What happens to Christians after they die?

Upon death, believers enter into the presence of the Lord, as affirmed by 2 Corinthians 5:8, which states that being absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Their souls are received into heaven, where they experience the blessings of being in Christ's presence, which is a state of rest and joy. However, they await the future resurrection of their bodies, which will occur when Christ returns. This dual aspect signifies that while the spirit is with the Lord, the body remains in the grave, awaiting its transformation into a glorified state, as represented in 1 Thessalonians 4:16—when the dead in Christ shall rise first, completing the redemption experienced in the soul. This hope of resurrection ensures believers of their ultimate victory over death.