Where Does Your Soul Actually Go After Death?

[Aquatic Waves]

Idk if this thread belongs in the right section. If not I'm sorry (I'm new here FYI). As a catholic growing up (and please forgive me if this sounds both inaccurate and naive), I always thought "if you never committed any evil in your life (murder or rape for example), you will go to heaven". But if you did "you will go to hell". However, my family never wanted to talk to me about this topic b/c it was upsetting to them. I am now just learning that it has to do with you accepting Christ in your life and have him forgive you for your sins. And then there's judgment day where I learned that you go in to deep sleep til Christ returns and decides where your soul should belong to. If I'm mistaken to anything I typed in, again I am sorry. I just need a definite answer to my question. I have to admit something. My mom died 10 years ago from an car accident. The autopsy couldn't tell if she feel asleep in the car, had a heart attack, stroke, etc. It just said blunt impact. This bothered me so much I ended up seeing a medium. Only b/c I wanted to know how she passed. Unfortunately he couldn't give me a straight answer. All he just told me that she felt "fuzzy". I had no clue what he meant by that. He did tell me (now idk if this was real or BS) that she was up in heaven already. Same goes with my dad. Sadly he died too. Here's the thing though. Right before she died, she got so depressed after breaking up with her boyfriend. She wrote a note to Christ for help her. Unfortunately I found the note 2 years later while cleaning her room. So til this day, I still question myself of where you will go after death and is my mom really in heaven? Or is it a lie?

 

[hedrick]

This is actually a fairly controversial question, on at least two fronts:

1) What determines whether you are eventually accepted?
2) What steps do you go through?

I'lll try to summarize the common positions.

The majority of Christians don't think you end up in your final state until something like a judgement. There is a minority view called "soul sleep," but most people reject that. So most people think there's an "intermediate state" where people exist without bodies.

In the Catholic tradition, there's an additional step: purgatory, which applies to almost everyone who will end up accepted.

The final state is commonly described as being in heaven, but in fact Scripture suggests that we are in resurrected bodies in a renewed earth. However it's not clear just how much difference there is between heaven and a renewed earth, since the renewed earth may well not be just a continuation of what we've got now (particularly if the universe is headed to heat death).

Now, what decides? That depends upon your theology. A common Protestant tradition is pretty simple: explicit faith in Christ, or you go to hell. Faith, of course means not just factual belief, but repentance and being a follower of Christ.

For Catholics the common impression given to most laypeople was that you needed to be a member of the Church, and you needed to die without being in mortal sin. But that was always an oversimplification. Being a member of the Church included people who would have been members if they had known it was required, and interpretations of that exception have broadened in the last 50 years or so to allow at least the possibility of salvation even for atheists. Note that this issue isn't whether you have ever committed a mortal sin, but whether you have repented if you have done so. (The definition of mortal sin also included knowing rejection of God's will, so people who committed what is potentially mortal might not necessarily be damned, depending upon their intent.)

A lot of this (at least in the West) is based on the concept going back to Augustine that due to original sin we would all be doomed, and thus that something specific is needed to save us. Pretty much everyone agrees that that something is faith in Christ and living a Christian life. However there are lots of debates about whether a specific quality of Christian life is necessary in principle or whether what saves us in principle is just faith, but Christian life is as a matter of fact always there in someone who has faith.

There are two trends in modern theology that challenge this. (Modern theology is not, of course, accepted by most people.) One is due to increased contact with other cultures. Do we actually believe that followers of all other religions are damned? Recent popes, and liberal Protestants, are inclined to broader faith to include a response to God that may not in all circumstances involve explicit faith in Christ.

The second trend is a skepticism about Augustine’s negative view of humanity. I.e. the concept that we’re all doomed without some specific salvation. This may be mostly a liberal Protestant issue. But for liberal Protestants people may start out neutral or even as God’s children, and something has to go seriously wrong for them to end up as sufficiently opposed to God to be rejected. Indeed many liberal Protestants reject the idea that this could ever happen. I’m not sure that this idea has much presence among Catholics.

(I should note that this whole response has been about adults. Most Christians treat children differently.)

