What comes after death? Are we going to keep our earthly bodies in heaven? Upon their death, will believers instantly go to heaven? These are three challenging questions that require scripture inspired answers.

The first question involves the afterlife which is described in the bible as a process that begins with judgment during which Christ separates the sheep from the goats. In the following verses Jesus explains that upon judgment day, the gentiles (or nations) will be divided in the same way shepherds separate their herds. Even though both sheep and goats were clean animals according to Levitical law, there came a time when they had to be divided. The same will apply to the Kingdom of God upon the day of judgment.

While the sheep will inherit a place in heaven with God, the goats' inheritance will be found in the eternal lake of fire where. Sheep are obedient followers of Jesus Christ immersed in the holy spirit. Goats are imposters that hide among the herd but have no faith. Goats are those who rely on works which will be ignored by the Lord.

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." (Matthew 25:31-46)

Answers to the next question about our earthly bodies can be found throughout the word. In a letter to the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul teaches that our earthly flesh will not carry over to the kingdom of God. Paul also mentions the fact some believers will sleep while others will instantly be ascended to heaven upon christ' return.

"But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." (1 Corinthians 15:35-44)

In the verses above, Paul defines death as a beginning rather than an end. Comparing physical death to that of a seed planted in the ground, Paul explains that a seed must die in order to produce a harvest, therefore our bodies must also die so we can spiritually ascend to God's kingdom.

What about Contrary to Catholic belief involving purgatory, a non biblical theory invented by the Roman Catholic church, those who died for Christ will be raised first as they are awaken from their faith driven sleep. Upon Christ' return, those baptized in the holy spirit will be given a spiritual body that is not subject to death. Because Jesus conquered death, we stand victorious over death along side our divine king.

"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)

God's word commands us to continue serving Him with a loving heart and to ready ourselves for Jesus' second coming. As we continue to walk the narrow path that leads to eternal life in heaven we must remember that all good deeds performed in the name of God will be rewarded. Only goats need to death, the afterlife and judgment day.

Do you find yourself filled with anxiety when thinking of death and the afterlife or, are you among those who look forward to judgment day and God's rewards? If you are afraid, you need to pray for God's strength and allow yourself to be immersed in the holy spirit through bible study, life groups and ministry work. If you are not afraid of death and God's judgment upon you based on your faith and works, I invite you to share your testimony and wisdom with those who seek the peace you have been blessed with through God's grace. Let us pray!