Do christians go straight to heaven upon their deaths?

[sincerly]

Jesus said his words and promises would be fulfilled before the generation of his time passed or within his listeners lifetime. What he promised has not come to pass. His second coming had been anticipated by every generation of Christians since the book of Revelations were read. Without his return all those who died in faith will remain in their graves waiting to be resurrected.

HK, There are some discrepancies in the above understanding.
The oldest prophecy time line that I'm aware of is in Daniel's writings.
It goes from Nebuchadnezzar's reign to the end of time and GOD'S everlasting Kingdom. There was one portion which particularly bothered Daniel and that had to do with the persecution of GOD'S people and the Sanctuary.(Dan.8:13-14), " Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed".

Gabriel brought understanding as to the time frame for that accomplishment,(2300 days=years) but not the end of time per se.
The seventy Weeks of Daniel 9:24-27 cover 490 years(day for a year) from the "decree to restore Jerusalem to the Messiah the prince being crucified and the finishing of the transgression."

There was still 1810 years left to that 2300 day/year prophecy.---at the stoning of Stephen.
So the "wait" hasn't really been that long for GOD to complete making up HIS Jewels.(Mal.3:17)"And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him."

No believer is found in heaven. Even they that had faith (Hebrew) the promise has not been kept.

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.

Hebrew 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise

Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected. He appeared before the disciples and then ascended to heaven. Paul tells in the epistles to the Thessalonians about Jesus's return (the second coming of Christ). Paul talks about a resurrection to come when the dead will be resurrected and reconciled with the living believers.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18New International Version (NIV)

Believers Who Have Died
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Is there a statutory period before the promise expires and is declared null and void? We are over 2000 years into the waiting and the Jews feel they should be vindicated for rejecting Jesus's claims he was their messiah and asking that he be crucified and the dead believers are still in their graves. There is no change

Right! The "Change" will only occur at the last trump when Jesus returns. That Day is promised and will not fail. No dead person will be aware of how many years/centuries/millennium pass by.
The Righteous will not be disappointed.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

I am grateful to have translations in our English. The KJV is not easy to read. However, I am not convinced that any translation would bring about a false doctrine. Is there any scripture from a translation that you think caused a false doctrine? If so, which one.

The KJV words translated in English as hell and hellfire has caused a false doctrine about the grave. Hellfire comes from the word Gehenna. Gehenna was simply a garbage pit where things were destroyed and Not kept burning forever. Notice Psalm 92 v 7 which states the wicked will be ' destroyed forever ' as in annihilated.

The day Jesus died Jesus went to the Bible's hell [ grave ]
Jesus taught sleep in death - John 11 vs 11-14
Jesus would have learned that unconscious condition for the dead from the Hebrew Scriptures.
Such as: Ecclesiastes 9 v5; Psalms 6 v 5; 13 v 3; 115 v 17; 146 v 4; Daniel 12 vs 2,13

So, basically it is Not the translation but the misunderstanding about the translated words.
By comparing corresponding reference passages or verses one can more readily discern what the Bible really teaches subject by subject or topic by topic.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

The soul is a body made alive by the spirit.

Please notice Genesis 2:7 because Adam was not made alive until God ' breathed the breath of life ' [ Not spirit of life ] into inanimate Adam.

True, God uses his spirit in creation - Psalm 104:30 - and when we think of spirit we think of lively such as a high-spirited horse, or a pep rally creating school spirit. Without spirit, like a blown out light bulb, life goes out. Life is gone. That is why Adam ' returned ' to the dust where Adam started - Genesis 3:19

 

[moorea944]

Please notice Genesis 2:7 because Adam was not made alive until God ' breathed the breath of life ' [ Not spirit of life ] into inanimate Adam.

True, God uses his spirit in creation - Psalm 104:30 - and when we think of spirit we think of lively such as a high-spirited horse, or a pep rally creating school spirit. Without spirit, like a blown out light bulb, life goes out. Life is gone. That is why Adam ' returned ' to the dust where Adam started - Genesis 3:19

Wow, nice post. I think alot of people dont really understand certain words, like "soul" and "spirit". There are so many verses on death, yet "main stream" Christianity believes that life goes on after death. The "soul" lives on. Yet the bible says that the soul can die. I thought it was immortal, hence, "immortal soul" . Nope. We were not given a soul, we are a soul. A living, breathing creature.

