1.  When the persecution of Israel is the fiercest in the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation (called the Great Tribulation) God will send Michael the Archangel (who bears a special relationship to the people of Israel) their champion to deliver them.  As one author writes: “When it seems as if their strength will collapse, the kingdom will be established.”

2.  At that time living believers will be delivered to enter the Millennial kingdom.  Believers who died in the Tribulation will be raised to everlasting life (one of several resurrections which the Scripture speaks of).  Unbelievers will also be raised to shame and everlasting contempt at the end of the Millennial Kingdom.

3.  Though the body “sleeps,” that is dies and is buried (death appears as sleep) the soul is immortal, it never dies.  At a future time the body and soul will be reunited.  This is resurrection.  The soul (the immaterial part of man, sometimes called spirit) experiences conscious existence after death either in the presence of God or in the torment.  The following Scriptures affirms this truth: Matthew 22:29-33; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:22-24; Luke 23:43; Luke 16:19ff.

4.  Some unscriptural views of what happens to the soul at death are: Purgatory, Soul Sleep, and Annihilationism.