tried to get around this clear teaching by claiming the comma is in the wrong place—that Jesus really said, “Truly I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise,” as if Jesus needed to clarify what day He was speaking! But this interpretation is forced and unnatural. The original Greek text supports the traditional reading, and more importantly, it fits with everything else Scripture teaches about immediate conscious existence after death.

As conservative theologian Charles Hodge explains in his monumental Systematic Theology:

“The Bible teaches that the soul continues to exist as a conscious entity after its separation from the body. The Scriptures speak of the souls of the departed as being with God, as in a state of conscious enjoyment or suffering… The soul does not sleep with the body in the grave.”

The Apostle Paul gives us another crystal-clear window into what happens at death. Writing to the Philippians from prison, facing possible execution, Paul makes an astounding statement: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Wait a minute—how can dying be “gain” if it means becoming unconscious? That would be like saying going into a coma is gain! Paul continues: “I am hard-pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better” (Philippians 1:23).

Paul doesn’t say he desires to depart and sleep unconsciously. He desires to depart and BE WITH CHRIST. This is immediate, conscious fellowship. He elaborates on this same truth in 2 Corinthians 5:8: “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” The language here is unmistakable—when believers are absent from the body (at death), they are present with the Lord. There’s no unconscious gap, no soul sleep, no waiting period.

Jesus Himself gives us perhaps the most detailed picture of conscious existence after death in His parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). Now, some argue this is “just a parable” and shouldn’t be taken as teaching doctrine. But even if it is a parable (and many scholars argue it isn’t, since Jesus uses a specific name—Lazarus), Jesus never used parables to teach falsehood. His parables always conveyed spiritual truth through earthly stories.

In this account, both men die. The poor man Lazarus is “carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom” (a Jewish expression for Paradise), while the rich man finds himself in Hades, a place of torment. Here’s the crucial point: Both men are fully conscious immediately after death. The rich man can see, feel, think, remember, and communicate. He’s aware of his surroundings, remembers his brothers still on earth, feels torment, and even carries on a conversation with Abraham. This is not the description of an unconscious soul!

The rich man says, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:24). Abraham responds, explaining why this isn’t possible, and they continue their dialogue. If Jesus wanted to teach soul sleep, this would have been the perfect place to do it. Instead, He presents immediate, conscious existence in one of two destinations.

Reformed theologian Louis Berkhof, in his classic Systematic Theology, addresses this issue definitively:

“The Bible teaches us to regard the state of the dead, in the interval between death and resurrection, as one of conscious existence… The souls of believers are at death made perfect in holiness and do immediately pass into glory. Their souls are in a conscious state of bliss.”

Biblical Evidence from the Old Testament

But wait, some might say—isn’t this just a New Testament teaching? What about the Old Testament? Doesn’t Ecclesiastes say “the dead know nothing” (Ecclesiastes 9:5)? This is where we need to be careful students of Scripture, understanding each verse in its context.

Ecclesiastes is written from the perspective of life “under the sun”—that is, from an earthly, human viewpoint. When Solomon says the dead know nothing, he’s talking about their relationship to earthly affairs. The dead don’t know what’s happening in the stock market, who won the Super Bowl, or what their grandchildren are doing. They’ve departed from the earthly realm. But this doesn’t mean they’re unconscious.

In fact, the Old Testament gives us several glimpses of conscious existence after death. When King Saul consulted the witch at Endor (1 Samuel 28), the prophet Samuel appeared and spoke to him. Samuel wasn’t awakened from unconscious sleep—he was brought up from his conscious existence in the realm of the dead. He even complained about being “disturbed” (verse 15), which makes no sense if he was unconscious!

The prophet Isaiah speaks of the king of Babylon descending to Sheol (the realm of the dead) where other deceased kings greet him mockingly: “All of them will speak and say to you: ‘Have you also become as weak as we? Have you become like us?'” (Isaiah 14:10). This is clearly a picture of conscious beings who can observe, think, and communicate.

Even more telling is David’s confidence about his deceased infant son: “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). David anticipated a conscious reunion with his child in the afterlife. This hope makes no sense if both of them would be unconscious until the resurrection.

The Transfiguration: A Window Into the Intermediate State

One of the most remarkable proofs of conscious existence after death comes from the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8). Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, where He is transfigured before them, His face shining like the sun. But here’s the amazing part: Moses and Elijah appear and begin talking with Jesus.

Think about this carefully. Moses had died approximately 1,400 years earlier. We’re explicitly told in Deuteronomy 34:5-6 that “Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab” and God buried him. Yet here he is, fully conscious, recognizable, and carrying on a conversation with Jesus about His upcoming “departure” (literally “exodus”) in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31).

If soul sleep were true, Moses should have been unconscious in the grave, waiting for the resurrection. Instead, he’s very much awake, aware, and active in the spiritual realm. The disciples recognize him (somehow they know it’s Moses, not just some random person), which suggests that our identities continue after death.

As theologian Geerhardus Vos notes in his article “Eschatology of the New Testament”:

“The appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration would seem to prove that the spirits of the departed are in a state of conscious existence… They appeared in glory, spoke with Jesus, and were recognized by the disciples.”

