Where does my soul go when I die?

April 12, 2021 by Stephen Davey

Gracie asked: I know I’m saved, but where will my soul go when I depart from this life? Will I stay asleep in the ground until Jesus comes, or will I go straight to Heaven?

What happens to the soul after death is a puzzle, especially because everyone who has experienced death can’t come back to tell us what it’s like! Thankfully, God has given us insight into what takes place. Paul wrote that he “would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” which seems to indicate that as soon as the soul departs the body, it goes to be with God (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Jesus gave the clearest answer to this question when he addressed the sinner nailed next to him on the cross and said, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Jesus said that on the day they died, that sinner would be in Heaven with Jesus.

For the believer, when we die, we will go to God’s presence in Heaven and wait for his Second Coming, when Jesus will return to earth, with us, to set up His new kingdom!

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Tammy says:

This is what I’ve been taught, that we go to Heaven or Hell when we die. However, I’m confused as to what the Bible means when it says the dead in Christ shall rise first. If we are already in Heaven, who are the dead in Christ still in the graves? Thank you for your ministry.

James says:

If the thief went to be with Jesus in paradise on that day, did Jesus go to heaven and that day and return to earth later when He was seen after the resurrection?

Angelina. Parker says:

When Jesus died on the cross and was dead for a few days, it was on the 3rd day that He was resurrected. Are you saying that Jesus went to Heaven during that time?

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