What Does The Bible Say About Afterlife? (35 Bible Verses)
The afterlife—eternity beyond the grave—is a topic that has captured human imagination for millennia, but what does the Bible say about it? Let’s journey through scripture to uncover the truths and promises that shape our understanding of the afterlife and inspire hope for the future beyond this earthly existence.
What Does The Bible Say About Afterlife
John 11:25-26 – The Promise of Eternal Life
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’”
2 Corinthians 5:8 – We Will Be with the Lord
“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
John 3:16 – The Gift of Eternal Life
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Revelation 21:4 – No More Death or Mourning
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – Meeting the Lord in the Air
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
Matthew 25:46 – Eternal Punishment or Eternal Life
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Philippians 3:20-21 – Our Citizenship is in Heaven
“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 bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
John 14:2-3 – Preparing a Place in Heaven
“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
Acts 7:59-60 – Stephen’s Martyrdom and the Hope of the Afterlife
“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.”
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – Our Eternal Glory Outweighs Our Temporary Troubles
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 – The Transformation to Our Eternal Bodies
“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.”
John 6:40 – The Promise of Eternal Life to All Who Believe
“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
1 Peter 1:3-4 – Born Again to a Living Hope
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.”
Revelation 22:5 – Reigning with Christ Forever
“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”
1 Thessalonians 4:14 – Those Who Sleep in Jesus
“For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
Romans 6:23 – The Gift of God is Eternal Life
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 15:22 – In Christ, All Will Be Made Alive
“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the Pure in Heart
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Matthew 13:43 – The Righteous Shine Like the Sun
“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
John 5:29 – The Resurrection of the Dead
“and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”
2 Timothy 1:10 – The Savior Who Brought Life and Immortality
“but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
Revelation 7:16-17 – God’s Comfort for His People
“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,” nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’
1 Peter 5:4 – A Crown of Glory
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
1 John 5:13 – Assurance of Eternal Life
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
2 Corinthians 5:1 – An Eternal House in Heaven
“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”
Isaiah 26:19 – Your Dead Will Live
“But your dead will live, Lord; their bodies will rise—let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy—your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.”
Psalm 16:11 – The Path of Life in God’s Presence
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Matthew 25:34 – The Inheritance of the Kingdom
“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.”
John 14:6 – Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’
Luke 23:43 – Paradise with Jesus
“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’
Romans 8:18 – The Glory That Will Be Revealed
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
John 10:28 – Eternal Security in Christ
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
Luke 20:36 – Children of the Resurrection
“While those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.”
Revelation 20:6 – Reigning with Christ for a Thousand Years
“Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 – No Eye Has Seen, No Ear Has Heard
“However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’—the things God has prepared for those who love him.”
John 6:54 – Eternal Life Through the Body and Blood of Jesus
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
Revelation 14:13 – Rest from Their Labors
“Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’
1 Thessalonians 5:10 – Life Through Jesus Christ
“He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.”
Revelation 2:7 – Eating from the Tree of Life
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
John 5:24 – Passed from Death to Life
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
1 Timothy 6:19 – Laying Up Treasure for the Future
“In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
Hebrews 9:27 – Appointed for Man to Die Once
“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
Revelation 21:7 – The Inheritance of Sons and Daughters
“Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”
Mark 12:25 – No Marriage in the Afterlife
“When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”
