With the very recent death of a Christian friend from cancer, I've been spending a lot of time contemplating (strangely enough), death and the afterlife. Please note that by raising these questions I do not wish to bring additional pain to my Christian peers who are grieving with me this week, but the time seems appropriate to me as I ponder these important questions.
As a Christian-raised child, I've attended many Christian funerals and regularly heard people quote 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen 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."