[Biblemat] A>No One Goes To Heaven When They Die (Kent Heaton)

[kerux]

070531

No One Goes To Heaven When They Die

(Kent Heaton)

 

At least not immediately upon death. We often hear of loved ones who die and go to heaven. These are comforting words and to the best of our knowledge of the person's life - as they have sought to live according to the will of God - eternal life will be granted. However, a misconception is held by many that all those who precede us in death are now in Heaven. In truth, Heaven has not been granted to anyone save the returning of Jesus to His Father (Acts 1:11).

Following death, all go to the realm of the dead - Hades. Jesus was in Hades after His death (Acts 2:27). He told the thief on the cross, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). Jesus pointed out that He would be in Paradise and the thief would be in Paradise. The Lord did not return to Heaven until after His ascension. The thief remains in the realm of the dead - Paradise. 

The Hadean realm is best understood by the story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16. "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom" (Luke 16:22-23). It is here that we come to know what lies beyond the vale of death. Upon death, the guilt or innocence (regarding eternal life or eternal damnation) is adjudicated. All men either are placed in the bosom of Abraham or they are kept in torment as the rich man until the Day of Judgment.

The Day of Judgment is the key to understanding the "time" of Heaven. Jesus pointed out in Matthew 25 that all men would be divided as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. "But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:31-34). The blessing of inheriting the kingdom does not come until after the Day of Judgment. 

The apostle John describes in the vision of Revelation 21:1, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more." The first heaven and the first earth are passed away when these events take place. The promise of Heaven will not be realized until after this world is destroyed and the final day of reckoning is brought to Satan and those who follow his will. The final judgment will come at the appearing of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 4:1). 

It is a minor position of a major point but we must be careful not to teach conclusions that are misleading or false. Eternal life is granted to the faithful; Heaven is a joy that is reserved for the faithful. That blessing will not be realized until all things come to an end and the kingdom is delivered up to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24). Until then, we all wait for that final day when we can hear, "Enter into the joy of your Master" (Matthew 25:23).


Kent Heaton
207 NE Fourth Avenue
Trenton, Florida  32693
(Home) 352-463-6916
(Office) 352-463-3793
(Cell) 352-283-3889
kerux at bellsouth.net
www.trentonchurchofchrist.com
www.northfloridabiblecamp.com
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