This is a very good question.  Let’s read 1 Peter 4:5-6, “Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. FOR THIS CAUSE WAS THE GOSPEL PREACHED ALSO TO THEM THAT ARE DEAD, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.”

I think this misunderstanding can be cleared up easily by reading this portion from the Amplified Bible, a very good translation.  That says, “But they will [have to] give an account to Him who is ready to judge and pass sentence on the living and the dead. For this is why the good news [of salvation] was preached [in their lifetimes] even to those who are dead, that though they were judged in the flesh as men are, they may live in the spirit according to [the will and purpose of] God.”

This shows these words refer to those who once lived but are now dead.  The Gospel message was shared with them in their lifetime, but they rejected it.  The Bible is clear that once one dies, there is no second chance for salvation.  We read in Ecclesiastes 11:3, “If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, IN THE PLACE WHERE THE TREE FALLETH, THERE IT SHALL BE.”  This is such a good analogy to show the permanence of one’s station after he passes away.  So, we see that once death overtakes someone, his destiny is unchangeable, whether for Heaven or Hell.  Hebrews 9:27 tells us, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”  The judgment that passes upon all is irreversible.  One either enters Heaven through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ or will be judged forever “according to their works.” (Read Revelation 20:11-15). 

We see that brought out clearly in the well-known account of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19-21.  In Hell, the rich man asked that Lazarus, in Heaven, be sent to bring him a drop of water.  We read in verses 25-26, “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”  Such exact language shows that one who has died without Christ as their savior will never be able to be saved.  What a tragedy.  Notice that this man in Hell did not repent for his sins, he only asked that his sufferings might be made lighter by a tiny drop of water. 

We see from these scriptural examples and throughout scripture that those who have died in their sins cannot be saved.  From this we can establish the principle that “neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”  When we understand this truth, we see that a verse like 1 Peter 4:6 deserves a little “deeper digging” to realize the truth presented there.  (CC)  (668.6)