Stephen’s Vision: Seeing Into Heaven at Death

The death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, provides another powerful testimony to conscious existence immediately after death. As he was being stoned, Stephen had a remarkable vision: “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55).

Notice that Jesus was STANDING—not sitting at the Father’s right hand as usually described, but standing, as if to welcome His faithful servant home. Stephen’s final words were, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). Why would he ask Jesus to receive his spirit if it was just going to become unconscious? The word “receive” implies an active welcoming, a conscious reception into Christ’s presence.

This parallels Jesus’ own words on the cross: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46). Both Jesus and Stephen expected their spirits to be consciously received by God at death, not to fall into unconscious sleep.

Paul’s Out-of-Body Experience

Perhaps the most intriguing biblical evidence for conscious existence apart from the body comes from Paul’s own testimony in 2 Corinthians 12. He speaks of a man (almost certainly himself) who was “caught up to the third heaven”—”caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Corinthians 12:2-4).

Here’s what’s fascinating: Paul says, “whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows.” Paul acknowledges the possibility of conscious existence outside the body. He experienced Paradise, heard things, remembered the experience, but wasn’t sure if his body was involved or not. This perfectly parallels many NDE accounts where people aren’t sure if they actually died or had an out-of-body experience.

If Paul believed in soul sleep or that consciousness requires a physical body, he never would have said this. He would have known that consciousness outside the body was impossible. Instead, he treats it as a very real possibility, even a probability.

Part 2: Two Eternal Destinies—Heaven and Hell

Now we come to what may be the most sobering truth in all of Scripture: Human beings face one of two eternal destinies after death. This isn’t a popular message in our age of universalism and relativism, where many want to believe that all roads lead to the same destination. But the Bible is absolutely clear: There is a heaven to gain and a hell to avoid, and our response to Jesus Christ determines which destination awaits us.

Jesus Himself spoke more about hell than anyone else in Scripture. Far from being a medieval invention to scare people into compliance, the doctrine of hell comes straight from the lips of the most loving person who ever lived. In Matthew 25:46, Jesus summarizes the final judgment with these sobering words: “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Notice the parallel structure here. The same Greek word (aionios) is used for both “everlasting” punishment and “eternal” life. If hell isn’t really eternal, then neither is heaven. You can’t have one without the other. Jesus is presenting two destinies, both of them unending, both of them conscious, both of them real.

The Reality of Heaven

Let’s start with the good news—the glorious reality of heaven. When most people think of heaven, they imagine clouds, harps, and endless church services. But the biblical picture is far richer and more wonderful than these caricatures suggest. Heaven is described as a place of indescribable beauty, perfect fellowship, complete understanding, and unending joy in the presence of God.

Jesus promised His disciples, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). The emphasis here isn’t on the real estate but on the relationship. Heaven’s greatest joy is being with Christ.

The book of Revelation gives us glimpses of heaven’s glory that strain the limits of human language. John sees a city of pure gold, with streets transparent like glass (Revelation 21:21). The foundations are adorned with every kind of precious stone—jasper, sapphire, emerald, and more (Revelation 21:19-20). There’s a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God (Revelation 22:1).

But again, these physical descriptions are trying to convey spiritual realities that transcend our earthly experience. The real glory of heaven is what’s NOT there: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

Imagine—no more cancer diagnoses, no more funerals, no more depression, no more broken relationships, no more disappointments. Every source of human suffering will be eliminated. But heaven isn’t just the absence of bad things; it’s the presence of unimaginable good.

Paul, who was caught up to Paradise, said the experience was so overwhelming that he heard “inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Corinthians 12:4). Later he wrote, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Heaven is literally beyond our wildest imagination.

The Westminster Confession of Faith beautifully summarizes the biblical teaching about heaven:

“The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God, in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies.”

The Sobering Reality of Hell

If heaven represents the pinnacle of human joy and fulfillment, hell represents the depths of loss and regret. Jesus used various images to describe hell, each one conveying a different aspect of its horror. He called it “outer darkness” where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12). He described it as a “furnace of fire” (Matthew 13:42) and a place “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48).

Some argue these are just metaphors, not literal descriptions. That may be true—but if they’re metaphors, they’re metaphors for something WORSE, not better. When we use metaphors, we’re trying to explain something beyond normal experience by comparing it to something within experience. If hell is beyond human description, and these are the best comparisons Jesus can make, the reality must be terrifying indeed.

The clearest and most detailed picture of hell in Scripture comes from Jesus’ account of the rich man and Lazarus, which we discussed earlier. The rich man in hell experiences several things that give us insight into the nature of hell:

• Consciousness and memory—He recognizes Abraham and Lazarus, remembers his brothers
• Torment and suffering—He describes being “in torments” and “in this flame”
• Regret and desire—He wants to warn his brothers, showing he understands his mistake
• Separation—A great gulf is fixed between him and Paradise
• Inability to repent—Despite his suffering, there’s no indication of true repentance, only regret

C.S. Lewis, though not a theologian per se, offered a profound insight about hell in The Problem of Pain: “The doors of hell are locked on the inside.” In other words, hell is not so much God sending people away as people choosing to be away from God. Every person in hell is there because they preferred their sin to God’s salvation.

