What happens to our soul when we die?

According to the Bible, of course.

© Jane Isley

There are many opinions and theories regarding this topic, and literally, nearly everyone I have encountered hasn’t even looked at Scripture to get the Biblical answer.

When we die, we are simply in a state like sleep, numerous verses directly tell us this.

It doesn’t hint at anything else.

I believe that was done for a reason, to prevent people from deviating away from the Bible and believing dead people communicate with us, guide us in the afterlife, that we can talk to them through occult practices, or directly talk and pray to them in Heaven.

Honestly is no debate on this.

It is clear throughout the entire Bible, as the verses I have quoted below will show. Also, we do not get the new Heaven and Earth to go to until after everything is said and done at the end times. (Revelation 21:1) We also do not experience the first and second resurrections until that time either.

This is dangerous thinking that can lead to a minefield and set you up for spiritual warfare where your soul is the cost. Anyone who teaches that the dead are in Heaven and/or looking down on you should be questioned quite thoroughly because they are making a false teaching, so what else do they have wrong and are teaching you?

“After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” John 11:11–15

“Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” John 11:23–24

He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.” Mark 5:39–45

Death is like sleep for us, according to Jesus.

That is why He had to take a moment and clarify what He meant when He said that to the disciples, who arguably had to be very confused at that moment.

This is further backed up by 1 Corinthians 15:52, “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.”

Other verses that describe our state after death and when believers will enter heaven in new bodies.

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,” Hebrews 9:27

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out — those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.” John 5:28–29

“For the living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten.” Ecclesiastes 9:5

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” Ecclesiastes 9:10

“But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last and is no more.

As the water of a lake dries up or a riverbed becomes parched and dry, so he lies down and does not rise; till the heavens are no more, people will not awake or be roused from their sleep.” Job 14:10–12

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For 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 word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 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.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13–16

“No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven — the Son of Man.” John 3:13 (THIS ONE IS KEY TO REMEMBER)

“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2

“Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.” 1 Kings 2:10

“Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,” Psalms 13:3

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable. 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. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.” 1 Cor 15:42–44

“Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” Romans 8:23

I’m going to throw in one verse that gets taken out of context because the rest of that passage is ignored.

"and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7

If you take the time to read Ecclesiastes 12:1–8, you will see that this is a reminder. King Solomon was talking about growing old, he is saying Remember these things before our spirit returns to God.

This is not a phrase dictating that this will happen immediately, just that it will inevitably happen.

Ultimately, my point is simple. We die, we sleep, and then we are resurrected.

We do not look down on the living, turn in guardian angels, we do not communicate past death, we simply sleep. In the blink of our eye, we will be before God on judgment day. 

Any theories out there that go against what the Bible explicitly says about death are false teachings and create division amongst Christians. We should always be wary of anyone who teaches/preaches differently on this topic; a whole lot of bad could come of it.

© Jane Isley

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