There are many different views about where our spirit goes when we die. The churches of Christ teach a couple of different views. These can be labeled as the “waiting room” view and the “heavenly reception” view. There are many twists and turns to the study. Doing our best to understand it will give us a stronger understanding upon which to grow our faith.

States that when we die we go to Hades – the abode of the dead – which is separate and apart from heaven. States that Hades is divided into three parts: Paradise, Tartarus and a fixed gulf or chasm which cannot be crossed. States that prior to the final resurrection the dead are separated from God and Christ until the final judgment. The righteous are at rest, but the wicked are already in torment.

Luke 16:19-31 – The rich man and Lazarus Vs. 22: "Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. …

 Vs In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  Vs And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.‘  Here are expressed the three major tenets of the waiting room view.

 Luke 23:43 -- Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.“  As combined with…  Acts 2:29-35  David died and was buried  He looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ  He was not abandoned to the grave (HADES) nor did his body see decay.  David did not ascend to heaven.

 John 20:17 -- Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "

1 Corinthians 15:22-26, All in Christ will be made alive Christ first, then those who belong to Him. The last enemy destroyed will be death. We will not all sleep but we will all be changed. The trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable. Then the saying will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. The assumption being that this means on “Judgment Day”

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books…

. …The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Begins with an understanding that things changed when Jesus was glorified and ascended back to heaven. The only change deals with the righteous dead. Nothing has changed for the wicked dead. The wicked dead remain in Hades and it is a place where already they are in torment. The righteous, however, have been emptied out of Hades. Paradise has been relocated to heaven now that the sins of those housed there have been forgiven.

2 Corinthians 12:2-4 – “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven…. And I know that this man…was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. Paul speaks of himself (vs. 7) The first heaven is our atmosphere. The second is outer space. The third is the dwelling place of God. Paradise is now with God.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” As interpreted in light of Revelation 22:2 – “down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”

Philippians 1:23 – “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far….” 2 Corinthians 5: Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. “Awake” is still living in this world “Asleep” is living in the next world.

The Revelation anticipates the righteous already with God in heaven while events are still happening on earth: Revelation 6:9-11 John sees the souls of the martyrs in the throne room of God They are waiting there for God to avenge their death.

John sees a great multitude which represent all of the redeemed from every nation and time. They are already in heaven, already wearing white robes and already praising God in holy throng.

Jesus will bring the righteous with Him when He returns: 1 Thes. 3:13 -- May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. 1 Thes. 4:13-14 – “…believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.”

In the Revelation, Hades is always the abode of the wicked: Revelation 1:18 – “…I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 6:8 – “… Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.” Revelation 20:13-14 – “…death and Hades thrown into the lake of fire.”

We can’t fully know until we’re there exactly what will happen. We must realize, though, that only the righteous can expect to be with God after death. Whether we wait, or go straight to heaven – we had better be ready when death claims our mortal bodies. Are you ready?