Bible Studies

Do believers go to Heaven when they die?

by lee thriepland
08/11/18
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Do believers go to Heaven when they die?

As a follow up to my writings on the soul, the immortal soul and hell where I show the destination of the unsaved this writing will be dealing with heaven. Specifically do believers go to heaven when they die?

It is most commonly believed in the Christian teaching that when a person dies they go either to heaven or to hell. The saved being the ones who go to heaven to be with God, the unsaved go to hell.

As a follow up to my writings on the soul, the immortal soul and hell where I show the destination of the unsaved this writing will be dealing with heaven. Specifically do believers go to heaven when they die?

One of the main arguments used to assert the belief of the saved soul going to heaven is the immortal soul. I will not be covering that again in this writing as it has been covered in the 1st part of the previous writing. The soul is not immortal and so even the saved soul that requires God to give it immortality does not require a place to go until it has been given that immortality.

That immortality is given at the return of Jesus

1 corinthians 15-54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

You might want to check out my writing on the rapture that explains this verse in its full context.

Although as I stated one of the main arguments is the immortal soul there are verses that are used to support the belief that the saved soul of the believer does in fact go directly to heaven to be with God. The most common verses used to demonstrate this are from Paul’s writings

2 Corinthians 5-8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Philippians 1-23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

And of course we have Jesus telling the thief on the cross that TODAY he would be with Jesus in Paradise.

Luke 23-43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

So although there are just a handful of verses usually with a splattering of assertions from other verses, there are at least some verses that do support the belief that believers go to heaven.

But like always we MUST analyse the verses putting them into context and see if in context and understanding they do in fact support the belief they are claimed to support.

There are some problems with this understanding.

The Bible talks about 2 resurrections

Revelation 20- 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

And Paul clearly taught about the resurrection

1 thessalonians 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

However he also very clearly taught that this would be at the return of Jesus (rapture writing again…..)

After the millennial reign of Jesus which proceeds his return the devil will be loosed for a little while before being cast into the lake of fire

Revelation 20-7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

And then after this there will be a second resurrection those who did not die in Jesus will be judged.

Revelation 20- 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

After this there will be a new heaven and a new earth and it is on the new earth that believers dwell in the new Jerusalem with the Lord.

Revelation 21- 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

So we have 2 resurrections of the dead and dwelling on the new earth.

We also have the problem of JUDGEMENT day where EVERYONE will stand before God

2 Corinthians 5-10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Romans 14-10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

If believers are already in heaven and the unsaved already in “hell” then they clearly have already been judged righteous and unrighteous and so there would be no need for Judgement day.

Revelation 20-12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

But the Bible certainly talks about a judgement day, there most certainly will be a judgement day. So there must be a need for a judgement. It therefore needs to be asked how a person is found guilty or innocent until judgement has been passed?

Paul taught the resurrection to the Jews and some mocked but some listened and he was asked to teach on it again.

Acts 17-32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

Having said all that we still have the verses to deal with that are used to support the belief.

So lets deal with the verses that support the belief of the saved going to heaven.

2 Corinthians 5-8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

On face value simply taking the verse alone it could appear that Paul is saying that to be absent from the body (to be dead) is to be with the Lord (in heaven)

It has to be noted that the words DEAD and IN HEAVEN are mine, they have been added to the text. They do not appear in the text, it has to be assumed that this is what Paul is referring to. So let’s add some context to the verse and see if Paul is actually talking about physical death and going to heaven.

We shall start at the beginning of the chapter

2 Corinthians 5- 1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

So in this verse Paul starts off by stating that our human earthly bodies are the tabernacle of God.

The tabernacle is the earthly residing place of God.  Whereas in the Old covenant the physical tabernacle was where God ”resided” in the New Covenant it is our bodies that have become the earthly residing place of God. (see also my writing who is the comforter)

2 corinthians 6-16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

1 corinthians 3-16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Romans 8-9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Paul states that if our earthly bodies, where God resides are dissolved (destroyed) then we know that we have a building of God, a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.