The book of Revelation describes the final judgment, where “anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). This “second death” is the final, eternal separation from God—not annihilation, but conscious existence apart from the source of all good, all beauty, all love, and all hope.

Theologian J.I. Packer writes powerfully about this difficult doctrine:

“Hell is the final testimony to the value of human dignity and the importance of human choice. God will not override our freedom. If we insist on rejecting Him, He will honor that choice for all eternity, though it breaks His heart.”

Who Goes Where? The Decisive Factor

So what determines whether someone goes to heaven or hell? The Bible’s answer is crystal clear: our response to Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). This isn’t narrow-mindedness; it’s simply the truth about reality. If Jesus is who He claimed to be—God incarnate who died for our sins and rose again—then He alone can bridge the gap between sinful humanity and holy God.

The most famous verse in the Bible makes this promise: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The condition is faith—trusting in Jesus and His finished work on the cross, not in our own goodness or religious efforts.

Paul emphasizes this same truth: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is a gift, not a wage. We can’t earn it; we can only receive it.

This doesn’t mean that everyone who’s never heard of Jesus automatically goes to hell. The Bible suggests that God judges people based on the light they have received (Romans 2:12-16). But for those of us who have heard the gospel, our response to Jesus determines our eternal destiny. As the book of Acts declares, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Part 3: The Nature of Humanity—More Than Just a Physical Body

To understand what happens after death, we need to understand what we ARE as human beings. Are we simply physical bodies with brain chemistry that creates the illusion of consciousness? Or are we something more—spiritual beings having a physical experience?

The Bible teaches that humans are composite beings, made up of both material (body) and immaterial (soul/spirit) components. We’re not souls imprisoned in bodies (as Greek philosophy taught), nor are we just bodies with no spiritual dimension (as materialism teaches). We are body-soul unities, created by God with both physical and spiritual dimensions.

Genesis 2:7 describes our creation: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Notice the two elements: God formed the body from dust (material), then breathed the breath of life (immaterial), and the result was a living soul. We are dust animated by the breath of God.

The Biblical Evidence for Body-Soul Distinction

Jesus Himself clearly taught that humans have both body and soul. In Matthew 10:28, He warned, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” This statement makes no sense unless the soul is distinct from the body. If we’re only physical bodies, then killing the body would kill everything. But Jesus says there’s something that survives the death of the body—the soul.

This same distinction appears throughout Scripture. When Rachel died in childbirth, Genesis 35:18 says, “And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died)…” The soul departed; the body remained. When Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead, Luke 8:55 says, “Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately.” Her spirit had left and then returned to her body.

The writer of Hebrews speaks of “the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23), referring to believers who have died. Their bodies are in the grave, but their spirits are with God, made perfect and waiting for the resurrection of their bodies.

James puts it succinctly: “The body without the spirit is dead” (James 2:26). Death is not the cessation of existence but the separation of the spirit from the body. The body returns to dust, but the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

Theologian Wayne Grudem explains this biblical anthropology clearly:

“Scripture is very clear that we do have a soul that is distinct from our physical body, and that this soul not only can function somewhat independently of our ordinary thought processes (when that is God’s will), but also that, when we die, this soul is able to go on consciously acting and relating to God apart from our physical body.”

The Implications for Death and NDEs

This biblical understanding of human nature has profound implications for how we understand death and evaluate NDEs. If humans are purely physical beings, then when the brain stops functioning, all consciousness should cease. There should be no experiences, no awareness, no memories. The fact that people report vivid, coherent experiences during cardiac arrest when their brains show no activity poses a serious challenge to materialism.

But if the Bible is correct—if we have an immaterial soul that can exist independently of the body—then NDEs make perfect sense. As the body approaches death, the soul begins to separate, maintaining consciousness and awareness even as the physical brain shuts down. This is exactly what many NDErs report: a sense of separation from their body, heightened awareness, and the ability to observe events from outside their physical form.

The Apostle Paul seemed familiar with the possibility of consciousness apart from the body. When describing his vision of Paradise, he said, “whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know” (2 Corinthians 12:3). He acknowledged that conscious experience outside the body was possible, which aligns with many NDE reports of out-of-body experiences.

Body, Soul, and Spirit—Is There a Difference?

Some passages seem to suggest humans have three parts—body, soul, and spirit. Paul prays that “your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The writer of Hebrews speaks of the word of God “piercing even to the division of soul and spirit” (Hebrews 4:12).

This has led some theologians to propose trichotomy—the view that humans consist of three distinct parts. They typically see the body as the physical part, the soul as the psychological part (mind, emotions, will), and the spirit as the part that relates to God.

However, most biblical scholars see the terms “soul” and “spirit” as largely interchangeable, referring to the same immaterial aspect of humanity from different angles. Sometimes Scripture uses “soul,” sometimes “spirit,” sometimes both for emphasis. The important point for our discussion is that both terms refer to the immaterial part of humans that survives bodily death.