 

[HTacianas]

Idk if this thread belongs in the right section. If not I'm sorry (I'm new here FYI). As a catholic growing up (and please forgive me if this sounds both inaccurate and naive), I always thought "if you never committed any evil in your life (murder or rape for example), you will go to heaven". But if you did "you will go to hell". However, my family never wanted to talk to me about this topic b/c it was upsetting to them. I am now just learning that it has to do with you accepting Christ in your life and have him forgive you for your sins. And then there's judgment day where I learned that you go in to deep sleep til Christ returns and decides where your soul should belong to. If I'm mistaken to anything I typed in, again I am sorry. I just need a definite answer to my question. I have to admit something. My mom died 10 years ago from an car accident. The autopsy couldn't tell if she feel asleep in the car, had a heart attack, stroke, etc. It just said blunt impact. This bothered me so much I ended up seeing a medium. Only b/c I wanted to know how she passed. Unfortunately he couldn't give me a straight answer. All he just told me that she felt "fuzzy". I had no clue what he meant by that. He did tell me (now idk if this was real or BS) that she was up in heaven already. Same goes with my dad. Sadly he died too. Here's the thing though. Right before she died, she got so depressed after breaking up with her boyfriend. She wrote a note to Christ for help her. Unfortunately I found the note 2 years later while cleaning her room. So til this day, I still question myself of where you will go after death and is my mom really in heaven? Or is it a lie?

It is the Christian faith that at death we face a judgement. At that time we are sent to eternal punishment, eternal reward, or to some intermediate state to await eternal reward.

No one can tell you where your mother or father are, nor tell me where my father is. To do so is to place oneself in the position of judge over their souls.

When I die myself, I do not know what the disposition of my soul will be. But I am convinced that I will be judged fairly, and that I will have no doubts or questions about that judgement.

You can be certain that your parents were judged fairly, that my father was judged fairly, and that you and I will be judged fairly.

 

[AvgJoe]

Idk if this thread belongs in the right section. If not I'm sorry (I'm new here FYI). As a catholic growing up (and please forgive me if this sounds both inaccurate and naive), I always thought "if you never committed any evil in your life (murder or rape for example), you will go to heaven". But if you did "you will go to hell". However, my family never wanted to talk to me about this topic b/c it was upsetting to them. I am now just learning that it has to do with you accepting Christ in your life and have him forgive you for your sins. And then there's judgment day where I learned that you go in to deep sleep til Christ returns and decides where your soul should belong to. If I'm mistaken to anything I typed in, again I am sorry. I just need a definite answer to my question. I have to admit something. My mom died 10 years ago from an car accident. The autopsy couldn't tell if she feel asleep in the car, had a heart attack, stroke, etc. It just said blunt impact. This bothered me so much I ended up seeing a medium. Only b/c I wanted to know how she passed. Unfortunately he couldn't give me a straight answer. All he just told me that she felt "fuzzy". I had no clue what he meant by that. He did tell me (now idk if this was real or BS) that she was up in heaven already. Same goes with my dad. Sadly he died too. Here's the thing though. Right before she died, she got so depressed after breaking up with her boyfriend. She wrote a note to Christ for help her. Unfortunately I found the note 2 years later while cleaning her room. So til this day, I still question myself of where you will go after death and is my mom really in heaven? Or is it a lie?

Question: "What happens after death?"

Answer: Within the Christian faith, there is a significant amount of confusion regarding what happens after death. Some hold that after death, everyone “sleeps” until the final judgment, after which everyone will be sent to heaven or hell. Others believe that at the moment of death, people are instantly judged and sent to their eternal destinations. Still others claim that when people die, their souls/spirits are sent to a “temporary” heaven or hell, to await the final resurrection, the final judgment, and then the finality of their eternal destination. So, what exactly does the Bible say happens after death?

First, for the believer in Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that after death believers’ souls/spirits are taken to heaven, because their sins are forgiven by having received Christ as Savior (John 3:16, 18, 36). For believers, death is to be “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). However, passages such as 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 describe believers being resurrected and given glorified bodies. If believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, what is the purpose of this resurrection? It seems that while the souls/spirits of believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, the physical body remains in the grave “sleeping.” At the resurrection of believers, the physical body is resurrected, glorified, and then reunited with the soul/spirit. This reunited and glorified body-soul-spirit will be the possession of believers for eternity in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21-22).

