Bible Question: When you die do you ascend straight to Heaven or do you just stay in your body remaining in a peaceful restful sleep unaware of how much time on Earth has passed you by until you rise again with Jesus' second coming? |
Bible Answer: If you have access to the Good News Bible (TEV), published by the American Bible Society on behalf of United Bible Societies, you will find the Second Book of Esdras, an Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical Book from the OT. 2 Esdras is accepted by the Catholic and Anglican Churches. However, since it is not used in the Catholic Liturgical Services, I have yet to find this book in other Bibles. To summarise, Esdras (aka Shealtiel, aka Ezra) says to Uriel, the angel of the Lord, "Then I said, "Sir, may I ask you, please, to explain to me what happens when we die, when each of us must give back his soul? Will we be kept at rest until the time when you begin to make your new creation, or will our torment begin immediately?' " (2 Esdras 7:75 - Good News Bible, TEV). It would be better for you to read the rest of 2 Esdras to find out God's answer as there are other questions about the Day of Judgement also answered. |