So what does happen when the Christian dies? some say that we soul sleep until the resurrection of the dead but this is not what Jesus says. In Luke 23 verse43 He tells the thief on the cross today you will be with me in paradise. And earlier in Luke 16verse 19 Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man was in a place of torment called Hades and the poor man was in a place of comfort and joy called paradise. Note that the resurrection of their bodies was yet to take place so they were in a disembodied state. yet the rich man saw Lazarus, he recognised Lazarus, he felt pain and was in torment and he was thirsty.. so the rich man also retained his consciousness his identity and his memories. although he didn’t have a body he was still able to talk and express emotion.