Hope and Prophecy

What Happens After Death According to the Bible?

The Bible teaches that death is followed by a period of unconscious rest, after which comes resurrection and judgment. The final destiny of each person is determined by his or her relationship to God and response to His salvation.

Published 2026-09-13 · Updated 2026-09-27

Written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team. Read our editorial policy.

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State of the Dead

Biblical explanation

Jesus described death using the metaphor of sleep. Lazarus had died, yet Jesus said He would “wake him up” (). The apostles continued using this language. Paul described deceased Christians as those who “sleep in Jesus” (). The resurrection occurs when Christ returns. says the “dead in Christ shall rise first.” Jesus also taught two future resurrections, one to life and one to judgment (). similarly says that “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,” with different outcomes. The Bible therefore presents a sequence: A person dies. The person rests in death. Christ returns. The dead are resurrected. God brings judgment. The righteous receive eternal life. Sin and death are ultimately destroyed. describes the final judgment and the lake of fire, which Scripture explicitly identifies as “the second death” ().

In brief

Jesus described death using the metaphor of sleep.

Bible references

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Editorial note

This answer is written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team, and is presented with supporting references so you can examine each passage in context. If you notice an error or unclear statement, please suggest a correction.