But “[a]n unsaved sinner’s destiny is separation from God, a … What are some good arguments to support the claim that evolution needs to have an intelligent creator in order for it to work? But, as we have already mentioned, that “sleep” isn’t permanent. ©2021 BGEA When this happens—and it surely will—the Bible reveals it will not be so that we can go to live in heaven forever. II Cor 5:8 We are confident, I … In Luke 16:19-31 one finds the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. And if it did happen or if it is a parable, it seems to be making the point that after death there is not oblivion or sleep, unconsciousness. The destination clearly depends upon whether a person has repented and trusted in Christ or whether they have rejected their only hope of eternal life (Acts 4:12; 16:30-31). John Oakes Sermons in Bakersfield: John XIV Abide in Christ. When we die do we go to heaven immediately or at the second coming? We had a discussion about this in our Bible study, and I was surprised to find out how many different opinions there were. What your take? I believe we go to Paradise to await the resurrection of our bodies, but that we are fully cognizant beings while we are there, and continue to learn and grow spiritually. Can you respond to a video I found from a guy who claims to totally disprove the teleological/watchmaker argument? When I got … This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Conversely, the Bible teaches that believers who die immediately go to be with the Lord. But those that died, do not know they died but are reborn … By Billy Graham   •   Do we somehow “sleep,” going into some sort of (to use an awkward phrase) suspended animation, waiting for the Day of Judgment? In this scene, Lazarus asks Abraham for the opportunity to go and warn his family against entering Hades. Is your hope in Him? If you die in a state of grace your soul is immediately saved, i.e. But in the meantime, our souls are with the Lord, and we are fully conscious of being in His presence. How did Moses know what to write in Genesis? You will find his answer archived under his name at the web site. by truthislight: 4:58pm On Oct 08, 2013 haibe: yes it is logical according to the scriptures, the bible never said the ressurection will be in that same physical body but in a spiritual and heavenly body. There lies for us a day/time in the future when all of us will face judgment and enter an eternal destiny in either heaven with God or in hell, separated from God. Believers in Christ go to be with the Lord at their death, so then heaven as Christ is seated at the right hand of God. “When Christians die, they go straight into the presence of Christ – to Heaven – to spend eternity with God,” said Billy Graham in the January 2015 issue of Decision magazine. Did the thief immediately go to Paradise with Jesus? Re: Do We Go Straight To Heaven After Death, Or After The Resurrection? Thread Status: Not open for further replies. Why does God love us? 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. Surely this is motivation enough for us to make every effort to enter through the narrow gate into heaven with our God and to bring as many as possible with us, off of the wide road which leads to destruction, and onto the narrow road which leads to life (paraphrasing Matthew 7:13,14). This passage describes a bad places, called Hades, where the rich man is waiting in some sort of torment. Copyright ® 2021 Evidence for Christianity. Soul Sleep refers to the idea that when we die, our souls "fall asleep" and become totally unconscious. Someone told me that the human soul simply "sleeps" until that time, and I tend to think he's right. He said He would RATHER be absent from the body to be present with the Lord. As we have learned, people who have died do not go to heaven. question, and I heard from a friend of mine an explanation as to why your answer isn't true. 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." The bottom line on this is that it does not really matter for practical purposes exactly what happens to us when we die, because one thing is absolutely perfectly clear from the Bible. We can resolve many of the interpretation conflicts that surround the issue of death by simply keeping the earthly physical body's inanimate state after death completely separate from the soul's spiritual life and location apart from the body . The concept of “soul sleep” is not biblical. Permissions If it was really important for us to know, God would have made it clear. Privacy Death likened to sleep. We've all been taught that when we die we immediately go somewhere for some form of reward or punishment. This would appear to support the thesis in mind here. To summarize, there is more than one possible explanation of what happens to us upon death but before final judgment. Contact Us. One says that absent from the body is present with the Lord, yet others say that you "sleep" in the grave until the resurrection. How do I answer? I say lend support rather than provide proof because the usage of David and Solomon is in a poetic context and in any case is not completely clear as to what is being mentioned. If we are in heaven when we die what are we doing in heaven until judgment day comes. I cannot give a hard and fast answer to this question. I think in the first book of Acts Peter was telling the people that David is in the grave waiting for resurrection . Then your real self your soul will go to sleep a situation of unconsciousness not hell or heaven rather you are sleeping. I heard conflicting opinions. Because he is a bit too busy right now to answer the question, I will give my best answer and refer you to a place you can find an answer from Dr. Jacoby, which is at www.acesonline.org . I offer this, not as a proof-text, but as evidence that this is not the most likely explanation. Home So, as the title asks, do we go straight to Heaven (purgatory before, of course) upon death, or do we as some believe ‘sleep’ until the second coming? Discussion in 'Exposition & Bible Study' started by quoting, May 8, 2007. When Christians—or any others—die, they do not go directly to heaven or to any equivalent of heaven. David’s use of sheol (Psalms 89:48, 86:13, 55:15, 49:14,31;17, 30:3, 18:5 and many others) and Solomon’s use of both sheol and abaddon (Proverbs 15:11), which are translated in the NIV as “death” and “destruction” lend support but not proof to the idea of Paradise and Hades. Before Christ was resurrected, the saints of God went to Abraham's bosom, as distinct from fiery torments where the wicked dead go at their deaths. