Topical Encyclopedia The term "hereafter" in the context of the Bible refers to the life that follows after death, encompassing both the immediate state of the soul and the eternal destiny of individuals. The concept of the hereafter is a significant theme throughout Scripture, addressing the hope of eternal life, the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment.Old Testament Understanding In the Old Testament, the hereafter is often associated with Sheol, the abode of the dead. While the understanding of the afterlife is less developed than in the New Testament, there are glimpses of hope and expectation of life beyond death. For instance, Job expresses a belief in a Redeemer and a future resurrection: "But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth. Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God" (Job 19:25-26). The Psalms also reflect a hope in the hereafter, as seen in Psalm 16:10-11: "For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." New Testament Revelation The New Testament provides a more detailed revelation of the hereafter, emphasizing the resurrection of the dead and eternal life through Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself speaks of the hereafter, offering assurance of eternal life to those who believe in Him: "Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24). The Apostle Paul elaborates on the resurrection and the hope of the hereafter in 1 Corinthians 15, where he discusses the resurrection of the dead and the transformation of believers: "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable" (1 Corinthians 15:42). Eternal Judgment and Destiny The hereafter also involves the final judgment, where individuals are held accountable for their lives. Jesus describes this in Matthew 25:31-46, where He speaks of the separation of the righteous and the wicked, leading to eternal life or eternal punishment. Revelation 20:12-15 further depicts the final judgment, where the dead are judged according to their deeds, and those not found in the Book of Life are cast into the lake of fire. Hope and Assurance For believers, the hereafter is a source of hope and assurance. The promise of eternal life with God is a central tenet of the Christian faith, as expressed in John 14:2-3: "In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am." The hereafter, therefore, is not merely an abstract concept but a reality that shapes the Christian life, providing comfort in the face of death and motivating a life of faithfulness and obedience to God. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (adv.) In time to come; in some future time or state.2. (n.) A future existence or state. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia HEREAFTERher-aft'-er (here (this present) and after) represents Hebrew 'achar, "hinder part," "end" (Isaiah 41:23), "the things that are to come hereafter" ('achor after, behind the present), with den, "this," 'achare dhen, Aramaic (Daniel 2:29, 45), 'achar, "after," "behind," "last" (Ezekiel 20:39), Greek ap' arti, "from now" (Matthew 26:64), "Hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven," which does not mean "at a future time" according to the more modern usage of "hereafter," but (as the Greek) "from now," the Revised Version (British and American) "henceforth"; Tyndale and the chief versions after him have "hereafter," but Wycliff has "fro hennes forth." John 1:51, "Hereafter ye shall see the heaven opened," etc., where "hereafter" has the same meaning; it is omitted by the Revised Version (British and American) after a corrected text (Wycliff also omits); eti, "yet," "still," "any more" "any longer" (John 14:30, the Revised Version (British and American) "I will no more speak much with you," Wycliff, "now I schal not"); meketi, "no more," "no longer" (Mark 11:14, "no man eat fruit of thee hereafter," the Revised Version (British and American) "henceforward"); apo tou nun, "from now" (Luke 22:69, the Revised Version (British and American) "From henceforth shall the Son of man be seated at the right hand of the power of God," Wycliff "aftir this tyme"); meta tauta (John 13:7, "Thou shalt know (the Revised Version (British and American) "understand") hereafter," Wycliff "aftirward"). Greek 3326. meta -- with, among, after ... 3), against (4), amid (1), among (5), away (1), before* (1), behind (1), companions* (5), end (1), follow* (1), gratefully* (1), hereafter* (1), later (12), now ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3326.htm - 8k 737. arti -- just now 575. apo -- from, away from 3568. nun -- now, the present 3195. mello -- to be about to 5023. tauta -- this; he, she, it 3765. ouketi -- no longer, no more 2089. eti -- still, yet 3778. houtos, haute, touto -- this 3371. meketi -- no longer, not anymore Strong's Hebrew 268. achor -- the hind side, back part... achar Definition the hind side, back part NASB Word Usage afterward (1), away (1), back (22), backs (1), backward (7), behind (1), hereafter (1), hindquarters ... /hebrew/268.htm - 6k 311. achar -- after 310. achar -- the hind or following part 4279. machar -- tomorrow, in time to come Library Here and Hereafter The Meeting Hereafter. Servants and Stewards Here and Hereafter Not Now, but Hereafter! Retribution Here or Hereafter. The Past Day Returns not Hereafter, and after Yesterday Proceeds ... But this was Already Being Laid up in his Memory to be a Medicine ... Hence, Therefore, I Say Boldly that My Conscience is Clear Now and ... He that Will not Exchange his Riches Now Will not Forsake them ... Psalm 73 Part 2 God Our Portion Here and Hereafter. Thesaurus Hereafter (23 Occurrences)... 1. (adv.) In time to come; in some future time or state. 2. (n.) A future existence or state. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HEREAFTER. ... /h/hereafter.htm - 15k Sawest (20 Occurrences) Future (88 Occurrences) Hereby (17 Occurrences) Later (89 Occurrences) Shew (226 Occurrences) Nevermore (3 Occurrences) Lambs (107 Occurrences) Grace (277 Occurrences) Goats (134 Occurrences) Resources What was the Great Schism? | GotQuestions.orgHave any aspects of end times prophecy been fulfilled? | GotQuestions.org What is nominalism? What is a nominalist? | GotQuestions.org Hereafter: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Hereafter (23 Occurrences)Matthew 26:64 Mark 11:14 Luke 22:69 John 1:51 John 13:7 John 14:30 1 Timothy 1:16 Revelation 1:19 Revelation 4:1 Revelation 9:12 Genesis 30:33 Exodus 13:14 Deuteronomy 6:20 Joshua 4:6 Joshua 4:21 Joshua 22:24 Joshua 22:27 Joshua 22:28 Isaiah 41:23 Isaiah 42:23 Ezekiel 20:39 Daniel 2:29 Daniel 2:45 Subtopics Related Terms |
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