For Those who Except Jesus do They go to Heaven when they Die? What About the Wicked, do They go to Hell and the Lake of Fire when They die?

Both the Catholic and Protestant Church believe and teach that when we die we go to either Heaven or Hell after death.

But is this true or has the church been sold a devious error that does not line up with what the Bible truly tells us about The State of the Dead?

Some reading this topic may ask, “So why is this such an important topic to understand?“. The reason is that in the Last Days, God’s people will rediscover Biblical truths that have been lost for centuries in God’s church. One truth that has been rediscovered is this one.

Satan will use the lie that we go either to Heaven or Hell when we die in order to deceive the whole world. By believing this lie, it infers that we are already immortal, but scripture makes it clear that we are not immortal yet, but rather are mortal. We do not receive immortality until after the Second Coming of Jesus.

Only those who have accepted God’s provision for salvation will be given Eternal Life… Those who reject God will be destroyed in the Lake of Fire and will not receive Eternal Life.

(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.

(1 Corinthians 15:53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

(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.

The belief that we are already immortal is the same lie that Satan told Eve in the Garden of Eden.

(Genesis 3:4) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: KJV

I will show you later in this topic how Satan plans on using this error in the church to achieve one of his most deceptive end time plans against Mankind. But before we expose this lie, let us first see what the Bible says about this important topic, The True State of the Dead.

In my youth, I was taught that when anyone dies they go directly to Heaven or Hell depending on whether one had accepted Jesus or not while they lived. All my Christian life I believed this and thought my own mother was already in Heaven awaiting my arrival.

Only recently has Christ shown me, through the church I attend and Bible scripture, that this is an error that has been in the Christian church for centuries. Let me show you what scripture truly says about the State of the Dead.

Most are familiar with the following scripture found in Genesis 2:7.

(Genesis 2:7) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. – KJV

Here it states that we are made of the dust of the Earth and with the Breath of life from God. With these two elements, we became a Living Being or Soul.. Notice that it doesn’t say we “Received” but rather we “Became” a Living Being or Soul. We did not receive a Soul, or a ghostly spirit, like many today in the church believe.

When we think of our Soul, it’s not something that is within us, but rather what we become because we are made of the dust of the ground and the breath of life. We become a living soul, a living Being. The spirit is the Breath of life given to us from God. In Ecclesiastes 12:7 scripture tells us that when we die we return to the dust of the Earth and the spirit, or breath of life, returns to God.

(Ecclesiastes 12:7) Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. – KJV

Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary

Spirit

H7307

From H7306 (See H7306 Below); wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions): – air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit, tempest, X vain, ([whirl-]) wind (-y).

H7306

A primitive root; properly to blow, that is, breathe; only (literally) to smell or (by implication perceive (figuratively to anticipate, enjoy): – accept, smell, X touch, make of quick understanding.

So a soul is a living Being and consists of Dust from the Ground and the Breath of Life, or spirit which comes from God. So when we die, we return to the ground and the Breath of Life, given from God, is returned to God…

Body With Breath (spirit) = Life

Body Without Breath (spirit) = Death.

Here is where the error has crept into the church… Do we go to Heaven or Hell after we die? The Bible says NO and I’ll show you proof.

In John 5:28:29 it says:

(John 5:28) Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice

(John 5:29) and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

(Revelation 22:12) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. – KJV

So why do ALL, who are in the grave, hear His voice if the dead are either in Heaven or in Hell? Is Jesus going to put us back into the grave only to resurrect us again for our reward when He returns at the Second Coming?

The Bible is filled with scripture that makes it crystal clear that the return of Jesus is inevitable. So the implication that the dead are already in Heaven or Hell implies the doctrine of the second coming of Jesus is a doctrinal error and His return is not needed since the wicked and redeemed are in their respective places.

So if the dead are already enjoying the bliss of Heaven or writhing in the flames of hell, what is the need of a future Judgment?

In Acts 2:29-35 it says that David is dead but is NOT in heaven.. we all feel or assume that King David will be in heaven, so why is he not there yet?

(1 Corinthians 15:52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the

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

(Acts 2:32) This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

(Acts 2:33) Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. (speaking of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit during Pentecost)

(Acts 2:34) “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

(Acts 2:35) TILL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES YOUR FOOTSTOOL.” ‘ – KJV

… Jesus Himself also mentions that no one has ascended into Heaven..

(John 3:12) If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

(John 3:13) And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. – KJV

… and also in Ecclesiastes 9:10 it says…

(Ecclesiastes 9:10) Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. – KJV

The Bible goes on to say that the Dead know nothing.

(Job 14:12) So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, They will not awake Nor be roused from their sleep.