Reformed theologian Louis Berkhof addresses this question:

“The Bible uses the terms ‘soul’ and ‘spirit’ interchangeably. Death is sometimes described as the giving up of the soul (Genesis 35:18; 1 Kings 17:21) and sometimes as the giving up of the spirit (Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46). Both soul and spirit go to the realm of the dead at death.”

Part 4: The Reality of Judgment—An Appointment We Cannot Cancel

We come now to what may be the most universally avoided topic in modern Christianity: the judgment. Many churches never mention it. Many Christians prefer to focus exclusively on God’s love and grace. But the Bible is absolutely clear: Every human being will stand before God to give an account of their life.

Hebrews 9:27 states it plainly: “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” This isn’t a maybe or a possibility—it’s an appointment. Just as surely as we have an appointment with death, we have an appointment with divine judgment.

But here’s where we need to be careful and biblical. The judgment isn’t the same for everyone. The Bible teaches that there are actually different judgments for different groups of people, and understanding these distinctions is crucial for properly interpreting what NDErs experience.

The Judgment Seat of Christ—For Believers

For those who have trusted in Christ for salvation, judgment is not about determining their eternal destiny. That was settled at the cross. Jesus declared, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:24).

So why does Paul say, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10)? This judgment for believers isn’t about salvation but about rewards. It’s not a criminal court determining guilt or innocence, but an awards ceremony recognizing faithful service.

Paul explains: “Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

This judgment evaluates the quality of our Christian life and service. Did we build with gold, silver, and precious stones (eternal values), or with wood, hay, and straw (temporary, selfish pursuits)? The fire of God’s judgment will reveal the truth, burning away what was worthless and rewarding what was valuable.

This explains why many NDErs report experiencing a “life review” where they see their actions and feel the impact they had on others. They often describe feeling both the good and bad they caused, understanding for the first time the true significance of seemingly small acts of kindness or cruelty. This aligns remarkably well with Paul’s teaching that “each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12).

The Great White Throne Judgment—For Unbelievers

For those who have rejected Christ, judgment is far more serious. Revelation 20:11-15 describes the Great White Throne Judgment, where the dead, small and great, stand before God. Books are opened containing the record of their deeds, and “anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

This judgment is based on works—not because anyone can be saved by works, but because works reveal the state of the heart. Jesus said, “By their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20). The works are evidence presented at the trial, proving the justice of God’s verdict.

But here’s the tragedy: No one can pass this judgment based on their works alone. Romans 3:23 declares, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Isaiah 64:6 says, “All our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.” Even our best efforts are tainted by sin and selfishness. This is why we desperately need a Savior.

Charles Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher, powerfully illustrated this truth:

“If you are to be judged by your works, you are lost. Your best works are but filthy rags, and your worst works are damning sins. You need a Savior who can clothe you in His righteousness and present you faultless before the throne.”

Degrees of Punishment and Reward

The Bible teaches that not all judgment is equal. Jesus said that some will receive greater condemnation than others. Speaking of cities that rejected His message, He said, “It will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:24).

In Luke 12:47-48, Jesus teaches that servants who knew their master’s will but didn’t do it will be beaten with many stripes, while those who didn’t know will be beaten with few. This indicates degrees of punishment based on knowledge and opportunity.

Similarly, there are degrees of reward in heaven. Jesus spoke of some being “great” in the kingdom of heaven and others being “least” (Matthew 5:19). Paul speaks of receiving crowns for faithful service (2 Timothy 4:8). The parable of the talents shows different rewards based on faithful stewardship (Matthew 25:14-30).

This graduated judgment reflects God’s perfect justice. He takes into account not just what we did, but what we knew, what opportunities we had, and what challenges we faced. The person raised in a Christian home with every advantage will be held to a higher standard than someone who never heard the gospel clearly presented.

The Timing of Judgment—Immediate and Final

Here’s where things get interesting for our study of NDEs. The Bible seems to teach both an immediate judgment at death and a final judgment at the end of time. How do we reconcile these?

At death, there appears to be an immediate determination of one’s destination. The thief on the cross went immediately to Paradise. The rich man went immediately to Hades. Paul expected to depart and be with Christ. This suggests an immediate, personal judgment at death.

But the Bible also speaks of a future, public judgment when Christ returns. “He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained” (Acts 17:31). This will be the great, final, public vindication of God’s justice before all creation.

Think of it this way: At death, we receive our personal verdict and go to our appropriate destination. At the final judgment, that verdict is publicly confirmed and eternal rewards or punishments are fully implemented. It’s like a criminal who is arrested and jailed immediately (personal judgment) but later has a public trial that confirms and formalizes the sentence (final judgment).

This two-stage judgment helps explain why NDErs sometimes report judgment-like experiences (life reviews, encounters with divine beings who evaluate their lives) but don’t describe the full Great White Throne Judgment scene from Revelation. They’re experiencing a foretaste or preliminary aspect of judgment, not the final event.

Common Objections and Questions

Before we conclude this chapter, let’s address some common objections and questions about the biblical teaching on the afterlife.

“Isn’t the idea of hell incompatible with a loving God?”

This is perhaps the most common objection to the biblical doctrine of hell. How can a loving God send people to eternal torment? The question assumes that love and justice are incompatible, but the Bible teaches they’re both essential aspects of God’s character.

