What Happens to Our Bodies After Death?

Years ago I had a conversation with a man who believed that when an individual dies that his soul and body would stay in the grave until Christ returned to set up His Millennial Kingdom on earth.  This idea is called "soul sleep" and it is not a biblical thought.  In fact, the moment we die, we face the judgment of God.  Hebrews 9:27 says that, "....it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment."

Christians can live with the confidence that "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:6-8).  Although their bodies are placed into the ground their soul is ushered into the presence of Christ immediately.  Unfortunately, for unbelievers, death means everlasting punishment in hell immediately following death (Luke 16:22-23).  However, they will wait for their final destination in the Lake of Fire after their physical resurrection.

When Christ returns, believers' bodies will be resurrected and they will be given glorified bodies (1 Cor. 15:50-54; 1 Thess. 4:13-17). It would appear that while the souls of believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, the physical body remains in the grave awaiting the return of Jesus Christ.  At that resurrection of believers (1 Thess. 4:13-17), the physical body is resurrected, glorified, and then reunited with their soul. This reunited and glorified body and soul will be the possession of the believer for all eternity in the new heavens and new earth.  It would appear that our glorified bodies will be recognizable in Heaven as we look at Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man in Luke 16:19-31.  Also, Moses and Elijah were recognizable at the transfiguration in Matthew 17:3-4.

It could be said that after death a person resides in a temporary dwelling place called heaven and hell.   Believers will ultimately be granted entrance into the new heavens and new earth when Christ returns according to Revelation 21. We are told that those who rejected Christ will be physically resurrected (with their body and soul) and ultimately be sent to the lake of fire as mentioned in Revelation 20:15.