Although the OT generally portrays this as a vague and shadowy existence, often associated with judgment, there are hints of the idea of resurrection to a fuller life which are developed in the NT. The NT points to judgment beyond death and to the believers' hope in resurrection, to a more complete enjoyment of God's presence and his blessings and to the promise of a new heaven and earth.
The after-life in the OT
The grave as a place of silence
Psalm 115:17 See also Psalm 6:5, Psalm 30:9, Psalm 88:10–11; Isaiah 38:18
It is not the dead who praise the LORD, nor any who descend into silence.
The grave as a place of darkness
Job 10:21–22 See also 1 Samuel 2:9; Psalm 88:12
before I go — never to return — to a land of darkness and gloom, to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”
The grave as a place of no return
Job 7:8–10 See also Job 16:22; Psalm 146:4; Proverbs 2:18–19; Ecclesiastes 12:7
The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more. As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. He never returns to his house; his place remembers him no more.
The grave as a place of judgment
Psalm 88:5 See also Psalm 31:17; Proverbs 9:18; Isaiah 14:9–11, Isaiah 26:14; Ezekiel 31:14, Ezekiel 32:17–32
I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care.
The grave offers peace to the righteous
Job 3:13; Ecclesiastes 4:2; Isaiah 57:1–2
The hope of resurrection
Daniel 12:2 See also Job 19:26; Psalm 16:10–11, Psalm 49:15, Psalm 73:24; Isaiah 25:7–8, Isaiah 26:19
And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
The after-life and God's judgment
Judgment beyond death is certain
Hebrews 9:27 See also 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12–13
Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,
There will be salvation for believers
Matthew 25:19–23; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 11:18
There will be separation from God for unbelievers
Revelation 20:15, Revelation 21:27 See also Matthew 8:12, Matthew 13:42, Matthew 22:13, Matthew 24:51, Matthew 25:30; Luke 12:46; Revelation 22:15
And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
The believing dead are already with Jesus Christ
Luke 23:43; 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17 Believers, with Jesus Christ in spirit, await their final resurrection which will take place when he returns. See also John 12:26, John 14:3; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 6:9–11
And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.
The after-life and believers' hope of resurrection
The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ
Luke 24:39–43 See also John 20:20, John 20:26–27; Acts 1:3; 1 John 1:1
Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see — for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet. While they were still in disbelief because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in front of them.
Believers share in Christ's resurrection
Romans 8:11 See also 1 Corinthians 6:14, 1 Corinthians 15:20–23; 2 Corinthians 4:14
And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
The resurrection body of believers
Philippians 3:20–21 See also 1 Corinthians 15:23, 1 Corinthians 15:42–55; 2 Corinthians 5:1–4
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
The future consummation of the believers' enjoyment of God
Future glory
Romans 8:18–19 See also 2 Corinthians 4:17–18; 1 John 3:2
I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.
A new heaven and earth
God's presence with his people
Revelation 21:2–7 The final consummation will bring God's promises to and purposes for his people to fulfilment; Revelation 22:14 See also Exodus 25:8; Revelation 22:1–5
I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.
The Holy Spirit as a guarantee
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.