The state of the dead is like a “sleep”. No one goes to heaven or hell when they die. At the second coming of Christ, the dead “in Christ” rise first.
Genesis 2:7 – And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Man didn’t live until God gave him breath. When breathe is gone, he no longer lives – not here on earth or in heaven.)
Job 14:12 – They shall not be raised out of their sleep
Job 27:3 – All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
Psalm 6:5 – For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
Psalm 115:17 – The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.
Psalm 146:4 – His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
Ecclesates 3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Ecclesiates 9:5-6 – For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. (The Dead know not anything).
Ecclesiates 9:10 – Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
John 5:28-29 – Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
John 11:11-14 – These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. (Jesus called death a sleep).
Acts 2:29 – Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Acts 7:60 – And he (Stephen) kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; (not eternally burning in hell) but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 – Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory (When Christ returns).
Colossians 3:4 – When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 – But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Revelation 20:5 – But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
What Is A Soul?
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Job 14:10-12 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? v 11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: v 12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
Job 27:3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.