Second, for those who do not receive Jesus Christ as Savior, death means everlasting punishment. However, similar to the destiny of believers, unbelievers also seem to be sent immediately to a temporary holding place, to await their final resurrection, judgment, and eternal destiny. Luke 16:22-23 describes a rich man being tormented immediately after death. Revelation 20:11-15 describes all the unbelieving dead being resurrected, judged at the great white throne, and then being cast into the lake of fire. Unbelievers, then, are not sent to hell (the lake of fire) immediately after death, but rather are in a temporary realm of judgment and condemnation. However, even though unbelievers are not instantly sent to the lake of fire, their immediate fate after death is not a pleasant one. The rich man cried out, “I am in agony in this fire” (Luke 16:24).

Therefore, after death, a person resides in a “temporary” heaven or hell. After this temporary realm, at the final resurrection, a person’s eternal destiny will not change. The precise “location” of that eternal destiny is what changes. Believers will ultimately be granted entrance into the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1). Unbelievers will ultimately be sent to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). These are the final, eternal destinations of all people—based entirely on whether or not they had trusted Jesus Christ alone for salvation (Matthew 25:46; John 3:36).

www.gotquestions.org/what-happens-death.html

 

[crossnote]

You go to be with Jesus if you are a believer in Jesus.
If you are not a believer it goes to await judgment, a Judgment no man can pass as it requires perfection.
Nothing controversial about it unless one doubts the Scriptures and/or has had too much seminary brainwashing.

 

[AvgJoe]

Idk if this thread belongs in the right section. If not I'm sorry (I'm new here FYI). As a catholic growing up (and please forgive me if this sounds both inaccurate and naive), I always thought "if you never committed any evil in your life (murder or rape for example), you will go to heaven". But if you did "you will go to hell". However, my family never wanted to talk to me about this topic b/c it was upsetting to them. I am now just learning that it has to do with you accepting Christ in your life and have him forgive you for your sins. And then there's judgment day where I learned that you go in to deep sleep til Christ returns and decides where your soul should belong to. If I'm mistaken to anything I typed in, again I am sorry. I just need a definite answer to my question. I have to admit something. My mom died 10 years ago from an car accident. The autopsy couldn't tell if she feel asleep in the car, had a heart attack, stroke, etc. It just said blunt impact. This bothered me so much I ended up seeing a medium. Only b/c I wanted to know how she passed. Unfortunately he couldn't give me a straight answer. All he just told me that she felt "fuzzy". I had no clue what he meant by that. He did tell me (now idk if this was real or BS) that she was up in heaven already. Same goes with my dad. Sadly he died too. Here's the thing though. Right before she died, she got so depressed after breaking up with her boyfriend. She wrote a note to Christ for help her. Unfortunately I found the note 2 years later while cleaning her room. So til this day, I still question myself of where you will go after death and is my mom really in heaven? Or is it a lie?

Question: "Where do you go when you die?"

Answer: The Bible is absolutely clear that, ultimately, there are only two options for where you go when you die: heaven or hell. The Bible also makes it abundantly clear that you can determine where you go when you die. How? Read on.

First, the problem. We have all sinned (Romans 3:23). We have all done things that are wrong, evil, or immoral (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Our sin separates us from God, and, if left unresolved, our sin will result in us being eternally separated from God (Matthew 25:46; Romans 6:23a). This eternal separation from God is hell, described in the Bible as an eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:14–15).

Now, the solution. God became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14; 8:58; 10:30). He lived a sinless life (1 Peter 3:22; 1 John 3:5) and willingly sacrificed His life on our behalf (1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 1:18–19). His death paid the penalty for our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). God now offers us salvation and forgiveness as a gift (Romans 6:23b) that we must receive by faith (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8–9). “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Trust in Jesus alone as your Savior, relying on His sacrifice alone as the payment for your sins, and, according to the Word of God, you are promised eternal life in heaven.

Where do you go when you die? It is up to you. God offers you the choice. God invites you to come to Him. It is your call.

If you feel God drawing you to faith in Christ (John 6:44), come to the Savior. If God is lifting the veil and removing your spiritual blindness (2 Corinthians 4:4), look to the Savior. If you are experiencing a spark of life in what has always been dead (Ephesians 2:1), come to life through the Savior.

