Bible Discussion Thread

I am lost on this question . I can't seem to find if and where it says this in the Bible.... Please help.

I hear Preachers saying that when we die and Christian that we go straight to Heaven .

I have found John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

And what don't help me is reading that when Jesus comes back and rise the dead in Christ .... Who is he raising if we are already in Heaven ?

I also found where Jesus said that we we die it is as sleeping , and would be as a second to the dead when God comes for them

Please anyone help , if anyone can give me the Book / Chapter and Verse .

My wife Died not long ago and if this is not in the bible I don't wish to be changing what the Bible is saying by helping to spreading this , by telling all that she is in Heaven at this point.

Thank you and God Bless

Hello D.E.S. I agree that there isn't much given to us in the Bible to give clear teaching - it comes down to how one understands what is given. BTW, the John 3:13 reference you gave, is actually Jesus' response to Nicodemus, when he queried Jesus' Knowledge of these strange things he was hearing. Jesus told him that He was telling him things that only one from God's Presence could do; and that was of this new birth/new heart to be born again, that God required. No man has ever entered Heaven to learn such things & bring this news down to Earth, only Jesus could, He Who came down from Heaven.

That aside, I would ask you to give thought to these Scriptures: Luke 16:19-31 and Luke 23:39-43. In the Luke 16 account, Jesus gave us a glimpse of life after death (the locations of those were prior to Jesus' Own Resurrection). Here, we read that there was consciousness beyond the grave; their bodies were buried, but they were aware of their situation, of joy or pain, even of concerns.

Then the Luke 23 reference. Jesus gave the repentant thief (hanging on the Cross beside Him), the assurance that at his death, he would join Jesus in Paradise - the place of no pain & real comfort. If people today die & just remain in the grave awaiting the resurrection, then most certainly, those of Jesus' day knew that their spirits would live on in the place of God's appointment for them, while their earthly remains awaited resurrection & final judgement. Sending this for your reading & consideration & for God's Comfort & Assurance to be your daily experience.

God's joy

Luke 15:10 states that there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents among angels. It also says there is more joy there than in 99 who need no repentance (verse 7) in heaven; which should signify among the Godhead as well.

I hesitate to get into the positive aspects of God's demeanor for one thing because of the admonitions in Ecclesiastes 7:2. Our true joy should come to us as it did for our Lord described as a "man of sorrows" ( Isaiah 53:3). He rejoiced in doing the Father's will; which at times no doubt coincided with certain acts such as the water turning into wine and with seeing the great faith of just two people mentioned in scripture; the woman who begged for the "crumbs under the table" ( Matthew 15:28) and the verse about the Roman Centurion ( Matthew 8:5-9). In the first case; and likely the second these individuals were not Jews which makes these things even more remarkable. As I said before even the Temple was a place that caused indignation because He was zealous for God's house to be free of money making during the Sabbath (there were at least 2 purgings there in the Bible; perhaps 3).

Another thing today; of course related to God's disposition of rejoicing over us; or His love and blessings is how twisted the mindset of the church is. We cannot have a God of perfect love without Him also having a perfect and Holy indignation. True love rejoices over the truth ( 1 Cor. 13:6). And of course greater love has no man than dying for His friends ( John 15:13). It is from love that God saves us as well as chastises His own. It seems many today want to remain immature in their faith and insensitive to the Spirit calling them; oftentimes through other believers or even the observations of nonbelievers in their lives.

Being born again should be the beginning of the story not the end for this life because this world is the only opportunity we will have to grow in sanctification and to earn imperishable rewards (or lose them).

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord ( 2 Cor. 5:8).

Hi Richard,

The verse doesn't say that. Paul states his preference in that verse.

But in 1 Corinthians 5:3 Paul says he actually is absent in body, but present in spirit to the Corinthians.

Luke 17:37 says wherever the body is (deceased) that eagles (like vultures) gather.

Someone stating his preference to be with the Lord doesn't automatically invalidate all the other scripture in the Bible that says we will sleep (in death) until Jesus returns. But I know there's a strong incentive to believe it for funerals and because the phrase has been repeated so many times. No one skips judgment day though.

Daniel 12:2, Job 14:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:18-20, Matthew 9:24.

it is indeed, when you die then your next "conscious" thought is Jesus saying arise with the rest of the dead saints. Regardless of how much time has passed.

I believe your interpretation. There's more Biblical support for the dead to sleep awaiting the return of Jesus, then all have the day of judgement. some assume Christians skip this but the Bible says all will face it.