Dissolved being the Greek Καταλυθῇ, katalythē and means destroyed, dissolved, demolished.

So paul is saying that although our earthly body may die, we have an eternal building for God our new glorified body that is in the heavens.

Paul then continues to tell us that when we know this we groan with desire to be clothed with that eternal house, to put on our eternal bodies which come from heaven.

2 Corinthians 5- 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

Simply we long to receive that new glorified body.

2 Corinthians 5- 3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

Clothed with the immortal body unlike those that will be “naked” or won’t receive that eternal body.

2 Corinthians 5-  4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

We that are in this tabernacle, this earthly body where God resides in us, not wanting to be unclothed (to rid ourselves of this earthly body) not wanting to die, but rather we want our new body so that our mortality is no more. For this mortality must put on immortality

1 Corinthians 15-53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

This happens not at our physical death but it is at the return of Jesus when the dead in Christ will rise. 

1 Thessalonians 4- 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

This is the (first) resurrection of the dead.

1 corinthians 15-52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

And it is THEN, at the return of Jesus, at the second coming that those who are in Christ will be with the Lord forever NOT before.

1 Thessalonians 4-17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Paul then continues

2 Corinthians 5- 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

The one who has given us this purpose is God himself. It is God that gave us the security of the spirit.

Earnest being the Greek ἀρραβών  arrabón security

2 Corinthians 5- 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

Paul says we are always confident, referring back to the security of the spirit that we have been given.

Then Paul continues that when we ourselves dwell in our bodies, when our body is OUR home and not the residence of God then we are absent from the Lord as the Lord does not dwell in us.

Paul explained in Galatians that when we are crucified with Christ, although we still physically live it is not us that live anymore but it is Christ that lives within us and that the life lived in the flesh is lived by the faith of Jesus.

Galatians 2-20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Paul also stated that we are dead with Christ but alive with him.

Romans 6-8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

2 timothy 2-11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

When we believe we receive the spirit of his son (again see my writing who is the comforter)

Galatians 4-6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

John 14-23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

When we receive the spirit and walk in the spirit we no longer walk in the flesh.

Galatians 5-16 his I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh

Romans 8-5 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

When Christ lives in us then we are not at home in our earthly bodies. To live in the flesh is to live without and therefore be absent from the lord.

2 Corinthians 5- 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Walking in faith

2 Corinthians 5-8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Paul then states that all are trying to be accepted of God whether we are present or absent, those that have Christ or those that have not Christ but try (in vain through the law).  For everyone must stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

2 corinthians 5-9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Far from saying that to die is to be with the Lord in heaven in actual fact when Paul states that he would rather be absent from the body and to be present with Christ he simply means that he would rather not live in the flesh, living without God but rather to die to self and so live in the spirit that resides in him and therefore be present with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5-8 in context has absolutely nothing to do with going to heaven once a believer dies but is actually referring to God dwelling in believers.

What about the verse in Philippians?

Philippians 1-23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Was Paul really meaning that he was torn between staying in the flesh and dying and going to be with Jesus in heaven?

We again must put the verse back into context and apply some understanding to Paul’s statement.

First off we know Paul was in prison when he wrote the letter to the Philippians, Paul states this himself

Philippians 1-  7Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

Philippians 1- 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Paul was also aware that he could be put to death.

Philippians 1- 20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, sonow also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

In verse 21 Paul contrasts life and death

Philippians 1- 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain

So we know that Paul is talking about life and death. But we can’t simply assume Paul is referring to death as going to heaven to be with the Lord.

The confusion comes mainly because people who hold to the belief of believers going to heaven confuse the English word WITH. People who believe Paul was saying he had a desire to depart, to die, and be with Christ automatically assume or at least infer that this means with as in terms of location. To be WITH the Lord in Heaven.

