Will We Go To Heaven As Soon As We Die?

[icee]

1 Thessalonians 4:17 HCSB

Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.

This happens in the last days...so yes it does appear we get to go to heaven.

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[BornAgain]

1 Thessalonians 4:17 HCSB

Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.

This happens in the last days...so yes it does appear we get to go to heaven.

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to meet the Lord in the air: Not heaven, not in some sphere infinitely remote from this world, but in the upper regions of the lower atmosphere. As they ascend to meet him their bodies "shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" 1 Cor 15:51,52... their bodies shall be changed from natural into spiritual bodies, which, being after the likeness of his body, shall be able to endure the brightness of his presence, which those in the flesh could not Rev 1:17.

and so shall we ever be with the Lord.—On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus said to his disciples: "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:2,3.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.—Because the dead shall be raised, and those who remain alive shall be caught up in the twinkling of an eye, and because this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. When we sleep in Christ we must "comfort one another with these words." These promises of the future resurrection to those in Christ should be grounds of comfort to Christians when their brethren in Christ die. It is a sleep, a rest in Christ Jesus..

The unseen world is an opening to receive those whom we love; but though they pass out of sight and out of reach, it is not forever. They are still united to Christ; and when he comes in his glory he will bring them with him. Is it not strange to balance the greatest sorrow of life against words? Words, we often feel, are vain and worthless; they make no difference in the pressure of grief. Of our own words that is true; but those we have been considering are not our own words, but the words of the Lord. His words are living and powerful. Heaven and earth may pass away, but they cannot pass. Let us comfort one another with these precious words.

 

[BornAgain]

Matthew 27

New International Version (NIV)


50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Yes we immediately go to heaven.

I do not see in this scripture that we immediately go to heaven...

The rending of the rocks by this earthquake opened the tombs of certain saints, "and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised." The opening of graves occurred at the moment that Jesus died, while the resurrection and visible appearance in the city of the bodies of the saints occurred "after his resurrection."

Matthew mentions the last event here because it is associated with the rending of the rocks, which opened the rock-hewn sepulchres in which the bodies of the saints had been placed. No one knows what became of the saints that were raised. Matthew is the only historian that records this event. The scripture frequently speaks of death as asleep. Deut 31:16 John 11:11.

 

[icee]

to meet the Lord in the air: Not heaven, not in some sphere infinitely remote from this world, but in the upper regions of the lower atmosphere. As they ascend to meet him their bodies "shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" 1 Cor 15:51,52... their bodies shall be changed from natural into spiritual bodies, which, being after the likeness of his body, shall be able to endure the brightness of his presence, which those in the flesh could not Rev 1:17.

and so shall we ever be with the Lord.—On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus said to his disciples: "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:2,3.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.—Because the dead shall be raised, and those who remain alive shall be caught up in the twinkling of an eye, and because this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. When we sleep in Christ we must "comfort one another with these words." These promises of the future resurrection to those in Christ should be grounds of comfort to Christians when their brethren in Christ die. It is a sleep, a rest in Christ Jesus..

The unseen world is an opening to receive those whom we love; but though they pass out of sight and out of reach, it is not forever. They are still united to Christ; and when he comes in his glory he will bring them with him. Is it not strange to balance the greatest sorrow of life against words? Words, we often feel, are vain and worthless; they make no difference in the pressure of grief. Of our own words that is true; but those we have been considering are not our own words, but the words of the Lord. His words are living and powerful. Heaven and earth may pass away, but they cannot pass. Let us comfort one another with these precious words.

So according to you we go up into the air and then descend back to the earth?

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[BornAgain]

So according to you we go up into the air and then descend back to the earth?

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No...scripture that I provided does not say that.

 

[Butch5]

1 Thessalonians 4:17 HCSB

Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.

This happens in the last days...so yes it does appear we get to go to heaven.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Yes, caught up in the air. The sky is referred to as the heavens, however, most Christians are not referring to the sky when they say they're going to heaven, they mean the abode of God. However, even using sky doesn't solve the problem because the sky is not the final abode or destiny of the Christian. Consider Jude’s words when thinking of meeting the Lord in the air.

14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,
15 "to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."(Jud 1:14-15 NKJ)

Notice where those who met Him in the air are going, back to earth.

 

[Butch5]

Guys and gals,

Aren't red flags going up? The idea that Christians go to heaven has been "Inferred" from every passage put forth so far. Don't you think that if heaven was the final destiny of the Christian someone somewhere would have stated such? There is not a single passage of Scripture that states Christians go to heaven. This idea has it's roots in Gnosticism and Platonism.

 

[iLOVE]

We do go to heaven immediately! Also you will know your love ones and they will know you! John 11:25-26

Do you believe?

 

[BornAgain]

We do go to heaven immediately! Also you will know your love ones and they will know you! John 11:25-26

Do you believe?

Please show scripture that says we go to heaven immediately....

 

[icee]

I do not support that we go immediately to heaven but I do believe we do go. All the Scriptures shown here have been brushed off by these gentlemen and rephrased to say otherwise.

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[BornAgain]

I do not support that we go immediately to heaven but I do believe we do go. All the Scriptures shown here have been brushed off by these gentlemen and rephrased to say otherwise.

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I see what you are saying....it is difficult to understand but I try to stay as close to scripture as possible.

 

[rrowell]

I really don't see your justification for calling them Metaphorical. Hell, Genhenna, certainly is "not" metaphorical and we do know exaclty where it will be.

