Is There Life After Death for John MacArthur?

JOHN MACARTHUR, one of the most prominent evangelical voices of our time, has left behind a legacy of preaching, teaching, and publishing. A man deeply committed to the Bible, MacArthur influenced millions with his expository approach to Scripture and firm convictions on doctrines like heaven, hell, and the afterlife.

As news of his death on July 14 (age 86) spread, tributes poured in from across the Christian world—many declaring with certainty that he is now in heaven.

But is this what the Bible really teaches? Is John MacArthur, or any believer, immediately whisked away to heaven upon death? Or have centuries of tradition, Greek philosophy, and human emotion blurred the lines between Scripture and popular belief?

'A Voice from Grace to You'--

MacArthur in his own words painted heaven in vivid terms this way:

“Heaven is a place more wonderful than we can ever begin to imagine… a place where there will be no sin or suffering, no sorrow or pain… we will then know perfect joy.”

He also addressed hell with equal solemnity:

“Hell will not be a place… of comfort. It will not even have the debauched pleasures… only torment, ‘day and night forever and ever’” 

So what does Scripture actually teach—and how much of his belief is shaped by Greek philosophy and tradition rather than truth?

The Origins of the Afterlife Doctrine

Belief in an immediate afterlife—either eternal bliss in heaven or torment in hell—is not unique to Christianity. Ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, and especially the Greeks believed in the immortality of the soul. Greek philosophers like Plato taught that the soul is inherently immortal and survives bodily death, ascending to a higher spiritual realm.

This pagan concept seeped into early Christianity, particularly as the church became more Hellenized in the first few centuries after Christ. Over time, it became common to teach that humans possess an immortal soul that goes directly to heaven or hell at death.

But this idea contradicts the clear testimony of Scripture.

What the Bible Really Says About Death

The Bible teaches that “the dead know nothing” (Ecclesiastes 9:5) and that “the soul that sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). Death is repeatedly described as a sleep—a state of unconsciousness from which only God can awaken us (Job 14:10-14; Daniel 12:2).

When Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, he declared plainly concerning David,

“...he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day… For David did not ascend into the heavens” (Acts 2:29, 34).

If even righteous King David is still in the grave awaiting resurrection, what basis is there to claim that any believer is now alive in heaven?

Immortality: A Gift, Not a Possession

Contrary to popular doctrine, the Bible does not teach that human beings possess an immortal spirit by nature. Paul clearly states in 1 Timothy 6:16 that only God has immortality. Eternal life is not something we already have—it is a promise, a gift given at the resurrection (Romans 2:7; John 3:16).

In 1 Corinthians 15:51–52, Paul explains the mystery of the resurrection:

“Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

This transformation does not happen at death—it happens at Christ’s return.

The True Hope: Resurrection from the Dead

Paul reinforced this truth in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, where he comforted believers grieving over the death of loved ones. He did not say, “They are now in heaven,” but pointed to a future event:

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout… and the dead in Christ will rise first.”

The consistent teaching of Scripture is that eternal life is granted at the resurrection—not before.

Even in Acts 24:15, Paul affirms “a hope in God… that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.” This is the blessed hope described in Titus 2:13—the appearing of our Savior and the resurrection unto life. If the saints were already in heaven, the resurrection would be pointless.

Was John MacArthur Right?

John MacArthur is believed by many to have honestly taught from Scripture. However, on the subject of the afterlife, like many evangelical teachers, he promoted a tradition rooted more in Greek philosophy than biblical fact. By asserting that believers go immediately to heaven or hell at death, the hope of the resurrection is obscured and the truth of the gospel is weakened.

Instead of clinging to ancient fables, we must return to the pure word of God, which teaches that death is a sleep, the soul is mortal, and eternal life is given at Christ’s return.

What Awaits the Dead?

Is there life after death for John MacArthur? According to the Bible, not yet. He now sleeps, as all do in death, awaiting the glorious return of Christ and the resurrection of the saints. If he died in faith, as a servant of God, then his next conscious moment will be when Christ calls the dead to life again.

"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen [a]asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)

This is the true biblical hope—not drifting off to heaven, but rising up from the grave to reign with Christ in His Kingdom (Revelation 20:6). Let us comfort one another, not with myths or assumptions, but with the true words of God.