Mahalo (thanks in Hawaiian) for asking this question. First, we would need to define death. Philosophically, death is the opposite of life, or when you are no longer you in a bodily form.  Clinically, death is when there is no longer any brain activity. Biblically, death is when your soul and spirit leave your body.  Death is the sum of all three.

To understand what happens after death, we must examine the information provided in the Bible. Christians know that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. When Christians die before the rapture, they get the full rights and benefits of heaven. When the non-believers die before the rapture, they go to Hades or the beginning of hell. Hades is a place of torment and anguish. Remember, this is your choice, so make it a good one. And remember, if you don’t understand, ask!

After the rapture, non-believers who died face the “Great White Throne” of judgment. After the rapture, believers who died get to enjoy the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb,” which is an awards banquet. Remember, this was your choice, and I hope you made it a good one. So, remember, if you don’t understand, ask!

Death after the rapture takes on a new meaning. The details are not spelled out in the Bible, so God does not deem it necessary that we know them at this time. We know the final end destination for all believers (Heaven) and non-believers (hell). The choice of where you want to spend eternity starts now. No guesses and no uncertainty. Know for sure where you will spend eternity. Read Romans 10:9-10 over and over again until you understand it. 

Remember, if you just can’t understand, ask!