Where Do People Go When They Die?

Inasmuch as it appears that some are “destined to live” (Isaiah 4:3) and to “escape” (Daniel 12:1), the outcome of where each person goes upon death appears to depend on whether the person’s name is written in God’s book of life (Rev. 20:12, Daniel 12:1).

•   The full name of the book is “book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.” Rev. 13:8

•   The “worthy” victors will not have their names erased from the book of life. Rev. 3:5

o      Concern that erasure is even mentioned—a suggestion that a name could be erased. Psalm 69:28

o      A parallel to Satan who was “the seal of perfection” (Ezekiel 28:12) and the “anointed guardian cherub” appointed by God (Ezekiel 28:14) who was “blameless … until wickedness was found” in him (Ezekiel 28:15)—eventually becoming “an object of horror” that will “never exist again.” Ezekiel 28:19

•  Names appear to be recorded in the book of life from the foundation of the world. Rev. 17:8.

o   This is possible, considering that God is not bound by time.

Before Christ’s Death: Sheol/Hades/the Pit/Lower Parts of the Earth/Underworld

• The pit is likely the “bottomless pit” or the “underworld” or the “abyss” that is covered by the depths of the oceans. Ezekiel 26:19-20, Ezekiel 28:8

• There are places within Sheol/the Pit that are lower than others. Ezekiel 32:23

 A. If the person’s name is written in the book of life: Abraham’s side. Luke 16:22

• Considered to be a temporary habitation within Sheol where a person would not remain forever. Psalm 86:13, Psalm 30:3

o   King David, prophetically speaking about Jesus, said that God would not abandon him to Sheol … to see decay. Psalm 16:8-11 

o   From here, a person may via Jesus as the “path of life” find escape to the presence of God where there is abundant joy and eternal pleasures.  Psalm 16:11

•  Here a person avoids “crossing the river of death” where his or her soul enters into the Pit.  See Job 33:18 (statement of Elihu—the only person whose statements were validated by God).

 B. If the person’s name is not written in the book of life: the Pit/Hades in torment of flames of fire. Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 11:23, Job 33:18

• People who do not transition to life appear to stay here forever (perhaps even as it becomes cast into the lake of fire)—as if they never existed. Ezekiel 26:19-21, Ezekiel 28:19

• People here are unable to communicate with God. Psalm 28:1

• It is a place of disgrace for the dead considered to be “uncircumcised”—a place to which people “descend.” Ezekiel 32:18-30
• This is a place from which the righteous hope to be rescued. Job 33:14-30

• This is a place from which everyone would want to be redeemed. Psalm 103:4, Job 33:28

After Christ’s Death:

A. If the person’s name is written in the book of life: paradise. Luke 23:43, 2 Cor. 12:4, Psalm 16:10-11

• God’s tree of life is there. Rev. 2:7

B. If the person’s name is not written in the book of life: possibly a place called “Death” and separately, “Hades”; apparently also the sea holds some of the dead.  Rev. 20:13.

• Those who worship the antichrist are not named in the book of life. Rev. 13:8

 After the Great White Throne Judgment:

A. If the person’s name is written in the book of life: the new Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth. Rev. 21:27

B. If the person’s name is not written in the book of life: thrown into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:15

• The full name of the place is the lake of fire and sulfur. Rev. 20:10, Rev. 21:8

• Those destined for this place will join the devil, the antichrist beast and the false prophet. Rev. 20:10.

o   Satan was prophesied to go there. Isaiah 14:12-15

• They will also join the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murders, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars. Rev. 21:8

•  This is referred to as the “second death.” Rev. 21:8