WILL THERE BE DIFFERENT PHASES IN THE AFTERLIFE?

Yes there will be different phases in the afterlife. The Bible teaches that believers will experience three different phases in their afterlife while unbelievers will experience only two phases. However, those believers in the Old Testament period had a fourth phase. Before Jesus death the spirits of everyone who died went to Hades. This was taught by Jesus in Luke 16:19-31. Hades had two compartments, one for believers and another for unbelievers. The compartment for unbelievers is sometimes referred to as Torments and the compartment for believers is referred to as Abraham’s Bosom. There was a great chasm between the two and nobody had any chance whatsoever of being able to go from one to the other. At Jesus’ death he took those in Abrahams Boson to Paradise in heaven. Since Jesus’ death the spirits of believers go directly to heaven at their death while the spirits of unbelievers still go to Torments.

Thus we see that a believer who dies in the present age has three future phases of existence to look forward to as follows:

In heaven in spiritual bodies until the rapture of the church.

In heaven and for seven years during the tribulation period and then back on earth for 1000 years in their glorified, resurrected bodies.

In the new order in the re-united new heaven and new earth for eternity after the final judgments that take place after the millennium.

We will distinguish the differences as we go forward.

In contrast, unbelievers will have only two phases of existence. Their spirit goes immediately to Torments upon their death and they remain there until the final judgment after the millennium. After the final judgment they go to the lake of fire and outer darkness for eternity. You will find details in the section of my website on hell, Hades and outer darkness.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?

Luke 16:22 tells us that angels take believers to heaven when we die. I suspect that when they do they will make a quick stop at the Lambs Book of Life to show us that our name is on page 1 along with John, Peter, James, Paul, Moses, etc. You see everyone is very important to God and he has a special place prepared for each of us. I had some confirmation of the angels taking us to heaven when I was with my wife and her family as we were at the side of her father in the hospital as he was about to pass on to glory. Just a few seconds before he breathed his last breath he asked us, “Do you see them? Do you see the angels?” His last words as he passed!