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth…” (Rev 21:1) seems to imply a future “city” in which we will dwell with God. All rights reserved. Besides, I do not feel particularly qualified to answer this question as another member of 2 Years After Billy Graham’s Passing, Will Graham Reflects on Promise of Heaven, 5 Answers from Billy Graham on End of Life, Death, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 There is life in torment or in bliss. After death do we go to heaven, hell or do we "sleep" until the return of Christ? I don't believe we do either. I'd like to hear your thoughts on it. Local: 704-401-2432 For reasons which I cannot explain, God does not make it absolutely clear what happens to us immediately after dying. How Can I Know for Sure I’ll Go to Heaven? 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 They are “sleeping” or resting in their graves. I hope this helps answer your question. I believe God gives sufficient information to make a reasonable guess at the correct answer, but not enough to allow one to make clear-cut hard line statements about exactly what happens to us at the moment we die. Did God create the sun as is, or did it form by natural physical processes? Elsewhere he declared, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Philippians 1:23). I believe it is possible to defend this position, but believe it is incorrect based on such seemingly clear passages as 1 Corinthians 15:51 and Revelation 20:11-15 which at the very least seem to imply that Judgment Day is a future event for all of us. What lessons can be learned from the story of David and Gloliath? Site design and hosting by Whistlepig Softworks, LLC. These would include Revelation 20:14, “and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them…” This seems an obvious parallel to the Sheol and Abaddon of Proverbs 15:11. This was still hell or hades, the place of the dead, but split into 2 parts. What are your thoughts on this? [12] Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. The dead, as Jesus clearly taught when teaching the state of the dead as the actual focus of his words, sleep. Now the believers are in heaven, but the unbelievers are still cooking in hell. Do the experiences of children who claim to have gone to heaven have validity? This certainly seemed to be the Apostle Paul’s hope. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. These scriptures suggest that, after believers die, they “rest” or “sleep” in their grave. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 “51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, 2 and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” DO CHRISTIANS IMMEDIATELY GO TO HEAVEN WHEN THEY DIE?   •   Topics: Heaven. Also, do we "sleep" when we die and stay in this sleep until the final resurrection? (1) Sleep implies rest from earthly toil, the cessation of activity in this realm. When Christ was resurrected he brought all of the believers out of this "place of the dead" and took them to heaven. 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. Reason works equally well when we remember that our God invites us to come and reason together. July 29, 2004 While we may want a clear cut answer, United Methodists do … After death do we go to heaven, hell, or do we “sleep” until the return of Christ? In the Luke 23:43 passage, Jesus says “today you will be with me in Paradise” to the repentant thief. If not, put your trust in Christ without delay. Christians talk a great deal about "going to heaven," but Scripture never once indicates that anybody moves straight into the presence of God at the moment of death. Do you think we go to heaven the instant we die, or do we sleep (or something like that) until Christ comes again and we are awakened? I hope to see you there. Do they go directly to heaven or hell or to a holding place until Christ returns for the final judgment? In this parable, Lazarus is described as being in a better place–a place called Paradise by Jesus in Luke 23:43–where he is waiting as well. The parable of Lazareth and the rich man suggest we are conscious after death, but other verses suggest that we sleep … When a baby miscarries or is aborted, do they go to heaven or hell? 22 +2 Presbyterian Single. ... think all of the Scriptures I just quoted overwhelmingly evidence that believers are still conscious after death and go to Heaven to be with the Lord. Answer: This is a very good question. We have plenty of evidence that modern humans do not descend from a single original couple, yet Genesis says that we do? Let me describe three possible explanations of what happens when we die. The parable seems to clearly describe a place, or actually places, where people are in a conscious state of some sort after death but before final judgment. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. ... Do We Go Straight To Heaven After Death, Or After The Resurrection? For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. Yes, Christians can sometimes sincerely disagree on minor matters—although you should never forget that all Christians agree on those things that are really important, such as the divinity of Christ, His death on the cross for our salvation, His resurrection from the dead, and our hope of heaven. