In Christian belief, does one go to heaven or hell immediately after death, or do we lie silently waiting?

Question

This has often confused me, and I have received conflicting answers.

Are there already souls in heaven and hell (and purgatory, being prepared for heaven)?

Or are all those who have died lying silently in their graves awaiting the return of Jesus and the Last Judgment?

Or, at death, does the spirit return to God and then later - on Judgment Day - will be reunited with the body.

After all, the Church forbade the "descration of bodies", which limited medical experiments well into the modern era, because they were necessary later on. What need is there for a body if the spirit has already ascended to heaven or descended to hell?

Or are their different stages of judgment? One immediately at death, and one later on, whenever Jesus returns?

Answer 1

There are many beliefs in the Christian Religion. Not all agree on this matter.

Answer 2

This is a question that practically everyone on the face of this planet is wondering. I know I do. Okay lets look at it from a religious point of view, cuz you can go Discover channet with this question as well. But lets stick with the Christian Channet first. Well according to the bible, Jesus is suppose to come back to Earth and judge the living and the dead. So think about it, if this is true, why would a soul that has died go immediately to Heaven or Hell depending how they lived their lives. You know what I'm saying, I mean let's take a person for example that say died a few years back. Living a pretty good life, dies and ascends into heaven. Now if this guy already got his wings, why is Jesus going to judge him again? Thats like I passed the last class in my senior year of college, I can now graduate with a B.A. deree, but then some one in the admissions office sends me a letter telling me where and when I could register for the following semsester. Same thing if he took the other route. You see where I'm getting with this? So if the bible is correct on this issue, It leads me to believe that those who have died, whether it be 5 minutes ago, 5 years ago, 5 decades ago 5 centurys ago are neither in Heaven or Hell. Check this web page below that goes alot more deeper about this subject then I am at this moment. Hope it helps.

Answer 3

The Bible does not speak of purgatory. That idea was created by the Roman Catholic church. It is not real.

I believe that as a Christian when you die your spirt goes to be with the Lord, but your body is not resurrected until Jesus returns. The theif on the cross who accepted Jesus was told he would be with God that very day after he died. The Bible also says our bodies will be resurrected when Jesus returns. Therefore it makes sense that our spirits are immediately in heaven but our bodies will be raised and glorified later.

As far as desecration of bodies, that's another idea put forth by the Roman Catholic church, not the Bible. If you think about all the saints who have died over the past several thousand years - well, since the very beginning - those old bodies have rotted away by now. But it is in God's power to raise them anyway when Jesus returns. So it doesn't matter what happens to our dead bodies. If I die before Jesus' return, I for one want to be cremated. It's not as messy as deterioration.

It sounds like you are confused by the teachings of man. It's good you are questioning these things. Don't ever believe anything spiritual that people (or religions) tell you unless it's backed up by the Word of God.

Peace

Answer 4

As for the spirit being reunited with the body, thats nuts. The Bible says our body is just a tent, to hold the soul untill death and we recieve a 'resurrection body.' As for the timing of heaven and hell and resurrection after death, it doesn't matter.

As long as you believe in heaven and hell and judgement and some sort of second coming, I don't believe that it is imperative to understand precisely how it will happen.

You recieved conflicting answers because there are conflicting views, but this is really not that important, and certainly nothing to divide a church over, tho ppl have anyway...

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Answer 5

This is something that confuses me too... Because in Revelations it says the dead will rise along with the living souls to heaven to be judged. I think there is a soul, body and spirit. The body dies here on Earth, and then our soul goes to heaven to be awaiting the judgment day. On judgement day, I think our spirit rises with the living ones, and will be reunited with our soul. While, the living already has their soul and spirit together. This is what I've been told by someone at my church. I still don't know what to believe though.

Answer 6

I have 2 theorys kinda. We as worshipers of Christ, the faithful, shall be immediately taken to Heaven to worship with Christ forever more. Then there are those that the bible says that are in the graves and shall rise up and be called to heaven to be judged on that day.
I don't believe in anyway are we "floating around". Our spiritual bodies are lifted high in an instant.
but I also have a question about.. if we are in our spiritual bodies and worshippers in Heanven already with God, will we also face judgement on the day of reconning ? a question to ponder.. I am still learning myself.

God Bless and Great question.

Answer 7

My best answer: ask God.
Biblically, there is no heaven or hell as yet. And purgatory is a concept invented by the Roman Catholic church--entirely invalid. I believe that Christians join God immediately, but those who must be judged merely by their 'light' may have another type of waiting. The Bible makes no specific declarations of the subject.

Answer 8

At death the soul goes to Paradise or Spirit Prison. There they can still learn and be taught the Gospel. At the Resurrection, they are reunited with their bodies and stand at the judgment. At the final judgment, we receive one of three degrees of glory or are cast into outer darkness.

Answer 9

You question is fallacious... Evolution is a shown medical fact. Even people have progressed over the years. Evolution is taken under consideration necessary to survival of the species. it particularly is the reason the time-honored human is taller now than they have been 200 years in the previous. It might desire to one hundred% benefit wisdom of in all colleges. Now, the theory that people and diverse organisms developed from single celled organisms is a theory as is creationism in the view of scientists. i think of that if one theory is going to benefit, then the different will might desire to learn. it particularly is not the function of the business enterprise to grant a one sided view on how existence on earth began. i think that if creationism is taught from the belief area, then it does now not intervene with the separation of church and state. It additionally would not press any ideals onto the scholars. the base line is to coach that the belief is that existence grew to become into created via way of a miles better being. All religions have very comparable memories, so teach the theory, now not the specifics. truthfully despite if, i think of that if neither are taught, it fairly is okay too. I in simple terms do not think one might desire to be experienced without the different. As for you, do you will have an informed purpose in the lower back of this theory?

Answer 10

according to established christian tradition, rooted in the orderof being,that is, of reality,death is the firstof the four last thingsto whichthe tradition itself directsour attention include judgement,heaven,hell. It is that eventwhich takes place the moment the soul,having left the body for judgement,ceases to vivify the body's functions with the informing,animating principal we call life. The body thus fallsaway into corruption,leaving the soul to journeyacross the threshold of eternal life,there to await the moment when god chooses to reconstitue the original body-soul unity for all eternity.

Answer 11

The Bible says that ALL souls return to the Father God who gave it.....Jesus gave the example of Lazarus and the rich man..where there is a separation of good and bad souls .No soul is judged until Judgment DAY . Only satan so far has been judged to hell.