You might be surprised when you find out what the world's highest authority says about this.

You can believe whatever you want to, but I believe that the highest authority and absolute truth on this earth regarding this is the Bible the Word of God.  There is no greater truth than this. 

What the Bible teaches is that upon death those who chose to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior rest in their graves until the resurrection.  When Jesus comes at the resurrection they are raised from their graves, receive their eternal bodies, given eternal life, and are taken to heaven.  The same thing happens to those who believe in Jesus but are still alive at that time (the rapture and resurrection happen as one event).  They stay in heaven a few years while the Great Tribulation happens and then return to earth with Jesus where they will spend 1000 years when Jesus sets up His Kingdom right here on earth.  At the end of the 1000 years God will create a new heaven and earth and will come to live right here on earth with them for eternity.  

Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour rest in their graves until after the 1000 year reign of Christ.  At that time they come alive and are judged for their sins.  They spend the length of time that their sins deserve in the Lake of Fire with the devil and his angels after which they perish and exist no more.  

At any time before death a person can ask Jesus to forgive their sins and be their Lord and Saviour and he will.  After death it’s too late.  You may have heard different explanations about this, but this is what the Bible teaches.  You can verify everything I have stated here with all the scriptures that teach this on my website at www.itshisstory.com.  Look for the study called After Death.  God Bless and I pray you would chose Jesus.