when will we go to heaven?

a. when we die, or when we are resurrected?

This question has been debated for a very long time by many people. We know that when Christ returns, all believers in Christ, living and dead, will be given resurrected, perfected bodies and will be with the Lord forever in heaven. This is made clear in the passage below, particularly in verses 16-17:

1 thessalonians 4:13-18

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 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. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Clearly, all believers in Christ, whether they are currently living or dead, will all be alive and with the Lord forever in heaven after He returns to earth. But, what about believers who are currently dead? Do they go immediately to heaven, or do they stay dead until Jesus returns?

b. does the soul sleep?

Some people argue that we do not immediately go to heaven, but that we remain dead, or “asleep” until Jesus returns and we are raised to life. This concept is called “Soul Sleep,” because it suggests that our souls “sleep” while our bodies lie dead in the grave, waiting for Jesus to raise us back to life. And, while there is some Biblical evidence to support this idea, I don’t hold this opinion, which I will explain a bit later.

One argument made for “soul sleep” is John 3:13, which reads:

john 3:13

No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.

Some people believe that this verse is proof that nobody has gone to heaven yet. But in the broader context of this passage, Jesus is actually explaining to Nicodemus that no one except Jesus has actually come back from heaven to testify about heavenly things. Take a closer look:

john 3:9-13

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.

What Jesus is saying to Nicodemus is that if he doesn’t believe what Jesus says about earthly things, which other people who live on earth can verify, how can Nicodemus believe what Jesus says about heavenly things, since only Jesus has gone into heaven and come to earth to testify about it.

So, John 3:13 does not really say that no one has gone to heaven, but rather that no one has gone to and returned from heaven except for Jesus.

c. away from the body, present with Christ

What the Bible does tell us is that being away from the body is to be present with the Lord. Consider these verses:

2 corinthians 5:6-8

6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

philippians 1:21-24

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

It is clear from these passages that our souls are present with the Lord when our bodies are dead and awaiting resurrection.

d. the thief on the cross

Further proof that Followers of Christ are immediately present with God upon death comes from Jesus’ conversation with the thief on the cross, which goes like this:

luke 23:42-43

Then [the thief] said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Today. Not someday, but today. This exchange between Jesus and the thief makes it clear that the souls of believers in Christ go immediately into His presence without delay upon earthly death.

Additional evidence for this found in the fact that Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah at His transfiguration:

matthew 17:1-5

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Although Elijah had been taken up into heaven without dying, Moses had died long before this. But why would Jesus bring Elijah down from heaven and then also bring Moses up out of the grave to talk with them? Did Moses appear as a decaying corpse, like a zombie? How would Peter have recognized him? Would Moses have gone back to the grave after this conversation? It doesn’t make sense!

The only way this conversation between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah makes sense is that both Moses and Elijah came down from heaven to talk with Jesus. The purpose of this conversation is unknown, but could be to convey messages between heaven and earth. I cannot imagine any purpose for Jesus to bring Moses up from the grave to talk with him and then to send him back to the grave.

e. where are the souls of the dead in Christ?

The idea of soul sleep also has the problem of where the soul exists while the body is dead. Does the soul remain stuck in a stinky, decomposing body? What about people who are burnt to ashes or who are cremated? Where does their soul sleep? Again, the notion of soul sleep doesn’t make sense.

We are told that being away from the body is to be present with the Lord, not that our souls are stuck in decomposing bodies or wandering homeless until Jesus returns. Consider this passage again:

1 thessalonians 4:13-18

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 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. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Look at verse 15. When Jesus returns, God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. But bring them from where? Well, where is Jesus coming from? He’s coming from heaven. So, If God brings with Jesus all those who have fallen asleep in Him, He will be bringing them from heaven!

f. conclusion

With all of this in mind, it is clear that there is no “soul sleep.” A believer in Christ, upon his death, will be immediately present with the Lord in spirit. While he awaits the resurrection and perfection of his physical body, he enjoys the blessings of being spiritually present with the Lord. Whether this existence is in heaven or in “paradise” or “Abraham’s side” is irrelevant, because the presence of God is what makes heaven what it is.

So, if you have loved ones who belonged to Christ who have passed away, rest assured that they are with the Lord. And one day, when Christ returns and raises the dead, all followers of Christ will be reunited in heaven, all in the presence of God!