If it says in the bible that after you die you are only sleeping then...?

Question

if it says in the bible that after you die you are only sleeping then why do people think that when you die you go to heaven because these texts say that the dead are sleeping:

Eccl. 9:5- For the living know that they sall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

Matt. 9:24- He said unto them, Give placer: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth...

John 11:11- These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth: but I go that may awake him out of sleep.

if there is a text in the bible that says that you go to heaven then please tell me

and also...most of you know the story of Lazarus and others... but if you really did go to heaven or hell after you are dead, then don't you think that would be extremely mean or extrememly nice for Jesus to rasie those people from the dead? They would have said...
"O Jesus! Why did you take me back to this evil, sinful world?"
or
"O Jesus! Thank you so much for getting me out of that firery pit of Hell!"

Answer 1

When the Bible says a person is “sleeping” in relation to death (Luke 8:52; 1 Corinthians 15:6), it does not mean literal “sleep.” Sleeping is just a way to describe death because a dead body appears to be sleeping. The Bible tells us that the instant you die, you are taken to heaven or Hell based on whether you had received Christ as your Savior or not. For believers, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). For unbelievers, death means everlasting punishment in Hell (Luke 16:22-23). The concept of “soul sleep” is not a Biblical doctrine. The moment we die, we face the judgment of God (Hebrews 9:27). Until the resurrection, though, there is currently a temporary heaven “Paradise” (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4) and Hell “Hades” (Revelation 1:18; 20:13-14).



In a sense, a person’s body is “sleeping” while their soul is in Paradise or Hades. This body is then “awoken” and transformed into the eternal body a person will possess for eternity. These eternal bodies is what we possess for all of eternity, whether we are in heaven or Hell. Those who were in Paradise will be sent to the New Heavens and New Earth (Revelation 21:1). Those who were in Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15). These are the final, eternal destinations of all people - based entirely on whether a person had trusted Jesus Christ alone for the salvation of their sins.

Recommended Resource: What the Bible Says about Heaven & Eternity by Ice & Demy.

Answer 2

I have wondered about that. The word translated "heaven" simply means "the sky" in the original Greek and Hebrew. And the Bible does not say anything at all about "going to heaven" after death.

The Jews believed that the soul was a function of the body, and that the dead were essentially 'asleep.' The Pharisees also maintained that the body would one day be resurrected.

The early Christians and Hellenized Jews took the Greek view and maintained that the soul entered an incomplete, and essentially mindless state after death, where it was incapable of normal reasoning. That is why the souls under the alter cied out for the resurrection (in the book of Revelation). You can the same concept in the Odyssey, where the souls of the dead are incapable of rational thought until they drink the blood from Odysseus' sacrifices.

The word translated "hell" simply means "grave" in the Old Testament. In the New Testament it is either "grave," "Hades" (that mindless state), or "gehenna" (roughly translated: the city dump).

The phrase translated "for ever" is usually "age of ages," and refers to the end of this age. Scripture does not teach that the dead remain in "hell" forever - it teaches that they descend into the grave, or hades, until the end of this age.

Answer 3

God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth", The word of God is the Children's bread, only the ones who have wisdom of knowledge of God can understand these were living parables to the kingdom of God. Each person, who died and the bible says was only sleeping, represents people who die in sin, they are dead, once the last breath is out of them there is no hope, which people give other people who say they are Christan's, a bad time, are dead, they do not know God, but when Jesus comes and the Prophet comes to bring good news, life comes into them, and a second birth, second chance is given to life, so is it with being born again, you get a second chance at life, once you were only sleeping, now your awaken by Gods chosen, now you can live. Only people that have been Spirally woken up, can understand the true meaning of the word of God.

Answer 4

i have been to many funerals and all and numerous of them has a preacher telling me the man is in heaven. I sit down there and pay interest, understanding they're sound asleep contained in the grave till the resurrection. it truly is the full objective of the resurrection. The preacher both does no longer trust what the Bible says or he's attempting to instill pretend desire contained in the pews. lack of life is an fairly weak time for most, and those who've lost a loved you may favor to imagine that their loved ones are in a miles extra effectual position. yet what the preacher is putting forward is a lie. Is it any ask your self it so difficult to get the atheist to understand Christians even as they each and each arise with their own "techniques" of what the Bible says somewhat of truly believing "WHAT" the bible says.

Answer 5

It is correct that the body sleeps until the Parousia but that the soul goes to God immediantly upon the death of the body but the soul is immortal. the Bible says, "absent from the body, present with the Lord". There are two judgments, one when you die and one after the Parousia. It will seem to us that these two judgments occur simultaneously because in heaven there is no time as we know it but an eternal present.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 6

The scriptures about heaven, are for the 144,000 annointed brothers and sisters, who will ascend to heaven when they die. The "change in the twinkling of an eye" is talking about the annointed. They are the only ones who have the heavenly hope. As for the rest of us, we will die, and know nothing at all untill the ressurection. We will be ressurected on earth.
Matthew 5:5- The meek will inherate the earth.
The soul is not immortal.
Ezekiel 18:4-Look! All the souls-to me they belong. As the soul of the father so likewise the soul of son-to me they belong. The soul that is sinning-it itself will DIE.
And, here is a thought for eveyone. I know that Christendom believes in a rapture, but if you really think about it, whats the point??? If you guys think that when you die, if you are saved, your soul goes to heaven, and if you're not saved, your soul will go to hell. Whats the point of a "rapture" as you call it, if you are already in one of the two options??? Why would people be taken out of their fiery place of torment, just to be judge for all the wrong things they did, just to be put back again??? An d if they are in heaven, why would they be judge if they were "saved'???
The Bible speaks of a ressurection of the dead. So, don't you think that the ressurection would not exist if your soul was already in one of the two places???

Answer 7

Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the sleep of death to prove that he has the power of the creator - over life and death.

The dead in Christ sleep until his return and the resurrection. All glory goes to Christ the Lamb of God on this day. Jesus warned that many would come in his name - false christs and deceive many.

Heavens gate cult
Jim Jones
Are some prime examples of people not understanding the scriptures and being led into a path of unnatural destruction - suicide.

Satan plays alot of games on the gullible, and parading as dead relatives in the spirit world is one of the many disguises.

See Virgin Mary apparitions in the catholic church.

Millions are led astray by satan appearing as an angel of light.


2nd Cor 11v13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Answer 8

Don't try and make any sense out of that book. It was written by people centuries ago who knew very little about anything and so tried to find explanations, and also keep people under control.

When you die you're dead, end of story. You could describe it as a permanent sleep that you will know nothing about.

Answer 9

When we die the spirit or soul leaves the body and goes to God,the body is then said to be sleeping while it awaits the final ressurrection at the end of time.

Answer 10

no one goes to heaven before judgment day, you can not go directly after u die