does the bible say we go to heaven
Contrary to popular belief, the Bible says we do not go to heaven or hell when we die. A recent poll indicated that for every American who believes he or she is going to hell, there are 120 who believe they’re going to heaven. No-one comes to the Father except through me." it is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). I remember when being a witness that they say when judgment day happens we come out from the tombs we were buried in and we wait for Gods final call. In fact, every year thousands of people ask search engines: “Will I go to heaven?”. . So, do Christians “go to heaven” when they die? This is so because there is no second chance for salvation after one's death. Nearly all Christian denominations teach a “heaven or hell” afterlife. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. Throughout the Bible, we are reminded of his absolute sinlessness. If we go directly to heaven after we die there is no reason for Jesus to come back at the second coming and raise all the dead bodies and bring them to heaven to be judged. We sleep in the grave until the resurrection as the Bible says: "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2). When Jesus was about to leave His disciples, He did not tell them they would soon come to Him. They collectively tell us about the mental state of the dead and use an analogy (sleep) that doesn’t match the common idea about heaven. Many have no understanding of God at all, but still like to think of heaven as the "better place" where we all go when we die. Death brings us into the immediate vision of our Savior and the increased intimacy of fellowship which it entails. It is an understandable and much-needed response to the unbiblical gnosticism of some “fundamentalist” Christians who denigrate material creation, diminish the reality of a future bodily resurrection, and fail to reckon with the centrality in God’s redemptive purpose of the New Heavens and especially the New Earth. When we enter the Kingdom, we will all know David as David, which means both David and everyone else must retain memories of life on earth. Scripture does, however, reveal that God’s people will be resurrected at the return of Jesus Christ and will reign with Him on the earth. Note first of all the contrast set forth in vv. The New Testament says that when Christ does return, the dead will experience a whole new life: not just our soul, but our bodies. In John 14:6 Jesus declares, "I am the way and the truth and the life. Jesus never told anyone they would ' go to Heaven.' The biblical evidence for the intermediate state is unmistakable: see 2 Cor. The contrast is not primarily between two modes of human existence, as if one is in the body and one out of the body (although this is a valid contrast); nor is the contrast primarily that between two possible relationships to the Lord: one with the Lord and one away from the Lord (although again this is valid enough in itself). I.e., it is at rest, without activity or life. For the “These things He said, and after that He said to them, ‘Our friend Lazarus. Do only Christians go to Heaven? Paul's primary contrast is between two successive spheres of Christian residence or existence: now in the body and then with the Lord. Notice that Jesus says we are to use our time (and money) now to further the purposes of the Kingdom, so that when we enter the Kingdom we will be welcomed by friends who remember our generosity. “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish” (Psalm 146:4, King James Version). Bible Say Anyone Is Going To Heaven?' . Ideas about heaven are often no more than vague hopes, on par with "maybe I’ll win the lottery some day." In summary: the intermediate state for the Christian is immediate transition upon death into the presence of Christ in heaven, during which time we experience holiness (no longer being at war with the flesh, although final glorification awaits the resurrection), happiness, a heightened sense of consciousness, and knowledge of Christ in its fullest. Eternally, No. Bible Study Resources - Tips, Online Bible Search, Devotions. This Christian perspective examines the question and looks at the beliefs of both famous theologians and pastors, and what the Bible has to say on the subject. Article URL: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/life-after-death/what-is-heaven/go-to-heaven/. Yes, but only temporarily, as they await the return of Christ, the resurrection of the body, and eternal life in the New Heavens and New Earth. Used with permission. … For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have been, “So man lies down and does not rise. But God promises they will live again! Death for the believer, rather than something to be feared, is like dozing off for a nap (see esp. The Bible says: For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body (Philippians 3:20, 21). There is a loud chorus of voices these days denouncing, in a somewhat condescending way, the long-standing belief among evangelicals that when Christians die they go to heaven. There are many ideas about what heaven and hell are like, and about who will go to heaven and who will go to hell. Even Mr. Gregg said he cannot know for sure until we die, but we can know the eternality of hell from Scripture, indeed, from Jesus own lips…He spoke more of hell than heaven because He desired no one go there. But nowhere does the Bible say that the “soul” or “spirit” sleeps or is unconscious. It’s true that burial was the common practice in the Bible, and cremation was rare. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 6 and 8. Although the Bible doesn't have many references to seeing and recognizing others in the afterlife, there are a few. 100% Free Bible Course Various scriptures in the Bible seem to indicate that Christians and people who lived before Jesus Christ was crucified, but trusted in God, did not go immediately to heaven when they died. He did teach about the coming Kingdom of GOD ( no, I am not now, nor ever have been, a Jehovah's Witness). Apart from rejecting God's provision for salvation through the sacrificial death of Jesus, suicide is the worst thing an unbeliever can do. Jesus said: "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Where in the Bible does it say that we go to Heaven when we die? After death do we go to heaven, hell, or do we “sleep” until the return of Christ? Various scriptures in the Bible seem to indicate that Christians and people who lived before Jesus ... did not go immediately to heaven when they died. Shortly before His death and resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, “I am going there to prepare a place for you … that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3). Although the Bible doesn’t answer all our questions about life after death, it clearly tells us that we can look forward to heaven’s joys when we die, if we know Christ. But the “intermediate” state is not our “final” or “eternal” state. But because when we use the word ‘heaven’ normally we do not think about dirt, trees, and rivers, it is best to use the term ‘new earth’ for the place where we will spend eternity with God. We now turn our attention to 2 Corinthians 5:6-9. Often there is little or no understanding of the Gospel in these stories. There is no scripture that says we will go heaven when we die. However, a close look at the Bible's teachings clearly indicates that not every person will go to heaven. There are but two possible modes of existence for us: if we are physically alive and in our bodies we are absent from Christ / if we die physically and leave our bodies we are present with Christ. Paul's Desire to "Depart and Be With Christ" Many have assumed from Paul's words in Philippians 1:23-24 that he believed that at the moment of his death his consciousness would leave his body to join Christ in heaven. In the original Greek there is no punctuation so that text cannot be used to prove or disprove that we go to heaven/paradise at death because the punctuation was supplied. To learn more about the state of the dead, read our article “4 Keys to Understanding the Afterlife.”. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. (Revelation 14:1, 3) They go there to rule as kings and priests with Jesus. [Note: When we quote Scripture in this article, we use the wording in the New King James Version of the Bible, unless noted otherwise.] The Bible answers this question very clearly: No. 5:6-9). The idea that souls go to heaven at death originated in pagan religion, not the Bible. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version (© 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.). What does the Bible say about death? Thus to be “at home in the body” = to be in one's homeland; among one's own people, and to be “absent from the Lord” = to be out of one's homeland; to be in a foreign country. Classical evangelical doctrine holds that salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, and that those without such faith will be condemned to hell. In the Book of Hebrews we read: ". I recently received a letter from a lady, stating: Please tell me where in the Bible that it says anyone is going to Heaven. Does a Christian go straight to Heaven when they die? But I've also heard we go to heaven. Paul seemed certain that after he died he would be present with the Lord. (2) The imagery of sleep is used to describe death because the body does sleep, in a manner of speaking. Heaven is just a half-way station. The Bible never directly addresses the question of whether animals go to heaven when they die, although it does specifically mention at least one type of animal in heaven: white horses (Revelation 19:11–14). Never miss a post! He told the thief on the cross that he would be in paradise with HIM- but it was not called 'Heaven'. This article will discuss the following topics: What happens when we die? The idea that souls go to heaven at death originated in pagan religion, not the Bible. If we are in heaven when we die what are we doing in heaven until judgment day comes. (Luke 22:28-30; Revelation 5:9, 10) The vast majority of humans will be resurrected to life on a paradise earth.