Consider this: If God didn’t punish evil, would He really be good? If Hitler and Mother Teresa received the same eternal fate, would that be just? The existence of hell actually demonstrates God’s love for righteousness and His respect for human choice. God doesn’t send anyone to hell; people choose hell by rejecting God’s offer of salvation.

C.S. Lewis wisely noted: “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.'” Hell is God giving people what they’ve chosen—eternal separation from Him.

“What about people who’ve never heard the gospel?”

This is a challenging question that theologians have debated for centuries. The Bible gives us some principles but not all the details we might want. We know that:

• God is perfectly just and will judge fairly (Genesis 18:25)
• People are judged based on the light they’ve received (Romans 2:12-16)
• God has revealed Himself through creation and conscience (Romans 1:19-20)
• God desires all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4)

While the Bible is clear that Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6), it’s less clear about how God applies Christ’s sacrifice to those who’ve never heard. Some theologians believe God judges them based on their response to general revelation. Others believe God ensures that anyone who would respond to the gospel will somehow hear it. We can trust that God will do what is right and just.

“Doesn’t Ecclesiastes 9:5 teach that the dead are unconscious?”

The verse says, “The dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.” This is often cited to support soul sleep, but context is crucial. Ecclesiastes is written from the perspective of life “under the sun”—from an earthly viewpoint. The dead know nothing about what’s happening on earth. They don’t know who won the election or how their grandchildren are doing. But this doesn’t mean they’re unconscious in the spiritual realm.

If we took this verse to mean absolute unconsciousness, it would contradict numerous other Scriptures we’ve examined. The Bible interprets the Bible, and clearer passages help us understand less clear ones. The overwhelming testimony of Scripture is that the dead are conscious in their respective destinations.

“Why do some Christians believe in soul sleep?”

Several groups, notably Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses, teach soul sleep. They point to verses that describe death as “sleep” (1 Thessalonians 4:13) and argue that the resurrection wouldn’t be necessary if people were already conscious in heaven.

However, as we’ve seen, the sleep metaphor refers to the appearance of the body, not the state of the soul. And the resurrection is necessary because humans are meant to be embodied beings. The intermediate state (between death and resurrection) is a temporary condition. At the resurrection, our souls will be reunited with glorified bodies, completing our redemption.

Millard Erickson addresses this issue in his systematic theology:

“The doctrine of soul sleep fails to account for the many passages that speak of conscious existence immediately after death. It also fails to recognize that biblical metaphors must be interpreted in light of clearer, didactic passages.”

The Intermediate State: Between Death and Resurrection

We need to address an important distinction that often confuses people when comparing biblical teaching with NDE accounts. The Bible teaches about what theologians call the intermediate state—the condition of the dead between death and the final resurrection. This is different from the eternal state that follows the final judgment.

Right now, believers who have died are with Christ in Paradise (what we commonly call heaven), but they don’t yet have their resurrection bodies. They’re conscious, happy, and at rest, but they’re waiting for the completion of God’s plan. Similarly, unbelievers who have died are in Hades (not the final hell/lake of fire), conscious and in torment, but also awaiting the final judgment.

This intermediate state helps explain why NDEs don’t always match popular conceptions of heaven and hell. People aren’t seeing the final state described in Revelation 21-22, but rather the current intermediate state. They’re getting a glimpse behind the veil, but not necessarily seeing the ultimate reality that will exist after Christ returns and makes all things new.

Paradise vs. The New Jerusalem

When Paul was caught up to the “third heaven,” he also called it “Paradise” (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). This is the same word Jesus used when He told the thief, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Paradise appears to be the current dwelling place of believers who have died.

But Paradise is not the final state. Revelation 21-22 describes the New Jerusalem, which comes down from heaven to the new earth after the final judgment. This eternal state will be far more glorious than even the current Paradise. As wonderful as the intermediate state may be, it’s just the anteroom to the eternal glory that awaits.

This is why Paul says that what we experience now is just a glimpse: “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Even Paul’s vision of Paradise was limited compared to what the eternal state will reveal.

The Resurrection Body: Our Future Hope

One of the most glorious doctrines of Christianity is the resurrection of the body. We’re not destined to be disembodied spirits forever. God created us as embodied beings, and He will redeem us as embodied beings. This is why the Apostles’ Creed affirms belief in “the resurrection of the body.”

Paul devotes an entire chapter (1 Corinthians 15) to explaining the resurrection. He compares our current bodies to seeds that must die to produce something far more glorious: “It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

Our resurrection bodies will be like Christ’s resurrection body—physical yet spiritual, recognizable yet transformed, capable of eating yet not limited by physical barriers. Jesus could appear in locked rooms, yet Thomas could touch His wounds. He ate fish with the disciples, yet ascended to heaven. This is our future—not less physical than now, but more real, more solid, more truly what God intended.

N.T. Wright, in his masterful work on the resurrection, emphasizes this point:

“The resurrection of Jesus is not about going to heaven when you die. It is about the renewal and transformation of this world, about God’s kingdom coming on earth as in heaven. The resurrection body is not a consolation prize for dying; it is the fulfillment of God’s original creation purpose.”

