When unsaved people die, do they go into hell as soon as they die?
The question here is about when does the unsaved go to hell, not about the duration of hell. I will try to refrain myself in just answering the question asked.
There are two schools’ of thoughts on that.
1. Some believe that the unsaved lay unconsciously in the dirt, waiting for their final punishment.
2. The other school of thought is that they go directly to hell, awaiting their final consequences of their sins.
Both schools of thought agree with the final judgment of the wicked.
I will let you decide which one is the correct one.
a. Luke 16:19-31 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'” NIV
School 1 of thought believes this was a parable and that Jesus was trying to give the message that if the people of His day were not listening to Moses and the Prophets, even someone raised from the dead would be unable to convince them. The parable itself is just a made up story to make a point. It may have been a popular belief, but we should concentrate only on the message, not on the content of the parable.
School 2 of thought believes that this story is quite different from Jesus’ other parables. In none of His other parables, is Jesus using a specific name. What is even more interesting is that a man named Lazarus was actually resurrected by Jesus Himself (see John 11:43-44) and although his testimony was true, the chief priests who had rejected Jesus, were planning to kill him as well (see John 12:10), thus rejecting the testimony from someone coming from the other side.
Also this school of thought notice that although this story was directed to the Pharisees (see Luke 16: 14, 15), no reaction is mentioned from them after Jesus finished his story. Generally when they disagreed with Him, they opposed Him fiercely (read all 4 gospels). Why wouldn’t they oppose Him now? Wouldn’t it be a perfect opportunity to contradict Jesus in front of everyone concerning heaven and hell? They did not. Why? Because they believed in heaven and hell after death as well.
b. Job 27:19-20 “He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, all is gone. Terrors overtake him like a flood.” NIV
School 1 says that this happens at the resurrection of the wicked.
School 2 says: Can it be any more clear? The sinner lies down and his body appears to sleep, but he instantly opens his eyes and realizes he is no longer in the body and physically existing in this world. Immediately terrors take hold of him.
To save on space, I am only going to mention two more verses without any comments. Those texts are self-explanatory.
c. 2 Peter 2:4-10 “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)- if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.” NIV
d. Prov 23:13 “Don’t fail to correct your children; discipline won’t hurt them! They won’t die if you use a stick on them! Punishment will keep them out of hell.” TLB
Now the Bible also talks about the Day of Judgment, when the unsaved will be judged for what they have done. This will happen after the millennium, mentioned in the book of Revelation. Here again there are two schools’ of thought, one proclaiming that this destruction is complete annihilation (body and spirit) of the unsaved. This is why it is called the second death. The other school of thought is that the unsaved will suffer in the lake of fire for eternity. I will use but a few Bible texts on that topic and will let you decide which school of thought is the correct one.
a. Matt 25:41-46 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”” NIV
b. 2 Thess 1:7-9 “This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.” NIV
c. 2 Peter 3:7 “By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” NIV
d. Rev 20:9-10 “But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” NIV
e. Rev 20:14-15 “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” NIV
f. Rev 21:8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” NIV
g. Ezek 18:20 “The soul who sins is the one who will die.” NIV
No matter what school of thought you do believe in, the future of the unsaved does not look too appealing. The Bible records truth. The many fulfilled prophecies are proof of that, as well as our many personal experiences with our Heavenly Father. The unsaved will eventually all end up in the lake of fire!
Are you saved my friend? The Bible is true and one day you will face judgment (Heb 9:27 “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” NIV) Don’t act like the foolish speeder who tells himself that he will never be caught speeding by the police. Sooner or later he is caught and is facing the consequences of his infractions.
You cannot be saved by your good deeds my friend. You can only be saved by accepting Jesus into your life. Eph 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” NIV It isn’t too late to accept Jesus’ offer. Where are you heading? It is your choice my friend! Will you invite Him into your heart and enjoy His peace into your life? If you do, please answer His altar’s call at http://www.answers2prayer.org/saviours_call.html
(For more information about the state of the dead, please visit http://www.answers2prayer.org/bible_questions/Answers/hell/purgatory.html and http://www.answers2prayer.org/bible_questions/Answers/death/go.html)
Rob Chaffart
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this word from jesus settles the question of where a person’s soul will spend eternity
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
a picture of heaven and of hell
Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
SAVED FROM THE PENALTY OF DEATH-HELL
James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
A PERSON CAN LOSE THEIR SOUL
Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
HUMAN SOULS OF THE UNSAVED THAT WERE IN HELL ARE DELIVERED UP
Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
____________________________________________________ At this time, the immaterial side (the soul and spirit) of those who die having reached a point in life whereby they are held accountable before God for sin (the age of accountability) yet having never turned to God in repentance through faith in Christ Jesus, upon death, immediately go to a place of torment known as Hades or hell (the area of the unrighteous dead: Luke 16:22-23). They, along with all of the unrighteous dead throughout time, await the resurrection of their bodies (the resurrection of condemnation: John 5:29). At that time, their material side (their body) and their immaterial side (their soul and spirit) will once more be reunited and each will stand before Christ Jesus in judgment of their sin. At this judgment, their degree of punishment for all eternity (in the lake of fire) will be determined. It will be based on what they had done as recorded in the books (Revelation 20:11-15). Jim Futral http://www.biblepath.com (Answers to questions from a Biblical perspective)
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Daniel 12:2: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
John 5:28-29: “…for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
One had better repent of his sins and turn to Jesus before it is Too Late. Because if one dies unsaved, it is too late.
