God's Word reveals that there is life after death, an age to come when all who have not been called to salvation will be raised to new life and hear what God offers to those who repent and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. The resurrection from the dead provides hope for all humanity. However, the human soul is not immortal, as humans are physical, mortal beings, and only God possesses true immortality. Human beings can achieve immortality only through Christ and the resurrection, following the pattern set by Jesus in His resurrection to eternal life. When a person dies, their body returns to the dust from which it was made, decomposing into its elemental components. The spirit in man, which comes from God and provides understanding and intellect, returns to Him at death, recording the events of a person's life, character, and personality. God stores this spirit until the resurrection, when it will be returned, restoring each person's full memory and characteristics. Yet, this human spirit is not described as immortal or eternal; it requires God's Holy Spirit to achieve eternal life. In death, life and consciousness are absent. The dead know nothing, and there is no work, device, knowledge, or wisdom in the grave. While God retrieves the human spirit for safekeeping, it has no inherent life or self-awareness, requiring a living body to function. The Bible also declares that people do not go to heaven or hell after death, but await the resurrection in the sleep of death. All the dead, with the exception of Jesus Christ, remain in their graves, whether in the earth or the sea, awaiting the call to awake and arise from the dead, when Christ will give them light. In that great resurrection, God will grant eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through patient continuance in doing good. This hope of life after death rests in the resurrection, not only for Christians but also for those who have never had the opportunity for salvation. When this occurs, death will be swallowed up in victory.

The world often sees death as a final end, shrouded in fear of the unknown that follows our last breath. Death is depicted as a terrifying specter, a Grim Reaper harvesting human souls with a massive scythe, instilling dread in many hearts. Commonly defined as a permanent cessation of all bodily functions, this view of death overlooks the power of God, who promises to grant life to the dead through resurrection. Solomon and Job, two of history's wisest men, offer insights into death. Solomon suggests a bleak outlook for humanity without God, while Job, amidst his severe trials, questions the worth of living again after a life filled with turmoil. Job likens a man's prospects to that of a tree, noting that unlike a tree, a dead person does not sprout anew from the ground. Yet, Job holds a personal hope that God will recall him from the grave to live again, transformed into something far better, desiring a renewed, close relationship with Him. Despite their cynicism about mankind's fate generally, both Solomon and Job affirm that death is not the ultimate end for those who fear God and maintain a relationship with Him. Even those currently apart from God will have the opportunity to live again.

Two of history's wisest men, Job and Solomon, pondered the possibility of an afterlife for humanity and concluded that something better awaits beyond death. Solomon, recognizing that God has placed eternity in human hearts, wrote that while the physical body returns to the earth, the spirit of man will return to God who gave it. Job expressed confidence that a time would come when, even after being dead in the grave, God would call, and he would answer, as God desires the work of His hands. Both understood there would be life after death. The New Testament affirms life after death through resurrection from the dead. While some will rise at Christ's return to receive eternal rewards, all humanity will live again. The apostle John describes those standing before God's throne as the dead, small and great, without distinction between good or bad, rich or poor, or any other category. It appears that God raises every human who has ever lived, who has not already been changed to spirit, in a general resurrection. This second resurrection occurs after the Millennium of Christ's reign and satan's final rebellion. Unlike the first resurrection to glory, this vast multitude returns to life for judgment, a time of evaluation of each person's manner of life. It is not God's desire to condemn them to eternal death, but to offer them the opportunity for salvation if they accept His calling and submit to His way of life. For these people, it will be their first chance to embrace God's invitation to eternal life. Consider the enormous number of individuals who will rise in this resurrection, estimated conservatively at over 50 billion. They will awaken to a paradise on earth, made beautiful and prosperous under the care of the sons of God. Coming from every age, ethnic group, religion, language, and culture since the time of Adam, they will range from primitive dwellers to sophisticated moderns, presenting a monumental task to feed, clothe, house, and teach such a diverse population. The Old Testament also portrays this general resurrection, focusing on the millions of Israelites who have lived through the centuries, as seen in the prophecy of the Valley of Dry Bones. These bones, long dead and dry, seem hopeless, yet God declares He will give them breath and restore their flesh, raising them to physical life on earth. They will soon realize their previous notions of life after death were mistaken and recognize the God of Israel, who raised them, as the one true God.

Looking at life from God's point of view, He offers hope even in the face of death. He desires to redeem all people, as seen in His longing for all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Death, though an enemy resulting from sin, is incorporated into His plan with a positive outcome. God allowed sin and thus death to occur, yet He had foreordained the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world. This transforms what seems a curse into a blessing when viewed from the right perspective. Death is inevitable for human beings, as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes the judgment. Billions have died throughout history, and billions more will perish before the promised Utopia arrives. In the general resurrection, countless individuals from all eras, races, and nations will rise from their graves for judgment. Despite its somber nature, God's perspective on death is rooted in reality and hope, encouraging a healthy, positive view. Even Jesus Christ, facing the cessation of His life, feared life without God more than death itself, submitting to His Father's will with the assurance of being raised to eternal life after three days.

The question of life after death is central to understanding the biblical perspective on human existence and destiny. The Bible teaches that man is a soul, not possessing a separate immortal soul, as man only became a living soul when God breathed life into Adam. Scripture declares that the soul who sins will die, and that God alone has immortality, which humans must seek since they do not inherently possess it. Death, according to the Bible, is a complete cessation of existence, not a transition to another state. The concept of the second death emerges in the book of Revelation, signifying a final judgment for some. Those who overcome will not be hurt by the second death, and those who take part in the first resurrection will have no fear of it, as they are granted immortality by God and will reign with Him. The Bible indicates that nothing happens after death until a resurrection occurs, with the first resurrection being to immortality for those in Christ at His return, where they are raised with incorruptible, spirit bodies. Eternal life is offered as a result of a relationship with God, where one who hears Christ's word and believes in Him who sent Him passes from death into life, avoiding eternal judgment. This spiritual life, if maintained until the end, leads to participation in the first resurrection. However, a time will come when all in their graves will hear His voice and rise in a resurrection, each in their own order, providing an opportunity for everyone to come out of spiritual death and experience reconciliation with God. For those who remain in opposition to God, having tasted what He offers and rejected it, a resurrection to condemnation awaits. Such individuals will face judgment and be cast into the Lake of Fire, experiencing the second death, which is a final cessation of existence. This second death looms as a consequence for those who, after being given the opportunity to know God, choose to live in opposition to Him, resulting in a fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation that devours adversaries. The choice to avoid this fate lies in the daily decisions and character formed over time, either aligning with God or rejecting His way.