What does the Bible say about our deceased loved ones?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that believers may grieve the death of loved ones with real sorrow, yet not without hope, because God promises eternal life and the resurrection through Jesus Christ. Revelation 14:13 calls those who die in the Lord blessed, while Luke 23:43 points to the believer’s immediate fellowship with Christ. First Thessalonians 4:13-18 assures Christians that the dead in Christ will rise when he returns, and Revelation 21:4 promises a day when God will remove every tear and death itself. We may remember loved ones thankfully, as Paul remembered fellow believers in Philippians 1:3, but we should seek comfort from God rather than attempt contact with the dead, as Leviticus 19:31 warns.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Revelation 14:13
I heard the voice from heaven saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them."
- Philippians 1:3
I thank my God whenever I remember you,
- Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away."
- Psalms 116:15
Precious in the sight of Yahweh is the death of his saints.
- Luke 23:43
Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
- John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
- Ecclesiastes 3:1-22
[1] For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: [2] A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck up that which is planted; [3] A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; [4] A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; [5] A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; [6] A time to seek, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to cast away; [7] A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; [8] A time to love, And a time to hate; A time for war, And a time for peace. [9] What profit has he who works in that in which he labors? [10] I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. [11] He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can't find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end. [12] I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live. [13] Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God. [14] I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him. [15] That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away. [16] Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there. [17] I said in my heart, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." [18] I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals. [19] For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity. [20] All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. [21] Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?" [22] Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?
- Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
[13] But we don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don't grieve like the rest, who have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. [16] For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, [17] then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. [18] Therefore comfort one another with these words.
- Leviticus 19:31
"'Don't turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don't seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God.
Related topics
Go deeper
Ask Explain Bible AI about our deceased loved ones and get a fuller answer from a Reformed theological perspective.
Ask what the Bible says about our deceased loved ones