"You cannot praise God in death" Most religions say that's wrong, you can praise God in death.
"The living know that they die, the dead know nothing."
"Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished;" This is the exact opposite on what people believe in, why?

 

[Yes]

The KJV words translated in English as hell and hellfire has caused a false doctrine about the grave. Hellfire comes from the word Gehenna. Gehenna was simply a garbage pit where things were destroyed and Not kept burning forever. Notice Psalm 92 v 7 which states the wicked will be ' destroyed forever ' as in annihilated.

Revelation 20:10
and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 14:10-11
he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

The day Jesus died Jesus went to the Bible's hell [ grave ]

Jesus died on the cross and went to prison/hell, where the spirits were of the people who disobeyed.

1 Peter 3:19 In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,

Jesus taught sleep in death - John 11 vs 11-14

Are we dead every night when we go to sleep? No.

Jesus would have learned that unconscious condition for the dead from the Hebrew Scriptures.
Such as: Ecclesiastes 9 v5; Psalms 6 v 5; 13 v 3; 115 v 17; 146 v 4; Daniel 12 vs 2,13

So, basically it is Not the translation but the misunderstanding about the translated words.
By comparing corresponding reference passages or verses one can more readily discern what the Bible really teaches subject by subject or topic by topic.

The Old Testament was about earthly man, and the New Testament is about what is spiritual.

Our spirits live on after the death of our bodies.

 

[Yes]

Please notice Genesis 2:7 because Adam was not made alive until God ' breathed the breath of life ' [ Not spirit of life ] into inanimate Adam.

God breathed a spirit into Adam.

True, God uses his spirit in creation - Psalm 104:30 - and when we think of spirit we think of lively such as a high-spirited horse, or a pep rally creating school spirit. Without spirit, like a blown out light bulb, life goes out. Life is gone.

No.
Our spirits even have a form.

Zechariah 12:1 shows us that the spirit has a form.

That is why Adam ' returned ' to the dust where Adam started - Genesis 3:19

Adam's son Abel is still speaking, even though he is dead.

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

 

[moorea944]

Revelation 20:10
and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.


Revelation 14:10-11
he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”


Jesus died on the cross and went to prison/hell, where the spirits were of the people who disobeyed.

Jesus died on the cross and went to prison/hell, where the spirits were of the people who disobeyed.



Are we dead every night when we go to sleep? No.


The Old Testament was about earthly man, and the New Testament is about what is spiritual.

Our spirits live on after the death of our bodies.

[Revelation 20:10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.]
That is symbollic. It' talking about final death. No resurrection. Just death.

[Jesus died on the cross and went to prison/hell, where the spirits were of the people who disobeyed.]
What? Wow, where do you get these ideas from!!!

[Are we dead every night when we go to sleep? No.]
Scripture tells us that when we are dead, we are alseep in Christ. It is not real sleep like we sleep at night. It is figuritive, not literal. It's "sleep" because we alwake "as if in a sleep" at resurrection. That's all. We are not literally sleeping in our coffin, we are dead.

[The Old Testament was about earthly man, and the New Testament is about what is spiritual.]
Dont know where you get that from. There were alot of spiritual men in the OT. Abraham, Job, David, the prophets. I also dont know what you mean "earthly man".

[Our spirits live on after the death of our bodies]
You take "spirit" out of context. Man gave man a soul, bible didnt.

 

[sincerly]

Revelation 20:10
and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

"yes", look at and consider Jude 1:7, "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

neither of those cities are still burning. Mal.4:1-3 says that the wicked would be ashes, therefore, are you persisting to believe that what has gone back to dust/ashes/elements must continue to live when the Creator GOD said it would die?

 

[Yes]

"yes", look at and consider Jude 1:7, "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

neither of those cities are still burning. Mal.4:1-3 says that the wicked would be ashes, therefore, are you persisting to believe that what has gone back to dust/ashes/elements must continue to live when the Creator GOD said it would die?

