Answer: In Christianity, there is enough confusion about what happens after death.

Some believe that after death, everyone's spirit will "fall asleep" until the Last Judgment, when everyone will be sorted out to be sent to heaven or hell.

There are also those who believe that when they die, people are immediately judged and sent to their eternal destination. Others claim that when people die, their spirit / soul is sent to hell or heaven "temporarily," while waiting for the final resurrection, great judgment, and certainty of their final destination.

So, what does the Bible say about the fate of humans after death?

First, for those who believe in Jesus Christ, the Bible states that after death, the spirit / soul of believers is taken to heaven because their sins have been forgiven; because they have accepted Christ as Savior (John 3: 16,18,36).

For believers, death is described as "switching from this body to settling on God" (2 Corinthians 5: 6-8; Philippians 1:23). However, in verses like 1 Corinthians 15: 50-54 and 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-17 it is precisely the believers who are resurrected and given a noble body.

If believers go to be with Christ after death, what is the purpose of the resurrection? According to our interpretation, even though the spirit / soul of the believer goes to be with Christ after death, their physical body dwells in the tomb "asleep." In the resurrection of believers, their physical bodies are resurrected, glorified, and reunited with spirit / soul.

This reunion between spirit-body-soul will become a part of believers forever in the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21-22).

Second, for those who have not received Jesus Christ as Savior, death means eternal punishment. As with the fate of believers, unbelievers also seem to be sent to temporary shelters, waiting for their resurrection to judgment, and eternal destiny.

Luke 16: 22-23 describes rich people who suffer immediately after death. Revelation 20: 11-15 describes all unbelievers raised from the dead, judged on the great white throne, and then thrown into the lake of fire. If so, unbelievers are not immediately sent to hell (lake of fire) after death, but they are in a place of judgment as accused.

Although unbelievers are not directly sent to the lake of fire, their fate after death is not a comfortable condition. The rich man shouted, "I am very sick in this flame" (Luke 16:24).

So, after death, someone dwells in heaven or hell "temporarily." From this temporary shelter, in the final resurrection, one's destiny will not change. The "location" of the final destination changed.

Believers will be allowed into the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21: 1). Unbelievers are eventually sent to a fiery lake (Revelation 20: 11-15). This is the eternal end goal for all people - based on whether they trust Jesus Christ for their salvation (Matthew 25:46; John 3:36).