Does the Bible say we should pray for the dead?
Here's the answer:
The Bible does not tell us to pray for the dead.
When a person dies, their souls either go to heaven or hell. A person goes to heaven if they placed faith in Jesus during their life. If a person did not place faith in Jesus, they do not go to heaven.
In some religions and traditions, people pray for the dead. Sometimes they pray for the person’s salvation. The Bible tell us that each person will die once and then stand before God (Hebrews 9:27). Sadly, there are no second chances. Once a person passes away, their eternal home has already been decided based on whether or not they accepted Jesus (Luke 16:19-31).
If someone you know has recently passed away, you can pray for their family and friends. You can also pray for living people to know Jesus, but you don’t need to pray for the dead.
Bible Truth
"People have to die once. After that, God will judge them" (Hebrews 9:27).
"Suppose you see any brother or sister commit a sin. But this sin is not the kind that leads to death. Then you should pray, and God will give them life. I’m talking about someone whose sin does not lead to death. But there is a sin that does lead to death. I’m not saying you should pray about that sin" (1 John 5:16).
"He says, 'When I had mercy on you, I heard you. On the day I saved you, I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time God has mercy. Now is the day he saves" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
