Sheol

After someone dies we who remain are usually showered with a myriad of condolences, well-wishes and comforting words like, "She's in heaven now" or "He's in a better place now." Are we sure? Where DO we go when we die?

Every religion has their own beliefs and theories about life after death. Even the Christian faith has differing opinions, depending on your denomination. So what is true? Everyone can't be right. Let's go to the Bible to see what we can find.

There are three different beliefs within the Christian faith. GotQuestions.org describe these differing "camps" this way.

Within the Christian faith, there is a significant amount of confusion regarding what happens after death. Some hold that after death, everyone “sleeps” until the final judgment, after which everyone will be sent to heaven or hell. Others believe that at the moment of death, people are instantly judged and sent to their eternal destinations. Still others claim that when people die, their souls/spirits are sent to a “temporary” heaven or hell, to await the final resurrection, the final judgment, and then the finality of their eternal destination.

Sheol is a Hebrew word used throughout the Old Testament. Sheol means "place of the dead." When the Old Testament texts were translated into Greek (200 BC) this word became Hades. It means "the place of the dead." That's where we go when we die - Sheol. Not heaven.

There also appears to be two parts to Sheol. Open your Bibles to Luke 16:22-23. The words of Jesus:

"22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.6 The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side." - Luke 16:22-23

We can tell quite a few things from this text. Lazarus is physically higher than the rich man, yet they are both in near proximity because they can see each other. There appear to be two "places" in Hades, one where there is torment and the other without torment. What determined their destinations in Sheol? Their faith.

Then there are these words from Jesus to the thief on the cross - the thief who believed that Jesus was the Son of God. Both were about to die and Jesus said this.

"Today you will be with me in paradise." - Luke 23:43

So, do we go to heaven when we die. The answer seems to be no. Is their indeed no more pain after death? That all depends upon our faith. How is your faith these days? None of us knows for sure where we will end up. That decision is in God's hands. We can say we believe but do we really? There is one thing we DO know however . . .

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

What Happens After Death - Got Questions.org