Matthew 26

I find it ironic that after every attempt to find any witness that would bring evidence sufficient to be executed whereby two finally bore false witness, Caiaphas arose and asked the Savior -

"...Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63 But Jesus held his peace."  (New Testament | Matthew 26:62 - 63)

And then he asked what I find so ironic -

"...I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God."  (New Testament | Matthew 26:63)

The Savior responds -

"...Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."  (New Testament | Matthew 26:64)

Caiaphas said it exactly right.  The Savior could swear by himself that He was the Christ...He was the living God.

The Savior also provided an interesting prophecy.  That these men hereafter would see the Son of Man in His second coming,  John the Revelator also prophesied -

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him..."  (New Testament | Revelation 1:7)

This would suggest to me that the spirits of those that pass on remain here on earth in some manner.  Obviously, in such a manner that all would witness the second coming.