What happens to an unbeliever after death?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

There are two places after death, and these places are dependent on what one does with Jesus: did you trust in Him or not? The location of these places is affected by time: before Jesus returns and after He returns. After Jesus' second coming, all the dead will be resurrected (Daniel 12:2) and the wicked destroyed. All unbelievers will be cast into the lake of fire for an eternity of torment (Revelation 20:11–15).

Before that time, after an unbeliever dies, the Bible provides a brief glimpse of what happens, most of which is found in Luke 16 about the death of an unrighteous rich man. There, we learn at least five truths about the afterlife.

First, it is in a place called Hades (Luke 16:23), which is the temporary state before the lake of fire (cf. Revelation 20:14). Second, one enters Hades immediately (Luke 16:23). Third, it is a place of never-ending torment (Luke 16:23–24, 28). Fourth, unbelievers will be conscious, both experiencing the pain and aware of others (Luke 16:27–28). Fifth, there is no second chance or escape from Hades (Luke 16:26).

Eternity is not shaped after death but decided by what we do with Christ in this life. The rich man in Luke 16 did not lose the opportunity to turn to God because eternity was unclear but because time had already run out. That same warning presses on every generation: the moment of death fixes what faith or rejection has already chosen. What will you do with Jesus before that moment arrives? Once time gives way to eternity, there are no more decisions left to make—only the results of the one you made about Him.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Old Testament does not provide much clarity on what happens to unbelievers after they die. It refers to Sheol, but that is a general place (a “land of the dead”) and is where both believers and unbelievers went (e.g., Psalm 9:17; 16:10; Genesis 37:35). In Sheol, people are conscious and aware of some of what is happening around them (Isaiah 14:9–11).
• All of the dead, both righteous and unrighteous, will be raised back to life at the end to face judgment (Daniel 12:2). Specifically, the unrighteous will be raised “to shame and everlasting contempt.”

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In the New Testament we get more specific details about what happens after death. After Jesus returns, all will be resurrected, with those not found in the book of life (unbelievers) being cast into the lake of fire, joining Satan, the false prophet, and Hades (Revelation 20:11–15).
• Before Jesus returns, unbelievers are in what theologians call “the intermediate state.” That is the period of time before God judges the wicked and rewards the righteous and thus before one’s final state. We glean most of our information on this state from Luke 16:19–31.
• That passage tells the story of two individuals, Lazarus and “the rich man,” who have just died. While scholars debate whether Jesus was telling a parable or recounting an actual event, for our purposes, it doesn’t matter, because either way it teaches us something about the afterlife for the unbeliever.
• The unbeliever enters Hades immediately after death. We read, “The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side” (Luke 16:22–23). The picture is that of the rich man closing his eyes in death, only to open them in Hades.
• Hades is a place of torment. Not only does Luke 16:23 mention the torment, but the man cries out from it, being in agony (Luke 16:24).
• Unbelievers will be conscious and aware of what’s around them and will remember people from when they were alive. When the rich man first opens his eyes, he saw “Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side” (Luke 16:23b). His torment also leads him to worry about his family, and, not wanting them to experience the same fate, says, “I beg you, father, to send [Lazarus] to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment” (Luke 16:27–28).
• One’s eternity is sealed upon death. The rich man asked for some relief, but Abraham replied, “Between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us” (Luke 16:26). The rich man was not even able to receive a little comfort, let alone escape from Hades.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The unbeliever facing death has nothing good or pleasant in his or her future. This is why Jesus spoke more often about Hell and judgment than He did about getting into heaven. He knew the road there was broad and the way was easy, a path many are on (Matthew 7:13). While certainly also telling of the glories of Heaven, He understood that directly warning people was an effective way to get them to stop, think, and repent.

God does not desire that anyone perish (2 Peter 3:9) nor does He take pleasure in destroying the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). Rather, He loves the world and sent His Son so that sinful men and women may be saved (John 3:16). God’s justice has to be satisfied—He cannot overlook any sin and still be holy or just. Jesus came to die as a substitute for sinners so that God could both be just (by punishing sin) and justifier (saving sinners) for all who believe in Jesus (Romans 3:26).

What happens after death for the unbeliever is frightening. If you are an unbeliever reading this, know that we have not sugarcoated these things because we love you and desire your escape. Please consider your eternal state today. As long as you live, God extends to you an opportunity to repent and believe in Jesus (Romans 10:9–10). None of us knows if we will even be alive tomorrow, so please: if you realize you are a sinner and see your inability to save yourself, do not wait any longer!

UNDERSTAND

• When an unbeliever dies, they immediately enter Hades, a place of conscious torment that will be permanently replaced by the lake of fire.
• Unbelievers in Hades are fully conscious, aware of their torment, able to recognize others, and capable of remembering those they left behind on earth.
• Judgment for unbelievers is permanent, and the only way to escape it is accepting Jesus' salvation in this life.

REFLECT

• How does the reality that an unbeliever's eternal state is sealed at death affect the urgency with which you think about sharing the gospel with those around you?
• In what ways does the rich man's concern for his five brothers in Hades challenge you to think about the people in your own life who are currently heading toward the same fate?
• How are you encouraged or challenged by the permanency of a person's decision impacting their eternal state?

ENGAGE

• What does the rich man's torment in Hades reveal about the impossibility of second chances, a period of unconsciousness, or soul sleep between death and judgment?
• How should the certainty and permanence of eternity reshape the way we pray for, speak to, and prioritize those in our life who do not yet trust in Christ?
• How should the finality of judgment after death influence the way we respond to God’s invitation to repentance and faith today, while time is still available?