What This Means for Understanding NDEs

Now that we’ve established the biblical framework for understanding death and the afterlife, we can better evaluate NDE accounts. When someone reports leaving their body, seeing deceased relatives, experiencing a life review, or encountering a being of light, we have a theological grid through which to assess these claims.

The biblical teaching about the afterlife suggests that NDEs could indeed be genuine glimpses of the spiritual realm. If humans have souls that can exist apart from the body, if there is conscious existence immediately after death, if there are two eternal destinations, and if there is some form of immediate judgment or evaluation at death, then many aspects of NDEs align with biblical teaching.

However, we must also be discerning. Not every aspect of every NDE necessarily reflects spiritual reality. Some experiences may be influenced by:

• Cultural expectations—People may interpret spiritual experiences through their cultural lens
• Physiological factors—Some aspects might be influenced by brain chemistry or medical conditions
• Spiritual deception—The Bible warns about deceiving spirits and false visions
• Incomplete revelation—Even genuine glimpses may be partial or limited

Points of Alignment Between Scripture and NDEs

Many common NDE elements align remarkably well with biblical teaching:

1. Out-of-body experiences—The Bible teaches the soul can separate from the body
2. Meeting deceased relatives—Scripture shows the dead are conscious and recognizable
3. Beings of light—Angels are described as glorious, light-filled beings
4. Life reviews—The Bible teaches we’ll give an account of our lives
5. A boundary or point of no return—Scripture distinguishes between temporary and final death
6. Overwhelming love and peace (for some)—Heaven is characterized by God’s love
7. Terror and darkness (for others)—Hell involves torment and separation from God
8. Transformation of values—Encountering eternity changes earthly priorities

Points of Potential Conflict

However, some NDE reports include elements that seem to contradict biblical teaching:

1. Universalism—Claims that everyone eventually goes to heaven
2. Religious pluralism—Suggestions that all religions are equally valid
3. Reincarnation—Reports of multiple lives or choosing to return in different bodies
4. No judgment—Assertions that God doesn’t judge anyone
5. Self-salvation—Ideas that we save ourselves through good works or enlightenment

When we encounter these conflicting elements, Scripture must be our ultimate authority. As Paul warned, “Even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). Experiences, no matter how powerful, must be evaluated by God’s revealed Word.

The Purpose of Biblical Revelation About the Afterlife

Why has God revealed these truths about death, judgment, heaven, and hell? Is it merely to satisfy our curiosity about the future? No—biblical revelation about the afterlife serves several crucial purposes that should shape how we live today.

To Provide Comfort in Grief

When Paul writes to the Thessalonians about the resurrection, he says, “I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). The biblical teaching about conscious existence after death and future resurrection provides enormous comfort to grieving believers.

We don’t grieve as those without hope. Our loved ones in Christ are not extinct; they’re more alive than ever. They’re not unconscious; they’re with Christ. The separation is real and painful, but it’s temporary. This hope doesn’t eliminate grief, but it transforms it.

J.C. Ryle, the great Anglican bishop, wrote movingly about this comfort:

“The believer’s death is only a sleep—a sleep from weakness and pain, to awake in glory and eternal health. It is a passage from storm to calm, from strangers to friends, from labor to rest, from a tent to a mansion, from earth to heaven.”

To Motivate Holy Living

The reality of judgment should profoundly affect how we live. If we will give an account for every word and deed, shouldn’t that influence our daily choices? Peter asks, “Since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?” (2 Peter 3:11).

The doctrine of heaven motivates us to store up treasures there rather than on earth (Matthew 6:19-20). The doctrine of hell motivates us to share the gospel urgently. The promise of rewards motivates faithful service even when no one on earth notices or appreciates it.

Jonathan Edwards understood this motivating power when he resolved: “Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness in the other world as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of.”

To Offer Hope in Suffering

For Christians enduring persecution, illness, poverty, or any form of suffering, the promise of heaven provides unshakeable hope. Paul, who suffered tremendously for the gospel, wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

This eternal perspective doesn’t minimize present suffering, but it does contextualize it. If this life were all there is, much of our suffering would be meaningless and unjust. But if there’s an eternal state where all wrongs are made right, where every tear is wiped away, where perfect justice prevails, then we can endure present hardships with hope.

To Reveal God’s Character

The biblical teaching about the afterlife reveals crucial truths about God’s character. Heaven shows us His love, generosity, and desire for relationship. Hell demonstrates His holiness, justice, and respect for human choice. The provision of salvation reveals His mercy and grace. The promise of resurrection displays His power and faithfulness.

Without revelation about the afterlife, we’d have an incomplete and distorted picture of who God is. We might see Him as indifferent to evil (if there’s no hell) or unmerciful (if there’s no salvation). The afterlife doctrines work together to give us a balanced, accurate understanding of God’s nature.

Living in Light of Eternity

As we conclude this survey of biblical teaching about the afterlife, we must ask: How should these truths affect our daily lives? It’s not enough to have correct doctrine in our heads; it must transform our hearts and actions.

Priority Shift: From Temporal to Eternal

Jesus constantly challenged people to shift their focus from temporal to eternal values. “What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26). When we truly grasp that this life is a brief prelude to eternity, our priorities radically change.

