The living are curious about what happens after death. Each of us have had loved ones who have died, and know that we, too, will soon follow. Many speculate concerning what happens after death, but such speculation is vain since there is no physical evidence to support speculations. Such being the case, man’s only means of understanding is contained in the divinely revealed message of the scriptures.

            The term death denotes a separation. Physical death is a separation of the body and the spirit (James 2:26). Spiritual death is a separation of fellowship between man and God. When God commanded Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, He said, “for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17). The day Adam and Eve transgressed the law of God, they died. There was a separation that took place, and “Jehovah God sent him forth from the garden of Eden” (Genesis 3:23).

            The scriptures describe four possible conditions that exist after the death of the physical body. Two of these conditions deal with what immediately awaits an individual, after death, and the other two deal with post-judgment (we will direct our attention first to the condition of the spirit immediately following death). When Jesus dealt with the issue he spoke of two men: Lazarus and the rich man. Jesus said, “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16:22-23). The term Hades is described as “"the region of departed spirits of the lost" (but including the blessed dead in periods preceding the ascension of Christ)” (W.E. Vines Expository Dict.), or “that which is out of sight, a Greek word used to denote the state or place of the dead” (Easton’s Bible Dict.). So, simply put, Hades is the abode of disembodied spirits awaiting the resurrection of the dead. Two conditions exist in the Hadean realm: Paradise, or Abraham’s bosom, and Tartarus, or Torments. Of these two conditions, Abraham told the rich man, “between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us” (Luke 16:26). Of this realm, Jesus revealed that all those who abide therein will be brought before God, in judgment: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-15).

            The “lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8), corresponds to a third condition, that occurs to some after death. This condition is described by the Greek term Gehenna. The word itself comes from a Hebrew term denoting the “Valley of Hinnom.” The Valley of Hinnom was a place of worship to the pagan god Moloch. King Josiah had destroyed the worship, broken down the altars, and placed the remains of the dead upon them. As a result Gehenna became a dumping ground, a place that received the refuse of Jerusalem. In order to dispose of the refuse, fire burned continual: sulphur was also used to further accomplish the disposal of the refuse. Jesus described this condition, saying “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:43-48). The final condition is referred to by the apostle Peter, when he said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4). This is the place of “the abode of God and of the hosts of angels” (International Standard Bible Ency.). This is the abode awaiting those who “wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Are you ready for that day?