You are trying to nullify scripture with scripture.

Those in the lake of fire will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Sodom and Gomorrah are cities.

Revelation 20:10
and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

 

[Yes]

[Revelation 20:10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.]
That is symbollic. It' talking about final death. No resurrection. Just death.

No. The wicked are going to be resurrected too.

Acts 24:15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

[Jesus died on the cross and went to prison/hell, where the spirits were of the people who disobeyed.]
What? Wow, where do you get these ideas from!!!

Didn't you see the scripture I gave?

[Are we dead every night when we go to sleep? No.]
Scripture tells us that when we are dead, we are alseep in Christ. It is not real sleep like we sleep at night. It is figuritive, not literal. It's "sleep" because we alwake "as if in a sleep" at resurrection. That's all. We are not literally sleeping in our coffin, we are dead.

Our spirits live on in consciousness.

[The Old Testament was about earthly man, and the New Testament is about what is spiritual.]
Dont know where you get that from. There were alot of spiritual men in the OT. Abraham, Job, David, the prophets. I also dont know what you mean "earthly man".

In the Old Testament, the people had to do a lot of things just to go to an earthly temple. In the New Testament, Jesus does it for us by faith with his Spirit, and we become the temple.

[Our spirits live on after the death of our bodies]
You take "spirit" out of context. Man gave man a soul, bible didnt.

You are badly mistaken. You go against the Bible.

 

[sincerly]

sincerly said: ↑
"yes", look at and consider Jude 1:7, "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

neither of those cities are still burning. Mal.4:1-3 says that the wicked would be ashes, therefore, are you persisting to believe that what has gone back to dust/ashes/elements must continue to live when the Creator GOD said it would die?

You are trying to nullify scripture with scripture.

Those in the lake of fire will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Sodom and Gomorrah are cities.

Revelation 20:10
and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

"Yes", cities are cities---people are people---and "eternal" fire is "eternal" fire. GOD is real and vengeance is HIS. GOD is, also, Truth, Love, Mercy, Just, Gracious. Therefore, in light of GOD'S Characteristics when GOD said to Adam (Gen.3:19), "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."---No immortality was given mankind at creation that wasn't conditional--"in the day that ye eat of it, ye shall surely die."

The Scriptures confirm one another---it is mankind that tries to cause contradiction and doubt.

 

[sincerly]

No. The wicked are going to be resurrected too.

Acts 24:15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

"Yes", I hope that your hope is not that awaiting the "wicked".

Our spirits live on in consciousness.

The scriptures say differently---the "dead don't know anything".

In the Old Testament, the people had to do a lot of things just to go to an earthly temple. In the New Testament, Jesus does it for us by faith with his Spirit, and we become the temple.

It is our faith in What Jesus has done--HE paid our sin debt--which was death. Now, by living a submitted life to The Father the Holy Spirit will live in one to bring a right relationship with GOD and mankind.

You go against the Bible.

The "going against the Bible" is what you are doing in turning a blind eye to the scriptural truths---for the machinations of gullible mankind.

 

[Yes]

sincerly said: ↑
"yes", look at and consider Jude 1:7, "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

neither of those cities are still burning. Mal.4:1-3 says that the wicked would be ashes, therefore, are you persisting to believe that what has gone back to dust/ashes/elements must continue to live when the Creator GOD said it would die?



"Yes", cities are cities---people are people---and "eternal" fire is "eternal" fire. GOD is real and vengeance is HIS. GOD is, also, Truth, Love, Mercy, Just, Gracious. Therefore, in light of GOD'S Characteristics when GOD said to Adam (Gen.3:19), "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."---No immortality was given mankind at creation that wasn't conditional--"in the day that ye eat of it, ye shall surely die."

The Scriptures confirm one another---it is mankind that tries to cause contradiction and doubt.

We will all be raised immortal. How are the wicked going to die? Death will be no more. How is anyone going to die?

 

[Yes]

"Yes", I hope that your hope is not that awaiting the "wicked".

I would not do that .

The scriptures say differently---the "dead don't know anything".

The Old Testament is about earthly man. The New Testament is about the Spiritual.