Where do you go when you die? Heaven or hell. Through Jesus Christ, hell is avoidable. Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, and heaven will be your eternal destination. Make any other decision, and eternal separation from God in hell will be the result (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

If you now understand the two possibilities of where do you go when you die, and you want to trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, make sure you understand and believe the following, and as an act of faith, communicate the following to God: “God, I know that I am a sinner, and I know that because of my sin I deserve to be eternally separated from you. Even though I do not deserve it, thank you for loving me and providing the sacrifice for my sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and I trust in Him alone to save me. From this point forward, help me to live my life for you instead of for sin. Help me to live the rest of my life in gratitude for the wonderful salvation you have provided. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me!”

Have you made a decision for Christ because of what you have read here? If so, please click here~~~> I have just put my faith in Jesus...now what?

If you have any questions, please use the question form on our Bible Questions Answered page.

www.gotquestions.org/where-do-you-go-when-you-die.html

 

[AvgJoe]

And then there's judgment day where I learned that you go in to deep sleep til Christ returns and decides where your soul should belong to.

Question: "What does the Bible say about soul sleep?"

Answer: “Soul sleep” is a belief that after a person dies, his/her soul “sleeps” until the resurrection and final judgment. The concept of “soul sleep” is not biblical. When the Bible describes a person “sleeping” in relation to death (Luke 8:52; 1 Corinthians 15:6), it does not mean literal sleep. Sleeping is just a way to describe death because a dead body appears to be asleep. The moment we die, we face the judgment of God (Hebrews 9:27). For believers, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). For unbelievers, death means everlasting punishment in hell (Luke 16:22-23).

Until the final resurrection, though, there is a temporary heaven—paradise (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4) and a temporary hell—Hades (Revelation 1:18; 20:13-14). As can be clearly seen in Luke 16:19-31, neither in paradise nor in Hades are people sleeping. It could be said, though, that a person’s body is “sleeping” while his soul is in paradise or Hades. At the resurrection, this body is “awakened” and transformed into the everlasting body a person will possess for eternity, whether in heaven or hell. Those who were in paradise will be sent to the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1). Those who were in Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). These are the final, eternal destinations of all people—based entirely on whether or not a person trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation.

www.gotquestions.org/soul-sleep.html

 

[Basil the Great]

Personally, I believe that only a small number of souls go directly to Heaven or Hell after death and that most go to some sort of Intermediate State, though I do not favor the term Purgatory, as it is too associated with burning, which sounds like torture to me. I would add that Judaism has traditionally taught that there is a time limit of one year for an Intermediate State after death. However, we simply do not know. Evangelical Protestants mostly believe that all souls go to Heaven or Hell immediately after death. This is certainly a possibility. I would also add that many Eastern Orthodox believe that some souls in Hades, an Intermediate State after death which is apparently somewhat like Hell, have a chance to be redeemed and move on to Heaven, especially if prayers are offered on their behalf by the living. Many Orthodox believe that a soul's fate is not permanently sealed until the Last Judgment.

 

[thecolorsblend]

Idk if this thread belongs in the right section. If not I'm sorry (I'm new here FYI). As a catholic growing up (and please forgive me if this sounds both inaccurate and naive), I always thought "if you never committed any evil in your life (murder or rape for example), you will go to heaven". But if you did "you will go to hell". However, my family never wanted to talk to me about this topic b/c it was upsetting to them. I am now just learning that it has to do with you accepting Christ in your life and have him forgive you for your sins. And then there's judgment day where I learned that you go in to deep sleep til Christ returns and decides where your soul should belong to. If I'm mistaken to anything I typed in, again I am sorry. I just need a definite answer to my question. I have to admit something. My mom died 10 years ago from an car accident. The autopsy couldn't tell if she feel asleep in the car, had a heart attack, stroke, etc. It just said blunt impact. This bothered me so much I ended up seeing a medium. Only b/c I wanted to know how she passed. Unfortunately he couldn't give me a straight answer. All he just told me that she felt "fuzzy". I had no clue what he meant by that. He did tell me (now idk if this was real or BS) that she was up in heaven already. Same goes with my dad. Sadly he died too. Here's the thing though. Right before she died, she got so depressed after breaking up with her boyfriend. She wrote a note to Christ for help her. Unfortunately I found the note 2 years later while cleaning her room. So til this day, I still question myself of where you will go after death and is my mom really in heaven? Or is it a lie?

