What happens to believers when they die?

A reader, while working with children, was asked the question "What happens when you die?" He wasn't sure how to answer the child, so he asked me the question, with further investigation: "If we are professed believers, do we ascend to heaven to our physical death or" sleep "until our Savior returns?"

What does the Bible say about death, eternal life and paradise?
Most Christians spent some time wondering what happens to us after death. Recently, we have examined the account of Lazarus, who was raised from the dead by Jesus. He spent four days in the afterlife, yet the Bible tells us nothing of what he saw. Of course, Lazarus' family and friends must have learned something about his journey to heaven and back. And many of us today are familiar with the testimonies of people who have had near-death experiences. Each of these reports is unique and can only take a look at the sky.

In fact, the Bible reveals very few concrete details about paradise, the afterlife and what happens when we die. God must have good reason to make us reflect on the mysteries of heaven. Perhaps our finite minds could never understand the realities of eternity. For now, we can only imagine.

Yet the Bible does reveal many truths about the afterlife. This study will take a complete look at what the Bible says about death, eternal life and paradise.

Believers can face death without fear
Psalm 23: 4
Even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear any evil, since you are with me; your rod and your stick comfort me. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 15: 54-57
So when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting? "
Because sin is the sting that causes death and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! It gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)

Believers enter the presence of the Lord at death
Basically, the moment we die, our spirit and soul go to stay with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5: 8
Yes, we are fully confident and would prefer to be away from these earthly bodies, since then we will be at home with the Lord. (NLT)

Philippians 1: 22-23
But if I live, I can do a more fruitful job for Christ. So I really don't know which one is the best. I am divided between two wishes: I want to go and be with Christ, which would be much better for me. (NLT)

Believers will dwell with God forever
Psalm 23: 6
Surely goodness and love will follow me for all the days of my life, and I will abide forever in the house of the Lord. (NIV)

Jesus prepares a special place for believers in heaven
John 14: 1-3
“Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust God; trust me too. In my Father's house there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to stay with me so that you can also be where I am. "(NIV)

Heaven will be much better than earth for believers
Philippians 1:21
"For me, living is Christ and dying is profit." (NIV)

14 Apocalypse: 13
"And I heard a voice from heaven saying," Write this: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are truly blessed, because they will rest from their hard work because their good deeds follow them! "(NLT)

The death of a believer is precious to God
Psalm 116: 15
"Precious in the eyes of the Eternal is the death of his saints." (NIV)

Believers belong to the Lord of heaven
Romans 14: 8
"If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So if we live or die, we belong to the Lord. " (NIV)

Believers are citizens of heaven
Philippians 3: 20-21
"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we look forward to a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, with the power that allows him to bring everything under his control, will transform our modest bodies will be like his glorious body ". (NIV)

After their physical death, believers gain eternal life
John 11: 25-26
"Jesus said to her," I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe? "(NIV)

Believers receive an eternal inheritance in heaven
1 Peter 1: 3-5
"Praise God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he gave us a new birth in a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and in an inheritance that will never perish, ruin or vanish, held in heaven for you, who by faith are protected from power of God until the coming of salvation which is ready to be revealed in the last time. "(NIV)

Believers receive a crown in heaven
2 Timothy 4: 7-8
"I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of justice, which the Lord, the just Judge, will assign to that day, and not only for me, but also for all those who ardently desired his appearance. " (NIV)

Eventually, God will end death
Revelation 21: 1-4
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, since the first heaven and the first earth were dead ... I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, which came down from heaven from God. .. And I heard a strong voice from the throne say: “Now the abode of God is with men, and will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, mourning, tears or pain, as the old order of things is dead. "(NIV)

Why are believers said to be "asleep" or "asleep" after death?
Examples:
John 11: 11-14
1 Thessalonians 5: 9-11
1 Corinthians 15:20

The Bible uses the term "asleep" or "asleep" when referring to the believer's physical body at death. It is important to note that the term is used exclusively for believers. The corpse appears to be asleep when separated from the spirit and soul of the believer at death. The spirit and soul, which are eternal, are united with Christ at the time of the believer's death (2 Corinthians 5: 8). The believer's body, which is mortal flesh, perishes or "sleeps" until the day it is transformed and reunited with the believer at the final resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:43; Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:51)

1 Corinthians 15: 50-53
"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor do the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: we won't all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. Because the trumpet will blow, the dead will be raised in an imperishable way, and we will be changed. Because the perishable must dress with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. " (NIV)