22 For as the new heaven and the new earth, which I make, remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name continue.
23 And it shall come to pass from month to month, and from sabbath to sabbath, that all flesh shall come to worship before me in Jerusalem, saith the Lord.​

24 And they shall go forth, and see the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched; and they shall be a spectacle to all flesh. (Isa 66:22-24 LXE)

Jesus quotes this passage in the Gospels.

47 "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire--​

48 "where`Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' (Mar 9:47-48 NKJ)

The words translated "hell fire" above is the Greek word Gehenna.

Greek: γεενναν "Gehenna" from Hebrew H1516 and H2011 :

H1516 gay' gah'-ee or (shortened) gay {gah'-ee}; probably (by transmutation) from the same root as 1466 (abbreviated); a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent):--valley.

2011 Hinnom hin-nome' probably of foreign origin; Hinnom, apparently a Jebusite:--Hinnom.

Or Valley of Hinnom, it is a metaphoric representation of what "HELL" will be like.

Jeremiah 7:31 (NKJV)
31 And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into My heart.

 

[rrowell]

Guys and gals,

Aren't red flags going up? The idea that Christians go to heaven has been "Inferred" from every passage put forth so far. Don't you think that if heaven was the final destiny of the Christian someone somewhere would have stated such? There is not a single passage of Scripture that states Christians go to heaven. This idea has it's roots in Gnosticism and Platonism.

Let me ask you this, from your previous posts, are you inferring that the "kingdom" is after the resurrection going made and to be placed on a mountain on earth and does not exist today?

Is this inference what you gather from a previous quote from Revelations?

I am honestly trying to understand where you are going with this?

 

[Butch5]

We do go to heaven immediately! Also you will know your love ones and they will know you! John 11:25-26

Do you believe?

This passage says nothing about heaven or the destiny of the Christian.

 

[Butch5]

Let me ask you this, from your previous posts, are you inferring that the "kingdom" is after the resurrection going made and to be placed on a mountain on earth and does not exist today?

Is this inference what you gather from a previous quote from Revelations?

I am honestly trying to understand where you are going with this?

Hi rowell,

The Scriptures teach that the destiny of the Christian is an eternal existence on this earth when it is restored. God started His redemptive process all the way back with Abraham when He told Abraham,

15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. (Gen 13:15 KJV)

God promised that land to Abraham and his seed. In Galatians three Paul tells the Galatians that when God made that promise to Abraham and his "Seed" He meant a single one of Abraham's seed and that seed was Christ.

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Gal 3:16 KJV)

God promised the land to Abraham and his "Seed" Christ. He also made the promise to Isaac and Jacob. In acts Stephen says that Abraham never received that Land.

2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. (Act 7:2-5 KJV)

Abraham was personally promised an inheritance in that land and he never received it. The only way God can honor that promise (It's and everlasting promise) is to give it to Abraham after the resurrection.

I've written a paper on this subject that will explain my position and it give a multitude of Scriptures. I'm not basing this on a passage or two from Revelation alone.

The Kingdom of God

 

[Butch5]

Greek: γεενναν "Gehenna" from Hebrew H1516 and H2011 :

H1516 gay' gah'-ee or (shortened) gay {gah'-ee}; probably (by transmutation) from the same root as 1466 (abbreviated); a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent):--valley.

2011 Hinnom hin-nome' probably of foreign origin; Hinnom, apparently a Jebusite:--Hinnom.

Or Valley of Hinnom, it is a metaphoric representation of what "HELL" will be like.

Jeremiah 7:31 (NKJV)
31 And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into My heart.

rowell,

Isaiah tells right where it's going to be. How can that be a metphor? Gehenna was a trash dump outside of Jerusalem. It's at this place where the bodies will burn as Isaiah explains.

 

[Butch5]

I do not support that we go immediately to heaven but I do believe we do go. All the Scriptures shown here have been brushed off by these gentlemen and rephrased to say otherwise.

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Hi icee,

I've not brushed aside any of the passages presented. The poster has simply inferred from those passages that Christians go to heaven. No one has presented a single passage of Scripture that states Christians go to heaven. I can present a lot of Scripture that teahces that the Christian will spend eternity on earth. Psalm 37 is one for instance which Jesus quotes.

KJV Psalm 37:1 <A Psalm of David.> Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.​

40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. (Psa 37:1-40 KJV)

Here we see that when the wicked are cutoff the righteous shall inherit the land and dwell there forever. This is just one of many passages that speaks of the land inheritance. When you see the inheritance spoken of in Scripture it is this inheritance of the land that was promised to Abraham.

 

[Butch5]

Here are a few more.

19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.​

21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. (Isa 60:19-21 KJV)

17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.​

18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. (Dan 7:17-18 KJV)

9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. (Isa 65:9 KJV)

 

[icee]

Hi icee,

I've not brushed aside any of the passages presented. The poster has simply inferred from those passages that Christians go to heaven. No one has presented a single passage of Scripture that states Christians go to heaven. I can present a lot of Scripture that teahces that the Christian will spend eternity on earth. Psalm 37 is one for instance which Jesus quotes.

KJV Psalm 37:1 <A Psalm of David.> Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.​

40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. (Psa 37:1-40 KJV)

Here we see that when the wicked are cutoff the righteous shall inherit the land and dwell there forever. This is just one of many passages that speaks of the land inheritance. When you see the inheritance spoken of in Scripture it is this inheritance of the land that was promised to Abraham.

1 Corinthians 15:40 HCSB

There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones.

Yet another talking about our heavenly bodies compared to our earthly bodies. What's the use of us having a heavenly body if we never go to heaven?

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[Eventide]

This is a good example of knowing the difference between the Israel of God... an earthly entity with many earthly ordinances, as compared to the church of God.. a heavenly entity with our citizenship being in heaven.