What happens to unbelievers that die before the return of Christ?
Revelation 22:6 - 21
ESV - 6 And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. 7 "And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
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Tim Maas
Supporter
In the account of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31), Jesus indicated that those who die in an unsaved state go immediately (as shown by the rich man speaking of his brothers who are still alive on earth (Luke 16:27-28), which would mean that the final judgment at the close of the age (Matthew 25:31-46) has not yet taken place) to an intermediate place of punishment called Hades, while those who are saved go to an intermediate place of reward (referred to as Abraham's bosom (Luke 16:22), or as Paradise (Luke 23:43)).
Aurel Gheorghe
Supporter
The Bible often refers to death as a "sleep." This is because the dead will actually be "awakened" (resurrected) at the end of time, some to everlasting life, others to everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2). There are actually hundreds of Bible text talking about death as a sleep (1 Cor 15:51; John 11:11; Acts 7:60; 1 Kings 2:10; Acts 13:36; Ps 13:3; Matt 9:24). The Bible also says the dead "know not anything" (Eccl. 9:5), they "do not praise the Lord" (Psalm 115:17), and that their thoughts have perished (Psalm 146:4). So, the dead, righteous or not, believer or not, saved or lost, according with the Bible sleep in the dust awaiting the return of Christ. Moreover, the Scripture talks about two resurrection – the first resurrection of the saved and the second of the lost (1 Thes 4:16; John 5:28; Rev 22:12; Rev 20:5; Matt 13:41-43). There is not one single soul burning in hellfire today. The Bible says that God reserves, or holds back, the unbelievers until the day of judgment to be punished. (2 Peter 3:7). Sinners will be judged and punished on the great judgment day at the end of the world - not when they die. God would not punish a person in fire until his case was tried and decided in court at the end of the world (Matt 13:40-42; John 12:48).
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