A place for heartfelt, honest answers to your questions from a caring pastor
We’ve always thought Christians went to heaven to be with Jesus when they died. But my wife and I read in the Bible that Christians are asleep until Jesus returns. Where do we go when we die?We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far…. (Philippians 1:21-23)
After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead….” (John 11:11-14)
Some insist that we enter heaven the moment we die. Others say our souls are essentially “asleep” so that we don’t remember anything between when we die and when we are raised to live with Jesus forever. Some Christians hold some variation of these two views.
I don’t believe we will know for sure until we actually experience death. I certainly don’t think this is an issue that should divide our fellowship with each other. One way or another, we will live with Jesus in heaven. Whether it’s a split second after we die or after a thousand years of “sleep” we will enjoy an eternity of worshiping God in heaven.
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