—Psalm 37:11, 29. Most people don’t give heaven much thought until they attend a funeral or a loved one dies. It would seem that v. 7 is designed to soften the blow of v. 6b, or to explain in what sense being “in” the body entails “absence” from Christ. Most Christians have spent some time wondering what happens to us after we die. . How Should a Christian Deal With the Coronavirus Pandemic? However, we must remember that this was a vision given to the Apostle John concerning Christ’s judgment of the earth. … For David did not ascend into the heavens” (Acts 2:29, 34). To be without a body is to be “naked” and thus in a very important sense unnatural and less than ideal. The Bible is clear that nobody goes to heaven when they die.. John 3:13 says, "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. So, is my answer to the question posed in the title, No? Three things, most likely. When David’s infant son died, David declared, “I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). As one must be either in or out of his body (for there is no third alternative), so he must either be absent from or present with the Lord (for there is no third alternative). their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished. . Instead, God’s Word comforts us with the fact that God will raise them to life again, and all will have a chance to become children of God, who will live happy, productive and abundant lives forever! This close connection between worship and service will continue in heaven in ways we will not fully understand until that time. (1) Sleep implies rest from earthly toil, the cessation of activity in this realm. Our focus here is 2 Corinthians 5:6-9. 11:11-13; Acts 7:60; 1 Cor. Yet being in heaven is just a half-way station. ), I don’t think that what Jesus was asking from us is perfection. Is he right? Verse 4 I take to be an expanded repetition of v. 2. Human beings don’t go to heaven or hell at death. 5:1-5 Paul has shown that physical death means the loss of bodily existence. The major point, therefore, is that life now in the body is to be followed immediately by life then with Christ. This is so because there is no second chance for salvation after one's death. When I got married, my fiancé had to be present w… So, to summarize, do we go to heaven when we die? When David’s infant son died, David declared, “I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). . Death brings us into spatial proximity and visible contact with Christ. In fact, the Bible indicates we will know each other more fully than we … The Bible makes it pretty clear that the vast majority of people won’t make it to heaven (See Matthew 7:13-14 and Luke 13:23-25). 16:19-31; Mt. Nevertheless, I believe that the Bible does provide us with some significant clues on the subject matter. When the dead are resurrected, it will feel like their death occurred a moment ago—even though their death could have occurred hundreds (or even thousands) of years before! Do we go to heaven immediately when we die? Neither did Jesus and His apostles teach it. 12:22-24; Rev. 17:1-8; Mark 12:26-27; Rev. Paul's Desire to "Depart and Be With Christ" Many have assumed from Paul's words in Philippians 1:23-24 that he believed that at the moment of his death his consciousness would leave his body to join Christ in heaven. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 9:5,6,10 that “the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing. Although the Bible doesn’t answer all our questions about life after death, it clearly tells us that we can look forward to heaven’s joys when we die, if we know Christ. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. it is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). This is in fact talking about our life that God has blessed each of us with and does not mean that we go to heaven. When Jesus was about to leave His disciples, He did not tell them they would soon come to Him. The Bible speaks of “a new heaven and a new earth” as our eternal, permanent home. 7:39; 11:30; 15:6,18; 1 Thess. Not quite. Get the latest blog posts from Life, Hope & Truth straight to your inbox. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. Support Option Ultrasound! Please tell me where in the Bible that it says anyone is going to Heaven. What Is 'Sleep Divorce' and Is it Biblical? Lk. In the book of Leviticus, holiness is mentioned 152 times. Answer: The short answer is NO! Though their body is in the grave and decomposes, their soul and spirit (the immaterial part, the real person) goes immediately into the presence of the Savior. Thus one is asleep to this world, but alive and “awake” in the next. King Saul recognized Samuel when the witch of Endor summoned Samuel from the realm of the dead (1 Samuel 28:8-17). Clearly, we must maintain some degree of memory after our resurrection if Jesus’ words are to be understood literally. "Why don't we hear that scripture preached at funerals? People who are dead are completely unconscious—unaware of the passage of time and without any feelings or awareness of themselves or their surroundings. Paul's perspective on life and death may therefore be put in this way: It is good to remain alive on this earth to serve Christ (Phil. Essentially, they believe that every human being has an immortal soul that will go straight to heaven or hell after the physical body dies. While it may be comforting to those coping with the death of loved ones to think of them as looking down from heaven, this belief is not supported by the Bible. The Bible reveals the encouraging hope that the dead will be resurrected at a future time—after Jesus Christ returns. One does not have to be baptized to go to heaven. The Bible teaches very clearly that all human beings die: “And as it is appointed for men to die once …” (Hebrews 9:27). It doesn’t. But the good news is that the sleep of death is not permanent. Let’s now explore this answer in greater depth from the pages of the Bible. Also read: What does the bible say about the end of the world? 