What happens to all the people that lived and died before Jesus was born? Simple. Christ died for the sins of everyone past, present, and future. What happens to a child's soul if the child dies during birth? Those who are ignorant of the faith do to any reason other than their own fault are not "tormented". The ones that are tormented are the ones that knew of the faith and rejected it. Everyone who knows the truth are the ones that are given the choice. So that would mean that 98% of the populace will be in heaven.

If you willfully deny Christ now, when the time of Judgement comes, Christ is going to deny you before the Father.

You need to read the Book of Revelations(as well as the rest of the Bible). The "first death" lasts until the end of the Millinnial Kingdom of Christ. During that time you will be "tormented" by being removed from presence of God.

Then, your "second death" will come. This is when you will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone and your agony will ascend forever and ever.

You can get a better description from the Bible.

• Transmigration - yanniru - July 29, 2002 - 14:11 UTC