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NASB | Matthew 7:21 ¶ "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 7:21 ¶ "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. |
Bible Question: Thanks. Building on to the discussion. What happens to those who die today in Christ? Do they go to Heaven or do they remain asleep until Jesus comes? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Appleseed! Prior to the resurrection of Christ, those of faith who died were placed in a temporary holding place called 'Paradise.' This place is also referred to as 'Abraham's Bossom.' It was a part of Sheol/Hades. However, since the resurrection of Christ, Scripture is very clear that believers who die immediately go to be with the Lord. Consider the following two passages. 1) Phil. 2:21-23 says, "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;" 2) 2 Cor. 5:6-8 says, "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 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." Since believers who die go to be with Christ, how does this relate to 1 Thess. 4:13-18? Simply put, 1 Thess. 4:14 says that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. They come with Christ, then their bodies are raised in v. 16. One thing we must be careful about with the 1 Thess. 4:13-18 passage is not to make the mistake of thinking that the symbolism of sleep means that those who die in Christ are not aware. The term is a symbolic reference to death. The believers who have died in Him are actively aware and in the presence of Christ from the moment of their death. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |