Tell me where in the bible it says ...?

Question

To my Biblical knowledge it says in 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 it says in
Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

So where in the bible does it say that when you die you wake up in heaven?

to my understanding theres no one in heaven right now except the angels and the Lord,and we wont get there till the rapture(or catching away) of the saints

Answer 1

I don't think there's anything in the Bible that indicates people go to heaven when they die. The Scripture you mentioned from 1 Thessalonians sounds like people sleep until the resurrection, and those who are living at that time are "caught up together" with them. 1 Cor 15:51 says the same thing, that the living will not really die but just be changed into a spirit at the same time of the resurrection of those who have already died.

According to what Paul says at 1 Cor. 4:8, apparently the resurrection hadn't taken place then, and it seems to me that it hasn't taken place yet since the living have not yet been caught away to heaven with them.

Someone mentioned that Jesus told the evildoer Today you will be with me in paradise, but since no one went to heaven before Jesus, and Jesus was in the grave for three days, it doesn't seem the evildoer would have gone to heaven the day he died.

This is just my opinion based on how I read the Scriptures. I guess the important thing for us is to just live our lives the best we can and leave the whenever and whatever up to Jesus and the Father because we haven't been given all the details. The Scriptures are certainly open to different interpretations,though, and I'm sure there's a lot of people who think they have it all figured out. I'm not one of them, but this is my best guess.

Answer 2

The passage in Luke 16:21 - 31 gives us some insight into the fate of those who leave the earth before the coming of the Lord. The following commentary gives some clarity:

Luk 16:22 -
Was carried by the angels - The Jews held the opinion that the spirits of the righteous were conveyed by angels to heaven at their death. Our Saviour speaks in accordance with this opinion; and as he expressly affirms the fact, it seems as proper that it should be taken literally, as when it is said the rich man died and was buried. Angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who are heirs of salvation Heb_1:14, and there is no more improbability in the supposition that they attend departing spirits to heaven, than that they attend them while on earth.
Abraham’s bosom - This is a phrase taken from the practice of reclining at meals, where the head of one lay on the bosom of another, and the phrase, therefore, denotes intimacy and friendship. See the notes at Mat_23:6. Also Joh_13:23; Joh_21:20. The Jews had no doubt that Abraham was in paradise. To say that Lazarus was in his bosom was, therefore, the same as to say that he was admitted to heaven and made happy there. The Jews, moreover, boasted very much of being the friends of Abraham and of being his descendants, Mat_3:9. To be his friend was, in their view, the highest honor and happiness. Our Saviour, therefore, showed them that this poor and afflicted man might be raised to the highest happiness, while the rich, who prided themselves on their being descended from Abraham, might be cast away and lost forever.

The term "paradise" is used three times in the New Testament, in each occurence, it means:

paradeisos
par-ad'-i-sos
Of Oriental origin (compare [H6508]); a park, that is, (specifically) an Eden (place of future happiness, “paradise”): - paradise.

Is this Heaven? Maybe, it may be another place before Heaven, it is hard to determine. Maybe Heaven's waiting room?

Answer 3

The Bible does not teach that the *good go to heaven when they die.*

It teaches that all go to the graves, Bible hell, Sheol, pit, Hades, dust, memorial tombs, when they die. Jesus will raise all those in the memorial tombs; John 5:28, 29.

The only exception is the Chosen ones who die during the presence of the Lord,

1Corinthians 15:51 Look ! I tell you a sacred secret: We shall not all fall asleep in death, but we shall all be changed.

So, after the dead in union with Christ are raised , any chosen ones who die will not fall asleep in death, but will be changed instantly, into immortal spirit bodies.

Revelation 20:4b And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for a thousand years. 5b) This is the first resurrection. 6) Happy and holy is anyone having part in the *first resurrection,* over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priest of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years.

Answer 4

to some extent, you are right. Jesus was the first one to go to heaven. So what about all the faithful ones who died before the way to heaven was opened up? They are still sleeping in death awaiting a resurrection back to life on earth. The apstles and many of the 1st century Christians were awarded heavenly life for Jesus told them they would be with him in his Kingdom. Some faithful ones who die, are taken up to heaven instantly like Thess. 4:17 states. Because they do not experience the full effects of death, it is as though they are alive when they are changed to spirits and ascend to heaven. All who go to heaven must die first and they are given spirit bodies as 1st Corinthians 15:50 says: "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption."
Not everyone who dies goes to heaven. Millions of meek and righteous people will remain on the earth just as Psalms 37:9-11 promises us: "For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."
Also Jesus said at Matthew 5:5: " Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."

Answer 5

This is a fun theological topic. There are at least two camps in the "logistics of Heaven" debate. There are those you mention who follow the immediate theory, based in part on Christ's words in St. Luke 23:43 when He tells the criminal, "today you will be with me in paradise.

There is also the "soul sleep" theory, based on the verses you mention. That is, souls lay dormant until the final day, then rise.

Some reconcile the two verses by likening it to falling asleep on an airplane. Time passes faster--that is our perception is that no time has passed, while much time may have passed. This means that Christ was speaking symbolically in Luke.

Answer 6

people use the following scripture:
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
to explain this but I feel this is taken out of context. I see nothing else that would suggest other than what you are saying.

Answer 7

YOu are at least partly correct... and I would tend to agree with you...but we are not to know for sure untill we get there... There are others already there though... the Old Testiment Saints who were is paradice and were taken to Heaven with Jesus before he returned to make himself known to his followers after the cusifixion.
Here is a link to my Heaven page from my website. you might find it interesting... I have a bit different take than some of my Christian Brothers and Sisters

http://pages.zdnet.com/mikevanauken/outreach/id12.html

All honest seekers welcome

Answer 8

2 Cor. 5:8 for one' it's belived that the soul goes to heaven and we will recieve a new body when He returns.

Answer 9

BINGO!

IT doesn't say that you die and awaken in heaven. It dos say in the parabel of Lazarus and the rich man that Lazarus went to Abrahams bossom which seems to be or infer a place of rest while the rich man went to "hell (hades) hwre he was tormented.

Answer 10

Have you read the story of the rich man and the poor man, do you remember the accounts of the cross. Stories of where men go to heaven.

I think you need to read some more and read carefully too.