Do people immediately go to heaven or hell when they die?

Another closely related question I'll try to address in the same answer: If everyone supposedly has to die, then what happens to the people who are alive when Jesus comes back?

This is a wonderful question that has a clear yet complex answer in the Bible. The short and clear answer is, yes, people go either straight to heaven or hell when they die. In Luke 23 we are told that one of the two thieves hanging next to Jesus on the cross repented of his sin and asked for forgiveness. Jesus replied in verse 43, "today you will be with me in paradise." Again in Luke 16 Jesus tells the parable of a rich man who died and went immediately to "hell" (hades). Thus, yes, people go immediately to heaven or hell when they die.

The complex part of the answer is that the "heaven" and "hell" mentioned in those passages is not our final, eternal destination. When a Christ follower dies our spirit (soul) immediately enters the presence of God (heaven). 1 Thess. 4:14 tells us that when Jesus returns he "will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians." Just two verses later we read that "the dead in Christ will rise first." What's happening here? Christ followers who have died prior to His second coming are spiritually with God but they will not be reunited with their physical bodies for eternity until Jesus raises their bodies to life.

1 Thess. 4:17 then explains that "we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord." (answer to the 2nd question) I believe this passage describes the rapture event which will precede the 7-year tribulation period on earth. After the 7-year tribulation Jesus returns to earth riding on a white horse (Revelation 19:11-21). Christians who have died prior to this event return to earth with Jesus where he reigns for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-6). At the end of the 1,000 years we see a new heaven and a new earth described in Revelation 21. This new heaven and earth is the final, eternal destination for all Christ followers.

Those who die without trusting through faith in Jesus Christ for salvation from their sin go immediately to "hell" or "hades" as described in the parable of the rich man, but that is not their final destination. Ultimately, they are destined for the great white throne judgment described in Revelation 20:11-15. This is the scene described in Revelation 20:13-15 which says, "The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death - the lake of fire. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire." Bottom line: If you make it to the great white throne you are destined for the lake of fire. That is where every non-believer will spend eternity.

The question is: Where's your lake house going to be - beside the new Jerusalem or the lake of fire?