Some people say emphatically, “WE CAN’T KNOW where we go right after we die.” But the Lord Jesus drew the curtain aside in Luke 16:19-31 to show us WE CAN KNOW what happens to people after they die. This passage tells us about two men, a RICH MAN and a BEGGAR (verses 19-21). Eventually they BOTH DIED and here is what Jesus said about WHERE they went: “the beggar died and was carried by the angels to ABRAHAM’S BOSOM. The rich man died and was buried. And being IN TORMENTS IN HADES, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (verses 22-23). It is obvious their bodies were BURIED in a grave, but the spirits of these two men went to two very different places. The beggar went to “Abraham’s bosom” (which is another name for Paradise/Heaven) where he was COMFORTED (see verse 25). The rich man went to a place where he was in TORMENTS. We aren’t told exactly where this place was; only that he was in torment. It should be said that “Hades” speaks as to the CONDITION of one who has died, for their spirits have “separated from their body” and the actual PLACE of their departed spirit depends on whether the person was a believer in Christ or an unbeliever. The beggar was a believer, so he was in a PLACE OF COMFORT in heaven. Yet it is obvious that the rich man was an unbeliever, so he was in a PLACE OF TORMENT and is awaiting the final judgment (see Revelation 20:15-20). The beggar is “NOT awaiting judgment” for the Bible teaches us that Christ was JUDGED for the sins of all who would believe on Him (see 1 Peter 3:18; John 3:16; 6:47). Romans 8:1 declares, “There is NO CONDEMNATION to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Every believer today is assured that the moment they breathe their last breath the spirit will depart the body (James 2:26a) and they will be “absent from the body and present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). This is why the Lord Jesus could turn to the thief on the cross who had repented and believed on Him and say, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). The Apostle Paul told the saints at Philippi, “For me to live is Christ, and TO DIE IS GAIN…having a desire TO DEPART AND TO BE WITH CHRIST, which is far better” (Philippians 1:21, 23).

Every unbeliever today is assured that the moment they breathe their last breath they “die in their sins” (John 8:24), which means they will suffer “in a place of torment” with the rich man until they will be made to stand before the Great White Throne where Jesus Christ will be their judge Who will condemn them to the Lake of Fire for all eternity (again, see Revelation20:15-20). Some have taught that there will be “another chance to be saved AFTER you die, but that is a lie told by “the father of lies, the Devil” (see John 8:30-47). The rich man was told by Abraham, “Between us and YOU there is a GREAT GULF FIXED, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.” Throughout all eternity one’s eternal destiny is sealed the moment they die! One will either be in the “bliss of heaven with Christ” or the “torments of Hell with the Devil and his angels and all Christ-rejectors” (Matthew 25:41 with John 3:36). Because of this solemn truth, I would plead with anyone that is still unsaved to turn to Christ now before it’s forever too late. “Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION” (2 Corinthians 6:2). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).  (DO)  (700.5)