Our generation was notoriously poorly catechized. If you want to learn more about what your faith teaches, I would recommend Catholicism by Bishop Barron.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307720527

Generally speaking, nobody can say for certain where your mother went. That's between her and God.

 

[Mathetes66]

The Gospel of Luke Chapter 7, verses 36-50

One of the Pharisees asked [Jesus] to eat with him & He went into the Pharisee’s house & reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that He was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment & standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears & wiped them with the hair of her head & kissed His feet & anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who & what sort of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed 500 hundred denarii & the other 50. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.”

And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me NO water for {to wash} my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears & wiped them with her hair. 45You gave me NO kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did NOT anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 11, verses 28-30

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens & I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you & learn from Me; for I am gentle & humble in heart & you will find rest for your souls; for My yoke is easy & My burden is light.”

Gospel of John Chapter 14 verses 1-3

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go & prepare a place for you, I will come again & receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

 

[TuxAme]

I'm sorry to hear about your parents. I'll be praying for their souls (which leads me to my answer). When we die, we immediately receive a particular judgement. We will be welcomed into Heaven, damned to Hell, or sent to Purgatory in order to cleanse us prior to entering into Heaven. At this point, it will only be our soul in wherever we end up. At the Resurrection, when the general judgement will take place, our souls will be reunited with our bodies, and if we have already been judged, we will simply return to wherever we had been (Heaven, Hell or Purgatory).

We can't say for sure who every single person in Heaven is. The Church knows for certain that the apostles (including Paul), the Blessed Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, Pope John Paul II, etc. are in heaven (anyone who is referred to as saint), but this by no means is an exhaustive "list" of who's there- these are just the people who have miracles attributed to their intercession (I can go into further detail if asked).

Now, I have to tell you that you must not listen to what this medium said. Maybe they're right, but odds are overwhelmingly in favor of this "medium" being a fraud. In any case, we must not seek their counsel, as God has prohibited seeking them out. Do not seek them out in the future.

 

[Aquatic Waves]

I'm sorry to hear about your parents. I'll be praying for their souls (which leads me to my answer). When we die, we immediately receive a particular judgement. We will be welcomed into Heaven, damned to Hell, or sent to Purgatory in order to cleanse us prior to entering into Heaven. At this point, it will only be our soul in wherever we end up. At the Resurrection, when the general judgement will take place, our souls will be reunited with our bodies, and if we have already been judged, we will simply return to wherever we had been (Heaven, Hell or Purgatory).

We can't say for sure who every single person in Heaven is. The Church knows for certain that the apostles (including Paul), the Blessed Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, Pope John Paul II, etc. are in heaven (anyone who is referred to as saint), but this by no means is an exhaustive "list" of who's there- these are just the people who have miracles attributed to their intercession (I can go into further detail if asked).

Now, I have to tell you that you must not listen to what this medium said. Maybe they're right, but odds are overwhelmingly in favor of this "medium" being a fraud. In any case, we must not seek their counsel, as God has prohibited seeking them out. Do not seek them out in the future.

Thank you for your condolences about my parents. That's why I ask this question of life after death. I been told and read different answers of where your soul goes after you die. All I want is a straight answer. I agree now that everyone's fate is different when they die. I must confess. I myself is afraid to die b/c idk where I'll be going. Even though I have accept Christ and ask for forgiveness for my sins, I'm still worried. I haven't prayed or gone to church for a long time. I've been so stressed and down, I feel it won't help me. I prayed and prayed in the past for something to break but nada. Idk if it's b/c of my negativity, god has his hands tied helping others, or something else. That's why I stopped praying. I still talk to God but not in a prayer way. Now as for the medium. I only saw him once and it was only to get answers of what happened with my mom when she died in the car accident. Unfortunately he didn't know and all he just told me was that she felt "fuzzy". Idk what he meant by that. I did try to get more detail from her (mom) when he was speaking to her but no luck. Til this day, I thought he was misinformed. I don't think he was a liar but it's possible what you just mentioned. Don't worry though. I don't plan on seeing him again or any other medium. It was only a 1 time thing

 

[Aquatic Waves]

I forgot to mention. According to the medium, "my grandparents and aunt made it to heaven too"

 

[Mathetes66]

"That's why I ask this question of life after death. I been told and read different answers of where your soul goes after you die. All I want is a straight answer. I agree now that everyone's fate is different when they die. I must confess. I myself is afraid to die b/c idk where I'll be going.

