After Death & Near Death Experiences ~ What The Bible Says

We all know that eventually we will die. Most of us have had a loved one die, followed by the grief, sorrow, and sometimes guilt. As we get older, we experience the losses more and more, as friends, family members, and others around us die.

The sermons at the funerals offer comforting words, most often by assuring people their loved ones are in heaven. Therefore most Christians believe we go straight to heaven when we die. But is that what the bible actually says?

I no longer believe we go directly to heaven. However I do have some confusion, or perhaps not a clear understanding of certain verses. I believe we simply rest without conscious awareness until Christ returns, based on the following verses:

Daniel 12:2

2 And many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to euerlasting life, and some to shame and euerlasting contempt.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

7 Then shall the dust returne to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall returne vnto God who gaue it.

Perhaps the most clarification comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16

13  But I would not haue you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleepe, that ye sorrow not, euen as others which haue no hope.

14  For if we beleeue that Iesus died, and rose againe: euen so them also which sleepe in Iesus, will God bring with him.

15  For this we say vnto you by the word of the Lord, That we which are aliue and remaine vnto the comming of the Lord, shall not preuent them which are asleepe.

16 For the Lord himselfe shall descend from heauen with a shout, with the voyce of the Archangel, and with the trumpe of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first

These verses make it pretty clear, we do not go to directly to heaven when we die. What causes some confusion is the verse telling us we go back to dust, and our spirit goes back to God, who gave it. And also, when the spirit leaves the body, the body is dead.

Some people attribute these verses to the imaginary rapture, however it is clear that Paul is talking about when Christ returns. There is no secret pre-tribulation rapture. People who believe this should re-read the verses in full context.

The idea of a pre-tribulation rapture was invented by John Darby in the 1800’s. It appeals to many Christians, because it implies there will be a rescue, before the tribulation period, which they believe will be a period of seven years, with the worst violence, wars, plagues, and pestilence the world has ever known. 

But if the dead are going to rise first – why would they need to be rescued from the tribulation? They are already dead, and are no longer affected by the tribulations in the world. 

The Book of Revelation also makes it quite clear that the Christians will be here until Christ returns. 

What is not clear to me is whether or not our spirit has any awareness after it leaves the body.

There is often confusion about the immortality of the soul. Some religious beliefs claim the soul leaves the body, and does not die. However the bible clearly says it is the spirit that leaves the body, and returns to God, not the soul.

Our soul is our mind, emotions, and will. It does not sound to me like the soul leaves the body, but rather it dies, or ceases to know what is going on, until the return of Christ. The Apostle Paul gave these verses to assure people their loved ones would not be forgotten, and would be resurrected when Christ returns. He was comforting them. 

The verses indicating we pass from death to life, is based on our awareness. When we die we have no further awareness until the last trumpet call, and Christ returns to awaken us to life everlasting. Therefore it does make sense that believers do pass from death to life, because we have no idea how much time has passed.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 tells us this:

5 For the liuing know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither haue they any more a reward, for the memorie of them is forgotten.

To add to the many verses referring to death as sleep, the story of Christ raising Lazarus from the dead shows us that even the disciples were confused initially when Jesus said he was dead.

11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

The verses above are clear about what happens to our bodies when we die, and soul when we die.

The only ones who will not experience death, are the Christians who are alive when Christ returns.

However, the following verses cause us to ponder it even more, especially the very well-known verse about the thief on the cross who died alongside Jesus. The only plausible explanation is that the comma should be placed after the word today, instead of after the word thee. It changes the meaning, to explain Jesus is making the promise today, and not that the thief would be in paradise today.

Luke 23:43

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Once again, referring to the story about the rich man and Lazarus, the following verse makes us wonder where is the location of Abraham’s bosom, and what it means to go there? What is the difference between that, and being buried like the rich man was?

Luke 16:19-

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

When the Apostle Paul wrote Philippians he said the following in chapter 1:23.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

In this verse, Paul is saying to die is to be with Christ, which implies there is no waiting period.

The good news is that as Christians we know Christ has overcome death on our behalf, even if we do not have a complete understanding of how long we sleep, or if there is any spiritual awareness after our spirit departs.

A very sombre warning is in Hebrews 9:27 for the non-believers.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

God is not the author of confusion, therefore any confusion we have when it comes to interpreting the bible, is based on our own limited understanding. If we remain humble, faithful and diligent, we will gradually understand more of God’s incredible plan. 

As far as the many near death experiences recounted by people, we have no way of verifying what they say.

But for those who say they were reunited with loved ones, the bible does not support such claims. The bible does not describe bright lights, gardens, meadows with flowers etc.

However the mind, and especially the sub-conscious mind can have very vivid dreams when traumatized, deprived of oxygen, or given cocktails of drugs. Therefore what people see, and believe happened might have been a vivid dream.

Some of the accounts seem to be genuine, and others seem to be contrived. We do know there is a very active spirit world around us. We are warned to never attempt to contact the dead, or enter into a spirit world that could have demonic spirits.

Copyright Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West (2025). Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.