Where does babies go after they die?

[nonaeroterraqueous]

I've seen about three different explanations, and none of them are terribly biblical.

1. The age of accountability: that everyone is innocent until a certain age. Besides being nowhere in the Bible, it denies the notion of original sin. If Hitler had died as a baby, or worse, if Godwin had died as a baby, then he would have gone to Heaven and we'd all be stuck with him for the rest of eternity. It presumes a person good because they haven't had a chance to do bad things. It's like having a bomb in your car, but the car doesn't blow up because it won't start; therefore you declare that it was a "safe" car. If two wrongs don't make a right, then an early death does not make a scoundrel righteous. Otherwise, we should be promoting abortion zealously. It would be a far more effective campaign than mere evangelism.
2. Infant baptism: ascribes salvific power to baptism. If you baptize a baby, then it's ready for Heaven. This idea presumes that one person's faith can serve to save another. It's not really biblical, and baptism is not very meaningful if the person doesn't choose to do it.
3. Salvation from eternity: this is the idea that because God knew us in our mothers' womb, he therefore knew who we were and how we would be judged. In other words, we know a rotten tree by its fruit, but God knows a rotten tree before it ever sprouts. In this case, the person is judged for who they are and not what they do. The problem with this idea is that the Bible emphasizes salvation by accepting the Son of God, repenting and being baptized, none of which options are available to the fatally young. The situation for a baby in a Christian mother's arms is similar to the situation of a lonely goat herder in Tibet who never heard of Christ. That's the real problem, though, isn't it? How does God judge those who never had a chance?

Some people think that children are good. I can only assume that they must have been the children that picked on me when I was a kid. I remember childhood, but I remember nothing about them being any more good than adults (less so, actually). I'm sorry that I don't have a better answer for you. All I can say is that John the Baptist knew Christ before he was born. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and kicked in his mother's womb in the presence of Jesus; not every baby, just John. This says quite a lot if you really think about it. It puts the fetus in much the same position as the adult.

 

[Grandpa2390]

The age of accountability: that everyone is innocent until a certain age.

no it doesn't. at least not the way I have heard it taught. Or there is a 4th explanation you haven't heard yet.

 

[Robert76]

I don't know where to post this question. So, staff members, I need some guidance for this post so I post it here.

But where does babies go after death? They say in some cases they go to hell, or they go to heaven.

They also say babies don't know God when they are made. But I for one knew God as He was making me. When I was born. So, I believe that I was saved when I knew Him. I was gifted with some kind of Holy Spirit.

I don't know. I didn't believe this one women that said. NO Animals or babies go to heaven. I don't believe in that. IS she right?

Babies do not go to hell. When king David lost the child he had with Bathsheba, he got up and said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:22-23). I emphasize " I shall got to him, but he will not return to me." David knew where the child was... in heaven.

 

[Solomons Porch]

What did she see?

She was about 5 yrs old and she woke up telling me about seeing Jesus with these really really really small babies, I had her describe how small she meant, at one point she showed me her dollhouse and pointed to the furniture inside the dollhouse and stated: thats the kinda stuff they have, the playground has stuff that big, and these things fly around them and play with them, she described monkey bar type stuff.

Basically when she showed me how small the furniture (in the dollhouse) was, I knew she was also describing very small babies and possibly aborted babies. When she described the things flying around, it sounded like angels to me. She was excited about how much they laughed and played and she said she couldnt wait to go there and play with them.

 

[Dartman]

Babies do not go to hell. When king David lost the child he had with Bathsheba, he got up and said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:22-23). I emphasize " I shall got to him, but he will not return to me." David knew where the child was... in heaven.

Not according to Peter.

Acts 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens:

You see, David NEVER did end up in heaven.
In fact, the ONLY human that EVER ended up in God's presence is Jesus (John 3:13 .. and NO man hath ascended up to heaven, except the son of man, which is in heaven.)

 

[Firearms]

If Esau had been stillborn, would that have altered God's feelings toward him?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Dear Dartman:

Yes, Paradise (i.e. Abraham's Bosom in the heart of the Earth) would be the more accurate term of where babies end up when they die. At the Pre-Trib Rapture, the dead in Christ will rise to meet the Lord Jesus within the air and the rest of the living believers will be then caught up together to be with HIm. From that point is when believers will then go directly to Heaven (after they die physically).

After the 7 year Tribulation, comes the Millennium, then the Judgment, and the New Earth.


....

 

[Dartman]

If Esau had been stillborn, would that have altered God's feelings toward him?

If reality wasn't, what would be?
There really isn't any end to hypothetical questions, and the Scriptures discourage wasting time on them.
FYI, Esau wasn't stillborn.
Babies die like any other human, and "all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again". The crucial thing is, what happens at the resurrection. Dead=dead.

 

[Dartman]

Dear Dartman:

Yes, Paradise would be the more accurate term of where babies end up when they die. At the Pre-Trib Rapture, the dead in Christ will rise to meet the Lord Jesus within the air and the rest of the living believers will be then caught up together to be with HIm. From that point is when believers will then go directly to Heaven (after they die physically).


....

Not according to the Scriptures.
Both the good and the evil are "in the grave", waiting for the resurrection;
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, 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.

 

[_-iconoclast-_]

I don't know where to post this question. So, staff members, I need some guidance for this post so I post it here.

But where does babies go after death? They say in some cases they go to hell, or they go to heaven.

