Evidence for the afterlife

Meier gave this warning:

Our survey indicates that five suggested criteria of historicity or authenticity are really valuable and deserve to be ranked as primary criteria….

The use of the valid criteria is more an art than a science, requiring sensitivity to the individual case rather than mechanical implementation. It can never be said too many times that such an art usually yields only varying degrees of probability and not absolute certitude. But … such judgments of probability are common in any investigation of ancient history, and the quest for the historical Jesus cannot apply for a special exemption (Meier 1991:184).

Applying the tests

What happens when we apply the tests to what the Bible says about Jesus's resurrection and the afterlife? Or to the question, where will Christian believers and non-believers be at the moment of death? Historically, does the Bible confirm life after death?

The National Church Life Survey of 2009 of people across the community found that 'in 1993, the proportion of people affirming a belief in heaven and in life after death was just over half. In 2009 these figures had declined by only several percent'.

'A national Essential poll (2018) shows that 40% of all Australians believe in heaven. But the crucial figure is that a staggering 51%of those aged 18-34 hold such a belief! This compares to just 29% of the public who are over 55 years old'.

Which criteria do ancient historians use to confirm historical reliability of the Bible on the theme of life after death? They include:

• Embarrassment: Who witnessed the empty tomb of Jesus? Two women! Women were unreliable witnesses in Jewish culture. See: Josephus: Women unacceptable witnesses. Matt 25:46 states: 'And they [unrighteous] will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life'. 'Eternal punishment (damnation)' would be an embarrassment to the Jews. So, here we have reliable history, based on embarrassment in that culture.
• Discontinuity is a test that depends on knowing details of Judaism and the early church in the first century after Jesus. Our information is limited so it must be applied with caution. However, 1 Corinthians 15:14-19 (NLT) states our preaching is useless and the Christian faith is futile unless Jesus is raised - if there is no resurrection of the dead. Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus where, after death, Lazarus was in Abraham's bosom [heaven] while the rich, ungodly man was in torment in Hades (Luke 16:22-23). This is hardly what the Jews wanted to hear.
• Multiple attestation: A similar passage to Matt 25:46 is in Matt 7:13-14; Mark 9:44-48; John 5:29, and Acts 24:15. This teaching is affirmed in a number of different locations so it is likely to be true.
• Coherence: What is the coherence or consistency of Matt 25:46 with John 14:1-4 and 1 Cor 15:53? The John passage confirms that for believers Jesus has prepared a place of 'many mansions'. For believers, our mortal bodies will be transformed to be immortal at his Second Coming. For unbelievers, what will happen after death and at Christ's return?

Revelation 20 explains the Great White Throne judgement of unbelievers. Rev 20:12-13 (NLT) states: 'I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds'. No unbeliever can run and hide from God's judgement. There is an afterlife for the godly and ungodly – with two different destinies.

· Rejection and execution: Matthew 26 records the Jewish plot to kill Jesus, Peter's denial of Jesus, how the high priest and others spat in Jesus's face, and Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Him. According to Matthew 27, Judas Iscariot hanged himself. Jesus was on trial before Pilate, was mocked by the soldiers, and a crown of thorns placed on his head. Rejection is written all over this trial and execution, thus affirming one of the historical criteria to demonstrate the New Testament is a reliable set of documents – including on the afterlife.

Apply the method used

In this article I have attempted to show that:

• The New Testament is a reliable set of documents, with five tests of historicity as used by ancient historians.
• In this reliable document it is demonstrated there is life beyond the grave for believers in Jesus and for unbelievers.
• Therefore, I conclude there is strong evidence to support an afterlife. It is not a leap of faith to accept life after death.