Even though I have accept Christ and ask for forgiveness for my sins, I'm still worried. I haven't prayed or gone to church for a long time. I've been so stressed and down, I feel it won't help me. I prayed and prayed in the past for something to break but nada. Idk if it's b/c of my negativity, god has his hands tied helping others, or something else. That's why I stopped praying. I still talk to God but not in a prayer way."

If you want some straight answers that will help, here they are:

A spiritually born Christian is one who has confessed Jesus as Lord & knows Him personally & obeys Him, following Him each day & communicating with Him. His sheep hear His voice & they follow Him.

Saying a 'fire insurance prayer' so you will get to heaven doesn't save anyone. A sinner KNOWS they are lost and in need of a Savior & they cry out in genuine faith to Jesus to save their souls & they openly confess He is their Lord & their Savior & their Teacher. And they follow Him.

If you have cried out to the Lord to save you in that manner, you KNOW Jesus Christ personally, in a real relationship. He is real to you. The Holy Spirit bears witness with your spirit, that you are a child of God.

You have repented of your sins & desire not to sin now. You love Jesus & desire to follow what He taught in the Bible & obey it. These are all evidences of being spiritually regenerated. The Apostle Peter said you should be longing for & hungry for the spiritual milk of God's Word as a baby longs for milk. He gives you a living hope to know you are going to heaven when you die, despite trials you may be suffering now.

The first Epistle of Peter, chapter 1, starting in verse 3 to chapter 2, verses 1 through 3.

Blessed be the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead & into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled & unfading, RESERVED IN HEAVEN FOR YOU.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials, so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory & honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him & though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him & rejoice with an inexpressible & glorious joy, now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.

Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."

You haven't mentioned anything about reading the Bible, your spiritual food & that God communicates with you through His Word. So you need to be reading the Bible daily. You are starving spiritually.

But Jesus answered, “It is written:‘Man shall not live on bread only,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'
Gospel of Matthew Chapter 4, verse 4

That is a commandment from Jesus. Get a Bible if you don't have one & immediately start reading it. I would suggest each day reading a chapter in the Old Testament book of Proverbs. There are 31 chapters, one for each day of the month. It is the wisdom of God for living life from God's perspective.

You should also start reading daily from the New Testament to learn what Jesus taught & about His life & how we as Christians should live & grow up in our faith. Start with the gospel of Matthew and read a chapter a day, then Mark, then Luke, etc. Ask the Lord to teach you.

Those who love Jesus, follow Him & desire to obey Him will continue in His word & will progressively know the truth & the truth will set you free--free from fears, free from worry, free from anxieties, power from Jesus to overcome sin & be free from its pull over you. Knowledge to know what to do each day & knowledge to know where you are going after you die & the purpose for your life on this earth.

Jesus said again in the gospel of John chapter 8, verses 30-34

As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed in Him, “If you CONTINUE in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine & THEN you will know the truth & the truth will make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the Son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."

Second, you are not obeying the commandment to meet together regularly with other followers of Jesus Christ--they are those you should be loving & they loving you. They are the support you need now to be encouraged & to help you grow in your new faith in Jesus.

The book of Hebrews in the New Testament, chapter 10, verses 22-25

"Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience & our bodies washed with pure water.

23Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to spur one another on to love & good deeds. 25Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another & all the more as you see the Day approaching.(of His return)

Find a Bible believing & God loving church near you & begin to attend their regularly, each week. Look in the phone book where you live or in a directory online in your city, where descriptions of local churches will be found. Pray & pick one to go to & go. You need fellowship of other disciples of Christ. We are the body of Christ & need each other to grow up into our salvation & find protection & encouragement.

Third, a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, who loves Him & obeys Him KNOWS where they are going after they die. The assurance of being saved is told believers in God's Word, the Bible.

I posted earlier the passage Jesus told His disciples, where He is now preparing a place for them in heaven, in His Father's house. When He returns to earth, He will take them there, to be with Him. If we die before He comes back, a dwelling has already been prepared for us.