5:6-9; Phil. Do we go to Heaven when we die? Only those who have personally received Jesus Christ as personal Savior and become "born again" will go to Heaven. What does the Bible say about whether we will be able to recognize people in the afterlife? While in the body we do not literally see Christ (at least, most of us don't! What will heaven be like and what will we do for all eternity? In the Book of Hebrews we read: ". 27:52; Luke 8:52; Jn. The prophets never mention in the Bible that the righteous immediately go to heaven or the wicked go to hell when they die. But many people believe that good people go to heaven when they die. The New Testament Doesn’t Say What Most People Think It Does About Heaven The Pilgrims ascend, circa 1910. It is appointed for all of us to die, but when Jesus Christ returns to the earth at the last day, the followers of Jesus Christ who have died will be raised from their graves and given eternal life. 5:3, if the believer remains alive until Christ returns she will be found by the Lord clothed with a body (the present, earthly one), and not in a disembodied state. “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, “For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have, “[Jesus Christ] died for us, that whether we wake or. Heaven and earth have become one. What Does the Bible Say About Death, Eternal Life and Heaven? We must know each other as who we were on earth originally, otherwise this promise to David would be meaningless. What does the Bible say about ? Pets and heaven is a controversial subject in Christendom. ), but rather walk by faith in the physically absent and unseen Lord. We will consider several such scriptures. I've heard we go straight to judgement. My answer is: Immediately, Yes. This idea, known as universalism, teaches that all people will be in heaven, either immediately following death or at some time after death, depending on one's particular view. Thus death, rather than severing our spiritual relationship with Christ, heightens and enhances it! I have been taught it does. 3 Ways Christians Can Lead the Way to Unity, Why "You Complete Me" Is a Dangerous Myth in Christian Relationships, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright © 2021, Crosswalk.com. . While the Bible doesn't answer all our questions about Heaven, I have no doubt we will recognize each other there. . The Bible teaches there will be a resurrection—a restoration of life at a future time. 1:21-24; Luke 16:19-31; Heb. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him” (2 Cor. Paul likened the perception of the dead from the time they die to the time they are resurrected as like “a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52). A person who has trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior goes immediately to heaven to be in the presence of the Lord. God's standard to get into heaven, then, is not goodness, but holiness, complete freedom from sin. 5:6-9; Phil. The above scriptures answer that question indirectly. Sam is President-Elect of the Evangelical Theological Society. In fact, Jesus Christ—the highest authority we could consult on the topic—said in John 3:13: “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.”. It says that Christ is coming here, to join together the heavens and the Earth in an act of new creation. Two verses address the issue, although neither specifically answers the question. It has all kind of limitations. Matt. The body we now have is not that great. The above scriptures are very clear that the Bible likens death to sleep. To learn more about what the Bible says happens when we die, we invite you to study the related articles in this section about life after death. Classical evangelical doctrine holds that salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, and that those without such faith will be condemned to hell. But once that’s straight in our minds we’re ready to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. If not everyone goes to heaven, who will go to heaven? “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. everybody says we go to heaven when we die, but where does it say that? Answer: ... Jesus says “today you will be with me in Paradise” to the repentant thief. Both passages quoted above (Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:1) refer to the eternal state, not the current heaven. In John 14:6 Jesus declares, "I am the way and the truth and the life. 17:1-8; Mark 12:26-27; Rev. He or she would be descending from heaven. Unless our sin problem is solved once and for all, we can’t enter heaven. Do Christians "Go to Heaven" When They Die? 1:20-24. So before we go further let’s just be clear, this is challenging and it’s meant to be challenging and there is no way round that. Lest I Savior and the truth about life after death ” ) as who we were on?! Subject matter and more then like this: “ so we are in heaven until judgment comes... An eye think I heard JW 's believe that the dead opportunity for salvation will rise ”... Resurrections? ” comfort from the grave when Christ sets up His 1000 year reign on earth originally, this! 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