All dead humans still are dead, or do some or all now go up to the next Heaven by the Power of Jesus Christ ?

Question

In the past, most Christians followed church teachings from the Bible that all humans must sleep (dead) in the dust of the ground, or in an urn of ashes, until the Return of Jesus to Judge the world and raise up only the elect -chosen -saved humans.

Today, most Christians believe that our dead, beloved human relatives and friends, especially sincere Christians, will ascend immediately, or on the third day, or at each 1000 year (millennial) Dispensation of Jesus' love and grace.

Which is correct? Why ? How sure are you ?

The dying, repentant thief on a cross next to the cross of Jesus was taken up that day into the highest Heaven (Paradise) and he was not even baptized in water !

Read now carefully John 12:31-32

Are the many thousands of testimonies -- of being taken up into Heaven by Jesus, and seeing their departed, ascended loved ones, that spiritual visionary humans, and some having near-death experiences, have reported -- all fake ? or real ?

Thank you !

Answer 1

thousands of testimonies ?there are thousands of UFO abduction testimonies too


death is the end,religion is denial

Answer 2

The Bible clearly states that all of the dead remain dead and await the resurrection. No one goes to heaven or hell (hell does not even exist yet). See Ecclesiastes 12:7.

But what happens to the soul?

"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, ... every living soul belongs to me.... The soul who sins is the one who will die." Ezekiel 18:3-4

So the soul also dies. Think of it this way:
Body (Dust) - Breath (Spirit) = Death (No Soul).
In Genesis when God breathed the breath of life into the body, man became a living being, (Genesis 2:7) and death is the exact opposite of that process.

Nowhere in the Bible does it state that people go directly to heaven or hell. How would it be fair for a person who died 6,000 years ago to still be in hell compared to a person who died today for the same sin? It doesn't make any sense, it just scars God's justice.

I recommend watching a special presentation called "Confusion in the Cemetery" which explains this according to the Bible. No extra doctrines, opinions, but everything straight from the Bible.
http://www.amazingfacts.org/Television/Revivals/HereWeStand/tabid/211/ctl/PlayMedia/mid/727/MDID/2241/PID/1089/SID/12/SQT/1000/7/Confusion-in-the-Cemetery/Default.aspx

Everything you ever wanted to know about death.
http://www.truthaboutdeath.com

Answer 3

Those of us who are on a path to directly know God are actively integrating into our lives the wisdom of the Holy Spirit by pursuing love, kindness and gratitude. At the same time we are seeking to remove any aspect of our character or actions which impede our ability to know God in all of his beauty wisdom and truth. For these souls the spiritual path is removing any barriers to ascending into heaven immediately or shortly after our physical death. The "shortly after" refers to a common period of confusion that accompanies our death. We should be clear that we must make a conscious "free will" choice to accept God in order for this goal to be achieved. If this free will choice has not been made then the soul languishes in a state of darkness and confusion even after physical death until (and unless) the soul makes this free will choice. If that never happens then the soul remains estranged from its own essential self.

Answer 4

Stick with what's in the Bible hon, you won't go wrong.

You are right, the thief next to Jesus on the cross was told he would be in Heaven with Jesus that very day. So obviously all dead people do not lay in the ground, basically asleep.

There is also the story of the beggar Lazarus. The rich man is burning in hell and asking one of the patriarchs of Heaven to let Lazarus dip his finger in water and relieve the rich man's throat. The patriarch angel tells the rich man that Lazarus is in the bosom of Abraham, and can't see him. Another example of someone dying and going to Heaven.

Elijah didn't die, but apparently he went on up to Heaven too.

Does everyone go straight to Heaven (or hell) upon death? I dunno. If they are just laying in the ground, are they aware? I don't know, but I doubt it.

Answer 5

Before Jesus Christ died for our sins and opened the gates of heaven there were no saints in heaven. Therefore there are no Old Testament writings that would mention them.

Very few of the new Christians died before most of the New Testament was written. Therefore there is little in the Bible about asking saints to pray for us.

However the last book of the Bible does talk about the saints in heaven praying.

Revelation 5:8: Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones.

Revelation 8:3-4: He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel.

The Holy Spirit guided the early Church in many things not explained in the Bible including how does the Body of Christ (believers) living on Earth relate to the Body of Christ (saints) living in heaven. We are still one Body.

Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches.

The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.

Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II.

As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends living here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother living in heaven to pray for you.

Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.

Asking others to pray for you whether your loved ones on Earth or your loved ones in heaven is always optional.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 946 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p5.htm#946

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

Neil youthful - appropriate Hits Sonic youthful people - Daydream u . s . a . Run DMC - appropriate Hits Beasties Boys - authorized To sick Johnny money - the fundamental Johnny money Rolling Stones - Exile On important highway The doorways - l. a. lady CSN - CSN

Answer 7

Funny that most who responded cited examples of the dead immediately going to their eternal destination and are alive, yet when we Catholics decide to ask for the intercession of our relatives on the other side, WHO ARE ALIVE BY THE PROTESTANT'S OWN ADMISSION, we are accused of saint worship. Do they possess convenient logic or is this just blatant insanity?

Answer 8

Paul said, to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord, I believe him.

Answer 9

If no one will be formally judged until judgement day-- what makes anyone think they will die-- go to heaven-- then have to come back to be judged...???