Gospel of John Chapter 14 verses 1-3

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go & prepare a place for you, I will come again & receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

This is how the Apostle Paul explains it too. Second Book of Corinthians, chapter 5, verses 1-10, in the New Testament

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7For we live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Jesus also taught this in the Gospel of John, chapter 5, verse 24-29

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. 28“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.

Jesus also said in the Gospel of John, chapter 6, verses 39,40

"And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

These are the promises of Jesus Christ, to those who are His children, His sheep, who follow Him. Jesus will not lose one of His sheep. He will raise up at the last day, all who love Him & long for the day to be with Him, in heaven.

To those who are already in heaven, who believed in Jesus, we get a sneak peek in the book of Revelation, the last book in the New Testament.

Revelation, chapter 5, verses 3-14

No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it. 4And I began to weep bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.

5Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.

8When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song:

“Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain & by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10You have made them into a kingdom, priests to serve our God & they will reign upon the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders encircling the throne, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.

12In a loud voice they said: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

13And I heard every creature in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne & to the Lamb, be praise and honor and glory and power
forever and ever!” 14And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

I hope those straight answers bring hope & comfort to you & a desire to love the Lord and follow Him each day, obeying His commandments.

 

[FireDragon76]

Unfortunately he couldn't give me a straight answer. All he just told me that she felt "fuzzy". I had no clue what he meant by that. He did tell me (now idk if this was real or BS) that she was up in heaven already. Same goes with my dad. Sadly he died too. Here's the thing though. Right before she died, she got so depressed after breaking up with her boyfriend. She wrote a note to Christ for help her. Unfortunately I found the note 2 years later while cleaning her room. So til this day, I still question myself of where you will go after death and is my mom really in heaven? Or is it a lie?

If your parents were baptized and believed, then I see no reason to doubt that they are in heaven. If you need to, you could pray for them. As Julian of Norwich demonstrated in her work, Revelations of Divine Love, God's mercy is greater than our worst sin.

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

I forgot to mention. According to the medium, "my grandparents and aunt made it to heaven too"

That is comforting. You do know that is why "mediums" get paid, not for actually talking to dead people.

 

[Neo_Frisk]

I must confess. I myself is afraid to die b/c idk where I'll be going. Even though I have accept Christ and ask for forgiveness for my sins, I'm still worried. I haven't prayed or gone to church for a long time. I've been so stressed and down, I feel it won't help me. I prayed and prayed in the past for something to break but nada. Idk if it's b/c of my negativity, god has his hands tied helping others, or something else. That's why I stopped praying. I still talk to God but not in a prayer way.

Our salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. I sometimes wonder when I worry if that is because I am losing sight of this simple fact (as Peter started to sink when he took his eyes off Christ).

 

[paul1149]

Hi AW, and welcome to the forum.

This is not a direct answer to your question, but a general observation. There is no one better equipped to judge your parents than the Lord. He not only judges with complete knowledge of both facts and motivations, He does so with moral and merciful perfection. When Abraham was pleading for the lives in Sodom, he implied that "the Judge of the whole Earth will do what is right". And He will.

When you understand the love of God that was in Christ Jesus, which lead Him to the cross so we could escape sin and death and be reconciled back to the Father, you see that if at all possible, God will save our loved ones. He, after all, loves them better than we ever could.

I say this to help alleviate any anxiety you may have over your parents' tragic deaths, and indeed, over your own position with the Lord. He desires mercy over judgment, so if you have turned to Him He will accept you back just as the father did the prodigal son in the parable of Luke 15. He is a good God, worthy of our complete trust.

 

[Aquatic Waves]

That is comforting. You do know that is why "mediums" get paid, not for actually talking to dead people.

Your right but he did tell me things that were true a little. And some things weren't true

 

[Aquatic Waves]

If your parents were baptized and believed, then I see no reason to doubt that they are in heaven. If you need to, you could pray for them. As Julian of Norwich demonstrated in her work, Revelations of Divine Love, God's mercy is greater than our worst sin.

My mom asked for help at the last minute before she died. If you want, I can type down of what she exactly wrote. As for my dad. Unfortunately I wasn't close to him and we hardly ever talked about religion and death. I just pray that they both are at peace