What Else When We Die?

As I keep reading and studying, I am reminded that when we die, we are not just “there”. We are not lifeless and without form. So it stands to reason that we are not lacking consciousness either.

“⁹When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. ¹⁰They cried out with a loud voice, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ ¹¹Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.” – Revelation 6:9-11 (ESV)

Randy Alcorn pointed out the above passage in the MasterWork study I am working in. Here we find that those who were martyred for their faith, are waiting for the return of Christ. In their waiting, they are speaking with Him, recognizing His sovereignty, questioning Him to understand, and comforted in their waiting. All of these indicate that when we die and meet Christ in the intermediate Heaven, we are still who we are and that we conscious, and continuing to learn and work to understand.

When you look at the verses above and I mean really look at them, you not only see the consciousness and learning, but you also see the anticipation and to some degree, sorrow in the waiting for it all to be over. But how can that be if there is no more sorrow in Heaven. Well, that removal of sorrow is in the New Heaven and not the intermediate or present Heaven we go to in death. The New Heaven, New Earth is the place of eternal glory for all. We may not experience and personal suffering any longer in the intermediate Heaven, but we will still experience sorrow for those who have yet to join us and are still being persecuted on Earth.

So, here is what I know about Heaven when I die and what I am looking forward to. I will pass from the suffering in this world. I will no longer be under attack by the evil one. I will be with my LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. I will be there worshiping and waiting on His return and reunited with my body. I will have a form of some kind and be distinguishable from others. I will be conscious to learn and understand. I will still experience sorrow for those who are still suffering. I will be anticipating the time when we will all be together again in Glory of eternal Heaven and the New Earth when it comes down after the battle has been won.

How are you seeing yourself in Heaven after you pass from this world? Are you just a lifeless being? How about this, you have a body, a mind, a soul, and are still learning and waiting for the suffering of others to end and the return of our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ?