After Life (3) - More Paradise

The Bible tells us something of what Paradise is like:

1. Paradise is a conscious existence. Hebrews 12:1,2 speaks of a great crowd of witnesses, who are aware of our struggles on the earth. People who have died will be able to pray for those still on earth. In Revelation 6:9-11, the souls of the martyrs are heard crying out to God, and praying about events on earth.


2. The souls of the saints will be made perfect in holiness. Hebrews 12:23 speaks of the "spirits of righteous men made perfect". Man does not become perfect by discarding his body. Both body and soul have potential for good and evil. The souls of the saints will be made perfect in Paradise.


3. The suffering of life on earth will be ended (Rev 7:16,17).


4. Paradise is a place of rest.
   

   Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them” (Rev 14:13).

5. Jesus will be at the centre of Paradise. All those who go there will have the privilege of being with him. They will experience all the glory and blessing that comes from being close to Jesus, who has gone to prepare a place for his followers.
   

   I am going there to prepare a place for you... I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:3).

   Paradise is a temporary dwelling place for disembodied regenerate souls, where they remain until the last day when Christ returns.

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After Life (2) - Paradise

Jesus will return to earth at the end of the age to bring in the last judgment. This raises an important question. What happens to people between when they die and Jesus returns? The Bible explains that we all go to a temporary dwelling place to await the final judgment. Those who know Jesus wait with him in paradise, while those who do not know him wait in Hades.

When a believer arrives at the end of life on this earth, their body dies, but their soul lives on (2 Cor 5:6-9). When they came to faith, they were born again of the Spirit. This is the resurrection of the soul; their spirit has come to life.

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it…. "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life (John 5:21,24).

The first resurrection allows the soul to live forever.

The soul of the believer goes straight to Paradise to be with Jesus. He said to the penitent thief:

Today you will be with me in Paradise (Luke 23:43).

Christians have the assurance that their believing loved ones go to be with the Lord when they die, because they have gone straight to Paradise. It is an intermediate state, where God’s people wait for the last judgment, at which they will receive their final reward.