What? “Good” people don’t go straight to heaven when they die?
The short answer is no.
As the tract “Operation Deep Sleep” points out, the idea that humans have a separate body and soul comes from ancient non-Christian beliefs. The Bible makes it clear that the deceased have no knowledge of anyone or anything, including God: “No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave?” (Psalm 6:5).*
As with other Bible subjects, there are some Bible passages that one the surface seem to support the idea that dead people go to “be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23). Yet the same apostle who penned those words also gave a thorough description of what would occur at Jesus’ second coming: “We do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep . . . For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 16).
The Bible’s “weight of evidence” is clear: “The dead know nothing” (Ecclesiastes 9:5).
In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah wrote about the dead in relation to the end-times of earth’s history: “But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth do her dead” (Isaiah 26:19).*
Jesus agreed, and left no doubt about when the righteous dead would gain new, eternal life:”My Father’s will is 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” (John 6:40).
There’s lots more to learn about what happens when we die. Now is a good time to start adding to your knowledge!