Suddenly, that promotion doesn’t seem as important as our spiritual growth. That grudge we’ve been nursing seems petty in light of eternal judgment. That sacrifice we’re reluctant to make seems small compared to eternal rewards. As C.S. Lewis said, “Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth thrown in. Aim at Earth and you will get neither.”

Urgency in Evangelism

If hell is real and people we love are heading there, how can we remain silent about the gospel? The biblical teaching about eternal destinies should create an urgency in our evangelism. Not a pushy, offensive urgency, but a loving, compassionate urgency born from genuine concern for others’ eternal welfare.

Charles Spurgeon captured this urgency:

“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”

Confidence in Trial

Understanding biblical truth about the afterlife gives us unshakeable confidence in trials. When we face death—our own or a loved one’s—we don’t face it with uncertainty and fear. We know what lies beyond. As Paul triumphantly declared, “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).

This confidence isn’t arrogance or presumption. It’s based on God’s promises, secured by Christ’s resurrection. It allows us to face cancer diagnoses, persecution, and even martyrdom with supernatural peace. The early Christians sang hymns while being burned at the stake because they knew that to be absent from the body was to be present with the Lord.

Compassion for the Lost

The biblical teaching about hell should break our hearts for those without Christ. Jesus wept over Jerusalem because He saw their coming judgment (Luke 19:41-44). Do we weep for the lost in our communities? Do we have Christ’s heart of compassion for those heading toward eternal separation from God?

This compassion should motivate not just evangelism but also practical love and service. People need to see the love of Christ demonstrated before they’ll listen to the message of Christ. As Francis of Assisi reportedly said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.”

The Sufficiency of Scripture

As fascinating as NDEs are, and as much as they may confirm biblical teaching about the afterlife, we must remember that Scripture is sufficient for our knowledge of salvation and the afterlife. We don’t need NDEs to validate the Bible; rather, we use the Bible to validate NDEs.

Paul warned Timothy about those who are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). There’s a danger in constantly seeking new experiences, new revelations, new confirmations of what God has already clearly revealed. The Bible contains everything we need to know for salvation and godly living.

Westminster Confession of Faith affirms this sufficiency:

“The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.”

This doesn’t mean NDEs are worthless or that God never gives people genuine spiritual experiences. But it does mean that any experience must be evaluated by Scripture, never the reverse. Scripture is the lens through which we view and interpret all spiritual experiences.

Integration: How the Four Pillars Work Together

Let’s now see how the four fundamental truths we’ve examined work together to form a coherent biblical worldview about death and the afterlife.

Conscious existence after death means that death is not the end but a transition. The soul separates from the body and continues in conscious awareness, either in the joy of God’s presence or the torment of separation from Him. This consciousness allows for the immediate experience of one’s eternal destiny.

Two eternal destinies give ultimate meaning to our choices in this life. We’re not playing games; we’re making decisions with eternal consequences. Every person we meet is heading toward one of these destinies, which should affect how we treat them and what we share with them.

The composite nature of humanity (body and soul) explains how conscious existence after death is possible. We’re more than physical bodies; we have an immaterial aspect that transcends physical death. This also explains why the resurrection is necessary—God created us as embodied beings and will redeem us as embodied beings.

The reality of judgment ensures that justice will ultimately prevail. Evil will not go unpunished; good will not go unrewarded. This judgment is based on our response to God’s revelation, supremely in Jesus Christ, and will result in degrees of reward or punishment based on our knowledge, opportunities, and actions.

Together, these truths paint a picture of death not as a wall but as a doorway, not as an ending but as a beginning, not as extinction but as transition to our true and eternal state. They provide comfort for believers, warning for unbelievers, and motivation for all to live with eternity in view.

Answering Difficult Questions

Before we close this chapter, let’s address some additional difficult questions that arise from the biblical teaching about the afterlife.

“What about infants and those with mental disabilities?”

This is one of the most emotionally charged questions about the afterlife. The Bible doesn’t explicitly address the fate of those who die before reaching mental capacity to understand and respond to the gospel. However, several biblical principles give us hope:

David, after his infant son died, said, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23), expressing confidence in reunion. Jesus showed special love and protection for children, saying, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).

Many theologians believe in an “age of accountability”—that God doesn’t hold people responsible until they’re capable of understanding and responding to moral truth. While the Bible doesn’t explicitly teach this, it seems consistent with God’s justice and mercy.

Charles Spurgeon, who lost children in infancy, wrote with pastoral sensitivity:

“Among the gross falsehoods which have been uttered against the calvinistic faith is the wicked calumny that we hold that some little children perish. We never dreamed of such a thing. With a vengeance we can say, ‘We have never thought that any little child ever did perish, but we believe all little children are saved.'”

“Is hell really eternal, or will the wicked eventually be annihilated?”

Some Christians, uncomfortable with the idea of eternal conscious torment, have proposed annihilationism—the view that the wicked are eventually destroyed rather than suffering forever. They point to biblical language about the wicked “perishing” or being “destroyed.”

