When Christians die they immediately go to heaven. God delights in taking His own from this troublesome earthly scene to His blissful, sin-free place called heaven. How do we know this?
Well... #1 - Long ago God did this. He transported some of His people upwards. For instance, the prophet Elijah was suddenly transported to heaven. 2 King's 2:11 tells us about it: "And...behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire... And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."
And... #2... Also, Paul and John had brief excursions to heaven to receive portions of the Scriptures. Paul tells us about his experience. It was for the purpose of receving Divine revelation which would become the bedrock of his Epistles. Here are his words: "I know a man (speaking of himself) in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter (2 Corinthians 12:2-4).
#3 - Jesus said believers will go to heaven (John 14:1-3). In fact, He is the builder of such a place. He declared: "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself."
#4 - Jesus wants us with Him (John 14:3). "....that where I am, there you may be also."
#5 Lazarus died and was immediately in heaven (Luke 16:19-31). Lazarus had nothing in this life, but, through faith in Jesus Christ, he had everything for the next. "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom."
And #6 - The Apostle Paul believed that when he died he would at once be with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6,7). "So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."
Read the above passages and rejoice in this clear truth. This pertains to those who are saved and safe in Christ Jesus. When Christians die they leave their bodies, are transported by angels to heaven (Luke 16:22), are fitted with heavenly bodies (1 Cor. 15:40,41), return to the earthly atmosphere at the rapture and the uniting of Christ's Church (1 Thess. 4:13-18) and then return to the place Jesus went to prepare, the New Jerusalem. This is the glorious hope of Christians. Our bodies (pods) are left behind, are temporarily replaced by a heavenly body, are rejoined with our resurrected bodies at the rapture of the Church and then forever dwell with Jesus and all His bride
- Dick Christen
