Do we go to heaven immediately?

[rkinsey]

Do we go to heaven immediately?

I was in a discussion with a friend of mine and got really confused on the subject and was wanting to get some advice.

We were talking about whether we immediately go to heaven?

We were looking in Luke where Jesus tells the man “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”

So is paradise Heaven or is it somewhere different?

I would appreciate any help as long as it is backed by scripture.

Thanks in advance.

 

[JohnDB]

Paul writes in one of his letters, "To be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord" and that is a very true statement.

When we die "we shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye".

BUT

for some mass confusion and realizing that something else is being stated than what surfacely appears to be said...read Revelations 20:1-15

 

[Vince53]

Good to hear from you, rkinsey. The repentant thief (there is no "good thief") had saving faith, but his doctrines needed some improvement. He asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. Either the thief believed in soul-sleep, or he believed that he would have to stay in Sheol until the resurrection.

Jesus assured him that TODAY he would be with Jesus in Paradise.

 

[trentlogain2]

I don't know about you all, but I'm in heaven right now.

Bonus rep to the person who knows what verse I'm basing this statement on.

 

[God&me]

Do we go to heaven immediately?

I was in a discussion with a friend of mine and got really confused on the subject and was wanting to get some advice.

We were talking about whether we immediately go to heaven?

We were looking in Luke where Jesus tells the man “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”

So is paradise Heaven or is it somewhere different?

I would appreciate any help as long as it is backed by scripture.

Thanks in advance.

In the Old Testament the dead Saints went to a place called Paradise, or Abraham's Bosom.
But when Jesus died and was ressurected He took the OT Saits out of Paradise into heaven, Now when a Christian dies they go to be with the Lord in heaven. 2 Cor 5: 1-6.
Then when Jesus come back, All His Saints come with him to riegn for a thousand years, The there will be a new heaven and earth where we will live for eternity.

 

[Sir Francis]

Where else would we go my friend?

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

Matthew 17:1-3

This passage tells us that Peter recognized and saw Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus at the transconfiguration. Based upon this, it seems to me that when we arrive in Heaven, we will be able to discern people we knew during our life on Earth.

 

[98cwitr]

if you take into account Lazarus's story in John and Luke and compare them, Lazarus went to heaven after his death and was standing with Abraham when the rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus to him. See Luke 16 and John 11. It also implies that those in Heaven and Hell can communicate with each other.

 

[Ave Maria]

Deleted

 

[Palomino]

In Heaven we face the trial first I have been taught. Then if we are in good with God...we movie on.

 

[daytoday]

test

 

[daytoday]

From what I've read in the Bible I would have to say that the answer is no.

John 11:11 Jesus said that Lazarus was sleep. He said he was going to awaken him. "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. "

The disciples didn't understand that he was talking about death.

Notice verses 11-14:

11These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

12Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

13Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

14Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10 says: For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Martha told Jesus that she knew there would be a resurrection on the "Last Day".
John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Martha knew this because of what Jesus said at John 5: 28,29

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 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.

There is a future time that is "coming" when all asleep in the grave. On the last day. Resurrected by Jesus. All are asleep in the grave until that time.

We are living in the last days but thee last day has not come yet.

 

[zotah]

I don't know about you all, but I'm in heaven right now.

Bonus rep to the person who knows what verse I'm basing this statement on.

Your basing this on

Ecclesiastes 3:15

That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

So if we are to be with God we from Gods perspective am already in heavon with him. Our Future is God's Past. So your in heaven right now from God's perspective.

Am I right

Zotah

 

[bubbles881]

Your basing this on

Ecclesiastes 3:15

That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

So if we are to be with God we from Gods perspective am already in heavon with him. Our Future is God's Past. So your in heaven right now from God's perspective.

Am I right

Zotah

This train of logic is terribly confusing to me

I just read Ecclesiastes 3. It says that God has a time and place for everything, so how can we be in heaven now if that time hasn't come yet?

 

[HantsUK]

Time is part of the world and universe that God created. As we are constrained to living in time, we find thinking 'outside of time' difficult. But God is eternal. He existed before there was time.

Is heaven part of this world? If not, then it will also be outside of 'time' (which is just one of the dimensions of this world). If God is eternal and heaven is eternal, then questions of time really only apply to this world. We struggle to understand the details because it is beyond our comprehension. When we get there, it will become much clearer! While still here, we need to make sure our salvation.

And I've probably made it much less clearer !

 

[bubbles881]

Time is part of the world and universe that God created. As we are constrained to living in time, we find thinking 'outside of time' difficult. But God is eternal. He existed before there was time.

Is heaven part of this world? If not, then it will also be outside of 'time' (which is just one of the dimensions of this world). If God is eternal and heaven is eternal, then questions of time really only apply to this world. We struggle to understand the details because it is beyond our comprehension. When we get there, it will become much clearer! While still here, we need to make sure our salvation.

And I've probably made it much less clearer !

Nonono, that actually helped a lot! I guess knowing that we know nothing is really something!