However, the mainstream historical position of the church has been that hell is eternal conscious punishment, based on passages like:

• Matthew 25:46—”everlasting punishment” parallels “eternal life”
• Mark 9:48—”where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched”
• Revelation 14:11—”the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever”
• Revelation 20:10—the devil, beast, and false prophet “will be tormented day and night forever and ever”

While the debate continues among sincere Christians, the weight of biblical evidence supports eternal conscious punishment. This is admittedly difficult to accept emotionally, but we must let Scripture, not our emotions, determine our doctrine.

“What about those who die in Old Testament times?”

How were people saved before Jesus came? The Bible teaches that Old Testament saints were saved by faith, looking forward to God’s promised salvation, just as we’re saved by faith looking back to Christ’s completed work.

Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3). Hebrews 11 lists numerous Old Testament figures who were saved by faith. They didn’t know all the details about Jesus, but they trusted in God’s promise of redemption.

When they died, they apparently went to a place called “Abraham’s bosom” or “Paradise”—a place of blessing and comfort, but not yet the full presence of God in heaven. After Jesus’ resurrection, many believe He led these Old Testament saints to heaven proper. Paul speaks of Jesus leading “captivity captive” (Ephesians 4:8), which many interpret as Christ emptying the Paradise section of Sheol/Hades and bringing the Old Testament saints to heaven.

Application: Preparing for Our Own Appointment

All this theological discussion must ultimately become personal. You and I have an appointment with death and judgment. Are we ready? The Bible urges us to prepare while we have opportunity.

For the Unbeliever: The Urgent Call

If you’re reading this without having trusted Christ for salvation, the biblical message is urgent and clear: “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Death could come at any moment—through accident, illness, or the Lord’s return. Once death comes, your eternal destiny is sealed.

But here’s the glorious good news: Salvation is available right now, free of charge, to anyone who will receive it. “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). It doesn’t matter how sinful your past, how weak your faith, or how little you know. The thief on the cross knew almost nothing about theology, but he knew enough to trust Jesus, and that was sufficient.

The gospel is beautifully simple: Admit you’re a sinner who can’t save yourself. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again. Confess Him as your Lord and Savior. That’s it. No complex rituals, no lengthy probation period, no payment required. Jesus paid it all.

For the Believer: Living in Light of Eternity

If you’re already a Christian, the biblical teaching about the afterlife should revolutionize your daily life. Every day is an opportunity to lay up treasures in heaven. Every person you meet is an eternal soul heading to one of two destinations. Every trial is temporary; every spiritual victory is eternal.

Paul challenges us: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). This doesn’t mean being so heavenly minded we’re no earthly good. Rather, it means being so heavenly minded that we’re immense earthly good, seeing earthly life from heaven’s perspective.

Are you ready for your appointment with death? Not just in terms of salvation, but in terms of the judgment seat of Christ? Are you building with gold, silver, and precious stones, or with wood, hay, and straw? Are you living for temporary pleasures or eternal rewards?

Conclusion: The Plumb Line Is Set

We’ve now established our biblical plumb line for evaluating NDEs. We’ve seen that Scripture teaches:

1. The soul continues in conscious existence immediately after death
2. There are two and only two eternal destinations—heaven and hell
3. Humans are composite beings with both material bodies and immaterial souls
4. Everyone faces divine judgment, with outcomes based on their response to God’s revelation

These truths aren’t just academic doctrines to debate in seminary classrooms. They’re life-changing realities that should affect how we live every single day. They provide comfort in grief, hope in suffering, urgency in evangelism, and perspective in trials.

As we move forward to examine specific NDE accounts, we’ll consistently return to these biblical truths. When experiencers report conscious existence after cardiac arrest, we’ll understand how this aligns with biblical teaching about the soul. When they describe meetings with deceased relatives or beings of light, we’ll have a framework for evaluation. When they report life reviews or judgment-like experiences, we’ll know what Scripture says about accountability to God.

But we’ll also be alert to deviations from biblical truth. When NDEs promote universalism, reincarnation, or self-salvation, we’ll recognize these as contradicting God’s Word. We’ll appreciate the genuine aspects of NDEs while rejecting the false, always using Scripture as our ultimate authority.

The apostle John gives us wise counsel: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). This is exactly what we’ll do with NDEs—test them against the unchanging standard of God’s Word. Some will pass the test and provide encouraging confirmation of biblical truth. Others will fail and remind us why Scripture, not experience, must be our foundation.

As we close this chapter, let me leave you with a final thought from the great Puritan preacher Richard Baxter, who wrote extensively about heaven as he himself approached death:

“If there be so certain and glorious a rest for the saints, why is there no more industrious seeking after it? One would think, if a man did but once hear of such unspeakable glory to be obtained, and believed what he heard to be true, he should be transported with the vehemency of his desire after it, and should almost forget to eat and drink, and should care for nothing else, and speak of and inquire after nothing else, but how to get this treasure.”

May God grant us such a vision of eternity that we live every day in light of that great Day when we stand before Him. May we be found faithful, having used the biblical plumb line not just to evaluate spiritual experiences, but to align our entire lives with God’s eternal truth. And may we approach death not with fear and uncertainty, but with the confident hope that comes from knowing what God has revealed about the glorious future that awaits His children.

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