For $50,000 as a foundation member, you can help build the storage warehouse at Holbrook, north of Albury in regional NSW. Southern Cryonics will operate the facility which initially will store up to 40 bodies, kept “suspended” by a system of freezing and preserving. Foundation members receive a free suspension.

“The way science and that are today, just ask yourself, ‘why should you die?’” – Ron Fielding

Foundation members Ron Fielding and his son Guy told ABC News they are excited about the prospect of being awakened in the distant future. “They always laughed at people when they’re going to do something [new] but I feel this is the start of another exploration,” said Ron Fielding, who has been researching cryonics for decades.

“The way science and that are today, just ask yourself, ‘why should you die?’”

For some people, these current technological advances might conjure up pop culture images from the past like Han Solo in the 1983 flick Return of the Jedi. But actually before all that – in fact, over two thousand years ago – Jesus has been offering people the ability to “not die” and to rise from the dead. And with no financial transaction needed.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,” said Jesus, referring to himself as that all-important son of God (see John 3:16).

Christians have placed their hope in this offer by Jesus, who backed up his claim by himself rising from the dead three days after he was crucified by Roman officials.

Similar to what cryonics promises, the Bible says those who have faith in Jesus will be as if asleep in death (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17) and will rise again (John 11:25-26).

But in contrast, the Bible also says they will receive newly refurbished bodies: “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies …” (2 Corinthians 5:1-3).

And the cost outlaid for this afterlife process? Already paid in Jesus himself: “The Son of Man [Jesus] came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)

Quite the life-after-death deal, isn’t it?