What about Stephen?
_But he,_ being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and _saw_ the _glory of God_, and _Jesus standing on the right hand of God, _ And said, Behold, I see _the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God._ And they stoned Stephen, _ (Acts 7:55-56,59)
1. Stephen saw a vision of Christ before he died--not after.
_calling upon God_, and saying, _Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
2. Verse 60, which you left out, states: Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this,
he fell asleep. Notice
Dan 12:2 And many of those who sleep [like Stephen is currently] in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Ecc_9:5 For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.
Psa 146:4 His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish
Humans do not have immortal souls (Gen. 2:7; Ezek. 18:4, 20; Matt. 10:28; Rom. 6:23) At the end of a persons life, God returns his or her "unconscious"(Jas 2:26) human spirit to Himself. Hebrews 12:22-23 reveals that the God "of all spirits" (Num. 27:16), of all "just men made perfect," keeps all these spirits with Him. In it, He has preserved a complete, detailed record of all that pertained to that person's life. This is the plain teaching of scripture. Notice: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thes. 5:23). The spirit, soul and body represent all that was the person. The personality, experiences, accumulated knowledge and character of each human being is reflected in the human spirit. This is why it returns to God at death. In summary, Stephen fell asleep (died) knowing that God would receive his spirit and it would reunite with him at the resurrection.
Jesus is in Heaven at the right hand of God preparing a place for us, that where_ I am_, _ye may be also_ (John 14 1:3).
Joh 14:2-3 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
3. The Greek term translated "place"and "mansions" [topon and topos respectively] can also mean postions of power, offices, or opportunity. Christ is currently in heaven preparing a place [position] in God's government which scripture reveals will be assign to the Saints at His coming.Those who overcome and keep His WORKS until the end [resurrected saints], will have power over the nations! (Rev 2:26). Christ is currently preparing positions of leadership for David (Ezek. 34:23-24; 37:24.), the twelve Apostles (Mt 19:28), Stephen, Paul and the rest of His resurrected Saints! (1Co 6:2-3) . Notice:
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Jud 1:14-15 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."
1Th 3:13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
4. Christ will receive us AFTER his return--at the first resurrection!! After the resurrection, the saints will meet Christ in the air (1 Thess 4:17) and Zec 14:1-5 continues the story--Christ and the Saints will return to Mt Zion together to rule the world!:
Dan 7:18, But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.
Psa 37:34 Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
Psa 45:16 Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons, Whom You shall make princes in all the earth.
Oba 1:21 Then Saviors [helpers] shall come to Mount Zion To judge the mountains of Esau, And the kingdom shall be the LORD's.
2Ti 2:12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
1Co 6:2-3 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
There are many more passages implying the resurrected saints will not spend eternity in "heaven". They will be right here ruling and judging the inhabitants of the earth for 1,000 years! This is an essential part of the Gospel that Christ preached which many Protestants overlook!
Jesus received Stephen's spirit to himself in Heaven, just as Paul said, We are confident, I say, and willing rather _to be absent__ from the body, and to be present with the Lord_ (2 Cor. 5:8).
5. Read the verses in context carefully. Notice how Paul does not remotely imply a time reference between being absent from the body and being present with the LORD. He simply explains that Christians have two bodies: one physical (the first body), then a spirit body (at the resurrection). Paul was speaking of this spirit body, which comes later at the resurrection.
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire _to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better_ (Philippians 1:23)
6. Was Paul saying that he wished to die and immediately go to heaven? Be careful of assumptions. II Timothy 4:6-8 shows Paul knew he would have his reward "at that day" and at "His (Christ’s) appearing," rather than at death:
"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing."
When is "that day"? revelation 22:12 states, "behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man…"(see also I Thes. 4:16-17; I Cor. 15:52; Dan. 12:2-3). Christians do not die and go to heaven. They wait (in the grave) for Christ to return to this earth with their reward!