Revelation 20:11-14~
11) Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.
12) And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
14) Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
This is the resurrection of all unbelievers, and it is at this point that death is defeated. People are judged according to their works not according to their sins. Jesus dealt with sin on the Cross when He died for the sins of the whole world. The book contains everything that people have done in their lives and they are judged accordingly.
Notice the book of life is opened at this time, which is a register of all those who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, the believers. It is almost as though God in His Grace is checking to make doubly sure that their name is not there but of course it is not.
These verses show that no matter where you die, if you are an unbeliever this judgement is going to catch up with you, but the Grace of God is always available, all you have to do is to believe in Jesus as your Saviour.
Verse 14 is an interesting verse some people say means unbelievers will spend eternity in hell, they will not. Hell is a temporary stopping place for unbelievers, and at the end of The Millennium when the dead unbelievers are raised; hell is cast into the Lake of Fire, as death will be, because they will then be empty.
Revelation 20:15 The result of the Great White Throne Judgement is that all the unbelievers go into the Lake of Fire.
It is our personal responsibility to try to win all unsaved people we can over to Christ before it is too late. Acts 1:8-9 “…and ye shall be witness unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when He had spoken these things while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” MAY ALL BE BLESSED.
Love DeeDee
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No! We all receive our punishment or reward together on the Judgment Day, when Jesus returns to this earth The dead in Christ will be resurrected and caught up with the living righteous to meet the Lord in the air.1 Thessalonians 4:15-17:1 Corinthians 15:51-56. The living wicked will be destroyed by the brightness of His Coming. This mortal will put on immortality.1 Timothy1:17 tells us plainly that the only one who has immortality now is The King Eternal
It would be unfair for some to suffer longer than others because they were born earlier.
The Bible teaches that death is a sleep until the Resurrection.
In the beginning God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul Gen 2:7 When a man dies, his breath goeth forth,he returneth to the earth, in that very day his thoughts perish Psalm 146:4 which is Genesis 2:7 in reverse.
Job declared these words for all of us:- “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” Job 19:25,26
Ecclesiastes 9:5 says “For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know not anything, neither have they anymore a reward for the memory of them is forgotten.”
John 11: tells us Lazarus was asleep for 4 days, before Jesus resurrected him. He did not come forth with great tales of what he saw in heaven,he was asleep in death and knew nothing until Jesus resurrected him.
Genesis 3:4 shows us where the lie that we are conscious in death originated Satan posing as the serpent told Eve, “Ye shall not surely die”. He and his evil angels come forth in the séance or wherever spiritualism is practiced and impersonate our loved ones telling us how happy they are and how they are enjoying their new existence. He is the father of lies. The Lord tells us to avoid witchcraft, and the occult, otherwise the devil will take over our minds.
When Jesus comes to claim His own that is called by the Bible the first Resurrection of life, and those who are raised or translated will not have a part in the 2nd Resurrection of damnation. John 5:26-29.
So what happens to the wicked who are already dead?
Revelation 20 tells us that the Righteous are taken to Heaven for a 1000 years. During that time we reign with Christ and study the Judgment books to see why some we thought would be there are not, and some we thought wouldn’t make it, did. Rev 20:4
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the 1000 years were finished. Satan is bound on this earth with his evil angels for the 1000 years Rev 20:1
When the 1000 years are finished. Satan shall be loosed from his prison and the wicked shall be resurrected to receive their punishment. Rev 20:7-13
The wicked are unrepentant and ‘compass the camp of the saints about’ ready to overthrow God and the Heavenly City and the saints.
‘And fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them’ Rev 20:9.
The fire goes on until all are consumed, then because there is nothing left to burn it goes out. Hell fire does not go on forever, but the punishment of Eternal Death does.
So the wicked dead are sleeping in their graves for now. The injustices and crimes they have committed have to be punished, many have never been justly punished ,every secret sin will be exposed, because God is a god of Mercy and Justice He must pass sentence on them. ‘At the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ Philippians 2:10,11.
The wicked would be uncomfortable and out of place in the selflessness of Heaven and the peace and joy and love there, would be torture to their souls. So in mercy they are destroyed. Everyone will receive their just reward.
I’ll meet you on the Sea of Glass when Jesus comes, God bless Noeline
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According to the day of judgement in Revelation 20, they do not go immediately. They certainly do go, for they wanted to be judged by their deeds. Our deeds can NOT pay the price for sin, only Jesus’ blood can, for He is sinless. But, if the unsaved “sleep” until judgement day, it would feel like they went to hell immediately. In this case, it is irrelevant whether it was “as soon as” or not. And certainly, there is no longer a purgatory that allows one to change their mind, for this would make a mockery of the Bible. Our whole life here is a grace period. As Philippians 2 states, when everyone sees God face to face–even at the name of Jesus—EVERY knee will bow!
Todd Shilt
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The Bible teaches: There is no hell burning now
1. There are two distinct resurrections: “there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust” Acts 24:15
2. “All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and call come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” John 5:28, 29
3. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” 1 Thessalonians 4:16
4. and they (the righteous) lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. Revelation 20: 4,5
5. “but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” 2 peter 3:7
6. The wicked will be destroyed at the second death Revelation 20:14
7. “and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. Revelation 20:9
May God Bless you all! I Hope and pray that we all wake up that the resurrection of the just (first resurrection)
Yvonne