However the word translated as WITH is in this verse is the Greek word σύν sun or syn and actually means in union or togetherness with and not denoting with as in physical location

We can see this in Romans 6-8

Romans 6-8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

With clearly meaning in union and not location. This is also the case in Colossians 2-20

colossians 2-20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

Again denoting a unison and not a geographic or physical location.

Paul was actually saying he was torn between staying in the flesh, remaining alive which would have been a benefit to the Philippians or to be WITH Christ in unison in his death and in his sufferings which paul states would be far better. Paul himself EXPLAINS this conflict regarding suffering for Christ that he was having later in the same chapter

1 Philippians 1- 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Notice how in verse 21 Paul stated to LIVE is Christ and to die is gain

Philippians 1- 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain

This is more often than not ignored when pushing the understanding of verse 23.

Here Paul is saying that to be physically alive is Christ, Christ living inside him it was actually being ALIVE that Paul connected with Christ not death. He then states But to die is gain. But what gain is Paul referring to? Personal gain? The gain of being in location (heaven) with Jesus? The latter being what is most often understood.

But again no, the gain that Paul was referring to was the gain for CHRIST that would come from his death.

Paul explained that through his afflictions, his chains of bonds Christ was made manifest and actual FURTHERED the Gospel. 

Philippians 1- 12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

That his afflictions brought confidence to those who would speak the word, that they would do it without fear.

14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

Paul was torn between the need (of others) for him to remain alive that through his being alive would benefit his brethren

1 Philippians 1- 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

And the desire to depart, to die, and to be with (to be in unison) with Christ in his sufferings. Something that Paul reiterated throughout his letter.

Philippians 2- 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

Philippians 3-  10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Paul also mentioned suffering with Christ in Romans even saying that the sufferings of our time now could not be compared to the glory that is revealed in us through those sufferings and that we are glorified together with Christ.

Romans 8-  17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Romans 8-18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

He told the Philippians that whether he came unto them or not that they should stand fast in one spirit, being together and to be of one mind

Philippians 1- 27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Which Paul also stated later in his letter

Philippians 2 – 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Christ was obedient even unto death.

Philippians 2-8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

And it is that mind that Paul is asserting.

Paul stated that whether he lived or died Christ would be magnified in his body.

Philippians 1-  20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, sonow also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

When we examine the context of the verse it is very clear that Paul was not saying he had desire to physically be with Christ for it was being alive that was Christ and  he knew that this would not happen until Christ’s return, at his appearing.

2 Timothy 4- 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Rather Paul was torn between staying in the flesh which would be the fruit of his labour,

Philippians 1- 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not

and dying and being with Christ in his suffering, in unison, together with Christ unto his death.

Again the verse does not support the belief that believers who die will go to heaven to be with the Lord.

Now the most challenging evidence is actually the statement to the thief on the cross by Jesus

Luke 23-43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Im not going to fully deal with this verse here as it actually requires its own writing but there are a few things to note.

The most common objection to this being the placement of the comma after the word thee and BEFORE the word today. There were no commas in the Greek text.

If we simply move the placement of the comma to AFTER today it completely changes the verse.

Luke 23-43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee To day, shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Now it states that Jesus is telling him today (that day he is telling him) , shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Jesus no longer saying that the theif would be with Jesus that day in Paradise.

As a KJV only advocate I do believe that the comma in the English is placed in the correct place. It must be noted that the NIV, ESV, ISV, NASB, ERV and many others all put the comma after the word thee and before today. 

I do not appeal to this as an answer.

However this does cause a problem on its own. If we take paradise to mean heaven then we know, even for those that believe in the destination of  heaven and hell for the saved and unsaved, that Jesus did NOT go to paradise “TODAY” as stated by Jesus himself. Jesus went to “hell” for 3 days and 3 nights. Now regardless of what is believed as to what that “hell” is the fact remains that Jesus did not in fact go to heaven after he died and so there MUST be a different meaning to his statement.

I will do a full writing on what Jesus meant separately.

The truth is believers do NOT go to Heaven when they die.