Afterlife and the Bible We human beings find it very easy to
live life as if we will be here forever. On occasion, we come
face to face with death when a loved one or friend passes away.
But the essence of daily living is such that it is easy to
ignore the reality of death and the certainty of existence
beyond the grave. Numerous ideas exist in the world regarding
life after death—from annihilation to reincarnation. Islam
speaks of “paradise” while Catholicism speaks of “purgatory.”
While it does not answer all of our questions, the Bible
nevertheless speaks definitively and decisively regarding
afterlife. The Bible teaches that human beings are composite
creatures. Humans possess a fleshly body that is composed of
physical elements made from “the dust of the ground” (Genesis
2:7). Unlike animals, humans also possess a spiritual
dimension—made in God’s own image—that transcends the body and
physical life on Earth (Genesis 1:26-27). God places within each
prenatal person at conception a spirit that makes each