(Job 14:21) His sons come to honor, and he does not know it;They are brought low, and he does not perceive it.

(Ecclesiastes 9:5) 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. – KJV

So as you can see, it says that death is Sleep and many references to death have been compared to sleep in scripture. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he called it Sleep.

(John 11:11) These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”

(John 11:12) Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.”

(John 11:13) However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.

(John 11:14) Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead“. – KJV

Remember when Stephen was stoned to death at the feet of Paul, then known as Saul? This happened at a time when Stephen was preaching to the high priests, reminding them of the many times the religious leaders of Israel had killed the prophets of God and had closed their ears from God’s instructions. This enraged them and they took Stephen to the edge of town and stoned him. Notice he fell asleep into death.

(Acts 7:58) And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

(Acts 7:59) And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

(Acts 7:60) And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. – KJV

In 2 Peter 3:3 and 2 Peter 3:4, it describes the state of man in the last days. Men will scoff at the notion that Jesus will return in a second coming, but notice the reference to the fathers that have fallen asleep, i.e. who have died, in 2 Peter 3:4… This is referencing the ancestors, or ancient Hebrew fathers of the Jewish people such as Abraham, Moses and the prophets.

(2 Peter 3:3) First, knowing this, that there will come in the last days scoffers walking according to their own lusts

(2 Peter 3:4) and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. – KJV

The church has it wrong. Bible scripture points to the fact that when we die, we lie in the grave until the Second Coming of Jesus, when All in the grave shall hear his voice and rise… in other words, we are asleep in death until the Second Return of Jesus, we do not go to Heaven or Hell until after the Judgment.

(John 5:28) Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice

(John 5:29) and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

(Revelation 22:12) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. – KJV

Also…

(1 Corinthians 15:22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

(1 Corinthians 15:23) But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. – NKJV

(1 Thessalonians 4:15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

(1 Thessalonians 4:16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

(1 Thessalonians 4:17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. – KJV

And in Job, it talks about those in the grave…

(Job 21:30) That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

(Job 21:31) Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

(Job 21:32) Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. – KJV

To be Absent From the Body is to be Present with the Lord

There has been some confusion about the scripture that states… “… to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”… Many use this scripture to support the argument that we go directly to Heaven after a believer dies… Let’s take a look at what this scripture really says…

First notice exactly what the scripture says…

(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. (King James Version)

It says that they are ‘willing‘ to be absent from the body… and to be present with the Lord… It is NOT saying that to be absent from the body IS to be present with the Lord, like many Christians misinterpret this scripture to mean.

Paul is implying that they would rather be absent from the body, i.e. to die, and would rather be with the Lord, which will happen at the resurrection for the believer… Most seem to disregard these two important words… “willing rather“.

Satan’s Deception — Communication From the After-Life

Now let me ask you a question… why does Satan want you to believe that the Dead go to Heaven or Hell after Death? The reason is because Satan will use the LIE that the Dead can communicate from the after-life… AND that the Kingdom of God has finally arrived here on Earth because there will be false miracles and counterfeit signs and lying wonders performed through Satan. Notice I used the term LIE…

There are many stories of those who have been visited by loved ones who have passed on which have given them assurances, that everyone goes to Heaven or that they are fine and waiting for them to come to Heaven as well. But the fact is, the Bible does not teach “Universal Salvation” where everyone will make it to Heaven. The Bible teaches that many will reject God’s provision and suffer eternal loss at the end of time. So the belief that we all will enter into Heaven is a Satanic lie which Satan hopes we all believe.

Since ALL who die rest in the grave till the Second Coming of Jesus, who do you think is masquerading as the dead communicating with the living? It can ONLY BE Satan’s demonic Angels that have fallen from Heaven. Their only task is to deceive the Human race and, I’m sad to say, will be successful for those who believe the LIE of Satan that I’ve outlined here.

Now there may be some who say that there are humans in Heaven now and they would be right… Yes, God took both Moses and Elijah to heaven and he also took Enoch. When Jesus died on the cross and resurrected, there were those who resurrected from the grave and it’s assumed that these also were taken to Heaven as well. Both Elijah and Enoch went to heaven and did not see death but Moses did die. Moses’ body and grave were hidden because Satan was arguing that he had authority and ownership of the body Moses, so God took Moses to Heaven.

(Matthew 27:50) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

(Matthew 27:51) Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

(Matthew 27:52) and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;

(Matthew 27:53) and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. – KJ

So there is, in fact, some Humans in Heaven now, but they would not come back to Earth and express beliefs that are contrary to God’s word, the Bible. Many deceiving spirits have been masquerading for centuries on Earth with full intentions of deceiving Mankind into believing non-Biblical errors.

