Afterlife
Many religions hold beliefs about an afterlife and have specific ideas on what happens to the body and soul after death, including belief in heaven, hell or, in some religions, The religious belief that existence is a cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth, and that the soul survives physical death and is reborn in a new body..
Beliefs in life after death are not only held by religious people. Many people who are not religious believe in the possibility of an afterlife of some kind.
Christian beliefs in the afterlife
Most Christians strongly believe that death is not the end. Instead, they believe in the The idea that the soul lives on after the death of the body. and the possibility of life after death, as Jesus explains in the Bible:
I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.
They believe in the The Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after the crucifixion. The rising from the dead of believers on the Last Day in a new, or risen, life. of the body on the The last day, when God judges all of humanity according to how they have lived., when God will judge everyone individually and they will be sent to Heaven or Hell, as revealed in the Book of Revelation. Therefore, death is not to be feared for those who have lived morally and done God鈥檚 will.
The Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)
The biblical story of the sheep and the goats explains the idea of The Last Judgement, a time of judgement by God of all humanity.. The sheep represent all who have helped those in need or have given back to the world in some way. The goats represent those who have acted in an unkind or selfish way.
He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 鈥楥ome, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.鈥
The good sheep are allowed a place in Heaven because they have been helpful and kind, giving the hungry food or the thirsty something to drink.
Then he will say to those on his left, 鈥楧epart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
The bad goats are people who, during their lives, did not show a caring side and ignored those in need. They are told they must go to Hell.
Judgement
Many Christians believe that God has always existed as judge over his creation and that his interventions assist in achieving salvation. God鈥檚 judgement is a process that ends in a decision about whether or not a person is worthy of his reward (Heaven) or not (Hell).
Second Coming
Some Christians believe in the Second Coming, which is when Jesus will return to earth as a physical body and everyone who has died will be The Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after the crucifixion. The rising from the dead of believers on the Last Day in a new, or risen, life.. This belief is affirmed in Protestant Churches with the declaration of the Mystery of Faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Many Christians believe that Christ will physically and visibly return to earth, but some Christians believe that there may be an event which symbolises Jesus' return, for instance a bolt of light.
Personal judgement
Some Christians believe that souls are judged as soon as the body dies. Souls are then sent straight to Heaven or Hell, rather than waiting for a Day of Judgement. These Christians believe it is still possible that they will be judged again at the Last Judgement.
Others believe that all souls must wait until the Day of Judgement and will all be judged together.