It is our faith in What Jesus has done--HE paid our sin debt--which was death. Now, by living a submitted life to The Father the Holy Spirit will live in one to bring a right relationship with GOD and mankind.

You do not even receive the Holy Spirit unless you obey. See Acts 5:32.

The "going against the Bible" is what you are doing in turning a blind eye to the scriptural truths---for the machinations of gullible mankind.

I am speaking God's Truth. I can prove all my beliefs with scripture.

 

[Yes]

The Old Testament is about earthly man...it is about the flesh.

Romans 7…4Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

The New Testament is about that which is Spiritual.

 

[cataway]

We will all be raised immortal. How are the wicked going to die? Death will be no more. How is anyone going to die?

only the elect can be considered immortal but they not going to be here on earth. every one that is resurrected remains mortal

 

[Yes]

only the elect can be considered immortal but they not going to be here on earth. every one that is resurrected remains mortal

The righteous AND THE WICKED will be resurrected.

 

[cataway]

resurrected

The righteous AND THE WICKED will be resurrected.

did I say otherwise ?no

 

[sincerly]

sincerly said: ↑
sincerly said: ↑
"yes", look at and consider Jude 1:7, "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

neither of those cities are still burning. Mal.4:1-3 says that the wicked would be ashes, therefore, are you persisting to believe that what has gone back to dust/ashes/elements must continue to live when the Creator GOD said it would die?

"Yes", cities are cities---people are people---and "eternal" fire is "eternal" fire. GOD is real and vengeance is HIS. GOD is, also, Truth, Love, Mercy, Just, Gracious. Therefore, in light of GOD'S Characteristics when GOD said to Adam (Gen.3:19), "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."---No immortality was given mankind at creation that wasn't conditional--"in the day that ye eat of it, ye shall surely die."

The Scriptures confirm one another---it is mankind that tries to cause contradiction and doubt.

We will all be raised immortal. How are the wicked going to die? Death will be no more. How is anyone going to die?

"Yes", Do you believe Jesus Christ? GOD?
John 5:28-29, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

Now Jesus showed John in Revelations 20:4-6, "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection."
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

The "resurrection of life" is what is seen above. It will not be for another 1000 years before the wicked are resurrected as stated above.
Now look at 1Thess,4:15-18, "
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
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:
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.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

Paul is speaking of the Righteous first resurrection. What happens to the wicked when Jesus comes for the righteous?
Look at 2 Thess.2:7-10, "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."

"Yes", there is no immortality for the wicked. While death will be destroyed, that will be after all evil has been dealt with in the consuming fire.

 

[Yes]

sincerly said: ↑
sincerly said: ↑
"yes", look at and consider Jude 1:7, "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

neither of those cities are still burning. Mal.4:1-3 says that the wicked would be ashes, therefore, are you persisting to believe that what has gone back to dust/ashes/elements must continue to live when the Creator GOD said it would die?

"Yes", cities are cities---people are people---and "eternal" fire is "eternal" fire. GOD is real and vengeance is HIS. GOD is, also, Truth, Love, Mercy, Just, Gracious. Therefore, in light of GOD'S Characteristics when GOD said to Adam (Gen.3:19), "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."---No immortality was given mankind at creation that wasn't conditional--"in the day that ye eat of it, ye shall surely die."

The Scriptures confirm one another---it is mankind that tries to cause contradiction and doubt.

"Yes", Do you believe Jesus Christ? GOD?
John 5:28-29, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

Now Jesus showed John in Revelations 20:4-6, "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection."
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

The "resurrection of life" is what is seen above. It will not be for another 1000 years before the wicked are resurrected as stated above.
Now look at 1Thess,4:15-18, "
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
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:
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.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

Paul is speaking of the Righteous first resurrection. What happens to the wicked when Jesus comes for the righteous?
Look at 2 Thess.2:7-10, "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."

"Yes", there is no immortality for the wicked. While death will be destroyed, that will be after all evil has been dealt with in the consuming fire.

Scriptures that support the first resurrection, that of our spirits going to heaven with Jesus, before we die a physical death…

1 Corinthians 6:17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

John 6:56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.

Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

Colossians 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,