The common answer is that we don’t know?  How can one be sure?  Do we even have control over that?  These are some of the thoughts we all share about that big question.  In scripture we find that there is more to life than our short existence in this earth. We will go on after we die, but how and where?

There are 4 major thoughts on what happens when we die or pass away.  We will either
a. Go to heaven
b. Go to hell
c. Be incarnated
d. Go to purgatory

Pop Quiz?  Two of the four answers are not found in Bible which two are they? Read on and you'll discover the answer!  

A.  Heaven. 

The bible describes heaven as the place where God dwells (Isaiah 66:1 ;  Acts 1:11).  It will also be a brand new place that will be recreated just for us.  (2 Peter 3:10 ;  Revelation 21:1).  It also is the place where there is no thirst or hunger and the temperature will be great all the time (Rev 7:16).  There will be no more death and no more pain (Rev 21:4).  We won’t need a sun or moon to give light but God’s radiance will provide light for us (Rev. 21:22).  As a matter of fact there will be no more night (Rev. 22:5).  Nothing impure will ever enter it (Rev.21:27).  However this place is reserved for those who have asked Jesus to forgive them of their sin and have chosen Jesus as the Lord of their lives. 

B.  Hell.
Usually when we think of Satan and Hell we think of horns, and pitchforks, tails, and other mystic pictures.  Some of these ideas are far from the truth. It is the big secret most don’t realize.  Realistically, Hell is the place of eternal conscious torment and suffering (Matt. 25:30 ; 25:41 ; 25:46 ; Mark 9:43).  God has revealed in scripture that it is eternal punishment characterized by fire.  The pain is forever for all of eternity (Rev. 20:10). It’s place of no return (Rev. 14:9-11).  There is no coming back.  It’s the final destination for the souls of people who refuse to accept Christ Jesus as the savior from their sin.

C. Incarnation.
This is the belief that when people die their soul will return to earth and they will be made into a new being whether human or other life form.  A person’s next incarnation (life form they will indwell) is based upon what a person did in their former life. Unfortunately this philosophy doesn’t answer the questions of (1) How can I be certain where I will go? (2) What are the guidelines for this decision? (3) How will my sin ever be erased? (4) How can this belief be verified? (5) What is the basis or authority for this belief – is it from God or man? (6) Where and what is the end goal of life?  Simply said the belief of incarnation offers too many questions of uncertainty and is not found in the Bible. 

D. Purgatory.
What is it exactly? It’s a place where the souls of men go after they die where their sins can be “purged” away or where they can be forgiven of their sins.  However the bible does not teach or mention anything about purgatory. God never mentions such a thing directly or indirectly in the inspired Holy Scriptures.  Also, Jesus never mentioned such a thing.  If one looks at his words clearly, Jesus taught that one goes to one or two places when they die (Heaven or Hell). 

The idea of purgatory counters Jesus’ teachings and claims.  This belief is built on a writings of the Maccabees. These writings are not considered scripture by all Catholics, Protestants and Eastern Orthodox believers.  In other words it is a part of a collection of writings that the whole church does accept.  (There isn’t room to provide an ample discussion for the rejection of these writings.) The bottom line is this: The Bible talks about two places and they are (1) Heaven where there is eternal bliss and joy found in the presence of God forever for those who believe and trust in Jesus and (2)  Hell where there is eternal separation from God, eternal conscious torment, and where there is not a second shot for believing God and his Son.  For more proof or detail see the above sections on Heaven and Hell. 

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