When do we go to Heaven or Hell?
Heaven and hell are after the judgment. This question has been asked many times by people. Some are seeking for answers, some have particular beliefs about death, the afterlife, heaven and hell. The Bible provides the information we need on this question.
Before man can be in heaven or hell, he has to face the judgement. The judgement must take place first, and then people will be separated to those two place.
"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation"
Hebrews 9:26-27.
"And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his deeds": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek"
Romans 2:3-10.
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad"
II Corinthians 5:10.
When will this take place?
Heaven and hell will take place on one and the same day:
It is apparent from the verses quoted from the previous question that every person, good or bad, believer or non-believer will appear before God to be judged according to the things he has done while living on this earth. The judgment takes place after death, but it also refers to it as the Day of Judgment. It is a single event, and not an ongoing process.
"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed"
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10.
“For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."
Acts 17:31
People will go to heaven and hell when Jesus returns:
Jesus made a promise when he was leaving the earth, to go and prepare a place, then return to receive those who will be in heaven. This place in now under preparation. We earnestly wait for his return to take us to heaven.
“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.”
John 14:3
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 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.”
Matthew 25:31-33
What happens after death and where are the dead?
Jesus presented information of what takes place when we die and where man goes after his death. The waiting place is not on the earth, as both Lazarus and Abraham were there, and a request was made to send Lazarus on the earth to warn. The thief on the cross and Jesus went to the same place the day of their death, three days later, Jesus said to Mary, I have not been to heaven. The Bible tells us Jesus went to Hades after his death.
"There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.' Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'" Luke 16:19-31
Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’"
John 20:17
“He foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.”
Acts 2:31
Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
Luke 23:43
This tells us that there is a place of waiting. In the Old Testament it is called Sheol or the grave. In the New Testament it is called Hades. The waiting place is divided into two sections one called torments, here in this passage, and the other is called paradise. Luke 23:43.
These places are not the final stop for man, but serve as the place of waiting. Jesus now holds the keys to death and Hades.
Revelation 1:18.
When he returns, he will open up the grave.
"Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation"
John 5:28-29.