Now, I’m sorry I have to ask the following question. Please understand that I am NOT attacking the people of the Catholic faith, but I have to ask you, who or what is masquerading as Mary when many a faithful see her apparition? I only ask you this, because I want you to understand what is going on behind the scenes of these Mary sightings.

There is no Bible scripture showing that Mary was translated to Heaven… There are those who may want to place her there, but the Bible doesn’t… Mary was the mother of Jesus, but she was just like you and I, a sinner in need of a savior. The Bible teaches that ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Mary, also needs Jesus’ death and atonement on the cross just like you and I. Mary is not a co-redemptorist with Christ as the Catholic church teaches.

(Romans 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; – KJV

Look what it says in Job…

(Job 7:9) As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

(Job 7:10) He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more… – KJV

Satan in the Last Days will use this concept that the Dead can communicate with the Living to hoist upon the unsuspecting all types of signs and lying wonders performed under this premise.

(2 Thessalonians 2:7) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.

(2 Thessalonians 2:8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

(2 Thessalonians 2:9) The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,

(2 Thessalonians 2:10) and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

(2 Thessalonians 2:11) And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

(2 Thessalonians 2:12) that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (NKJV)

It should be noted here that “He who now restrains” referenced in 2 Thessalonians 2:7, was the Roman Empire, NOT the Holy Spirit like most in the Christian church believe. In the time when Paul lived, the Roman Empire was still in power, but After the fall of Rome, the Lawless One came onto the scene of Human history because the Roman Empire was no longer in power to hamper this religious system from ascending to power.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, we read that God will allow them to receive a strong delusion that they should believe “the lie“. This sounds like God is going to deceive them into believing a lie, but what is really meant here is that because they do not have a love for God’s truth when it’s given, they will, and would rather, believe a lie instead. We all have the power of choice and God will not force anyone to believe His truth, but because Mankind will choose a counterfeit instead of truth, they will elect to believe the lie instead.

God, at this point, has no choice but to give into their wishes and allow them to be damned by believing lies fostered by Satan and his deceiving spirits using signs and lying wonders. God will not force them to believe the truth.

So again, what is the lie that God is going to allow them to believe? It will be that the Kingdom of God has finally arrived here on Earth because there will be false miracles and counterfeit signs and lying wonders performed through Satan. People will believe that Jesus, in the veil of flesh, has arrived though this End Time Antichrist system

Strong’s Greek & Hebrew and The Complete Wordstudy Dictionary Definitions

G5579

Lie — Noun

G5579

to lie. A lie, falsehood — Lying in general –refers to false, fictitious, pretended miracles. An idol, a vain or false idol, as used in the Sept.: Isa_44:20. Rev_21:27 refers to making a lie, i.e., making idols and contriving false miracles. See Rev_22:15 (cf. Rom_1:25); Sept.: Hos_7:3; Hos_11:12. Of false gods (Jer_3:10; Jer_13:25).

Syn.: múthos (G3454), a myth; dólos (G1388), deceit, guile; apáteŻ (G539), deceit or deceitfulness; pláneŻ (G4106), error, wandering; panourgía (G3834), craftiness.

(2 Corinthians 11:14) And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. – KJV

So in conclusion, Satan does not want you to understand the truths of the Bible concerning the State of the Dead, because Satan can work within the ignorance of God’s people.

Other Bible Verses That Refer to Death as Sleep

(Ephesians 5:14) Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

(Job 14:10) But man dies and is laid away; Indeed he breathes his last And where is he?

(Job 14:11) As water disappears from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dries up,

(Job 14:12) So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, They will not awake Nor be roused from their sleep.

(Psalms 13:3) Consider and hear me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death;

(Psalms 76:6) At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep.

(Daniel 12:2) And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

(1 Corinthians 11:30) For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

(1 Corinthians 15:51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—

(1 Corinthians 15:52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

(1 Thessalonians 4:13) But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

(1 Thessalonians 4:14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

(1 Thessalonians 4:15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

(1 Thessalonians 5:9) For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ

(1 Thessalonians 5:10) who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. (Luke 8:49) While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

(Luke 8:50) But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

(Luke 8:51) And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

(Luke 8:52) And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

(Luke 8:53) And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

(Luke 8:54) And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

(Luke 8:55) And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

(Luke 8:56) And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

(Job 7:9) As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

(Job 7:10) He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. – KJV

On a Final Note

If you do not know or have drifted away from God, please consider what I’ve written here. Satan mocks those who reject Jesus, knowing they will suffer the Second Death.

Remember, What you believe does not Change Reality. The reality is God exists and wants nothing more than to have a relationship with you through His Son Jesus. Please hearken to His call on your life.

If you do not have a relationship with Jesus, please consider turning your heart and life over to Christ…