“Do believers go to heaven when they die?”

March 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

QUESTION: Do believers go to heaven when they die, or do they sleep until the resurrection? There seem to be two doctrines on this matter.

ANSWER: That there seem to be two doctrines on this question is without doubt. There may be even more. The fact that Satan opposes, contradicts and twists what God says has been true ever since he approached Eve in the garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Whenever God speaks and whatever His Word teaches is either denied or distorted by this longstanding, habitual enemy of both God and man. Speaking about the devil, the Lord Jesus said, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (Jn. 8:44 NKJV ).

What we call “death” is the separation of a person’s spirit and soul from his body. In Old Testament times, details about what happens after death had not been revealed. People distinguished between:

• The grave, which they knew, the place where the body of a person was placed after he or she died, and
• Sheol, the generally unknown and therefore scary place where the spirit and soul of the person went upon dying.

The spirit and soul were not even differentiated in most people’s thinking. Let’s note, however, that Hebrews 4:12 explains that the Word of God pierces “even to the division of soul and spirit.”

Godly Job expressed his confidence that there would be a resurrection and that he would see God after his death (Job 19:25-27). That was a beautiful contrast to the picture his friends were describing of the dark future of the wicked when they would die. David, too, in Psalms 16:11, 17:15, and other places likewise gave expression to his hope to see God after death, as did Asaph in Psalm 73:24-26.

In the account the Lord Jesus related in Luke 16:19-31 about the rich man and the beggar Lazarus, He gave clear teaching on the question at which we are looking. While the Old Testament speaks again and again about Sheol, Jesus clearly indicated that men’s souls and spirits do not all go to the same place after death. The poor beggar died and was immediately carried by angels – notice, no soul sleep here! – to Abraham’s bosom, the term the Jews at that time commonly used to designate heaven. The rich man also did not sleep when he died. While his body was buried, probably with a fine funeral, he cried out that he was “tormented in this flame” (v.24). There was “a great gulf fixed” (v.26) between the two places, which made it impossible to pass from the one place to the other.

Elsewhere, Scripture uses the word “Hades” for the Hebrew word “Sheol,” and the word “Paradise” for the place where the souls of believers go. The Lord Jesus told the repentant thief on the cross next to him, ”Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Lk. 23:43). Obviously, no soul sleep for either the Lord or this criminal! In 2 Corinthians 12:2,4, the apostle Paul used Paradise as a synonym for the third heaven. To the Philippians he wrote that to depart and to be with Christ is far better than to live on in the flesh (Phil. 1:22-23).

In the New Testament when a believer’s death is spoken of, often he is said to be sleeping. The crowd of mourners at the home of Jairus ridiculed the Lord when He said Jairus’ daughter was not dead but sleeping (Mt. 9:24; Mk. 5:39). In John 11:11 the Lord told His disciples, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” Verse 13 tells us that the disciples did not understand what He was telling them. The next verse goes on, “Then Jesus said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead.’”

Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death. But Acts 7:60 closes with his final prayer and the brief sentence “And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” The apostle Paul used the expression “fallen asleep” several times in his first epistle to the Thessalonians. It is obvious that “those who sleep in Jesus” (4:14) are in contrast with “we who are alive and remain” (v.15), and does not indicate a condition of their souls being asleep.

The Bible says very little about heaven as such. Poets have often let their imaginations wander quite freely in their songs about heaven. Also, people’s thinking is often more influenced by the songs they enjoy than by what the Bible says. The greatest joy that Christians really look forward to is not so much to be in the place we call heaven as it is to be with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We Christians are not told to look forward to exploring a wonderful place or to living in a magnificent mansion.

There is every indication in God’s Word that we will know one another, for 1 Corinthians 13:12 tells us, “Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known,” However, our object will be Christ, and our main occupation will be praising, thanking, worshiping and adoring Him. It may seem strange to us now, but our relationships to one another will be on a higher plane there than in life here in this world. In answer to a question that had been put to Him, the Lord Jesus stated, “In the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven” (Mt. 22:30).

While this is so, we will be complete individuals – spirit, soul and body. “We shall all be changed,” 1 Corinthians 15:51 tells us. The next two verses say, “The dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” First John 3:2 adds, “We know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” We will no doubt echo in much deeper measure the sentiment of the Queen of Sheba after she had visited King Solomon and he had answered all her questions. “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard” (1 Ki. 10:6-7).

May the Lord help us to live in the good of that which soon we shall be enjoying to the full. If He takes us to Himself through death, we shall immediately be in the presence of Him who loves us and died for us. Occupation with Him will doubtless make time meaningless to us.

Once the resurrection takes place, we shall have a body again – a changed one like our Lord’s. For those of us here looking for Him to come for us, when we hear His shout we will instantly go to be with Him forever. We will have changed bodies perfectly suited to the bliss of His presence. Indeed, what a day that will be! No sleeping of our soul to hinder our enjoyment will be involved. Lord Jesus, come!

Answered by Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.