They also say babies don't know God when they are made. But I for one knew God as He was making me. When I was born. So, I believe that I was saved when I knew Him. I was gifted with some kind of Holy Spirit.

I don't know. I didn't believe this one women that said. NO Animals or babies go to heaven. I don't believe in that. IS she right?

Hello

This question of destination imo is not a salvation question. Only God knows.

I say believe that animals and babies go to heaven or dont, what matters is your relationship with Jesus. Let Jesus worry about that


Put your trust in God

 

[GirdYourLoins]

Ever since The Fall all of mankind is born in sin. We have the inherited sin from Adam and as such no one is pure or righteous and all need the salvation that comes from Jesus dying for us. If this was not true God would be a liar when He says ALL fall short. I would say all of the posts saying babies automatically go to heaven are wrong and are adding to scripture as human beings dont like the thought of babies not being pure. If fact the bible teaches that "There is no one righteous, not even one" in Romans 3:10 and if we claim to be without sin we are deceived in 1 John 1:8. This applies to everyone from babies to adults.

However, I believe that everyone is given the opportunity to accept Jesus either in this life or in Hades (although there is debate about whether Jesus went to Hades with some not accepting it, for the purposes of debate I mean where the dead go before judgement). So babies will be given the chance to accept Jesus after death. And lets face it, if you were in the afterlife and told you can accept me and come to paradise or deny me and go to eternal damnation you are not going to say no. So I do believe that all babies go to heaven but not for the reasons given by most on here and I would even go as far as to say some answers I consider to be misleading. This opportunity applies to everyone of any age, they either get the opportunity to accept Christ in this life or the next. I have seen posts on here that ask what happens to people who never heard the Gospel and the same applies, all are given the opportunity to accept Christ.

 

[St_Worm2]

If reality wasn't, what would be?
There really isn't any end to hypothetical questions, and the Scriptures discourage wasting time on them.
FYI, Esau wasn't stillborn.
Babies die like any other human, and "all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again". The crucial thing is, what happens at the resurrection. Dead=dead.

Not according to the Scriptures.
Both the good and the evil are "in the grave", waiting for the resurrection;
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, 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.

Really Darts, 4 posts about the Intermediate State in a thread which has absolutely nothing to do with the Intermediate State

And "Soul Sleep", no less! I wonder, is it possible that there's a heresy within Christendom that you don't embrace?

Yours and His,
David

Revelation 6
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
.​

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

"Such is the kingdom of heaven." ~ Our Lord Jesus Christ

Children who do not understand right from wrong are blameless.

Forgive me...

 

[rockytopva]

I am in the process of bringing up two kittens. The kittens are very sweet, loving, and playful. They are very good kittens! I will do my best to see that they remain so. Any kind of miss-treatment and the sweetness can just dissipate away, as one of my favorite philosophers said...

When your rank is high in the world, then your vitality and spirit are depleted daily, eventually to become dissipated and not return to the body. When the vitality, spirit, will, and energy are calm, they fill you day by day and make you strong. Therefore the sages keep nurturing their spirit, make their energy gentle, and flow with the way. - Lao-Tzu

I believe that the real nature of all creatures is originally good, but it becomes clouded by contact with earthly things and therefore needs purification before it can shine forth in its native clarity. And for mankind, such purification is available through gospel helps.

But... As far as children, even if they are bad children, there is an age of accountability where they will not be held responsible for their actions on earth. David said...

19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. - 2 Samuel 12

David had no doubt that the child was one in which he would see again.

 

[buzuxi02]

I don't know where to post this question. So, staff members, I need some guidance for this post so I post it here.

But where does babies go after death? They say in some cases they go to hell, or they go to heaven.

They also say babies don't know God when they are made. But I for one knew God as He was making me. When I was born. So, I believe that I was saved when I knew Him. I was gifted with some kind of Holy Spirit.

I don't know. I didn't believe this one women that said. NO Animals or babies go to heaven. I don't believe in that. IS she right?

Jesus said in My Father's house are many mansions. I'm not aware of any teaching that sends babies to hell.
The question from antiquity has always been what state are they found in. What level of intellect can they attain? If they have no sin to be condemned for what virtue do they have to be rewarded for? Can it be possible they enjoy the same treasures and bliss as one who struggled in this life or one whose education level and life experiences has elevated his appreciation of things compared to the young more naive person. etc.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

Babies going to hell is a result of bad western scholastic theology. In it's force of logic it shows its weakness in wisdom. It does not exist in any Eastern Church.

Forgive me...

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Not according to the Scriptures.
Both the good and the evil are "in the grave", waiting for the resurrection;
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, 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.

I have moved my post here so as to keep this thread on topic.


...

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Babies will be in God's Kingdom when they die.

May God bless you all.


...

 

[Daniel9v9]

After reading the replies so far, I know this most certainly won't be a popular post - but, Scripture makes no exclusive claim either way.

On one hand it says: "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

But it also says: "...I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me".

No one has a natural fear or love for God. If we did, we would grow up knowing, trusting and loving God; we would grow up not needing Jesus Christ. By not believing in God, we are already stumbling at the First Commandment. However, at the same time God has mercy on whom He has mercy. I'd be inclined to say that God will judge everyone in accordance with His own goodness and righteousness - including babies.

 

[Halbhh]

Many passages point to children that die being in the Kingdom of Heaven. Some of the strongest are from Christ Himself, the very Judge of salvation!

15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."