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” It seems very clear to me that believers who die go straight to be with the Lord and that 'soul sleep' is a fraud. Besides no one has ascended to heaven except the one who has descended from heaven. This is a very good question. - matt If I read your question right, you are asking"what happens, to a follower of Jesus, between their physical death, and their resurrection at the consummation of all things?” Three things, most likely. What happens in the very next second or less after a person dies? Do we go straight to heaven when we die or sleep until Jesus comes again? But he faced death with hope: “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). When infants die without making a choice about God, do they go to heaven or hell? “Soul sleep” is a belief that after a person dies, his/her soul “sleeps” until the resurrection and final judgment. God leaves us with what I believe is a most likely answer, but does not make it absolutely crystal clear. When we die our body goes to sleep, but our soul goes directly to heaven or hell. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." You can find passages, especially in the Old Testament (Psalms 7:5, Psalms 13:3, and perhaps most interestingly Daniel 12:2), but also in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 15:51) which seem to imply that death leads to some sort of state which is described as sleep. The fact is friends, the Bible nowhere teaches that the dead do anything but sleep till the resurrection of Christ. Should we expect a scientific explanation of Genesis 1, or is it just poetry. Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 Next > May 8, 2007 #1. quoting New Member. Originally Answered: According to Bible, when someone dies, do they go directly to heaven or sleep in a grave until the second coming of Jesus Christ? To be honest with you, to do justice to this question would require an answer of at least ten pages. To be present with someone obviously means that they would have to be with them. Is the word sleep in these passages metaphorical or literal? The idea that the dead go straight to heaven or hell is an idea that comes from paganism and mythology. Paul seemed certain that after he died he would be present with the Lord. Do we go to judgment immediately, without any waiting, and therefore enter either heaven or hell immediately? The way it was explained was that God created heaven"s", plural. My Muslim and Hindu friends ask me to explain why God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. Having said all that, here is my answer. We who profess Christ are not destined for soul sleep or the grave! But I have recently been doing alot of research in the scriptures on this. To be honest with you, to do justice to this question would require an answer of at least ten pages. “We are safe in Christ’s presence when we die, and we will be supremely happy in his presence in a new body in the new heavens and the new earth.” We do not go to heaven in the earths time till Jesus come to raise the dead. I don't believe we go straight to Heaven, but I don't believe we sleep either. Never forget that we have hope of life after death for one reason: Jesus Christ removed the barrier between us and God—the barrier caused by sin. Job 7:21 (ESV) [10] …For now I shall lie in the earth; you will seek me, but I shall not be.” Job … He concludes Jesus is a fictional character. If you go directly to heaven you annul the purpose of the resurrection. At some future time, we will be given new bodies, similar to the body Jesus had after His resurrection. I saw your "Do we go to Heaven when we die?" He faced many dangers, and he knew that at any moment his life on earth could end. From my own study of the Bible, I’m convinced that when we die, we immediately enter the presence of the Lord. Besides, I do not feel particularly qualified to answer this question as another member of our board at EFC.org is more qualified, which is Dr. Douglas Jacoby. What is the doctrine of Soul Sleep? We need to remember, however, one additional truth: At the end of this present age, God will reunite our souls and our bodies. Of course, this is a parable, and one must be cautious about taking too much of a doctrinal nature from a parable, but if it does not describe an in-between place, then the parable could be accused of being confusing. Instead, it describes a Day of Resurrection at the end of the age. Then Jesus said to them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead'" (John 11:11-14 John 11:11-14 [11] These things said he: and after that he said to them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. I was taught that we go directly to heaven or hell when we die. Why don't we hear that scripture preached at funerals? After death do we go to heaven, hell, or do we “sleep” until the return of Christ? A third possibility, which I personally believe is the correct one, is that we go to a place, either Paradise or Hades, to wait for judgment. The Bible also says, “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1). The Bible contains the good news that God will wake them up—in a resurrection from death! Your response? So his explanation referenced Genesis 1:1. On the other hand, other scriptures indicate that after Christians die, they will not spend time in their grave, in a sleeplike state or otherwise, but instead will immediately go to be with Jesus Christ. Thus one is asleep to this world, … either Purgatory first then Heaven or straight to Heaven. 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