WHERE DO WE GO AT DEATH

WHERE DOES A PERSON GO WHEN HE DIES?

In the OT dispensation, righteous souls at death went to paradise, which is the upper part of hades (Luke 16:19f). The prophecy of Christ declares that with the building of the church the gates of Hades will no longer close over a righteous soul (Matt. 16:18). At the resurrection of Christ, He came forth from the Paradise section in Hades and brought all the righteous souls with Him (Eph. 4:8-9). The first one to die from those who belong to the church was Stephen (except in the case of Ananias and Saphira), and he went above (Acts 7:59). Paul reveals the fact that all the righteous go to be with Christ in heaven (Phil. 1:21-23).

Eph. 4:8-10 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

He descended to the center of the earth to remove those saints from paradise. He took them with Him when He ascended. Now when a saint dies absent from the body present with the Lord. If not a saint they go to the center of the earth till the judgment.