There’s more to life after death or eternal life than you may know. In Christian eschatology, life continues as with God in Heaven. Conversely, Christians believe that life’s flame will perish in hell if God deems it a more suitable place for the person.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Old Testament Bible Verses About Life After Death
- New Testament Bible Verses About Life After Death
- Bible Verses About Celebrating Life After Death
Other translations and versions of the Bible offer slight differences to the excerpt quotes below, which may alter the phrasing if not the entire meaning of the passage.
Old Testament Bible Verses About Life After Death
In Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the time before Jesus was born. Take a look at the passages about life after death written somewhere between 1200 and 165 BC.
1. Psalm 23:4
King David’s “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” uses the same contrast he often conveyed for a discernible effect. Plus, these are some of the most widely known and oft-repeated words across many platforms and genres.
2. Daniel 12:2–3
The Book of Daniel is mainly concerned with eschatology, consisting of six stories about Babylon and four visions that interpret the history and predict the future of the victorious Jews.
Verses 12:2–3 confirm that those who are awakened by God will find happiness and shine brightly for eternity.
3. Ecclesiastes 9:5
Ecclesiastes is part of the wisdom books, written to raise the hard questions and offer more challenging solutions.
In it, verses 9-6 are about the awareness of life, which leads to ignorance after death. The point is to appreciate the moments we have because the days under the sun are limited.
4. Psalm 13:3
“Consider me and respond, O Lord. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death…”
Here, Kind David tells us that we should remember God by his use of the word “consider.” Rather than lie in wait or slumber to be retrieved by God, King David asks for some joy or enlightenment.
5. Proverbs 12:28
“A lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession. There is in life the path of righteousness, but another leads to death.”
Here, the path of righteousness is often regarded as a recognition of eternal life, whereas death means the death of one’s soul and ultimately a fate unwanted.
6. Lamentations 3:32
“Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion.”
There is undoubtedly grief in death, but Lamentations explains this by saying that God reverses this grief with a complete showing of great love.
7. Isaiah 25:8
“He will swallow up death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the Lord has spoken.”
In the Song of Praise for God’s Favor, verse 8 reassures humanity that eventually God will abolish death, pain, and suffering for His people.
8. Ecclesiastes 12:7
The Book of Ecclesiastes doesn’t shy from conversations about death. Here, in verse 12:7, the author reminds the reader that because death is imminent, one should remember their creator throughout life in preparation for being seated with Him later.
New Testament Bible Verses About Life After Death
The New Testament provides both uplifting beliefs and intimidating prophecies to consider about life after death.
9. John 11:11-14
In the Death of Lazarus, Lazarus died so that Jesus’ disciples would recognize His power over death, proving two things. One, Jesus could do much more than heal, and two, He'd reveal God's glory.
10. 2 Corinthians 5:8
In St. Paul the Apostle's verse, he writes that it is far more significant to be with the Lord in soul and Spirit awaiting the resurrection than to not be with Him at all.
This verse works as a suitable quote for the inside of a sympathy card after a friend's death.
11. Revelation 2:11
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.”
In Revelations 2:11, "the second death" is a reminder of the cessation of life with God. It's a mournful occasion where His Crown of Life will no longer embrace you.
12. John 3:18
John 3:18 is more or less a verdict about the choices you’ve made while here on earth. If you have chosen not to believe in God, then you are condemned because you’ve simultaneously chosen not to believe in God’s son.
13. Luke 16:22
Luke 16:22 is an interesting passage about the value one thinks they have while alive versus how God sees it. No matter who you are in life or how you come to die, the bosom of the Lord sees the person over the profit.
14. Revelation 14:11
“And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night, there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who received the mark of its name.”
The Book of Revelations is known for being blunt about the tortures and pain of an eternity in hell. Verse 14:10 preempts this regarding God’s anger and wrath.
15. Hebrews 9:27-28
Hebrews 9:27-28 tells us that humanity's destiny is to die, whereas Jesus's future is to judge in glory and bring salvation to those who are worthy of God's love.
It works if you’re looking for Bible verses about death that are encouraging or informative about God’s plan.
16. Matthew 24:51
“Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
This explicit verse from the Gospel of Matthew shows how much grief and despair befall those who are hypocrites pretending to do God's work only to cause it neglect and injury.
Bible Verses About Celebrating Life After Death
If you’re not familiar with what to expect at a funeral, you’ll discover that both family members and clergy will recite excerpts from the Bible similar to the passages below.
17. Psalm 49:15
In the Evanescence of Wealth, immortality and redemptions are the primary considerations. Here, God not only has the power to release you from the grave or hell, but He can also bring you into his embrace.
18. 1 Corinthians 2:9
1 Corinthians 2:9 tells us that human capacity can't see, hear, or feel the house that God built, and that it is beyond human capability or understanding. However, it's through the Spirit, where He has shown His love and where it is knowable to humanity.
19. 2 Corinthians 5:1
2 Corinthians 5:1 is a passage about the home built by the hands of God for the resurrected body. It says there’s a place for you in heaven that will either bring you and your loved one comfort or make you rejoice at their new home with God.
20. Luke 23:43
These were perhaps the last words spoken by Christ as he died on the cross. As Mary was close enough to hear them, it is said that she repeated them to his disciples, who then recorded them into the Gospel of Luke.
They’re meant for those who are penitent and of strong faith so that they know devotion has its just rewards.
21. 2 Timothy 4:7-8
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me but to all who crave His appearing.”
22. John 14:2
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”
23. Psalm 23:6
“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23:6 celebrates those who live a good life because they’ll live with the Lord after death.
24. John 11:25-26
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die…”
In this passage, Jesus is speaking with both Martha and Mary. Afterward, he resurrects their brother Lazarus showing that he serves the power and will of God.
25. 1 Corinthians 15:41-43
“The sun has one degree 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: What 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.”
Further Investigations of Life After Death
For more information and resources to help you understand life after death, check out these books about life after death. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, you’ll find a few books to stretch your mind.
Sources
- Bible Hub. (2020). Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages. biblehub.com/
- May, H. G., et al. (1973, 1989). The New Oxford Annotated Bible: The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version Containing the Old and New Testaments ... Introductions, Comments, Cross References, General Articles, Measures and Weights, Chronological Tables of Rulers, Maps, and Indexes. New York: Oxford University Press.