So, what happened to the soul when people died in the Old Testament? Where did the good and bad people go? What happened after Jesus’ death on the cross? What happens now, and what will happen in the future?
Full audio of the sermon will be posted here on or after Easter
Full documentation WITH the teacher’s guide and handout can be downloaded here.
Death is not the end—it’s a doorway. But what lies beyond that threshold? Is it a void, a light, a place of silence or of unending awareness? For centuries, people have wrestled with these questions. Thankfully, Scripture gives us more than mystery—it gives us a map. In this journey, we’ll explore what the Bible teaches about the afterlife, from the earliest moments in human history to the final chapter in God’s redemptive plan.
Before Christ: What Happened to the Dead?
Before Jesus rose from the grave, all who died—both righteous and unrighteous—went to a place the Bible calls Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek. This realm was believed to be literally beneath the earth and was divided into two distinct compartments. On one side was a place of comfort known as Paradise or Abraham’s Bosom, and on the other side was a place of torment.
The righteous—people like Abraham, Moses, and David—went to Paradise. There, they were fully conscious, capable of speech, and comforted in their soul-bodies. This wasn’t Heaven, but it wasn’t hell either. Meanwhile, the wicked were confined to the torment side of Sheol. Luke 16 gives us a vivid picture: a rich man, now in agony, begs for water and can see Lazarus, the poor beggar he once ignored, resting in peace with Abraham. The rich man could feel pain, thirst, and sorrow, and he remembered his life vividly. In both cases, the dead had a form—one that could see, speak, feel, and remember.
The Death of Christ: A Shaking in Two Worlds
When Jesus died on the cross, the Gospel of Matthew records that the earth shook. Rocks split open. Graves burst. And in the spiritual realm, something far greater was taking place. Scripture tells us that Christ “descended into the lower parts of the earth” (Ephesians 4:9). He also “preached to the spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:19). This wasn’t a sermon offering salvation—it was a declaration of victory.
Christ entered Sheol not as a victim, but as a King. In Paradise, He may have spoken directly to the saints, announcing that the time of waiting was over. In the realm of torment, the proclamation was different: judgment had come, and every knee—even those in the underworld—would bow.
Resurrection Power: The Saints Walk Again
Then, something miraculous happened. After Jesus rose from the dead, many saints who had died were also raised. Matthew 27 tells us that their graves opened and they appeared to many in Jerusalem. These weren’t ghosts. These were real people with real bodies—very likely glorified bodies, similar to the one Jesus now had.
This event wasn’t random. It was a divine signal: death was defeated, and resurrection life had begun. These saints weren’t brought back to die again like Lazarus had been. Instead, they were lifted into the new reality Jesus had inaugurated. Their resurrection served as both proof and prophecy—proof that Christ had overcome the grave, and prophecy of what all believers will one day experience.
Forty Days of Glory
For forty days after His resurrection, Jesus remained on Earth. But He wasn’t the same. His body bore the marks of crucifixion, yet He could walk through walls, vanish from sight, and ascend into Heaven. He could be touched, He could eat, and He could speak with warmth and wisdom.
This was a glorified body: immortal, incorruptible, and beautiful. The Gospels describe these moments with awe. He appeared to Mary in the garden. He walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. He met with over 500 people at once. And yet, when John later saw Jesus in the Book of Revelation, the familiar, wounded Savior had become something even greater—His eyes were like fire, His voice like rushing waters. The marks may no longer have been visible. What was once needed for belief had been gloriously surpassed by what was now revealed in full.
Paradise Relocated: A Heavenly Ascent
Scripture tells us that when Jesus ascended to Heaven, He led “captivity captive” (Ephesians 4:8). This means that He didn’t ascend alone. All the righteous who had died before His resurrection—those resting in Abraham’s Bosom—went with Him. Paradise was moved. No longer beneath, it now resides above, in the presence of God (2 Corinthians 12:2–4).
Sheol’s waiting room for the faithful was emptied. From that point forward, those who died in Christ would go straight to be with Him—not to wait in the earth, but to dwell in light and glory.
Today: What Happens When We Die?
Now, when a believer dies, the soul immediately enters the presence of Christ. Paul says it clearly: to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). There’s no delay. No waiting room. Just glorious reunion with the Savior.
These souls are still conscious. Still personal. They can worship, rejoice, and wait for the resurrection to come. Their glorified bodies are not yet received, but their identities are fully intact.
On the other hand, unbelievers still go to the torment side of Hades. Like the rich man in Luke 16, they remain aware, remorseful, and uncomforted. This is not their final destination, but it is a real place of pain, fully known and fully experienced.
What’s Still to Come
The next great event is the resurrection. For believers, this will happen at Christ’s return. The dead in Christ will rise first, receiving glorified, incorruptible bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). These bodies will be like His: full of power, no longer subject to aging, weakness, or death.
Then comes the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is not a judgment of condemnation, but a review of every believer’s works. Rewards will be given. Crowns will be placed. And some will shine more brightly than others—not because they were better, but because they were faithful.
Unbelievers will be resurrected after the millennial reign of Christ. They will appear at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11–15). Every deed will be judged. Their names will not be found in the Book of Life. And then comes the final sentence.
The Final Separation: Death Dies
The last enemy to be destroyed is death itself. Revelation tells us that both death and Hades will be cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. No longer a place of waiting, Hades will be no more. What remains for the wicked is eternal separation from God in a place of conscious punishment.
The New Beginning: Eternal Glory
But for the righteous—those who belong to Christ—a new world is coming. A new Heaven. A new Earth. No more tears. No more night. No more death.
Here, glorified believers will walk with God. They will eat, celebrate, create, worship, and rule. Their joy will never end, and their bodies will never fail. This is not a clouded spirit realm—it is real, physical, eternal life.
Final Thoughts
The journey of the soul is not just a theology—it’s a story. One written by a faithful God, offered to every human being. From the first grave to the last throne, God has been telling us that death is not the final word. Jesus is.
Whether you’re new to these truths or rediscovering them afresh, let this truth sink in: The grave is not the end. It’s the doorway to eternity. Choose the path that leads to life.
