What Happens When I Die?
 

What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
 James 4:14
 

   Glad you stopped by this   The subject of what happens after you die is not the kind of question we generally ask ourselves except during difficult times.  My hope is you will find something here to give you encouragement.
   I rely on the testimony of the only one whose resurrection from the dead confirms his unique authority in this subject area!


 
Before you die you will suffer for a little while. For some people that suffering is but an instant (for example: a fatal car crash) and for some it lasts for years (as with a prolonged illness.) The promise for those already who love Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior when they die is this:

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. <1 Peter 5:10>
 
Jesus, when He returns, will be the one to judge those who are living at the time He returns as well as those who have died prior to His return.

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom <2 Timothy 4:1>

and

He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. <Acts 10:42>
 
Those who have "died" are described in the Bible as being "asleep." They will awaken for judgment - some will receive everlasting life with God and some will have shame and everlasting contempt

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. <Daniel 12:2>
 
The time for judgment will occur at the time of the return of Jesus Christ. The Bible describes it this way:

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Therefore encourage each other with these words. <1 Thessalonians 4:13-18>

and

in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. <1 Corinthians 15:52>
 
Judgment by Christ Jesus will start first with the family of God

For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? <1 Peter 4:17>
 
and those who have trusted Jesus and died (fallen asleep) will rise first

We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. <1 Thessalonians 4:14-15>
  
Judgment by Jesus results in two possibilities: either being with God forever or being removed from His presence forever:

He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." <Revelation 21:6-8>

and

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. <Revelation 20:11-15>
 
My friends, to know what will happen when we die we simply need to read the Bible. This does not imply that we will understand everything the Bible says at this time. Regarding this, 1 Corinthians 13:12 says:

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
 
God will search out each one of our hearts and there is nothing hidden in our hearts that God will not see. So, Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord <Acts 3:19>
 
This essay is dedicated to the Roman Catholic Priest who spoke at a funeral on Friday, October 6, 2000 and said, to everyone who was there, "I have absolutely no idea what happens when you die." I went to him afterwards and said "I can tell you what happens when you die" but this man would not even listen.  If you love Jesus Christ would you pray that the eyes of this man would be opened to what God has told His people?
  

"As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance." <Daniel 12:13>
  
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