What's next?

[Learning_disciple]

 Hi every one,  

I like this board even though I don't post all that much I try to come by here from time to time.
  Any way, my question is this, do Christians go immediately into the presence of Jesus at death, or is there a waiting period so all the saints go together to meet Him? I know how childish such a question may sound, but I am still learning and was curious about this. I know Hebrews 9:27 says that it is appointed unto men once to die and after that, the judgment. so does judgment take place right after death and will all our sins be brought up?  Just wondering what those here thought.
Thank you.  

God
bless

L_D

[JudgeNot]

LD - your question is not at all 'childish', but one that is often argued.

John 5:24-25
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.

I believe that Christians will be with Him immediately - going not into judgment.

Others believe that when you're dead, you're dead until a certain time when you will be raised to judgment.

Either way - it will happen "at the same time" in that there is no sense of time for the dead - so it will seem as if it happens immediately.

[ollie]

LD - your question is not at all 'childish', but one that is often argued.

John 5:24-25
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.

I believe that Christians will be with Him immediately - going not into judgment.

Others believe that when you're dead, you're dead until a certain time when you will be raised to judgment.

Either way - it will happen "at the same time" in that there is no sense of time for the dead - so it will seem as if it happens immediately.

JN, this is an excellent reply to an often asked question. LD should be greatly enriched by it. I am and pray he is also.

Love in Christ,
Ollie

 

[Petro]

Stephen when he was being tried before the Sanhedrin, said the following imediately beforte being stoned to death by Paul and His accomplices, for heresy according to them;


Acts 7
56   ....................Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

This is odd, since the sciptures picture Jesus, sitting at the right hand of Glory.

Is it Jesus, standing on the right of God to plead for His own at the throne of Grace.

I suspect that Satan the accuser of the brethern lays claim to the bodies of the saints, who he perceives have committed sin against Gods Word, just as he contended with the Angel of the Lord for the body of Moses (Jude 1:9), and Joshua.(Zec 3:1-2)

Look at this verses carefully;

Zec 3
1  And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
2  And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

It doesn't state it clearly, but one can see Satan standing before the throne of Grace, it says he is at the right hand of the Angel of the Lord (speaking of Jesus), no doubt Jesus is standing pleading Joshua's case .

Notice what it says about satan at;

Rev 12
10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

And thats the way it will continue until these scriptures are fulfilled.

It sure appears that believers imediately go to be with Christ this was Paul's hope when He wrote;

2 Cor 5
8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.


Blessings,

Petro

[JudgeNot]

Wopik & Petro,
You each have “classic” answers to the long running question.
God bless you both – I look forward to the day we can all ask Jesus “Whoa!  What just happened?”  
Jim

[Learning_disciple]

Wow! Thanks every one

That really helps me a lot. So much questions about life after death just glad to know that one day I will be with Christ in eternity along with all the other believers who trust in Him for salvation.  

Blessings.

L_D

[ebia]

Either way - it will happen "at the same time" in that there is no sense of time for the dead - so it will seem as if it happens immediately.

I'd go one further - time is of this world, so there isn't just no sense of time for the dead, there really is no time.

[JudgeNot]

so there isn't just no sense of time for the dead, there really is no time.

Ebia - you are absolutely correct!  It's hard to image Heaven, where it is simply "forever", "always" and "eternity" - with no clocks!  Amen!

[Kris777]

I'm really going to love the no clock thing.  With my busy schedule I'm always looking at my watch.  

[Learning_disciple]

 
Another question:  What of those we leave behind when we die, will we be missing them when we get to Heaven?  
 I have family members I know who will not be in Heaven unless God grants them repentance and faith and He will be justified in His judgment against them when they are judge guilty before Him as all of us are guilty and deserve His wrath. it is only by His grace that any of us are saved.
 But what of our saved loved ones who we know will be with us in the next world, will we spend all our time in Heaven waiting for them to join us, or will we be preoccupied with other things?

Just wondering.

[JudgeNot]

Learning_disciple,

The following passage (one of many) leads me to believe "there are no tears in Heaven";

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  Revelation 21:4

I'm sure we will miss our loved ones, but our joy will far out weigh our sorrow.

[ebia]

But what of our saved loved ones who we know will be with us in the next world, will we spend all our time in Heaven waiting for them to join us, or will we be preoccupied with other things?

If there's no time, there won't be any waiting, will there?

[Raphu]

Several good witnesses to the truth already given. Here's another and one with a little more info. on what we will be like. I agree, also that we haven't come close to perceiving what God has for us in eternity, without time.  

2 Corinthians 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1 Corinthians 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.